AN INCREDIBLE NIGHT of action at UFC 185 ended with two new champions being crowned in Dallas, Texas.
Poland’s Joanna Jedrzejczyk stopped Carla Esparza in the second round of their co-main event to become the first European UFC champion of the modern era, before an even bigger shock in the headliner saw Brazil’s Rafael dos Anjos dominate Anthony Pettis over five rounds to earn a unanimous decision.
A former Muay Thai world champion, Jedrzejczyk stuffed Esparza’s attempts to get the fight to the floor and took the first round on the judges’ scorecards.
She unloaded with sharp jabs and powerful right hands, plugging away until referee Don Turnage stopped the bout at 4:17 of the second round, making Jedrzejczyk the new UFC women’s strawweight champion.
UFC president Dana White was unable to confirm a first challenger for the new champion in the post-event press conference, but Dublin’s Aisling Daly will be aiming to put herself in contention with a win against Claudia Gadelha in Poland on 11 April.
In another significant upset, Rafael dos Anjos demolished Anthony Pettis over five rounds to take the American’s UFC lightweight belt.
Rafael dos Anjos lands a kick against Anthony Pettis. AP / Press Association Images
AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
Dos Anjos outclassed the defending champion in both striking and grappling to earn 50-45 tallies from all three judges.
“It’s such an amazing blessing, when you come in to a fight and knew you were going to win,” said dos Anjos afterwards. “I knew I was going to win before this fight was going to happen.”
UFC 185 results
Rafael dos Anjos def. Anthony Pettis via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)
Joanna Jedrzejczyk def. Carla Esparza via TKO (punches) at 4:17 of round two
Johny Hendricks def. Matt Brown via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Alistair Overeem def. Roy Nelson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Henry Cejudo def. Chris Cariaso via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Ross Pearson def. Sam Stout via KO (punch) at 1:33 of round two
Elias Theodorou def. Roger Narvaez via TKO (punches) at 4:07 of round two
Beneil Dariush def. Daron Cruickshank via submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:48 of round two
Jared Rosholt def. Josh Copeland via TKO (punches) at 3:12 of round three
Ryan Benoit def. Sergio Pettis via TKO (punches) at 1:34 of round two
Joseph Duffy def. Jake Lindsey via TKO (punches) at 1:47 of round one
Germaine de Randamie def. Larissa Pacheco via TKO (punches) at 2:02 of round two
The UFC has two new champions after a couple of very big upsets
AN INCREDIBLE NIGHT of action at UFC 185 ended with two new champions being crowned in Dallas, Texas.
Poland’s Joanna Jedrzejczyk stopped Carla Esparza in the second round of their co-main event to become the first European UFC champion of the modern era, before an even bigger shock in the headliner saw Brazil’s Rafael dos Anjos dominate Anthony Pettis over five rounds to earn a unanimous decision.
An exciting line-up also featured main-card wins for Johny Hendricks, Alistair Overeem and Henry Cejudo, after Ireland’s Joseph Duffy had started his UFC career with a spectacular win against Jake Lindsey earlier in the night.
A former Muay Thai world champion, Jedrzejczyk stuffed Esparza’s attempts to get the fight to the floor and took the first round on the judges’ scorecards.
She unloaded with sharp jabs and powerful right hands, plugging away until referee Don Turnage stopped the bout at 4:17 of the second round, making Jedrzejczyk the new UFC women’s strawweight champion.
UFC president Dana White was unable to confirm a first challenger for the new champion in the post-event press conference, but Dublin’s Aisling Daly will be aiming to put herself in contention with a win against Claudia Gadelha in Poland on 11 April.
In another significant upset, Rafael dos Anjos demolished Anthony Pettis over five rounds to take the American’s UFC lightweight belt.
Dos Anjos outclassed the defending champion in both striking and grappling to earn 50-45 tallies from all three judges.
“It’s such an amazing blessing, when you come in to a fight and knew you were going to win,” said dos Anjos afterwards. “I knew I was going to win before this fight was going to happen.”
UFC 185 results
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Donegal’s Joseph Duffy made a spectacular start to his UFC career tonight in Dallas
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Anthony Pettis Dallas MMA Rafael Dos Anjos UFC UFC 185