UFC 218 lived up to expectations.
The UFC returned to Pay Per View with a stacked card featuring a rematch for the UFC Featherweight Title with a former longtime champion. The Ultimate Fighter Finale was such a fun card on Friday night that UFC 218 had a lot to contend with. With a main event featuring Max “Blessed” Holloway (18-3 Featherweight Champion) facing the late notice replacement and former champion Jose Aldo (26-3 #1 Ranked Featherweight). The night was filled with so many fun moments and great finishes starting from fight one to the 13th fight of the night. The UFC could not have asked for a better card from UFC 218.
The night kicked off on Fight Pass in the Heavyweight Division as Justin “Big Pretty” Willis (6-1) went up against the debuting Allen “Pretty Boy” Crowder (9-3 1NC). Crowder came out trying to throw multiple body kicks and each time they were caught by Willis and right hands came flying at Crowder’s face. In the clinch, Willis landed some heavy uppercuts and a hard knee. Willis was all over Crowder with heavy right hands and more knees to the head. Crowder ate a hard left hand that stunned him badly and backed him off against the cage. Willis followed up with heavy shots against the cage including one final left hook that ended this fight in the very first round.
We moved down to Light Heavyweight as Jeremy “Grizzly” Kimball (15-7) looked to stop the rise of Dominick “The Devastator” Reyes (8-0). Reyes immediately led off with a kick to the body straight up the middle that was caught. Kimball then waited and rushed forward into the clinch. Reyes tried for a standing guillotine but instead was slammed to the mat by Kimball. Reyes got back to his feet, but the clinch was on from Kimball. Kimball brought him to his knees briefly and as he was there landed two hard left hands. Reyes reversed it and ended up in side control with a takedown of his own. Kimball was able to sweep to full guard, but ate a hard right hand for his effort. Kimball gave up his back. And Reyes almost immediately locked in a body triangle and worked to soften him up. Reyes was really laying on elbows and eventually opened up a perfect opportunity to sink in the choke. It was a matter of time and the tap came. This was an impressive win for Dominick Reyes as he was able to show off his ground game against some adversity. He is such an exciting prospect and is so needed at 205lbs.
The Welterweights took the cage next as Sabah “The Problem” Homasi (11-7) and Abdul Razak Alhassan (8-1) went at it. Homasi landed a hard leg kick along with a hard straight right to kick off the fight. Homasi came forward and a counter left right from Alhassan landed hard. Alhassan clipped a hard right hand that forced Homasi to go for a takedown, but Alhassan avoided it and came back with two hard uppercuts before the clinch against the cage started. Homasi battled off the cage with two hard knees to the body. Still hanging in the clinch Homasi scored two hard right hands that buckled Alhassan and found homasi on top on the ground landing heavy elbows. Alhassan battled off the bottom and got back to the clinch against the cage. Homasi almost gave up his back, but Alhassan couldn’t hold on. Alhassan came forward with winging shots and the clinch against the cage began. These two were at it against the cage and just throwing crazy shots. Alhassan clipped Homasi and he sunk down and then Herb Dean stepped in and stopped the fight to an immediate protest from Homasi. The fight was most certainly stopped early, and much to the dismay of the crowd and Homasi. Alhassan has power, and it would have been interesting to see where that fight would have gone had it been allowed to keep going.
The Women’s Strawweight Division ended the prelims on Fight Pass Amanda “ABC” Cooper (4-3) took on Angela “Your Majesty” Magana (11-9). Cooper came out fast trying to land early and walked her way into the jab of Magana. Cooper caught a body kick and rushed forward and went for a takedown and Magana clearly held on to the cage. Cooper stayed attached to her and took her down into full mount immediately. Magana gave up her back but was able to sneak out and ended up n half guard and then full guard. A wardrobe malfunction stopped this briefly and we got back started and Magana tried to throw up a submission, but Cooper avoided it. Cooper got herself into a crucifix position and was unloading. Magana battled off and gave up her back but escaped a rear naked choke. Cooper kept pounding and looking for a submission as the round ended. Cooper scored a takedown immediately in round two and the ground and pound were on. Cooper just continued to transition and out grapple Magana. Cooper had a tight rear naked choke, but just could not get it finished so she went back to the ground and pound. Cooper kept searching for the rear naked choke, but Magana was staying in it. This was just an onslaught of damage from Cooper. Eventually, Keith Peterson had seen enough and stopped this one. Amanda Cooper looked the best she has since joining the UFC. Her ground game was just unrelenting and dominant. If she expects to move up into the rankings she will need to keep these performances coming.
