Tyron Woodley has retained the UFC Welterweight Championship, outlasting Stephen Thompson in their second fight at UFC 209: Woodley vs. Thompson 2 on Saturday. Woodley kept his belt the first time with a majority draw. This time it was also split to a degree, with two judges giving it to Woodley and one calling it a draw. Officially, Woodley wins via majority decision, 48-47, 47-47, 48-47.
The fight was very close, with Woodley being very defensive, perhaps to his detriment. Woodley landed more shots overall, especially after getting a takedown and some ground-and-pound in the third round. Thompson landed nothing of significance throughout the fight, but he kept pushing the action and created the illusion that Woodley was running from him.
Woodley didn’t really respond until the fifth when he lands huge right and left hooks on Thompson, staggering him and sending him to the ground. The round came to an end with Thompson in deep trouble, with Woodley swarming and coming very, very close to winning a TKO.
The card received some bad news on Friday when Khabib Nurmagomedov pulled out of his interim lightweight championship bout with Tony Ferguson. But it ended up being a very exciting main card altogether, from the opening fight between Alistair Overeem through the new co-main event between Lando Vannata and David Teymur.
Overeem and Hunt fought a nice back-and-forth for three rounds, but the fight ended when Overeem landed two brutal knees in the clinch that put the hard-to-knock-out Hunt out cold. In the following fight, Cynthia Calvillo made short work of Amanda Cooper with a first-round rear-naked choke victory.
Dan Kelly and Rashad Evans combined for an incredibly entertaining three-round fight in which Kelly frustrated Evans with his unique judo-based striking style. In the end, Kelly took the win. In the co-main, Vannata and Teymur both landed some impressive strikes and showed off their incredible chins, but Teymur ultimately landed the more significant strikes and took a decision.
Below, we’ve got the round-by-round recap of the main card as well as the full results from every fight on Saturday’s card.
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Tyron Woodley def. Stephen Thompson via majority decision (48-47, 47-47, 48-47)
Round 1: Thompson takes the center of the octagon and Woodley is waiting for a counter shot. Thompson looks a bit bigger than he did the first time they fought. Woodley throws from range and tries for a flurry, but Thompson backs out of the way. The two continue to test range two minutes into the fight. Thompson throws a fast head kick but Woodley checks it. Woodley keeps being pushed back as Thompson flicks out quick kicks, but nobody is landing yet. They have five rounds and they seem to know it. Woodley is reacting but Thompson isn’t committing to anything big. The crowd is booing but it’s kind of silly given how much fight there is to go. The round comes to an end with neither fighter landing anything.
Round 2: The first round probably went to Thompson simply because he was the only one who threw strikes. Woodley’s corner tells him to stop reacting and start being the aggressor, and he throws some shots at the start of the second, but nothing lands. He quickly goes back to defensive mode though. Woodley looks like he’s afraid to throw with Thompson’s varied striking. Woodley, pressured into the cage, throws and lands a nice right, but he doesn’t follow it up. Thompson lands a quick front kick but there is no follow-up. The round comes to an end after Thompson lands a kick to the body.
Round 3: Woodley shoots for a single-leg takedown early but Thompson defends and they get to the cage. Woodley hangs on though, and eventually gets Thompson down. He throws some body shots and strikes from half guard. Woodley lands several strong left hands because Thompson’s arm is trapped. He’s unable to defend but Woodley can’t throw with a ton of power. Still, he’s doing the most damage of the fight. Thompson gets up and Woodley clinches with him, throwing a pair of knees, one of which lands on the head but not that hard. They separate with 2:30 to go in the third round. Thompson is throwing more in the standup but he’s not following anything up. He’ll throw a very quick jab and then back up before Woodley is even finished dodging the first strike. Woodley lands a strong right over the top with 30 seconds to go but there’s no follow-up. Woodley throws a wild right hook that misses. Thompson tees up and lands a big left hook in the final 10 seconds. It was probably a round for Woodley.
Round 4: Into the championship rounds we go. There is some more striking to start this round than before, but still nothing big. Thompson throws a wheel kick that flusters Woodley, but no big damage. Thompson throws a couple more head kicks and there’s really nothing of significance thrown at all. It’s the slowest round yet, with a high kick from Thompson being the only thing to land that was worth anything.
