UFC 235 went down live on pay-per-view (PPV) last night (Sat. March 2, 2019) from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The UFC put together one of the most stacked cards of the year. In the main event, UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones made his first title defense since 2015. He took on Anthony “Lionheart” Smith in the headliner. Also, UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley attempted to defend his title against Kamaru Usman.
The main card also featured the UFC debut of welterweight great Ben Askren. He took on former 170-pound champion Robbie Lawler. Ex-UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt tried to get back in the win column as well when he faced Pedro Munhoz. It’s was a great night of fights. Check out MMA News’ live coverage of UFC 235 here below:
Main Card:
- Light heavyweight: (C) Jon Jones vs. Anthony Smith
Round 1:
Leg kick lands for Smith. Wild swings from Jones don’t land. Spinning back kick to the body lands flush for Jones. Another leg kick for Smith lands. Jones misse son an overhand. Spinning back kick again lands to the body. Head kick lands for Smith but Jones catches it, closes distance against the cage, and is working.
Jumping shoulder shots for Jones, but they separate. Smith firing forward with some big hooks, and Jones responds with a head kick. Body and leg kicks land for Jones to close the round.
Round 2:
Smith lands a nice counter right hand, and Jones responds with a kick to the body that looks like it hurt Smith. More body kicks from Jones, who follows up with a spinning elbow. “Bones” clinching up against the cage again. Body shot lands for Smith, and he follows it up with a kick to the body. Jones lands a crips shot down the pipe and follows up with an overhand. Jones attacking the body now, and the round comes to an end with a clinch.
Round 3:
Jones gets a nice right hand to open the round up. Jones shoots in on a takedown and lands a big knee to the body before pressing against the cage. Jones working the takedown but is unable to finish. Jones finally gets the takedown and begins throwing elbows. Smith gets to his knees and is curled up against the fence. The round comes to an end.
Round 4:
Spinning back kick to the body lands for Jones. Jones stepping in with an elbow attack on Smith against the cage. Jones tosses Smith to the ground and Jones gets back mount on the ground. Big shots from Jones landing now. Big knees to the body landing for Jones. An illegal knee lands for Jones, and the action is temporarily stopped. Jones has two points taken away.
Round 5:
Smith picking up the tempo a bit but Jones isn’t backing off either. Jones gets the action against the cage and is landing some jumping shoulder shots. Jones controls the action against the cage, ends the fight with a flying knee attempt as the final horn buzzes.
Official Result: Jon Jones def. Anthony Smith via unanimous decision (48-44, 48-44, 48-44)
- Welterweight: (C) Tyron Woodley vs. Kamaru Usman
Round 1:
Woodley opens with an overhand that is just blocked. Usman gets the takedown against the cage, but Woodley has a guillotine choke in with half guard. Usman is throwing shots to the body, but Woodley loses the choke. Usman is on top working with his head hooked. Woodley gets to his knee against the cage and gets to his feet. Usman continues to press Woodley against the cage.
Jab for Usman and he dives in again on a takedown. Woodley defends well and separates. Combination for Usman lands and he’s again pressing Woodley against the cage. The referee steps in and separates the pair, who are striking again. An overhand lands for Usman, and Woodley shoots in. Usman becomes the aggressor now, and the round comes to an end.
Round 2:
Usman comes out pressing the action. He’s able to get the fight to the ground and establishes full mount on Woodley. Woodley has his hands clasped together, but Usman postures up and lands nice elbows from the top. More nice elbows land for Usman, how is now working for an arm triangle. The round comes to an end.
Round 3:
Big overhand from Woodley just misses. Usman closes distance and clinches up. He’s working the body shots hard, but no position advances so the referee breaks it up. Another clinch up for Usman, who is still working the body. No advancement again, and the referee breaks it up. Usman walking Woodley down and initiates the clinch again. The round comes to an end.
Round 4:
Another early takedown for Usman gets the fight back to the canvas. Woodley trying to scramble to his feet, but Usman is maintaining dominant position, and is hitting Woodley with shoulder shots. The referee weirdly stands the action up, and Usman is landing some big shots now. Usman is landing some big shots and Woodley is hurt. The round comes to an end.