The FS1 portion of the night started stayed in the 115lb division with Felice “Lil Bulldog” Herrig (14-6 #9 Ranked Women’s Strawweight) and Cortney “Cast Iron” Casey (7-5 #11 Ranked Women’s Strawweight). Casey landed a nice early left hand, and Herrig was trying to close the distance. Herrig did a great job ducking a shot and landing a nice counter right hand. Herrig tagged another left hand in there as she dipped into range. Casey responded with a hard overhand right that landed. Casey landed another right hand but ate a hard left hand. Herrig came rushing forward and was hit with big shots, but got the clinch game started up against the cage. Herrig got the takedown from the cage and found herself in a high half guard. Casey battled for a kimura from the bottom and ended up reversing the position into side control before she popped up to her feet and got to the center of the Octagon. Casey landed a hard elbow forcing Herrig to rush in and land shots of her own at the bell. Round 2 started with Herrig trying to take the center of the Octagon and landed a nice left hand in an early exchange. Casey was getting some nicer right hands in, but Herrig landed another nice left probably her best of the fight. Herrig landed another nice short right hand. Another over the top right hand from Herrig landed. Casey responded with a short right hook, but Herrig was staying more on the outside. Casey landed a nice leg kick, but Herrig responded with a hard left hand. Herrig closed out the round with another hard right hand and body kick followed by the clinch against the cage. Casey pushed her off just prior to the round coming to an end. The center of the cage is where they met in round 3 and Herrig was landing early again while avoiding the shots from Casey. Casey landed a left hand, but nothing to follow it. Herrig snuck in a nice right hand that landed clean. Herrig continued to land shots while diving in and out and avoiding the return fire from Casey. The two traded middle fingers causing the feed to go out briefly and there was some real emotion finally being shown. Casey landed a hard right hand towards the end, but this fight came to an end. The judges finally got involved tonight and scored it 29-28 Herrig, 29-28 Casey, and the winner by split decision 29-28 for Felice Herrig. This was a weird fight that really never moved from a kickboxing match. Herrig is one of the toughest ladies at 115lbs and this win continues to propel her to a potential top 5 opponent next.
In a matchup of two serious strikers, David Teymur (7-1) took on Drakkar Klose (8-1-1). Klose came out and immediately cut off the Octagon. The two traded leg kicks and Teymur landed a hard body kick. Klose caught a kick and spun Teymur around and landed a jumping knee to the body. Klose stood in front of him with his hands down just trying to egg Teymur into action. Teymur did not bite and they just continued to move around the Octagon. Teymur landed a straight right hand and then Herb Dean stopped the fight to give Teymur a warning for continuing to go backward, but it seemed unnecessary. The action certainly picked up and they went back and forth landing big shots. Klose had to block two head kicks from Teymur. Klose ripped a hard body kick and ate a right hand at the same time. Teymur rushed forward, and Klose shot for a hard double leg takedown, however, Teymur got right back to his feet. Klose landed a spinning kick to the body and deflected a kick at the end of the round. Klose again tried to cut off the Octagon to start the round and swung with bad intentions but did not connect. Teymur ripped a hard inside leg kick and then a body kick. Klose rushed forward and threw a hard jumping knee that just missed. Klose caught a body kick from Teymur and tried for a takedown, but was unable to get Teymur down. Klose caught another kick and landed a hard right hand in return. Teymur landed another hard leg kick. Teymur went for a takedown but abandoned it quickly. Klose rushed in and was hit with a hard left hook from Teymur. Klose hit him with a hard body kick and 1 2 combinations and went for the clinch, but Teymur stayed upright. Klose went for a jumping knee but Teymur caught the knee and it led to a takedown from Teymur. Teymur did not do a ton of damage and the best shot was probably an elbow from the bottom from Klose as the round ended. The 3rd round started with a Teymur head kick. Klose continued to press forward to try and go for the finish he most likely needs. There was an eye poke from Teymur that stopped the fight temporarily. On the restart, Klose just kept moving forward and threw another jumping knee. Teymur was able to avoid it and just continued to keep himself from being damaged. Klose was frustrated with Teymur, but there really wasn’t the running he was accusing Teymur of. Klose landed a takedown with the help on a shorts grab that was missed. Teymur battled right back to his feet without any real damage. Klose landed a nice uppercut in the next exchange. Teymur went for a takedown, but Klose was able to stay on his feet. The fight ended with little action and the judges will decide this one. They scored it30-27, 30-27, and 29-28 all for David Teymur. Hard fought victory for Teymur even with the weirdness of the situation with accused stalling. His striking was very on point tonight and his use of leg kicks really controlled the fight.
