UFC 208 LIVE Coverage &Discussion

UFC 208:

Lightweight
Dustin Poirier vs. Jim Miller

Round 1:

Miller misses with a lead hook. Poirier resets and kicks the leg. Both men look comfortable early. Miller with a nice lead hook and kick to the leg. Poirier spins around and looks to fire a big straight. Low kicks traded. Both men continue to work the legs. Miller fires a high kick that just misses. Miller changes levels for a takedown, but Poirier sprawls perfectly and lands a few strikes inside. Battle in the clinch. Poirier pulls away and strike. Good action early. Miller with a straight to the body. Miller catches a kick but can’t pull his opponent down. Miller very aggressive and active. Poirier countering well. It’s back and forth on the feet. Poirier slaps in a few jabs and kicks the legs. Poirier catches a kick, but it’s Miller who reverses on the scramble and moves around to Poirier’s back. excellent work there. Poirier controlling the wrists in defense. Miller goes for the choke anyway, but Poirier peels the arm away and spins inside. Nice counter, and they move to the feet abd start treading bombs. Great finish to the round.

Round 2:

Quick start, and they engage in the center. Miller with a low kick that nearly sweeps Poirier to the floor. They trade punches in the center. Poirier with a front kick to the body Big strikes back and forth from both men. Poirier with a flurry, and Miller tries to clinch up. Poirier backs up and continues to strike. Straight left lands, but Miller swinging back. Miller’s face is busted up. Poirier backs away and tees off with rapid hooks. Miller taking it all. Tough as nails, but Poirier is picking him apart. Miller moves off the cage and tries to reset. Poirier looks incredibly confident. Poirier staying in range nad adding up shots. Big left scores. Miller wants a takedown. Poirier defends well as he back to the fence and drives in a few elbows. Poirier circles off the cage. Miller with a Thai clinch. Poirier changes levels and drags him to the floor. Less than a minute, and Poirier backs away, forcing Miller to follow. Poirier getting the best of it on the feet.

Round 3:

Miller’s left eye busted up, but he’s still looking to mix it up. Miller low kick pushes Poirier off-balance. A second nearly sweeps him to the floor. Poirier may be tiring after throwing so many strikes in the second. Miller scores again with the low kick. He misses two of them. He wants to take Poirier’s leg off. Finally, Poirier picks a leg and pulls Miller to the floor. Miller works his back to the cage and tries to grab the neck. Not there, but Miller switches to rubber guard. Poirier pushes it away. Poirier stacking his opponent against the fence. Miller punching from his back. He turns to his knees. Poirier tries to slip tot he back but can’t get there. Miller rises to his feet and looks to work from the clinch. Poirier snaps him to the floor. Miller rolls and turns for the left arm. Kimura isn’t there. Miller wants the armbar. Poirier pulls free and strikes until the end.

Result:
Dustin Poirier defeated Jim Miller via majority decision
(28-28, 30-27, 29-28)

Light Heavyweight
Glover Teixeira vs. Jared Cannonier

Round 1:

Teixeira misses a jab. Both men look ready to bang. Cannonier misses a right hand. He’s moving laterally to start. Teixeira stalking from the center, and he misses a right. Cannonier moving well. Teixeira changes levels and quickly drags the action to the floor. Full guard for Cannonier. He drives in a few punches from his back. Teixeira advances past the left leg, and Cannonier closes his half-guard. Teixeira looks to posturee and strike. Cannonier tries to get to his feet, but Teixeira wraps the neck and falls for the guillotine. Cannonier scrambles and turns and keeps the pressure free. Teixeira has to let go but wisely ensures he maintains top position. Cannonier still working from half-guard. Teixeira controlling the position. He lands a few punches, but nothing major. Teixeira able to advance to mount. Less than a minute. Cannonier scrambles underneath and recovers half-guard. He backs up to the fence and is able to stand. Cannonier lands a few punches before the bell.

Round 2:

Cannonier looks like he wants to strike against his dangerous foe. Teixeira gets to the center, but he has no issue dropping down, grabbing a leg and taking his quickly to the floor. Half-guard again for Cannonier. He’s not staying flat on his back, but he’s also struggling to get free. Teixeira heavy on top. Cannonier looking for opportunities but really can’t get anything working. He does slide closer to the fence, but Teixeira just riding the position. Referee Kevin MacDonald brings them back to their feet. Teixeira works the jab. Cannonier misses a huge lead uppercut. Cannonier lands another straight. Big right hand for Teixeira. They finish on the feet.

