The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) made another huge impact in Las Vegas, NV to conclude International Fight Week with UFC 189 and to start the new Reebok era. This will be the first event where no banners will be brought to the octagon. UFC 189 is one of the largest pre-sale PPV buy rates thanks to the Irishman, Conor McGregor, who was originally supposed to face World Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo, but do to a broken rib had to step aside as Chad Mendes takes his place for the Interim Featherweight Title. Tonight’s fight results are as follows:
Bantamweight (135 lbs) Brad Pickett (25-10-0) vs. Thomas Almeida (19-0-0)
Round one and the fighters touch gloves as Pickett, the Englishmen leads with a low kick and followed by a left jab. Almeida responds with an inside leg kick but misses a left hook. Almeida’s right eye is starting to swell as he attempts to stand and bang with the Englishman, who lands an bit left hand and then a right hand, but Almeida falls back on his BJJ and attempts an ankle lock that Pickett was able to escape. Pickett’s boxing is extremely clean, but eats hook himself. Almeida lands a spinning elbow making a comeback in this first round.
Round two and the corner men stopped the Brazilian’s bleeding, but his nose is broken. Almeida lands a perfectly place jumping left knee and knocks Pickett out!
Your winner by KO at 29 seconds of the second round, Thomas Almeida!
Welterweight (170 lbs) Gunnar Nelson (13-1-1) vs. Brandon Thatch (11-2-0)
Round one is underway and Thatch is switching his stance to throw the Icelandic fighter off his game forcing Nelson to try to tie up, but Thatch gets away. Nelson lands a big right hand and takes a full mount switching to side mount, back to full mount as Nelson avoids an Americana, giving up his back as he also must defend a body triangle and hammer first. Nelson sinks in a rear naked choke and Thatch taps out.
Your winner in the very first round at 2:54 is Gunnar Nelson.
Featherweight (145 lbs) Dennis Bermudez (15-4-0) vs. Jeremy Stephens (23-11-0)
Stephens came in nearly 5 lbs over weight, which forfeits 20% of his purse. Stephen’s right eye is busted as blood has splattered all over Bermudez’s back. Stephens is in danger of being caught in an arm triangle as Bermudez transitions to an armbar but he slips out the backdoor and they are up on their feet.
Round two is underway and the corner was able to close up Stephens’ eye as best they could. It opened up after an accidental head but, however that wound will require stitches. Stephens catches Bermudez with an uppercut dropping him and feeding him a knee. Bermudez ties up Stephens, slowing the pace, allowing him to clear the cobwebs just enough to move to the center of the octagon. This one is going back and forth as Stephens now has a second cut under his left eye.
It’s surprising this one made it to the third and final round. This has turned into a kickboxing fight as the Stephens lands a jumping right knee, knocking out Bermudez in the third round, jumping over the cage and shaking hands with the owner of the UFC, Lorenzo Fertitta!
Your winner by TKO at 39 seconds of the third round, Jeremy Stephens
Welterweight World Championship (170 lbs) Robbie Lawler [Champion (25-10-0)] vs. Rory MacDonald [Challenger (18-2-0)]
Round one of five is underway and the crowd is chanting U-S-A, U-S-A, U-S-A for Lawler against his Canadian opponent. MacDonald is using his long reach to make contact, but nothing that appears too damaging. This is an unusually slow pace for Lawler, which might surprise the Canadian.
Round two and this one is still on it’s eat, MacDonald lands a nice punch combination. The Canadian’s nose is broken. His face is covered in blood and Lawler is like a shark stalking MacDonald, who is looking to counter strike.
Round three and all of MacDonald’s take down attempts have been stopped by Lawler. The momentum appears to be in the champion’s favor, but all it takes is one good shot and this can be all over. Lawler is staggered by a head kick and now MacDonald is on the offensive landing a jumping knee and elbows to close the round.
Round four, the first of the two championship rounds and MacDonald is going for another head kick. Lawler still hasn’t cleared his head from the end of the previous round, but he is not going down. Lawler seems to be recovering and this can still be anyone’s fight. The American shoots for a double leg, is quickly back to his feet and lands a left hand. The round comes to and end as they fighters stare down each other in the center of the octagon.
Fifth and final round to determine who will be the Undisputed UFC Welterweight Champion of the world! Lawler hurts MacDonald, forcing him to turtle up on the canvas and ends this fight early in the fifth round!
The winner and still Undisputed UFC Welterweight Champion of the world, Robby Lawler!
Interim Featherweight Championship (145 lbs) Chad Mendes (17-2-0) vs. Conor McGregor (17-2-0)
Jose Aldo is out, Chad Mendes is in and this went from the world Featherweight championship to the interim Featherweight championship. The crowd that seems to be primarily of Irish descent is clearly behind Conor McGregor, but it is not phasing Mendes, who is pacing eagerly to get his hands on the Irishman.
Security is in the ring to keep them from going after each other before the bell rings as they touch gloves and jabber on during Herb Dean’s instructions. Instantly, Mendes takes McGregor down and has him on the defensive as the Irishman has landed a spinning back kick, but Mendes is smiling at him. Mendes is now on the defensive as he eats a big left cross, but takes down McGregor and is dominating his opponent from half-guard. McGregor has a cut over his right eye, no one has dominated him like this before.
Round two and McGregor is breathing heavy, but calls out Medes with a big smile. McGregor is landing several leg kicks to the body as Mendes shoots in for a single leg, but McGregor sprawls and lands a big left straight as Mendes takes him down for a third time ending up in the guard as the Irishman and lands a big right elbow. McGregor lands a few 12-6 elbows from the bottom position as Mendes complains to the referee, who tells him to continue to fight. With a little over 30 seconds left in the round, McGregor escapes as they exchange punches on their feet as McGregor knocks Mendes out with 15 seconds left in the round!
Your winner and new Interim UFC Featherweight Champion, Connor McGregor! The only thing left now is once Aldo returns from his rib injury is to unify the championship.