Round 5: Woodley’s corner tells him he has to finish the fight and that he needs a takedown. Woodley is immediately on the attack for the first time in the fight. He’s pressing Thompson back into the cage this time, but he’s still wary of those kicks. Thompson avoids a flurry and sticks a side kick into Woodley for good measure. Woodley goes for a takedown but Thompson steps away from it. Woodley throws a left hook and Thompson throws a left high kick, both blows glancing. Ninety seconds to go in the fight and Woodley is still pushing Thompson back, but he isn’t really throwing anything of significance. Now it’s Thompson who is backing up, but nobody is landing. Woodley lands a huge right hook that stuns Thompson and then a left. Thompson is hurt big time and Woodley is on him, throwing flurries. Thompson goes down briefly but he gets to his feet. Woodley lands a huge left straight as Thompson circles away. The fight comes to an end with Thompson definitely hurt, but potentially still earning the decision.
David Teymur def. Lando Vannata via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Round 1: Vannata throws a high kick but Teymur gets away from it. Vannata throws a huge right straight, but again Teymur is out of range. Vannata throws a switch kick from the left and lands on the body. The two throw a flurry with Vannata tryign both a spinning kick and a spinning back fist, with Teymur searching for a hook the whole time but they both manage toe scape with nothing landing. Vannata steps through a wheel kick that hits Teymur and then follows up with a flurry that staggers Teymur big time. Vannata tries to follow up, but Teymur recovers. Teymur lands a hard left hand that backs Vannata up with two minutes to go. Teymur lands a hard right hand and Vannata’s mouth guard comes out so they separate briefly. Vannata lands a strong spinning back kick to the body and misses with a pair of high kicks. Vannata shoots for a takedown and briefly gets it, but Teymur gets back to his feet quickly. Teymur staggers Vannata against the cage but Vannata opens a cut over Teymur’s left eye. Vannata tries another wheel kick as the round comes to an end.
Round 2: Referee Herb Dean thinks too much water has been dumped on Vannata so he towels him off before the round. They engage in the center of the octagon with Vannata being the primary aggressor. Teymur lands a nice one-two combo but Vannata clinches up and they separate. Teymur lands two massive knees in the clinch when they clinch up again, but Vannata eats them. Vannata lands a hard right jab and Teymur lands an outside hook but again, both are standing. Teymur goes for a takedown and gets it, but they pop right back up. Teymur lands some strong shots and Vannata eats them, but he’s taking a lot of damage. The round comes to an end.
Round 3: Teymur lands a hard knee and kick to the body. Both fighters are pushing the pace in the third round. Vannata lands a hard right hand but Teymur shakes it off. Vannata throws another body kick but Vannata doesn’t even acknowledge it. Then he throws an inside leg kick and another body kick, this one seems to do some damage. Vannata throws some low kicks of his own that land hard. Teymur lands huge with a one-two combo but Vannata eats it, same as he has been. Teymur gets a takedown, but Vannata immediately pops up to his feet. Teymur is using the takedown attempts to keep Vannata’s pressure off him. Teymur lands a hard combo with a minute left and then secures another takedown, but Vannata pops back up again. Thirty seconds to go and Vannata is still pushing the pace but he’s not landing anything. Teymur lands two more punches, while Vannata is just walking forward. The round came to an end with Teymur controlling the action.
Dan Kelly def. Rashad Evans via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Round 1: The two exchange from range for the first minute, with Evans throwing a hook and head kick combo, but nothing lands. There’s an awful lot of tape under the guard on Kelly’s knee, but he’s still throwing from it so only he knows how much he’s hurt. Kelly lands a nice right hand but Evans shakes it off. Kelly lands another one as Evans is disengaging, but nothing serious. Evans looks like he’s just waiting for that right hand. Finally, Evans goes for a takedown at two minutes but Kelly defends well and fights it off. Evans went right for Kelly’s injured knee. Evans lands a nice uppercut, but Kelly clips Evans again with the left hand. They clinch and Kelly lands some lefts, tries a takedown of his own but is unable to get it. Evans lands a huge body kick as the round comes to a close, but it was probably Kelly’s round.
Round 2: Evans lands a nice jab to start the round. Kelly tries a couple trips but doesn’t land them, but he is throwing Evans off his balance with them. Kelly is putting his hands out there and Evans is taking the bait, grabbing them instead of throwing his own combinations. Evans lands a big knee as the two disengage from a takedown attempt by Kelly, but so far no serious damage has been dealt in the second round. Evans pokes Kelly in the eye and the action is stopped briefly. They get back underway after a warning from referee John McCarthy. Evans lands another hard body kick, something his corner has been calling for all round. Kelly lands some nice jabs but Evans goes for a takedown, which he gets, but they pop right back up to the feet with a minute to go. Evans throws a huge head kick but Kelly catches it and pushes him into the cage. They both throw as they separate with 10 seconds to go. The round comes to an end and it could have gone either way.