Round 3:

Touch of gloves to start the third. Cannonier with a low kick that scores. Teixeira ducks again for the leg, and Cannonier tries to punch but winds up on his back very early in this round. Cannonier active on his back, but he’s just shown no ability to get Teixeira up. Teixeira working and advances to mount. Cannonier kicks off the fence and tries to roll free. He gets Teixeira off-balance, but he doesn’t get free. Cannonier just stuck on his back. Teixeira happy to grind, advancing through positions and looking for opportunities. Crowd isn’t loving it, but it sure is effective. Less than a minute, and Cannonier tries to roll free. Teixeira gets his back but can’t work in the choke. TeixeiraX punches, and Cannonier gets to his feet. Crowd boos at the bell.

Result:
Glover Teixeira def. Jared Cannonier via unanimous decision
(30-26, 30-26, 30-26)

Middleweight
Ronald “Jacare” Souza vs. Tim Boetsch

Round 1 – Souza takes the center, and Boetsch moves right on the outside. Souza pumps a jab and looks ready to strike. Boetsch not committing early. Souza kicks the legs and lands a lead hook. Boetsch with a low kick. Souza with a right hand and then dives for a takedown. Boetsch defends, but Souza ties him up in the clinch. Boetsch defends and pulls away. Boetsch with a kick to the thigh. He goes back a second time. Souza with a right hadn to the body. Boetsch returns fire and scores a right hand. Souza changes levels and drives forward with a takedown. He pushes quickly into side control. Boetsch holds tight underneath, but Souza slips his legs past and moves into mount. Souza turns his attention to the left arm. He quickly pulls it back and into a kimura. He steps over the head and torques the limb, and Boetsch has to tap.

Result:
Ronaldo Souza def. Tim Boetsch via submission (kimura) – Round 1, 3:41

Middleweight
Anderson Silva vs. Derek Brunson

Round 1:

Silva takes the center. Brunson stays at range to start. Brunson ducks low but is waiting to engage. He misses a low kick. Silva widens his stance and studies. Crowd restless already in the opening minute. Silva downright stoic. Brunson misses another low kick. Brunson tries to move inside but eats a short counter right. Brunson kicks the legs. Silva starting to give chase. Brunson ducks under and wants a takedown. Not there, but he moves into the clinch. Silva defends well and shoves him away before returning to the center. Silva moves laterally and land a right. Brunson answers with a left and looks for a takedown. In the clinch, Silva fires a big knee. Both men wing big punches before pulling away. Brunson kicks the legs. Silva cocked and ready. Brunson with another low kick. Less than a minute. Silva chasing and punching but doesn’t land. He kicks the body. Spinning kick to the body. Silva grabs the clinch, and Brunson tees off with punches inside. Flying knee for Silva blocked, and he falls. Brunson drops on top. Brunson ends up on top.

Round 2:

Silva again to the center. Brunson reaches with a jab to the body. Crowd chanting Silva’s name. Brunson shoots, but Silva sprawls well. He wraps the neck, but Brunson returns tot he feet and pulls free. Back striking, and Silva just misses a knee. He’s still standing firm on the center. Brunson waling forward but staying disciplined. Low kick from Brunson earns a counter right. Crowd getting restless again. Big left lands for Brunson. Silva drops his hands. He has a few kicks blocked. Silva giving chase. He misses a few punches but lands a solid kick to the body. Brunson in tight and gets a takedown, but Silva crawls up to his feet. Brunson pressing against the cage. Two minutes left as Silva defends. Brunson with a knee inside. He’s trying to stay close. Silva with a short elbow. Brunson backs away, and we reset in the center. Clinch, and Silva lands a shoulder strike before Brunson backs away Silva paws a jab. Brunson backs to the cage. Sharp low kick from Silva. Little capoeira dance from Silva, but he misses the kick. Silva weaving his head and lands a right. Silva putting on a show, but he’s not scoring.

Round 3:

Close rounds, and scoring could be anywhere. Silva looks like he’s ready to throw, and he scores a right hand. Brunson misses a high kick. Brunson gets inside and scores a trip, but Silva is instantly back on his feet. Brunson shoots. Silva sprawls and delivers a knee. He’s got the neck, but Brunson pulls it free. Nothing there, so they return to the center. Silva flashing out his right hand, and it’s landing when he throws it. The speed is still there. Brunson misses a right. They clinch, and Brunson with the knee. Silva comes back with a body shot. Brunson ducks again for a leg, but he looks tired. Silva grabs a Thai clinch and lets Brunson punch up the middle. Silva doesn’t seem affected by anything, but he is taking punches. Spinning low kick from Silva, and Brunson seems to think it was low. Referee Yves Lavigne doesn’t, and we fight on. Brunson does look very tired, but he’s able to push forward and muscles his way into a takedown. Silva settles into guard, and he’s trapped on his back. Fight ends there.

