UFC 218 Results: Live Updates, Highlights and Reaction
Max Holloway successfully defending his featherweight title, besting Jose Aldo for the second time this year. The rematch played out much as the first contest, Aldo starting strong but failing to match the pace of Holloway, and eventually succumbing to the onslaught in the third round. The victory marks Holloway's first successful title defense. Francis Ngannou obliterated Alistair Overeem in the co-main event, scoring one of the most devastating knockouts on record in the first round of their tussle. The triumph sets him up for a title shot opposite Stipe Miocic. Scroll down for Bleacher Report's full recap of the night's action.
- December 3, 2017
Just Like Last Time...
Holloway set a pace Aldo simply couldn't match.
- Invalid Date
- December 3, 2017
Max Holloway Def. Jose Aldo, TKO (Round 3, 4:51)
Max Holloway vs. Jose Aldo: Round 3
Holloway continues to utilize his jab, while Aldo is making use of his legs, landing a knee to the body and a kick to the thigh. Holloway begins moving well between head and body, starting his combinations on one level and ending on another. both guys plant there feet and swing, each hitting with power punches to the face. Aldo stumbles out of the engagement, while Holloway ambles forward unconcerned. Holloway continues to blast away until Aldo flails for a takedown and winds up on the bottom. Holloway continues to hammer away, forcing the referee to jump in and call the stoppage.
Max Holloway vs. Jose Aldo: Round 2
A stiff jab connects for Holloway, and Aldo goes back to the leg-kick. The Brazilian adds a right-left combination that snaps his opponent's head back, then digs to the ribs to open the next exchange. More jabs from Holloway, but Aldo is landing the more powerful shots, including a trio of leg-kicks that shake the Hawaiian's foundation. Holloway answers with a kick to the body, then reels off a series of punches, picking up the pace to close out the round.
Bleacher Report scores Round 2: 10-9 Holloway
Max Holloway vs. Jose Aldo: Round 1
Aldo backs away as Holloway moves forward, allowing 80 seconds to run off the clock before the first engagement. The Brazilian hits with a leg-kick and Holloway comes back with a left hand to the face. The fighters continue to exchange, both landing some solid shots but neither pulling away with anything too powerful. Holloway calls Aldo on and eats a big uppercut and left hook.
Bleacher Report scores Round 1: 10-9 Aldo
Max Holloway vs. Jose Aldo
I Can't Image Many Heavyweight Like the Idea of Fighting This Man
That Certain Looks Like a Future Champion
Ngannou Celebrates the Massive Knockout
Francis Ngannou Def. Alistair Overeem, Knockout (Round 1, 1:43)
Alistair Overeem vs. Francis Ngannou: Round 1
Overeem rushes forward to land a left hand and clinch up with Ngannou. The referee breaks the fighters and restarts them in the center of the cage. That's all the space Ngannou needs to nearly decapitate Overeem with a winging left hand that leaves the Dutchman splayed on the mat, unconscious.
Alistair Overeem vs. Francis Ngannou
Cejudo Is Left Waiting in the Octagon
Read anything into that?
Cejudo Cruises to the Win
Henry Cejudo Def. Sergio Pettis, Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Henry Cejudo vs. Sergio Pettis: Round 3
A couple right hands land for Pettis, but the counters from Cejudo come back immediately. Cejudo goes back to his wrestling, completing a single-leg takedown, reentering his opponent's guard. Pettis ties him up there, but Cejudo manages to stand and leap over Pettis' legs to land a hard right hand. Pettis manages to work to his feet and get back into space with 75 second on the clock. Despite the desperate situation, Pettis isn't able to mount much offense.
Bleacher Report scores Round 3: 10-9 Cejudo Bleacher Report scores the fight: 30-27 Cejudo
Henry Cejudo vs. Sergio Pettis: Round 2
The fighters trade bodykicks, Pettis' landing with greater impact. He doubles up on it, then rebukes a takedown effort from Cejudo, who is forced to settle for landing a right hook. As Cejudo blitzes in, Pettis trips, which enables Cejudo to enter his guard. This time Cejudo struggles to get off with much offense, but he stays busy enough to avoid a standup. Pettis shifts gears, looks for a triangle, but loses it. Pettis does manage to climb to his feet and break away with 40 second left in the round. Cejudo cracks him with an uppercut as time dwindles off the clock.
Bleacher Report scores Round 2: 10-9 Cejudo
Henry Cejudo vs. Sergio Pettis: Round 1
Pettis lands a leg-kick early, then follows it up with a couple of jabs. Cejudo answers with a takedown that sees him gain side-control. Pettis rolls and turtles up, but he can't shake the Olympic gold medalist. Pettis nearly climbs up, but Cejudo is committed to keeping him grounded. Pettis does manage to recover guard, but Cejudo remains on top, working punches and hammerfists until the horn allows Pettis to get off his back.
