UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Dillashaw Results
With more than just his belt on the line, Henry Cejudo was stepping into the Octagon on Saturday to fight for the whole flyweight division as the often criticised division was set to be axed by Dana White should TJ Dillashaw have won the main event. Win he did not as “The Messenger” passed the test with flying colours as he stomped over Dillashaw in 32 seconds to defend his belt for the first time and likely let the flyweight division live to see another day.
Cejudo came into the fight carrying all the pressure on his shoulders as everyone including his boss seemed to be against him. The pressure did not make him crumble as he came storming out of the gates and began unloading on the bantamweight champ from the first horn. Cejudo landed some good shots on Dillashaw and clearly had the challenger wobbled as the referee Kevin McDonald stepped in to stop the fight.
The majority opinion is that the stoppage was a tad premature but at the moment of the stoppage it did not look like the defending champion was going to let the win slip from his grasp.
Dillashaw began campaigning for an immediate rematch as soon as the fight came to its conclusion claiming that he was in the fight and that he got “robbed” of his opportunity and it certainly looks likely that the two could face off again in the near future in a rematch at 125 or 135 with Cejudo challenging for Dillashaw’s gold. Cejudo went on the ESPN+ post fight show and stated that he would be willing to give TJ a rematch and either weight class.
In the co-main event of the evening, controversial newcomer Greg Hardy got his first shot in front of the bright UFC lights against an experienced opponent in Allen Crowder. The fight proved to be Hardy’s first serious challenge in his short MMA career as he was taken past the first minute of the first round for the very first time. The fight ended up reaching the second round and that’s when Hardy’s inexperience and naivety became visible as he landed an illegal knee on Crowder while he was still legally on the ground and subsequently lost the bout via disqualification.
Elsewhere on the main card, lightweight Gregor Gillespie showed out in a very impressive display against Yancy Medeiros as the decorated wrestler completely dominated the fight allowing Medeiros to land only one significant strike before being stopped in the second round due to a flurry of punches on the ground.
Flyweight veteran Joseph Benavidez secured yet another win in his quest for a title shot with the only decision of the main card against Dustin Ortiz. In a tricky grappling clinic, Benavidez came out victorious once again as Ortiz tried to avenge his 2014 loss. It will be tough to deny Benavidez a shot at the flyweight gold now if the rematch between Cejudo and Dillashaw isn’t in Dana White’s immediate plans.
The inaugural ESPN card also saw Paige VanZant return to the Octagon after a lengthy lay off caused by complications with her arm surgery. PVZ was up against TUF quarter-finalist Rachel Ostovich, and despite experiencing some early adversity due to some excellent wrestling by Ostovich, VanZant got the win via an arm-bar as she managed to get hold of Ostovich’s arm in a difficult back mount position. VanZant showed that she still has some work to do in order to get to the top level but she remains an exciting prospect in the flyweight division.
The main card was opened by former light heavyweight title contender Glover Teixeira as he faced off against short-notice replacement in Karl Roberson. Teixeira found himself in a lot of trouble early on as Roberson dropped him with some heavy strikes and landed a few elbows on the ground. Unfortunately for the young Roberson, it wasn’t enough to put away the experienced Brazilian who recovered and reclaimed top position in no time before locking in an arm triangle choke to win his 11th fight inside the Octagon.
Full results below:
Main Card
Flyweight: (C) Henry Cejudo def. TJ Dillashaw via R1 TKO (Punches)
Heavyweight: Allen Crowder def. Greg Hardy via R2 DQ (Illegal knee)
Lightweight: Gregor Gillespie def. Yancy Medeiros via R2 TKO (Punches)
Flyweight: Joseph Benavidez def. Dustin Ortiz via Unanimous Decision
W-Flyweight: Paige VanZant def. Rachael Ostovich via R2 Sub. (Armbar)
Light Heavyweight: Glover Teixeira def. Karl Roberson via R2 Sub. (Arm-triangle)
Prelims
Lightweight: Donald Cerrone def. Alexander Hernandez via R2 TKO (Head kick & punches)
W-Flyweight: Joanne Calderwood def. Ariane Lipski via Unanimous Decision
Light Heavyweight: Alonzo Menifield def. Vinicius Moreira via R1 TKO (Punches)
Bantamweight: Cory Sandhagen def. Mario Bautista via R1 Sub. (Armbar)
Early Prelims
Lightweight: Dennis Bermudez def. Te Edwards via Unanimous Decision
Welterweight: Geoff Neal def. Belal Muhammad via Unanimous Decision
Welterweight: Chance Rencountre def. Kyle Stewart via R1 Sub. (Rear-naked choke)
Sports journalist based in CA, USA.
Twitter: @ArionArmeniakos
