UFC 220: Live Updates, Highlights and Reactions
Stipe Miocic retained his heavyweight title in the main event of UFC 220 by outpointing Francis Ngannou enroute to a thoroughly dominant unanimous decision. The champion exhausted his opponent, and outwrestled him to set a new benchmark (3) for heavyweight title defenses. Miocic wasn't the only champ to defend his crown at UFC 220; Daniel Cormier outclassed Volkan Oezdemir in the night's co-main event. Cormier survived an early onslaught and finished his foe with punches in the second round. Scroll down for Bleacher Report's play-by-play recap of the entire event.
- January 21, 2018
Miocic Showed Why He's the Best Around
Ngannou showed his relative inexperience.
Miocic Has Now Defended the Heavyweight Title More Than Any Other UFC Fighter in History
- Invalid Date
- January 21, 2018
Stipe Miocic Def. Francis Ngannou, Unanimous Decision (50-44, 50-44, 50-44)
Stipe Miocic vs. Francis Ngannou: Round 5
Ngannou is barely moving as the fights come out for the final round. He manages to stay upright with the help of the fence when Miocic tries for a takedown. Miocic stays committed to the takedown, and Ngannou threatens with a guillotine, which Miocic extracts himself from. The men are reset after the action stalls out. That would seem to favor Ngannou, but mustering the energy to throw a punch may be beyond him. Miocic runs Ngannou back to the fence and holds him there for the final 20 seconds of the match.
Bleacher Report scores Round 5: 10-9 Miocic Bleacher Report scores the fight: 50-44 Miocic
Stipe Miocic vs. Francis Ngannou: Round 4
A leg-kick precedes a takedown from Miocic, and Ngannou barely has enough energy to even bother with trying to defend it. Miocic lands in side-control and continues to beat on his exhausted prey. The assault continues as Ngannou goes to hands and knees. Miocic considers a choke, but doesn't fully commit to it. Instead, he rides out the round with some bodyshots.
Bleacher Report scores Round 4: 10-8 Miocic
Stipe Miocic vs. Francis Ngannou: Round 3
Miocic rushes out with another shot, but has to settle for penning Ngannou in against the chain-links. He finishes the job from there, getting Ngannou to all fours near the cage. Ngannou works up and gets back into the center of the Octagon where he cracks Miocic with a hook that staggers the champion. Luckily for Miocic, he has the wherewithal to shoot a takedown, which he uses to advance to half-guard and posture. He lays down ground and pound for the final minute of the round.
Bleacher Report scores Round 3: 10-9 Miocic
Stipe Miocic vs. Francis Ngannou: Round 2
Ngannou labors to get off the stool at the opening of Round 2. Nevertheless, he connects with a right hand before Miocic comes back with a couple of leg-kicks. A massive right hand adds to the tally of Miocic, who appears a little tired himself, but remains the more active fighter. The champion completes a takedown, and weighs on his opponent against the fence. He lands a couple knees and punches before the horn.
Bleacher Report scores Round 2: 10-9 Miocic
Stipe Miocic vs. Francis Ngannou: Round 1
Ngannou whiffs on a high-kick early on, allowing Miocic to earn a quick takedown. It doesn't amount to much before Ngannou stands and lands a punch. Miocic shoots again, but he's stuffed, and is punished for the failure with a pair of right hands. The champ looks to slow the action by tying up on the fence. After the break, Miocic connects with a solid right hand and avoids a series of counters before landing another hard punch and scoring a takedown. The champ lands a handful of punches before Ngannou stands. Both fights land heavy shots near the end of the round, and Miocic ends the frame with another takedown.
Bleacher Report scores Round 1: 10-9 Miocic
Stipe Miocic vs. Francis Ngannou
And Here's Cormier on the Mic
Cormier Wrote the Script for This Fight...
And executed the plan exactly.
Cormier Celebrates the Victory
Daniel Cormier Def. Volkan Oezdemir, TKO (Round 2, 2:00)
Daniel Cormier vs. Volkan Oezdemir: Round 2
Cormier opens the round with a couple jabs, easily completes a single-leg takedown and moves to the mount. Oezdemir recovers half-guard before Cormier goes to side-control, traps an arm and drops undefended punches to the face. The shots aren't particularly powerful, but Cormier lands about 50 of them unanswered, prompting the referee to call the TKO.
Daniel Cormier vs. Volkan Oezdemir: Round 1
Oezdemir comes out swinging, chasing Cormier and landing a pair of left hands. He continues to press, forcing the champion to the cage, maintaining a voluminous output. Cormier manages to score with a nice left hook of his own, with 2:00 left on the clock. It's Cormier moving forward now, and it's Cormier landing. He hits with a pair of heavy punches, which draws a pair of big counters from the challengers. Cormier catches a kick and ends the round with a choke sunk in after securing the takedown.
