UFC 246 in tweets
The first event of 2020 is in the books and it certainly didn’t disappoint in Las Vegas. Kicking off the main card was a lightweight bout between former champion Anthony Pettis and upcoming contender Diego Ferreira. In the first round, Showtime was focusing on landing the cleaner shots with Ferreira attempting the takedown to control Pettis on the ground. Diego took Pettis down on the side of the cage and managed to sink in what looked like a modified neck crank to force Showtime to tap and earn Ferreira his 6th straight UFC win and probably a place in the division’s top 10.
Next up was a pair of bantamweights as veteran Brain Kelleher squared off against promotional newcomer Ode Osbourne. From the off, Kelleher put it on the debutant and made sure his UFC career got off to a loss as he won via a guillotine choke in the very first round. Heavyweights were on deck as 71 fight veteran Aleksei Oleinik welcomed TUF alumn Maurice Greene to the big leagues. The latter had the advantage in the striking department while the former trumped Greene on the ground. The first period consisted of The American trying to survive a scarf hold choke in which Oleinik burning his arms out due to the nature of the squeeze. In the second round, the Russian went belly down on an Armbar and submitted the very tough Maurice Greene to earn his first win since 2018.
The co-main event was upon us as Holly Holm and Raquel Pennington faced off for a second time after Holm’s split decision win back in 2015. The first 5 minutes was all about Pennington needing to get inside the striking range of Holm and most of the round was spent on the cageside with Holly maintaining the superior position. Holm exerted her physical dominance throughout the 15 minutes and the judges scorecards replicated that as she saw out a unanimous decision victory to make it 2-0 against Pennington.
The moment everyone had been waiting for was finally upon us at the ‘Notorious’ Conor McGregor returned after a 15 month layoff to face UFC veteran Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone in the Welterweight division. As Herb Dean started the fight, Conor raced forward and narrowly missed with a straight left and while in the clinch landed 3 shoulders, one of which broke Cowboy’s nose and Conor landed a left high kick which dropped Cerrone and McGregor pounced and announced his return in emphatic fashion.
SURPRISE SURPRISE, THE KING IS BACK!
Check out the reaction to the main card below
Conor McGregor vs Donald Cerrone
That man is good. Bitch move to take that fight. Say my name @TheNotoriousMMA
— Justin Gaethje 🇺🇸 (@Justin_Gaethje) January 19, 2020
Wow @ufc pic.twitter.com/6qJDR09ATu
— Jessica Eye (@jessicaevileye) January 19, 2020
Holly Holm vs Raquel Pennington
Holly playing safe you think? #UFC246
— Niko Price (@Nikohybridprice) January 19, 2020
Aleksei Oleinik vs Maurice Greene
Congratulations @oleynikufc all my respect for you BUT I think my JiuJitsu it’s better, let’s dance you can be my special guest for my return in the UFC
— Fabricio Werdum (@FabricioWerdum) January 19, 2020
Brian Kelleher vs Ode Osbourne
My man. Tied em up and made him tap with his foot! Congrats @brianboom135 #ufc246
— Max Griffin (@MaxPainGriffin) January 19, 2020
Anthony Pettis vs Carlos Diego Ferreira
Damn 2-3 I thought Pettis guard was mean but didn’t see it
— Platinum Mike Perry (@PlatinumPerry) January 19, 2020
Check out the full main card results below
Conor McGregor def Donald Cerrone via TKO (punches) Round 1- 0:40
Holly Holm def Raquel Pennington via Decision (unanimous) (30-27, 29-28, 30-27
Aleksei Oleinik def Maurice Greene via Submission (armbar) Round 2- 4:38
Brian Kelleher def Ode Osbourne via Submission (guillotine choke) Round 1- 2:49
Carlos Diego Ferreira def Anthony Pettis via Submission (neck crank) Round 2- 1:46
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