The mixed martial arts world exploded on December 13, witnessing one of the most legendary fight cards in the history of the sport. Ultimate Fighting Championship 194 was a historic fire show that crowned two new champions, ending the reigns of two dominant champions.
The event that drew over 1 million pay-per-view buys, and a Las Vegas record 16 thousand plus in attendance, began the main card with Ireland’s Gunnar Nelson and Damian Maia’s Brazilian jiu-jitsu battle. The following fight was between Yoel Romero and Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza.
Finally after two entertaining bouts, MMA fans were treated with the first of two epic and highly anticipated title fights, as Luke Rockhold would take on UFC Middleweight Champion Chris Weidman. Weidman has been a force in the UFC since taking the middleweight belt, as he has destroyed a list of hall of famers on his road to UFC 194. Legends such as Anderson Silva, Vitor Belfort and Lyoto Machida have all fallen victim to the 13-1 All-American, making Rockhold a large underdog.
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But Rockhold would not shrink under the pressure and rise to the occasion against the dominant Weidman. By the end of the first round, Rockhold would surprise the crowd, landing kicks to the legs and the body of Weidman. In the second round Rockhold would continue with an onslaught of kicks, following up with a takedown and a ground and pound assault that nearly ended the fight. Saved by the bell, the favored Weidman would limp to his corner and go into the third round bloodied and battered. Weidman would then be greeted by another ground and pound barrage, forcing a stoppage of the fight by T.K.O and crowning a new champion.
After Rockhold’s big win, the fight the world has been waiting for with the brash and cocky Irishman, self-proclaimed ‘King of Dublin’ and interim featherweight champion of the UFC, Conor McGregor would take on the only featherweight champ in UFC history, the undefeated Brazilian, Jose Aldo. The result of this fight would be unanimously one of the most shocking outcomes in the history of combat-sports. Before the Muay Thai and Brazilian jiu-jitsu master in Aldo faced off against the unorthodox and explosive striker McGregor in the middle of the ring, McGregor would land a stiff left cross heard around the world, dropping Aldo immediately. Aldo would land a shot of his own on his way down the canvas, but would do little to McGregor as the Irish superstar would follow up with two hard strikes to Aldo’s temple forcing the fight to be stopped in 13 seconds.
The MMA world’s first reaction was to protest the lightning quick stoppage as it happened so fast. But after multiple looks in slow motion, it would prove clear that after taking the powerful left hand from McGregor, Aldo’s hands were dropped to his waist in no position to defend himself. What was thought to be a battle for the ages ended in seconds as Conor McGregor would become the new legitimate featherweight champion of the UFC, and has taken his place as one of the biggest stars in sports today.
After the fight, the usually overconfident McGregor stated on his Facebook page, “To the naked eye it was thirteen seconds, but to my team and my family it has been a lifetime of work to get to that thirteen seconds.”
Nick can be contacted at ntocco@kscequinox.com