Up next we had Alex “Cowboy” Oliveira (17-4-1 2NC) and Yancy Medeiros (15-4 1NC) at 170lbs. Oliveira landed the first significant shot of the fight with a hard right hand. He followed it up with multiple body kicks that hurt Medeiros. Then out of nowhere, Medeiros landed a hard punch that dropped Oliveira. Medeiros was unable to capitalize and finish as Oliveira came storming back at Medeiros landing big shots and forcing the clinch. A low knee from Oliveira paused it briefly. On the restart, Oliveira then dropped Medeiros with a big shot, but Medeiros recovered. These guys were swinging for the fences and Oliveira landed a straight right that dropped Medeiros. Cowboy swarmed and was just landing at will with shots, but somehow Medeiros was staying on his feet and returning fire. Oliveira was staying on top of him mixing up his strikes including a hard kick to the body. There was still 40 seconds left in one of the craziest rounds you are ever going to see. Oliveira began teeing off again landing more hard right hands, but Medeiros fired back and that was a top 5 candidate for round of the year. The two showed some love for each other to start the round and Oliveira was moving forward with hard rights and kicks to the body. Medeiros landed three hard left hooks that backed Oliveira off and had him moving away. Cowboy landed a hard right hand, but Medeiros responded with a hard left. These two were in a much more slowed down pace, but it was a back and forth battle. Oliveira was really working the body and just relentlessly moving forward. Oliveira went for a throw and it was reversed and Medeiros landed on top in full mount raining down big elbows, but Oliveira was able to sneak out. Medeiros landed some hard shots as the round came to an end. Medeiros led off with a high kick that Oliveira blocked it and landed a hard right hand. Oliveira has landed at will early and hurting Medeiros and then secured a takedown. Medeiros was able to reverse the position and get on top while he was working for mount. Oliveira got back to his to his feet, but Medeiros just started unloading against the cage and Oliveira was doing nothing but covering up and eventually tipped over and went down. This was one of the best fights of the year and is not even a question. The back and forth and nonstop action was just crazy. Medeiros showed so much heart and to come back and get the win after being hurt multiple times to come back and stop Cowboy is impressive.
Closing out the FS1 Prelims an excellent matchup between Charles “Do Bronx” Oliveira (22-8 1NC) and Paul “The Irish Dragon” Felder (15-3). Oliveira led with two hard leg kicks that landed. Felder came right back at him and threw a hard punch, but a takedown from Oliveira. Felder was doing his best to fight off the mat. Oliveira was all over Felder’s neck and trying to get a choke. Oliveira was staying all over him and Felder was unable to get out. Oliveira appeared to land an illegal knee but there was no reaction from the referee. Felder then got up and ended up wearing Oliveira as a backup, but Felder threw him off him. Felder instead of making Oliveira get up dove right in with heavy ground and pound and elbows. Felder backed off and dropped a huge right hand. Felder continued to work into Oliveira’s guard and land shots from the top. Oliveira started round 2 with an immediate takedown attempt. Felder got his back off the cage and then Oliveira reversed that back. Felder landed a hard elbow against the cage and continued to pile on shots. Oliveira was staying on his back and working the position. Felder had backed off The ground game continued from Oliveira where he searched for a kneebar, but Felder escaped and landed a big punch and some hard elbows from the briefly, but found himself back in the guard of Oliveira. Felder then just started unloading heavy elbows forcing the tap due to strikes from Oliveira. This was a huge win for Felder and should see him and his vicious striking in the Top 15 next.
