The UFC returned to Madison Square Garden tonight (Sat. November 3, 2018). In the main event of the evening, an interesting heavyweight title fight took place. UFC “Champ Champ” Daniel Cormier defended his heavyweight title against Derrick Lewis. “The Black Beast” got his first shot at UFC gold on the grandest stage of them all.
Also, former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman made his Octagon return. He stepped into the cage against jiu-jitsu ace Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza. That was a match-up of two former middleweight titleholders, as “Jacare” is a former Strikeforce champion. The UFC 230 pay-per-view (PPV) was stacked from top to bottom.
Check out MMA News’ UFC 230 results and live coverage below:
Main Card:
- Heavyweight: (C) Daniel Cormier vs. Derrick Lewis
Round 1:
Body kick for Lewis lands first. Leg kick from Lewis lands now. Cormier coming in on the takedown, and he’s able to get it right into half guard. Cormier working for some ground-and-pound, short elbows from the top are landing. Lewis is getting to his knees and is able to stand up. Another takedown for Cormier as soon as he lets Lewis get to his feet. Half guard again and Cormier is looking for ground-and-pound, but can’t get off much.
Big ground-and-pound from Cormier now, but Lewis gets to one knee. Some small fists from Cormier to end the round.
Round 2:
Lewis coming in with some big shots now and throws a jumping kick under Cormier’s armpit. Another takedown for Cormier but Lewis gets right back to his feet. Cormier has Lewis locked against the cage. Cormier dragging Lewis down and ankle picks him into side control. He moves to take the back and locks in the rear-naked choke. Lewis is forced to tap out.
Official Result: Daniel Cormier def. Derrick Lewis via R2 submission (rear-naked choke, 2:14)
- Middleweight: Chris Weidman vs. Jacare Souza
Round 1:
Weidman initiates the clinch and lands some knees to the body. Jacare hits an uppercut before they separate. Weidman rips off a combination and a right hand stuns Souza. Another right-hand lands but Jacare fires back with a right hand of his own. Right-hand lands for Souza, and Weidman lands a nice counter shot. Weidman is just missing on some nice shots, however, some are clipping Jacare.
Blood coming out of Jacare’s nose now, and Weidman is landing some jabs. Jacare is really punishing Weidman with liver shots and lands a headshot that wobbles Weidman a bit. The round comes to an end.
Round 2:
Both men land some nice shots inside the pocket to start things off. Nice body shot lands for Weidman, but Jacare lands a nice shot over the top. Jacare is turning this into a dogfight. Jacare is landing some nice heymakers. In the clinch Jacare lands some nice knees and Weidman eats a shot before they separate. Jacare gets hit with a big hook and stumbles back. Weidman walks forward now. And now Souza is walking Weidman down with some big shots.
Souza continues to land nice shots in the pocket, but Weidman is powering through. Weidman caught a Souza kick and nearly got on top of him on the canvas, but Souza burst up to his feet. Weidman gets a quick takedown but Jacare rolled over momentarily on top before Weidman burst to his feet.
Round 3:
Jabs from Weidman and Jacare lands a nice leg kick. Kick to the body lands for Weidman followed up by a right hand. Liver shot lands for Jacare, and he scores a leg kick, liver shot, and another liver shot. Jacare is exploding with powerful shots now, he wants the finish. Inside elbow for Weidman now, and he’s finding the home for some power shots himself.
Souza responds with a right hand, but Jacare lands a nice leg kick. Lead hook lands for Jacare, and he follows it up with a huge shot that puts Weidman out of it. Jacare wants the ref to stop the fight, but he doesn’t. Jacare is forced to follow-up with ground-and-pound, and the fight is over. What a fight.
