UFC 251: Alexander Volkanovski is an Aussie legend after miracle win
Alexander Volkanovski is an Aussie legend. The former rugby league player just defeated a UFC legend for the second time to retain his title.
Alexander the Great has conquered Fight Island.
Aussie UFC champion Alexander Volkanovski made the first trip to MMA’s new home in Abu Dhabi a memorable one by retaining his featherweight championship.
Volkanovski appeared in all sorts of trouble early in his rematch against Max Holloway as he was floored once by a head kick and once by an uppercut.
But he bravely fought back to win a split decision and stay undefeated in the UFC.
Kamaru Usman also retained his crown in the main event, outworking Jorge Masvidal to stay the welterweight king.
It came after Petr Yan grabbed gold, seizing the bantamweight belt vacated by Henry Cejudo by finishing Jose Aldo in the fifth round of a violent match-up.
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The fortunes of two fan favourite female fighters were changed in contrasting ways as the UFC 251 main card began with a pair of big results.
Paige VanZant will be exploring free agency on the back of a loss after becoming the latest victim of undefeated Amanda Ribas (4-0).
And you wouldn't have known by her bloody and busted open face, but Rose Namajunas did just enough to win her rematch against Jessica Andrade via split decision.
Fight fans had been holding their breath waiting for the UFC 251 Fight Island spectacular and finally, the day arrived. Here’s how it played out.
KAMARU USMAN defeated JORGE MASVIDAL – Welterweight title fight
Jorge Masvidal might have had a quick turnaround after being called up as a late replacement for this fight, but he came ready.
The challenger looked sharp and fought at a furious pace in the first round, peppering Kamaru Usman with leg kicks and gaining an edge in the stand-up. He was bleeding from the head but it appeared to be from an accidental head clash.
But the champion gained control in the second round as Masvidal appeared content to spend a few minutes pressed up against the cage.
Gamebred appeared to be running out of steam in the third as Usman’s power began to take over and he moved ahead 29-28 on the scorecards.
Usman’s pressure was relentless and even though Masvidal was blocking takedowns and not taking much heavy damage, he wasn’t getting off as the fight entered the final five minutes.
Masvidal couldn’t find a home run hit in the fifth as Usman won by unanimous decision (50-45 x 2, 49-46).
ALEXANDER VOLKANOVSKI defeated MAX HOLLOWAY – Featherweight title fight
Alex Volkanovski shocked the UFC world when he toppled Max Holloway at UFC 245 but his rematch win might have been even more shocking.
The Aussie won by split decision (48-47 x 2, 47-48) in an incredibly close fight.
Holloway looked exceptionally sharp early and managed to catch the Aussie with a head kick late in the first round that momentarily put him down.
He repeated the dose in the second, stunning the former rugby league player with an uppercut that also saw him tumble off-balance to the canvas.
Volkanovski steadied in the third and did just enough to get the points on two cards to keep himself alive.
The Australian managed a takedown in the fourth round and poured on the pressure in the fifth in a brave effort to stay undefeated in the UFC and take his record to 22-1.
Super close fight. Volkanovski made great adjustments later on after the slow start. Want to watch that again. Definitely not a robbery.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) July 12, 2020
The problem with Volk getting the nod is that he never came close to winning a round in the way Holloway won two of them. That's a hard thing for people to overlook.
— Luke Thomas (@lthomasnews) July 12, 2020
PETR YAN defeated JOSE ALDO – Bantamweight title fight
Petr Yan’s demolition job on the bantamweight division continued against Jose Aldo as he secured the bantamweight title.
The Russian took his winning streak to 10 against the former long-reigning featherweight king, who has now lost six of his past nine fights.
It was a helluva fight.
The duo exchanged shots early in the first round before Yan put Aldo on his back and landed some heavy ground and pound that had the Brazilian hanging on for dear life as the buzzer sounded.
Aldo bounced back well in the second round, landing some heavy leg kicks to take the sting out of Yan’s attacks and likely level the fight at a round apiece.
The third could have gone either way as Aldo scored early but Yan finished stronger. The man whose vacated belt they were fighting for liked what he saw.
What a round! #ufc251
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) July 12, 2020
Yan resumed control of the fight in the fourth, firing back with interest every time Aldo landed to move within five minutes of the championship.
He didn’t need the full five, landing vicious strike after vicious strike in the fifth round to force the stoppage with 3:24 on the clock and grab the belt.
ROSE NAMAJUNAS defeated JESSICA ANDRADE – Women’s strawweight
You wouldn't have known by her bloody and busted open face, but Rose Namajunas did just enough to win her rematch against Jessica Andrade via split decision.
In a match-up of former champions, Namajunas moved and scored well in the first two rounds to build a lead before Andrade came roaring back in the third.
In the most decisive round of the fight she took Namajunas down twice and busted her face open with heavy shots but didn’t do quite enough for a fight-tying 10-8 round.
The points win (29-28 x 2, 28-29) lifts Namajunas in position for another crack at the title, which is currently held by Weili Zhang.
Tough ass fight. #andrade vs #namajunas#ufc251
— Steve Austin (@steveaustinBSR) July 12, 2020
AMANDA RIBAS defeated PAIGE VANZANT – Women’s flyweight
The UFC was doing Paige VanZant no favours in the final fight of her UFC contract.
Amanda Ribas is a future player in the women’s flyweight division and proved it by staying undefeated in the UFC (4-0) with a first round demolition of VanZant.
Ribas took her opponent down early before securing an armbar and forcing a tap 2:21 into the first round.
VanZant was the underdog for the bout as she fought for the first time in 16 months following arm injuries. She’ll now enter free agency with less bargaining power than she did entering UFC 251.
Ribas, meantime, is proving she’s the real deal in the Octagon and a potential future challenger for champion Valentina Shevchenko.
Paige VanZant hits free agency after going 5-4 in the UFC. Only one of those wins over a fighter with a winning record. But then again, she has 2.6 million Instagram followers. She'll get paid somewhere.
— RJ Clifford (@RJcliffordMMA) July 12, 2020
Ribas is a star in the making. Infectious personality and a great fighter.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) July 12, 2020
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