Bleacher Report scores Round 1: 10-9 Cormier
Daniel Cormier vs. Volkan Oezdemir
The Winner Celebrates
Kattar Makes Good on His Dream
Calvin Kattar Def. Shane Burgos, TKO (Round 3, 0:32)
Calvin Kattar vs. Shane Burgos: Round 3
Burgos opens with a leg-kick before Kattar pops his right hand out for a clean shot. He lands it again, wobbling Burgos, then cracking him again with a malevolent uppercut that sends him careening. Burgos fights to remain upright, but the persistent assault from Kattar renders his efforts futile. Kattar continues to thrash away on the mat until the referee dives in to save Burgos from additional damage.
Calvin Kattar vs. Shane Burgos: Round 2
The action resumes the torrid pace of the first frame, with both men staying in close proximity and throwing ample volume without breaks. Kattar attempts a takedown, but Burgos defends and breaks back into space. Burgos continues to punish the body, landing his right hand to the ribs with regularity. He momentarily pins Kattar to the fence and forces him to cover up and weather a flurry. Kattar rebounds for a solid final minute, but its Burgos pressing forward when the horn sounds.
Bleacher Report scores Round 2: 10-9 Burgos
Calvin Kattar vs. Shane Burgos: Round 1
The combatants skirmish in the early going, each finding their range with quick, straight punches. Kattar lands the first significant connections, reeling off a few clean punches that target head and body, before pumping his jab a couple times. Far from wilting, Burgos seeks an answer, finding it with a series of digging bodyshots. Burgos continues to attack the body, regularly mixing in hard shots with his combinations. Kattar meanwhile is continuing to establish his jab and put his cross behind it.
Bleacher Report scores Round 1: 10-9 Kattar
Calvin Kattar vs. Shane Burgos
The Split Part of That Decision Was...surprising
Gian Villante Def. Francimar Barroso, Split Decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)
Gian Villante vs. Francimar Barroso: Round 3
Villante is once again the early aggressor, walking Barroso straight back to the fence and throwing powerful combinations as he presses. Barroso greets him with leg-kicks and bodyshots, but the American seems undeterred by the reprisals. The Brazilian scores with a solid right hand and follows it with an elbow. Villante hits back with a right of his own, and the remainder of the clock trickles off, leading to an anti-climatic conclusion.
Bleacher Report scores Round 3: 10-9 Villante Bleacher Report scores the fight: 30-27 Villante
Gian Villante vs. Francimar Barroso: Round 2
Villante reclaims the center of the cage and forces an exchange, cracking Barroso with several hard punches, but also absorbing some in return. After a brief break caused by a lowblow, the fight is reset. The pair get back to it, slinging punches at one another in close quarters. Barroso starts mixing in some leg-kicks that land powerfully, but Villante continues to press forward until the horn sounds.
Bleacher Report scores Round 2: 10-9 Villante
Gian Villante vs. Francimar Barroso: Round 1
A nice right hand from Villante opens the action. He adds another in the next exchange, then takes one back from Barroso moments later. An uppercut from Villante puts his foe on wobbly legs for a moment, but Barroso seems to recover quickly. The pace slackens some, though both guys continue to land single connections here and there. The work does not completely assuage the fans, who sound a chorus of boos as time winds down.
Bleacher Report scores Round 1: 10-9 Villante
Gian Villante vs. Francimar Barroso
Last One
Twitter Is Having a Field Day with That Outcome...
Rob Font Def. Thomas Almeida, TKO (Round 2, 2:24)
Thomas Almeida vs. Rob Font: Round 2
Font opens the round with a nice right hand, then a clean left that stumbles, and eventually drops Almeida. Font pounces, looking to end the contest, but the Brazilian regains his wits and fights back to his feet. Though Almeida manages to put up a fight for about a minute or so, Font keeps the pressure up until he's able to land a series of clean punches and a headkick that puts his opponent back on the canvas. This time Font pounces quickly enough to finish his opponent on the ground.
Thomas Almeida vs. Rob Font: Round 1
Font comes out the early aggressor, backing Almeida to the fence and cracking him with a right hook. Almeida finds room to move forward and answers with a left hand. Font looks to retaliate, but Almeida counters nicely. With less than 90 seconds on the clock, Almeida smacks his opponent with a hard left hook, extending his lead in total strikes. He finishes the round with a crisp right hand.