Official Result: Jacare Souza def. Chris Weidman via R3 TKO (punches, 2:46)
- Middleweight: David Branch vs. Jared Cannonier
Round 1:
Branch gets a quick takedown right out the gates. Pressuring Cannonier against the cage now, but Cannonier rips off some elbows. Branch again in on the takedown, but Cannonier is aggressively defending, and doing it well. Back on the feet now but Branch again comes in for the takedown, and gets it. Branch really wants to take Cannonier’s back, but he’s able to get to his feet.
A failed takedown from Branch now. Branch in on a takedown against the cage, but Cannonier is able to get dominant position. Cannonier comes in with some hooks that land, and finishes off his combo with a spinning kick. Branch fails to trip Cannonier down and eats some elbows in the process.
Round 2:
Cannonier opens up with a nice leg kick and lands a shot that rocks Branch and he falls backward. Cannonier pours on the ground-and-pound, and the referee has seen enough. Cannonier with a huge upset win, excellent performance.
Official Result: Jared Cannonier def. David Branch via R2 TKO (punches, 0:29)
- Middleweight: Karl Roberson vs. Jack Marshman
Round 1:
Roberson just misses on a head-kick. Now he has Marshman against the cage. A nice uppercut lands for Roberson as he separates. A hard left-hand lands for Roberson but Marshman eats it well. Hard leg kick from Roberson now. Roberson lands a body kick but eats a shot from Marshman in the process. Nice head movement from Roberson avoids a few strikes.
Hard body kick lands for Roberson now, and Marshman responds with some hooks that rock Roberson just a bit. Marshman lands a nice combination that started with a beautiful hook to the body. The round comes to an end.
Round 2:
Roberson lands a left hand right down the pipe to open the round. Marshman unloads a crazy combo of hooks. Another left hand from Roberson pushes Marshman back, but Marshman continues to push forward with strikes of his own. Roberson lands another big left, but Marshman responds with a nice overhand. Left hook lands for Marshman, but Roberson comes in with a huge takedown right into side control.
Not much offense from Roberson from the top. The round comes to an end.
Round 3:
A nice counter left hook lands for Roberson to open the round. He follows it up with a leg kick. Roberson with another beautiful counter left hand. He lands it yet again but this time it just clips him. Roberson continues to land that counter left hand. Roberson gets the big takedown into side control.
Marshman is trying to walk the fence to get a better position, but it doesn’t work. Roberson is still in side control, and now moves into full mount. Not much offense from Roberson from full mount and the fight comes to an end.
Official Result: Karl Roberson def. Jack Marshman via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-27)
- Middleweight: Derek Brunson vs. Israel Adesanya
Round 1:
Brunson in on a takedown and locks Israel against the cage. Brunson grabbed Israel’s shorts twice, and he gave him the middle finger for it. He will lose dominant position against the cage as a result. More takedown attempts for Brunson, but he isn’t able to get it down to the mat quite yet. It’s evident that Brunson doesn’t want to stand and strike with Adesanya.
Adesanya lands a beautiful combination and stuns Brunson. Brunson tries to smile it off, but Adesanya stuns him again. After dropping Brunson to his knees several times, Adesanya forces the referee to wave the fight off. Amazing performance from Adesanya.
Official Result: Israel Adesanya def. Derek Brunson via R1 TKO (punches, 4:51)
Preliminary Card:
- Featherweight: Jordan Rinaldi def. Jason Knight via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-25, 30-26)
- Catchweight (127.2 pounds): Sijara Eubanks def. Roxanne Modafferi via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Featherweight: Sheymon Moraes def. Julio Arce via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-26)
- Welterweight: Lyman Good def. Ben Saunders via R1 KO (punches, 1:32)
UFC Fight Pass:
- Lightweight: Matt Frevola vs. Lando Vannata ends via Majority Draw (29-28, 28-28, 28-28)
- Featherweight: Shane Burgos def. Kurt Holobaugh via R1 submission (armbar, 2:11)
Catchweight (137 pounds): Brian Kelleher vs. Montel Jackson(Cancelled)- Heavyweight: Marcos Rogerio de Lima def. Adam Wieczorek via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