Round 5:
Usman shoots in on the takedown, but Woodley tries to lock in a standing guillotine choke. Usman powers through for a big takedown, but Woodley loses the hook on the head. Usman continues to dominate on the ground, and Woodley has no answer for any of it.
Official Result: Kamaru Usman def. Tyron Woodley via unanimous decision (50-44, 50-44, 50-45)
- Welterweight: Robbie Lawler vs. Ben Askren
Round 1:
Askren goes for a takedown, but it’s Lawler with the stuff and a monstrous takedown of his own. Lawler lands some ferocious ground-and-pound and Askren is busted open terribly. Askren seems to have regained his composure and is working a takedown against the cage. Askren gets a bulldog choke in deep and tight. The referee steps in and calls it off, but Lawler didn’t tap, and didn’t pass out. Bad stoppage on the referee’s part.
Official Result: Ben Askren def. Robbie Lawler via R1 submission (Bulldog choke, 3:20)
- Women’s strawweight: Tecia Torres vs. Weili Zhang
Round 1:
Both women trying to find their distance early on. Torres lands a few nice right hands. Zhang responds with a nice right hand of her own inside the pocket. Zhang is now starting to put together some nice combinations. A judo throw from Zhang but Torres gets to her feet quickly, feeding Zhang a hook before they separate.
Another takedown attempt from Zhang, who works very hard before taking Torres’ back while standing. Torres escapes and we’re standing again. A throw from Torres, but Zhang lands on top and is throwing elbows from side control. The round comes to an end.
Round 2:
Nice combination from Torres to open the round. Spinning back fist lands for Zhang. Jumping front kick to the body lands for Zhang. Lead hook lands for Zhang, and both women land a body kick. Torres comes in with a huge left hook. Torres landing some big shots now, and goes for a takedown.
Zhang clinches up and gets Torres against the cage, dragging her down for the takedown. After a scramble, Torres now gets top position into Zhang’s guard. Zhang staying very active off her back, but Torres gets some nice offense in as well. The round comes to an end.
Round 3:
Kicks to the body land early for Torres. Zhang gets the clinch against the cage and both women exchange inside before separating. Nice trip takedown for Zhang, who immediately tries to work for mount. Short elbows from the top by Zhang, who maintains top position until the end of the round.
Official Result: Weili Zhang def. Tecia Torres via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
- Bantamweight: Cody Garbrandt vs. Pedro Munhoz
Round 1:
Munhoz catches a leg from Garbrandt and goes for a lock, but “No Love” scrambles away. Lots of high kicks to open things up from Garbrandt. Leg kick from Munhoz disrupts Garbrandt’s balance for a second. Garbrandt gets caught with an overhand but lands an uppercut in response. Nice defensive movement from Garbrandt and he seems to be having some issues with his left leg.
A high kick for Munhoz lands and Garbrandt folds over. Munhoz pounces on top and gets top position. Garbrandt gets to his feet and an epic slugfest ensues. A real-life Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots game breaks out, and Munhoz is able to finish “No Love” with a knockout. Both men ate hellacious shots, but it was Munhoz who landed a beautiful right hook on the ear that ended things.
Official Result: Pedro Munhoz def. Cody Garbrandt via R1 KO (punches, 4:52)
Prelims:
- Featherweight: Zabit Magomedsharipov def. Jeremy Stephens via unanimous decision 29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Light heavyweight: Johnny Walker def. Misha Cirkunov via R1 TKO (flying knee and punches, 0:36)
- Bantamweight: Cody Stamann def. Alejandro Perez via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
- Welterweight: Diego Sanchez def. Mickey Gall via R2 TKO (punches, 4:13)
UFC Fight Pass Prelims:
- Middleweight: Edmen Shahbazyan def. Charles Byrd via R1 TKO (elbows and punches, 0:38)
- Bantamweight: Macy Chiasson def. Gina Mazany via R1 TKO (punches, 1:49)
- Women’s strawweight: Hannah Cifers def. Polynna Viana via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
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