We jump to the Pay Per View and got started with a Top 6 Women’s Strawweight matchup between Tecia “Tiny Tornado” Torres (10-1 #5 Ranked Women’s Strawweight) and Michelle “The Karate Hottie” Waterson (14-6 #6 Ranked Women’s Featherweight). They came out and touched gloves and Waterson landed a left high kick as Torres looked to pressure. Waterson went for a takedown and secured it taking Torres back. Torres had the Waterson backpack on briefly but Torres was able to battle and get Waterson off her. Torres reversed the position and backed off. Torres kept moving forward and landing shots. Waterson hit a kick to the head as well. Torres was getting in close landing knees to the body and elbows inside the clinch up against the fence. Waterson landed a nice right hand on the break in the clinch, but Torres was right back into the clinch game. Waterson kept trying to land sidekicks to the body, but Torres moved forward and closed the round with a flurry of elbows and punches. Torres was continuing to land early in round 2, but Waterson came back with a hard knee to the head. Waterson scored a solid takedown and was now in Torres guard. Torres tried o grab for a kimura, but Waterson was able to escape and just continue to control the position. Torres tried for a triangle and then an armbar, but Waterson stayed on top until the waning seconds of the round and stuffed a late takedown attempt. The third round was next and it started with Torres hitting a straight right. Torres went for the clinch against the cage and was holding Waterson against it for a period. The two worked their way into a kickboxing match with Torres landing the more significant shots. Waterson stumbled to the mat and Torres came sneaking in and ate a huge up-kick from Waterson. Torres switched to the back of Waterson and was on her back not doing much. Waterson slipped and Torres had her back completely and was unloading on her late in the round. Waterson was able to escape and get back to her feet late in the round and then land a few shots just prior to the horn. The judges scored this one 30-27, 29-28, and 29-28 all for Tecia Torres. This was a huge win for Torres and could honestly mean a title shot is next for her. The step up in competition was big and Torres really delivered.
The end of The Ultimate Fighter Season as the coaches did battle with Eddie “The Underground King” Alvarez (29-5 1NC #4 Ranked Lightweight) and the undefeated Justin “The Highlight” Gaethje (18-1 #5 Ranked Lightweight). Gaethje started out with leg kicks and just constant pressure. An overhand right from Gaethje landed, but an uppercut from Alvarez was fired back. Gaehtje just kept going back to the leg kick well. Both guys were landing shots but Gaehtje buckled the knee of Alvarez. Alvarez tried to shake it off and moved forward with body shots. The leg kicks were continuing to add up and Alvarez caught a body kick and sent Gaethje to the mat. Gaethje got back to his feet quickly. Alvarez was really working the body and it was having an effect. Alvarez threw a rolling somersault kick late in the round, but it missed. Alvarez landed a leg kick early to start round 2. Alvarez was finding more and more success in the exchanges with Gaethje. Gaethje responded with a big looping right hand but ate a big left in return. Alvarez was just unloading on body shots, but Gaethje was standing right in front of him returning fire. Gaethje rushed forward and Alvarez flipped him backwards and landed a hard kick as Geathje got back to his feet. Alvarez had some crazy swelling on the right side of his face and Gaethje threw a flying knee right at the end of the round. The third round started with a flurry from Alvarez, and these guys were exchanging. Two very hard leg kicks from Gaethje had Alvarez limping towards him. Alvarez tried to pull guard and had switched stances when he got back up. Gaethje landed a solid uppercut and then a body kick. Another hard leg kick had Alvarez hurting. Alvarez tried to spin and ended up on Gaethje’s back securing a takedown. Gaethje was able to escape and go back to throwing heavy leg kicks. An inside leg kick buckled Alvarez to the mat, but he rose right up and shook his fingers to the crowd. Alvarez landed some uppercuts in the clinch and was trying to continue to close the distance. Gaethje landed two hard uppercuts as the fight neared the final minute. Then Alvarez landed a huge knee in the clinch and Gaethje collapsed to the mat. Alvarez initially celebrated then jumped on Gaethje to pound out the end of the fight. This was an absolute war, and Eddie Alvarez proved that he still absolutely belongs in the title talk.
Two top 5 Flyweights were up next as Henry “The Messenger” Cejudo (12-2 #2 Ranked Flyweight) took on Sergio Pettis (16-3 #4 Ranked Flyweight). Pettis landed a jab and a leg kick early to start the fight. They danced around to try and find the range, and Cejudo shot for and got a takedown. Cejudo was able to transition from side control to taking Pettis’s back and was controlling him on the mat. Pettis was able to shake him off, but he was unable to get up. Cejudo continued to keep him on the mat and finished the round landing some serious ground and pound. The two were exchanging body kicks to start round 2 and Pettis landed a very hard one that got Cejudo’s attention. A slip from Pettis led to a takedown from Cejudo, and he was back on top in a dominant position. Pettis was trying his best to get offense off his back, but Cejudo was able to transition away consistently. Cejudo was then riding the back of Pettis trying to land as many strikes as possible. Pettis battled his way to his feet, but Cejudo was just attached to his back. With under a minute Pettis was able to separate and land a body kick. Cejudo was able to evade and keep himself out of danger as the round came to an end. The third round was started with Cejudo trying to strike, and the countering of Pettis starting to land. Cejudo ripped a hard leg kick after failing with a takedown attempt. Cejudo then grabbed for another takedown and secured the single leg to end up in Pettis’ guard. Cejudo was able to lay on top of him and tried to advance the position multiple times. Pettis squeaked his way out, but ended up on all fours, and then reversed back to the guard. Cejudo postured up and ate an up kick. Pettis got the separation but was unable to land anything significant. Cejudo kept the grappling pressure on and ended the fight with the clinch. The judges scored this one 30-27 across the board for Cejudo. This was a nice win for Cejudo in a fight he should have one. Cejudo is making his claim to get another crack at the belt.