Bleacher Report scores Round 1: 10-9 Almeida
Thomas Almeida vs. Rob Font
Bochniak Gets the Nod
Kyle Bochniak Def. Brandon Davis, Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Kyle Bochniak vs. Brandon Davis: Round 3
Bochniak unleashes some pent up aggression, leading to a couple exchanges in the open minute of the round. Despite holding his own, he returns to his wrestling and momentarily gets Davis to the mat. After fighting up, Davis lands a kick and stalks forward after his opponent. Bochniak continues to look for the shot, but is getting nowhere. Davis is pot-shotting, but seems too fatigued to mount a full out assault.
Bleacher Report scores Round 3: 10-9 Davis Bleacher Report scores the fight: 29-28 Bochniak
Kyle Bochniak vs. Brandon Davis: Round 2
Davis lands some nice leg-kicks through the opening minute. Bochniak remains content to circle and engage only occasionally. Though that approach worked reasonably well in Round 1, the leg-kicks from Davis are starting to take their toll in the second. Bochniak manages to win an exchange, landing a trio of solid punches before declining a high-five from Davis. He then looks for a takedown, but is rebuffed by Davis. The failure is mitigated by a strong finish to the round by Bochniak.
Bleacher Report scores Round 2: 10-9 Bochniak
Kyle Bochniak vs. Brandon Davis: Round 1
Bochniak circles hastily around the perimeter of the cage, visibly frustrating Davis. He occasionally stops to exchange, and manages to land a solid uppercut before Davis hits him back with a couple hard leg-kicks. A takedown from Bochniak fails to yield a sustained positional advantage, and the action shifts to the fence. The match devolves into a battle for position, the men broken apart only by the end of the round.
Bleacher Report scores Round 1: 10-9 Bochniak
Kyle Bochniak vs. Brandon Davis
Avert Your Eyes!
Alhassan Has Nine Career Wins
All are first-round knockouts.
The First Fight Was a Controversial Stoppage...
This one, not so much.
Abdul Razak Alhassan Def. Sabah Homasi, Knockout (Round 3:47)
Sabah Homasi vs. Abdul Razak Alhassan: Round 1
A heavy leg-kick from Alhassan is answered by a kick to the midsection from Homasi. The fighters then clinch up and exchange punches from in tight. Homasi transitions to a takedown, but can't complete it. His failure leads to an exchange of heavy punches. Homasi is then able to get Alhassan partway down. The referee intervenes to reset the fighters, allowing Alhassan to reel off a trio of punches, the final one a massive uppercut that sends Homasi collapsing to the mat, out cold.
Sabah Homasi vs. Abdul Razak Alhassan
Ortiz Continues to Post Checkered Results...
But has consistently challenged the division's top fighters.
Ortiz Captured the W in the Final Minute of the Fight
Dustin Ortiz Def. Alexandre Pantoja, Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Dustin Ortiz vs. Alexandre Pantoja: Round 3
Pantoja starts the final round strong, dragging Ortiz to the mat in an early scramble. Ortiz shimmies over to the fence and sits up. Pantoja momentarily improves position, but Ortiz eventually stands. Undaunted, Pantija recaptures the position, yanking Ortiz back to the ground. The Brazilian gets his hooks in, but Ortiz shakes him off the back. Both fighters stand and immediately get into an exchange. Ortiz finishes strong, hammering his opponent with knees and elbows through the final minute.
Bleacher Report scores Round 3: 10-9 Ortiz Bleacher Report scores the fight: 29-28 Ortiz
Dustin Ortiz vs. Alexandre Pantoja: Round 2
The fighters quickly engage, both guys landing a couple of shots. Ortiz pursues a takedown, but is rebuffed, resetting in striking range. He redoubles his effort and manages to work Pantoja to a knee, where he lands some punches and knees to the ribs. After breaking free, Pantoja is able to lands a couple hard punches, persuading Ortiz to shoot once again. Pantoja forces a stalemate by tying his opponent up.
Bleacher Report scores Round 2: 10-9 Ortiz
Dustin Ortiz vs. Alexandre Pantoja: Round 1
Ortiz parlays a bodylock into a takedown, but winds up with Pantoja on his back. Pantoja lock on a body-triangle and works some punches to the ribs as he hones in on Ortiz's neck. The men battle for arm-position, with Pantoja making some progress before Ortiz escapes the choke, then the position altogether, rising to his feet. Ortiz then lands a knee and finishes the round with some ground and pound.
Bleacher Report scores Round 1: 10-9 Pantoja
Dustin Ortiz vs. Alexandre Pantoja
Arce Earns the W in His UFC Debut
Julio Arce Def. Dan Ige, Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Miocic Gets His Belt Back