Bobby Green def. Nasrat Haqparast via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

Bobby Green and Nasrat Haqparast have a lot of energy as the opening round begins. An accidental swipe/eye poke from Haqparast hinders Green early in the round, but he’s able to recover and continue. Later on, Green almost blatantly pokes Haqparast in the eye, subjecting both men to a warning of a forced fight stoppage via the referee. After a few back-and-forth combs from the two, the round ends. Both men seem super-heated, launching verbal insults and tough talk as they head into their corners.

Green is fired up as he kicks off round 2, cracking down Haqparast’s defence and forcing him back. As the onslaught from Green continues for the majority of the round, Haqparast finally fires back with a high kick, but it doesn’t affect Green! The buzzer sounds shortly after, ending the second round.

Once again, Green is hot out of the gate for the start of round 3, landing an absolutely insane number of shots. Haqparast basically played the endurance game, with next to no offence. At the end of round 3, Green walked after victorious with the unanimous decision win (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).

Renato Moicano def. Alexander Hernandez via submission (rear-naked choke) (1:23 in Round 2)

Round 1 begins with Moicano launching some solid calf kicks, followed up with a takedown attempt but it’s denied by Hernandez. Moicano’s perseverance pays off, eventually downing Hernandez, and Moicano ends up on top. They work back up to a standing base, with Hernandez keeping their opponent at bay via jabs. The buzzer sounds shortly after, ending round 1.

Round 2 begins with Hernandez continuing their jabs. Inside left by Hernandez, but Moicano begins to fight back, sending Hernandez into the cage. Before you can say ‘Renato’, Moicano has downed and locked in a real-naked choke on Hernandez. He taps and it’s all over!

Jared Cannonier def. Derek Brunson via TKO (4:29 in Round 2)

These two are definitely not playing around, as both men launch a barrage of shots to kick off round 1 of their fight. They tussle back into the cage, Brunson in control. Cannonier manages to return to his feet, successfully bombing Brunson with some heavy shots. Brunson successfully gets a great takedown and goes for the mounted position. Brunson lands a huge right hook that stuns Cannonier. He tries to quickly capitalize with a submission but Cannonier is saved by the bell.

As soon as the round 2 bell sounds, Brunson lands a bomb shot and Cannonier flops to the ground. To everyone’s surprise, Cannonier gets back up! Cannonier swings and lands a big right hook of his own on Brunson and he begins to look dazed. Another two big shots via Cannonier have Brunson seemingly seeing stars. Cannonier pounces and takes down Brunson with a flurry of huge elbow blows that quickly calls an end to this fight.

Tai Tuivasa def. Derrick Lewis via second-round knockout (1:40)

Tuivasa takes charge of the start, with his pressure on Lewis allowing him to get a few early leg kicks in. Lewis attempts to fight back, but a counter by Tuivasa sends the fight back towards and onto the cage wall. Lewis tries to defend and launch some sort of offence but to no avail. Sensing the fight is lingering too much on the wall, the referee steps in and forces a

separation of the two fighters, but the cage wall must be a fun place to be, as both men quickly send the fight back towards it once again. A few flurries and trips have this round ending. Thanks go out to the cage wall for being a part of the intense action.

Tuivasa starts off the rounds once again with leg kicks, quickly avoiding a receipt return from Lewis. Lewis manages to land a huge blow as Tuivasa reels back to the cage wall. Again. Lewis capitalizes with some arguably round-ending uppercuts, but Tuivasa hits a surprise right strike that catches Lewis. Sensing blood in the water, Tuivasa follows up with a huge elbow, knocking out Lewis!

MAIN EVENT: UFC MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Israel Adesanya def. Robert Whittaker via unanimous decision to retain the UFC middleweight title (48-47, 48-47, 49-46)

Round 1 begins with both fighters swapping and exchanging leg kicks. A good tit-for-tat moment here. Adesanya lands a solid jab and attempts a head kick, dodged, but he keeps the pressure on with a barrage of high leg kicks. A shock left knocks challenger Whittaker down to the ground! Whittaker attempts to recover by a grapple/takedown attempt but it’s no good. Adesanya, still applying the pressure, tries for a KO shot with a knee, but Whittaker manages to avoid it, sending a strike into Adesanya. Shortly thereafter the buzzer sounds, ending the round.

Round 2, and Adesanya continues his round 1 start of pressuring and peppering Whittaker with leg kicks. Whittaker eventually fires off some jabs/shots to the face of Adesanya, but the champ immediately fires back with strikes of his own! The takedown attempt by Whittaker is successful this time, but before he can gain any ground advantage, the champ returns to his feet. The cage wall returns for its greatest hits tour, as the fight spills over to the wall, with Whittaker holding Adesanya against the cage wall. The fighters reset to the center, and Adesanya goes back to the wall with his kicks. As the buzzer sounds the end of round 2, Whittaker limps off to his corner.

Round 3 in this intense match, with Whittaker kicking off this round with a jab, but the champ quickly returns to sender with a jab of his own making. Whittaker tries to repeat his takedown attempt, but the champ denies it and gives Whittaker a knee as thanks. Adesanya tries to follow up with his famed kicks, but Whittaker finally blocks it and sends the champ crashing into the canvas, though he quickly recovers. The champ targets Whittaker’s swollen leg, gets a kick in, and Whittaker trips from it. The buzzer sounds shortly after, ending this gruelling matchup.

Round 4, with this fight going either way, Adesanya returns with his famed leg kicks. Sensing he had enough of these kicks, Whittaker rushes and gets a nice takedown on Adesanya, but once again, the champ returns to his feet before any further damage can be done. This round is testing their endurance, as both men are sizing each other up, landing a few hit-and-miss combos that eventually eat up more time than damage.

With the title on the line, we enter the fifth and final round, as Whittaker lands solid jabs to kick off proceedings. Adesanya answers back with his famous kicks. Whittaker connects with a bomb of a shot, that sends the champ’s head snapping back – nasty! The champ counters the offensive push from Whittaker, but accidentally hits an eye poke in the process. Accident or not, Whittaker gets a takedown, locking his hands around Adesanya’s feet, keeping him grounded. Whittaker doing his best to try and get a TKO here, landing bomb combo after combo but to no avail. He even brings back the cage wall for an encore, holding the champ at bay against the wall. Alas, the buzzer sounds, and the judges score this in Adesanya’s favour, allowing him to successfully retain his title.

Written by: Brutaleo