The Co-Main event is in the Heavyweight Division as Alistair “The Demolition Man” Overeem (43-16 1NC #1 Ranked Heavyweight) took on rising Heavyweight contender Francis “The Predator” Ngannou (11-1 #4 Ranked Heavyweight). Overeem immediately came at Ngannou with a left hook that missed. Overeem immediately went to the clinch against the fence. The position was reversed very quickly and Ngannou was now in the controlling position. The referee separated them due to inactivity and we were back in the center of the Octagon. On the restart, a vicious left hook from Ngannou shuts off the lights of Overeem and he was out well before he hit the mat. Ngannou added one hammer fist for good measure but it was all over. Ngannou is the scariest human being in the UFC. That was an incredible knockout, and there is absolutely a title shot in the very near future.
The rematch for the Featherweight Title closed out the night as Max “Blessed” Holloway (18-3 Featherweight Champion) looked to defend his belt for the first time against Jose Aldo (26-3 #1 Ranked Featherweight). Holloway feinted early and throws two quick jabs at Aldo. Aldo was looked to feel this out and finally threw a punch over a minute in. Aldo landed a hard leg kick and then an overhand right that connected. Holloway was taunting Aldo a little, and had to eat another leg kick for his effort. They grabbed for a clinch, and Aldo landed a hard knee to the body. Aldo put together two nice right hands that landed. Holloway was peppering in his left hand causing swelling under the right eye of Aldo. Holloway started to get frustrated and was taunting Aldo and ended up eating a hard uppercut from Aldo late in the round that he laughed and clapped at as the round ended. Holloway was pressing forward and landing his jab over and over again. Aldo came back with a right-left combo that connected. The two traded jabs and body shots back and forth. Aldo landed two loud resonating leg kicks that appeared to have an effect. He followed it up with a third leg kick. They clinched and Aldo threw Holloway off of him. Holloway caught a leg kick and returned fire to the body. Holloway pressed him up against the cage and then landed a spinning back kick to the body. The two then traded hard shots in an exchange with Holloway getting the better. Holloway threw a flying knee and a knee in the clinch that both missed as round 2 came to an end. Holloway again moved forward in round 3, but a knee to the body and hard leg kick from Aldo is what came back at him. A brief clinch was finished with a hard elbow on the break from Aldo. Holloway was standing in front of his hands down talking to him and a big exchange came from both guys with Aldo landing a crisp right hand to end it. Holloway was unfazed and kept the pressure on Aldo. These guys just started letting go and both landed big shots. Holloway looked unaffected while Aldo was slowing a bit. Holloway had Aldo pressed up against the cage and was just unloading, but Aldo was able to stay in it returning fire. Aldo started covering and Holloway was doing a ton of damage. Aldo was forced to try for a takedown, but it resulted in Holloway on top of the mat. Holloway was just unloading shots down onto him. Herb Dean had seen enough and the stoppage came from there. Holloway proved tonight he is absolutely the best Featherweight in the world. He is a scary striker who can take a punch for a fact. 12 straight wins is nothing to sneeze at.
UFC 218 was certainly a hyped up card, and it was good reason. The emergence of the scariest Heavyweight Contender in years and the defining moment of a new champion. The UFC now has some serious stars on the rise and that is great for business. The UFC is continuing to roll after a very successful 2 nights of events right into next weekend on FS1. That card is headlined by a Top 10 Featherweight showdown with Cub Swanson (25-7 #4 Ranked Featherweight) and rising contender Brian “T-City” Ortega (12-0 1NC #6 Ranked Featherweight). That could create the next matchup for Max Holloway and that would be perfect for the UFC with Holloway’s win so fresh in everyone’s mind.