Bleacher Report scores Round 1: 10-9 Cejudo
Henry Cejudo vs. Sergio Pettis
Up Next for Alvarez?
This Card...
Alvarez Walks Away from the Carnage Victorious
Eddie Alvarez Def. Justin Gaethje, TKO (Round 3, 3:59)
Eddie Alvarez vs. Justin Gaethje: Round 3
A couple early leg-kicks from Gaethje stagger Alvarez and force him to switch stances. Another leg-kick forces Alvarez to the mat, but Gaethje invites him back up. The exchanges continue to comes, Gaethje looking to add a leg-kick in every one. Alvarez tries for a takedown, but Gaethje escapes and land a leg-kick and uppercut. Again Alvarez looks for a takedown, but again he's stuffed. He makes the most of his failure by crushing Gaethje with a pair of malicious hooks and a knee that result in a knockdown and soon after, a knockout.
Eddie Alvarez vs. Justin Gaethje: Round 2
The fighters bandy leg-kicks to open the second frame. Alvarez flurries and Gaethje comes back with a jab, then puts in another brutal leg-kick. A stinging right hand is the retort from Alvarez. Both guys are hanging in the pocket, firing away. Alvarez is more active, throwing more and demonstrating better movement. He smacks Gaethje with a left hand and absorbs a leg-kick in return. Gaethje lands another kick, but eats a barrage that ends with a knee to the face before the second horn.
Bleacher Report scores Round 2: 10-9 Alvarez
Eddie Alvarez vs. Justin Gaethje: Round 1
Gaethje opens with a leg-kick, a technique some theorized he'd go to against Alvarez. He lands a couple more while Alvarez looks to land punches up top. Another leg-kick from Gaethje buckles the leg of the former champ, but Alvarez rallies to land a couple bodyshots and an uppercut. Alvarez digs to the body again, really tallying damage to the ribs. Gaethje fires off a right hadn as Alvarez comes back with more impact to the body.
Bleacher Report scores Round 1: 10-9 Alvarez
Eddie Alvarez vs. Justin Gaethje
Up Next Is a Battle That's Had Fans Salivating Since It Was Announced
Alvarez vs. Gaethje
Torres Gets the Unanimous Nod
Tecia Torres Def. Michelle Waterson, Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Tecia Torres vs. Michelle Waterson: Round 3
A right hand lands for Waterson, who looks for another takedown. Torres defends, pushing Waterson to the fence. The fighters break allowing Torres to land a right hand. She lands a pair of additional shots before, then pushes Waterson off balance before capitalizing with a takedown. In the scramble, Torres tries to take the back. She nearly slips off the top, but manages to flatten Waterson out. She postures to fire down some punches. Waterson defends enough to stave off the stoppage, and in fact spins out of the position and climbs back to her feet.
Bleacher Report scores Round 3: 10-9 Torres Bleacher Report scores the fight: 29-28 Torres
Tecia Torres vs. Michelle Waterson: Round 2
Torres lands a nice right hand early, then takes one straight back from Waterson, who follows up with a throw to establish herself in the guard. Waterson moves to half-guard, where Torres stalls her out with the threat of a kimura. It works well enough to get her foe back to full-guard, but nothing more. Torres looks for a triangle, then an armbar, before getting back to her feet.
Bleacher Report scores Round 2: 10-9 Waterson
Tecia Torres vs. Michelle Waterson: Round 1
Waterson manages a quick takedown, then jumps Torres' back as she stands. Torres does well to escape her opponent's grasp, then turning her to the fence. Torres reels off a combination, landing a couple nice right hands before Waterson answers with a kick to the ribs. Torres gets back on offense in the clinch, where both women land, but Torres wins with volume and power. After pushing off, Waterson lands a couple of push-kicks before Torres ties her up again.
Bleacher Report scores Round 1: 10-9 Torres
Tecia Torres vs. Michelle Waterson
The Official Result Is a Knockout
Oliveira tapped from the strikes, but the referee missed it and intervened on his own initiative moments later.
The Bar Has Been Set
Paul Felder Def. Charles Oliveira, Knockout (Round 2, 4:06)
Charles Oliveira vs. Paul Felder: Round 2
An early takedown attempt from Oliveira is shut down, so the fighters tie up against the fence. Felder lands a hard elbow and ushers Oliveira to the ground, winding up in half-guard. Felder declines a chance to stand and back away, remaining in Oliveira's realm on the ground. The indulgence nearly proves deadly when Oliveira makes progress on a leg-lock, but Felder escapes and lands some nice elbows from the top. The elbows continue until Oliveira taps to the strikes.
