Event UFC 211: Miocic vs. dos Santos 2 [Results]

DC is developing into a wonderful presenter and on-air personality.

 

Chase Sherman and Rashad Coulter got the FOTN bonus with Jason Knight and Stipe Miocic also getting performance bumps.

 

Results

• Stipe Miocic def. Junior dos Santos via TKO (punches) - Round 1, 2:22
• Joanna Jedrzejczyk def. Jessica Andrade via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-44, 50-45)
• Demian Maia def. Jorge Masvidal via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Frankie Edgar def. Yair Rodriguez via TKO (doctor’s stoppage) – Round 2, 5:00
• David Branch def. Krzysztof Jotko via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Eddie Alvarez vs. Dustin Poirier declared no-contest (accidental knee) – Round 2, 4:12
• Jason Knight def. Chas Skelly via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 0:39
• Chase Sherman def. Rashad Coulter via TKO (elbow) – Round 2, 3:36
• James Vick def. Marco Polo Reyes via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 2:39
• Cortney Casey def. Jessica Aguilar via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Enrique Barzola def. Gabriel Benitez via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Gadzhimurad Antigulov def. Joachim Christensen via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 2:21

 

I saw the second round of Coulter/Sherman but that was it for the prelims including the Alvarez/Poirier fight. The HW's were sloppy but fun to watch. Not sure how Alvarez thought Poirier was legal with his knee on the ground. These guys still don't understand the rule changes which, at this point they've had it explained to them by the AC's often enough, plays into the UFC's total lack of communication or care with the fighters.

Branch/Jotko was disappointing. Little to say about that one.

Frank Edgar showed that he still belongs among the very best. Yair Rodriguez got taken down a peg but will have a lot to study from this one. Can't get into the UFC's higher echelon without have TDD or at least the ability to escape the guard. Edgar wants the winner of Aldo/Holloway and I think that's fine, even if it is Aldo. McGregor looks like he's not coming back at this point. Cub Swanson is also close.

Maia/Masvidal happened... Maia will struggle against Woodley who will be much harder to contain and constrain. I thought Masvidal would do better. He probably needed to be more aggressive on his feet but this is something that's been said about him many times.

Jedrzejczyk fought a game opponent but was too skilled to be denied. Clearly on another level. Thug Rose presents a new set of challenges for her but her ability to resist being taken down and to pop back up will be problematic for Namajunas. Jedrzejczyk will eventually fight for the 125-lbs title and I wonder if there are any current bantamweights who can actually compete with her.

Miocic didn't exactly fight a patient, technical bout. He was swangin' from the beginning of the fight, clearly injured from JDS's calf kicks. He actually reminded me of Werdum the last time Werdum fought him. JDS took a clean show to the left ear/lower jaw and went down. It didn't look like he was out but he made no effort to defend himself or try and get back up so I guess he was finished. JDS is only 33-years old and hasn't been in the game as long as most. However he's now lost 4-of-7 and his last two losses have both looked badly. Not sure if he'll be content to hang around the top-5 with killers like Ngannou on the way up.

Overall it was a show that didn't live up to its potential but still showcased some of the best fighters in the world at their best.

 

I thought Stipe fought a brilliant fight. Those leg kicks did damage to him and if the fight dragged on it would have only gotten worse. He knew he had to finish the fight there so he started swinging. JDS looked horrible. Dude has not evolved his game one bit since coming into the UFC. Once he's pressured, he backs up into the cage. Disappointing and I think his title chances need to be done. Stipe should rule over the division for awhile if he can get by Ngannou.

 

Forgot to say that bumping up Branch vs. Jotko was unnecessary. With two title fights, a four fight PPV card is fine. It's not like people can't watch the prelims.