Round 3: Evans is throwing a lot more in the third round, several jabs, but isn’t landing any of them. Kelly trips Evans but doesn’t follow it up and they get back to the feet. Kelly lands a right jab as Evans lands another body kick. Evans is starting to find his range and is landing with several jabs, but Kelly is still moving forward and throwing in the pocket as well. Evans is landing more than he has in any round but Kelly doesn’t look particularly bothered by them. Kelly lands some left hands in the clinch. With a minute to go Kelly lands another straight left and they clinch. Evans lands a knee to the body as they separate. Kelly is looking a little tired out at this point. There is more dirty boxing in the clinch between the two. They both landed. Evans goes down for a takedown and grabs Kelly’s shorts, which rip. The referee stops the action and warns Evans. With the final 10 seconds, the two swing over and over, throwing and landing, and it’s both fighters windmilling in the final seconds as the round comes to an end.
Cynthia Calvillo def. Amanda Cooper via submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:19 of Round 1
Round 1: Both fighters exchange being the aggressor in the early exchanges but nobody is landing anything just yet. Calvillo looks eager to stand and trade, an unexpected strategy from her. Cooper throws a kick and Calvillo catches it, and secures the takedown. Cooper fights her off from side control and tries to get to her feet. She goes for a takedown of her own but Calvillo rolls through it and locks in an anaconda choke She loses it but transitions to Cooper’s back and tries to work from there. It was a very fast scramble that took all of a couple seconds to happen. Calvillo sinks her arm underneath Cooper’s neck for the rear-naked choke and eventually gets on top of Cooper while sinking the choke. Cooper has no choice but to tap or pass out, and Calvillo takes the win.
Alistair Overeem def. Mark Hunt via KO (knee) at 1:44 of Round 3
Round 1: Hunt throws a hard leg kick and the bout is on. Hunt throws a couple more leg kicks, one of which Overeem checks effectively and opens up a huge gash on Hunt’s shin. It’s leaking blood at a huge rate, he must have cut it on Overeem’s tough shins. Hunt doesn’t look affected by it though and two continue throwing outside shots. Hunt throws a big body kick with his cut shin, so he’s clearly able to handle it. Overeem has a whole lot of Hunt’s blood on his body but neither fighter is landing anything big. Overeem stumbles near the end of the round and Hunt cocks back his right hand, and Overeem actually runs because he has no defensible spot from Hunt’s right hand. Nothing lands though and the round comes to an end.
Round 2: Hunt gets Vaseline smeared on the gash on his shin and the second round gets underway. Overeem is clinching up any time Hunt gets in the pocket, which is a smart move because it takes just one shot. They clinch against the cage and Overeem throws some hard knees. They disengage and Hunt wobbles Overeem with a hard right. Overeem is backing up against the cage, clearly rattled from the shot. But Overeem clinched up and pushed Hunt against the cage, saving himself briefly. Overeem throws more hard knees in the clinch and Hunt can’t deal with Overeem’s power this close. Hunt disengages and lands a hard left shot and Overeem quickly ties up again as the round comes to a close.
Round 3: Overeem throws a right hook but Hunt blocks it. Overeem throws another very hard shot but it doesn’t land. He’s throwing harder than he has all fight. Hunt throws a left and Overeem jogs away with his back to Hunt. The two meet again near the cage and Overeem clinches up again. This time, he’s not throwing body shots, but instead throws a massive, massive knee that knocks Hunt completely out. Hunt is held up by Overeem, but is clearly out. He throws a second knee and the ref comes in to stop it.
Pay-per-view main card results
Welterweight: Tyron Woodley def. Stephen Thompson via majority decision (48-47, 47-47, 48-47)
Lightweight: David Teymur def. Lando Vannata via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Middleweight: Dan Kelly def. Rashad Evans via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Women’s strawweight: Cynthia Calvillo def. Amanda Cooper via submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:19 of Round 1
Heavyweight: Alistair Overeem def. Mark Hunt via KO (knee) at 1:44 of Round 3
Fox Sports 1 prelims results
Heavyweight: Marcin Tybura def. Luis Henrique via TKO at 3:46 of Round 3
Featherweight: Darren Elkins def. Mirsad Bektic via KO (punches and head kick) at 3:19 of Round 3
Bantamweight: Iuri Alcantara def. Luke Sanders via submission (kneebar) at 3:13 of Round 2
Heavyweight: Mark Godbeer def. Daniel Spitz via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
UFC Fight Pass prelims results
Light heavyweight: Tyson Pedro def. Paul Craig via TKO (elbows) at 4:10 of Round 1
Bantamweight: Albert Morales def. Andre Soukhamthath via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)