Charles Oliveira vs. Paul Felder: Round 1
Both fighters land shots early, but Oliveira quickly takes the action to the canvas with a takedown. Felder works his way up, but finds himself defending a d'arce choke. The Brazilian moves to the mount while maintaining the choke. Felder eventually escapes, and winds up on top, in the guard. He does some nice work from the guard, landing punches while fending off submission attempts.
Bleacher Report scores Round 1: 10-9 Oliveira
Charles Oliveira vs. Paul Felder
If They Don't Get a Bonus....
Well, I guess we still have Gaethje vs. Alvarez.
What a Fight!
Yancy Madeiros Def. Alex Oliveira, TKO (Round 3, 2:02)
Alex Oliveira vs. Yancy Madeiros: Round 3
A trio of straight punches lands for Oliveira, who chases his quarry, firing off punches before eventually sinking in his talons for a takedown. Oliveira briefly takes the back, but allows his opponent to spin to guard, then half-guard. The Brazilian scrambles up, but Medeiros lays a barrage on him, backing him to the corner and dropping him. A few more punches on the mat and the action is called.
Alex Oliveira vs. Yancy Medeiros: Round 2
Oliveira attacks the body, a staple of his Round 1 assault. Medeiros fires back, landing a combination that leaves Oliveira wobbling about. Medeiros follows up, cracking his opponent with a thudering left hook. He adds two more hooks to the body, persuading Oliveira is may by wise to take the fight to the mat, but the Brazilian's takedown attempt falters. He tries again, but he's reversed, allowing Medeiros to mount and fire down elbows until Oliveira escapes.
Bleacher Report scores Round 2: 10-9 Medeiros
Alex Oliveira vs. Yancy Medeiros: Round 1
Oliveira starts strong, putting together a pair of hard right hands. Medeiros fires back, landing a hard right hand that puts Oliveira off balance and opens his nose. Oliveira pops up and goes straight back to offense, running Medeiros to the fence, weighing on him there. Time is called when Medeiros suffers a low-blow, but the break is short. As soon as the fight resumes Oliveira floors Medeiros with a straight punch. The Hawaiian recovers quickly and gets back to his feet. Both fighters land again, setting off a chaotic exchange that Oliveira takes over, hammering away with heavy shots. Medeiros somehow absorbs the punishment, though he looks a little unsteady by the end of the round.
Bleacher Report scores Round 1: 10-9 Oliveira
Alex Oliveira vs. Yancy Medeiros
Teymur Gets the Nod
Some Action from Round 3
David Teymur Def. Drakkar Klose, Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
David Teymur vs. Drakkar Klose: Round 3
Teymur lands a high-kick and right hand to begin the last round. Klose charges forward, swinging wildly. Time is called when Klose suffers an eye-poke. When we resume, Klose continues to aggressive hunt a game-changing punch. Teymur remains collected and circles off, landing kicks. A takedown from Klose gives him some late momentum, but Teymur pops up almost immediately. Teymur tries for a takedown of his own, but his effort is stuffed.
Bleacher Report scores Round 3: 10-9 Teymur Bleacher Report scores the fight: 30-27 Teymur
David Teymur vs. Drakkar Klose: Round 2
The fighters bandy leg-kicks to open the middle round. Klose is able to close the distance to force a messy exchange. Teymur recomposes himself, finding his footing at distance and methodically kicking at his foe's leg once again. He adds a kick up top, but it lands with the toes. Both fighters then take turns looking for a takedown, but neither complete the maneuver. Klose manages to score with a left hand, then nearly completes a takedown, but he gets wild jumping for a knee allowing Teymur to flip the script and put him on his back.
Bleacher Report scores Round 2: 10-9 Teymur
David Teymur vs. Drakkar Klose: Round 1
Klose takes the center of the cage and calls Teymur on. Teymur refuses to be baited and he dances around the perimeter, darting in and out for jabs and leg-kicks. Time is called for Herb Dean to chastise Teymur for backing away, ignoring that Klose is just standing there with his hands down. We resume, with Teymur apparently inspired to up the aggression. He lands a couple of kicks to the leg and midsection before Klose takes him down. Teymur quickly stands, ending the round on his feet.
Bleacher Report scores Round 1: 10-9 Teymur
David Teymur vs. Drakkar Klose
Herrig Runs Her Win Streak to Four
Herrig Gets the Nod, Much to the Chagrin of Casey
Felice Herrig Def. Cortney Casey, Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
There Was a Ton of Hype Leading Up to the Event
And it more or less delivered from top to bottom. Excellent night of fights.