Result:
Anderson Silva def. Derek Brunson via unanimous decision
(29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

Inaugural UFC Women’s Featherweight Championship
Holly Holm vs. Germaine de Randamie

Round 1:

Holm moving on the outside with de Randamie in the center. Hands high for de Randamie. Holm with a kick that’s short. She fires off two punches, but de Randamie retreats. Low kick for de Randamie. Punches miss for Holm, but she finishes with a kick to the legs. Sharp low kick for de Randamie. Holm moves in and eats a counter right. it’s de Randamie in the center, but Holm the more active figther. Big right hand for de Randamie. Holm moves away from a high kick. X finishing her combos with kicks, and those are landing even when the hands don’t. Another right hand for de Randamie. She’s sitting back and waiting to counter, and she’s throwing big punches. Another counter right for de Randamie. She just misses a huge right hand. Holm briefly holds the clinch but lets go. Less than a minute. Holm moves inside. It’s de Randamie that scores a trip, but Holm pops up. She wants a takedown, but de Randamie defends against the cage. Battle inside. Bells sounds.

Round 2:

Holm with a kick to the leg. She misses a right hand but kicks the thigh again. de Randamie bouncing, looking to attack. Holm short on two punches and slips the counter. Holm misses a high kick. Big right just misses from de Randamie. She is sitting down on everything she throws. Right hand from de Randamie, and Holm counters with a kick to the body. Holm misses two punches, and de Randamie tags her with a right hand. Holm presses inside. She pushes the action to the fence, where de Randamie defends against the cage. Holm controlling, and they trade knees inside. Short punches inside from de Randamie. Action stalling in the clinch. Crowd restless, and referee Todd Anderson looks like he might break it. He lets them fight, and de Randamie spins outside and lands a few big knees. Holm able to reverse the position and drive in a few elbows to the leg. Anderson warns fro action, and de Randamie pushes out to the center. Knees inside for de Randamie, but Holm drives her back to the fence. Less than a minute. Holm relentless with the clinch. They finish there. Late right from de Randamie comes after the bell and rocks Holm.

Round 3:

Holm seems to have recovered from that right hand, and she’s out quickly. She’s pushing the pace, but de Randamie is sitting back and waiting to land the right hand counter. Low kick for de Randamie. Holm starting to pull back on her strikes a bit. She’s using side kicks to keep distance, but she really hasn’t found range with her hands. Meanwhile, de Randamie is just sitting back and waiting counter. Huge right misses for de Randamie, but she lands a left. Holm wants a takedown, but de Randamie pushes her away. Halfway through the round. It’s de Randamie now pressing. She lands a nice kick to the body. Holm still chopping at the legs, but de Randamie seems unfazed. Holm into the clinch, but de Randamie still won’t give up a takedown. They break, and de Randamie throws as they move away. Low kick for de Randamie. High kick scores for Holm, and they start firing. Flurry at the bell. Late shot seems to land again for de Randamie.

Round 4:

Holm still pushing the pace, firing in combinations to open. She kicks the legs, but de Randamie answers in kind. Holm moves into the clinch and presses de Randamie to the fence. Crowd restless as they work in the clinch. Referee breaks them up. Both fighters active on the restart. It seems de Randamie is landing the better shots, but Holm staying busy. Big right hand for de Randamie. Holm pushes into the clinch. Crowd immediately voices it’s displeasure. Defense is sound for de Randamie. It’s actually Holm that slips to a knee, and de Randamie hits her with a knee as she rises. More clinch work, and de Randamie gets the best of it. They move back out to the center where the round ends. Close round.

Round 5:

Kick to the body for de Randamie. Holm is bouncing on her toes and looking to fire, but de Randamie just avoiding the big sots and standing firm to counter. Kicks traded, and right hand scores for de Randamie. Left hand lands for Holm as de Randamie moves forward, and her knees buckle. Still, de Randamie presses forward and grabs hold of her opponent. Holm spins away and presses the action to the cage. She changes levels and has her hands locked but can’t drag de Randamie down. Halfway through the final round. Holm still controlling the position, but the referee brings them back to the center. Holm still working combinations. Right hand still strong for de Randamie. Holm lands a crisp left. She clinches and pushes the action to the cage, and the crowd boos. Holm controlling from the outside. One minute left. Knees traded inside.Holm has her hands locked but can’r get the takedown. Knees traded inside. Thirty seconds left. They break apart fro one last flurry. Big right from de Randamie.

Result:
Germaine de Randamie def. Holly Holm via unanimous decision
(48-47, 48-47, 48-47)

UFC 208 LIVE Coverage &Discussion - 11th Feb, 2017