Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream UFC 269
live on your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device
via the ESPN app. The cries of those who question Charles
Oliveira’s validity as champion have grown faint, their sound
blunted by yet another virtuoso performance from the finely tuned
Brazilian. “Do Bronx” retained the undisputed
Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight title, as he
submitted Dustin
Poirier with a standing rear-naked choke in the third round of
their UFC
269 headliner on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Poirier (28-7, 20-6 UFC) surrendered 62 seconds into Round 3.
Oliveira (32-8, 20-8 UFC) assaulted the Louisianan with vicious
kicks and knees to the body for much of the first round, all while
pushing a merciless pace. Poirier answered in spurts and even
dropped the Chute Boxe rep with a right hook, but it soon became
clear that the champion’s strategy was taking its intended toll.
Oliveira scrambled into top position early in the second round and
paired stifling top control with elbow-laced ground-and-pound. He
snuck behind a fatigued Poirier at the start of Round 3, climbed
onto his back and secured the choke. Oliveira’s squeeze did the
rest.
Underdog Pena Dethrones Nunes
“The Ultimate Fighter 18” winner Julianna
Pena sprang one of the biggest upsets in mixed martial arts
history, as she submitted Amanda
Nunes with a rear-naked choke and claimed the undisputed
women’s bantamweight championship in the second round of their
co-main event. Nunes (21-5, 14-2 UFC) checked out 3:26 into Round
2, suffering her first defeat since Sept. 27, 2014.
Pena (11-4, 7-2 UFC) waded through considerable difficulty in the
first round, where the champion zeroed in on her leg with kicks,
dumped her to the mat and transitioned to her back. She turned it
into a brawl in Round 2, and Nunes could not keep up. Pena battered
the American Top Team star with jabs and clubbing right hands,
walked through the shots that were fired in response and waited for
the Brazilian to exhaust herself. She then executed a takedown,
moved to the back when faced with little resistance and cinched the
choke for the finish.
On a two-fight winning streak, Pena now sits atop the 135-pound
mountain.
Neal Edges Ponzinibbio in Split Verdict
Fortis MMA export Geoff Neal
recorded his first win in nearly two years and closed the book on a
two-fight losing streak, as he eked out a split decision over “The
Ultimate Fighter Brazil” Season 2 semifinalist Santiago
Ponzinibbio in a three-round welterweight attraction. Judges
Derek Cleary and Sal D’Amato scored it 30-27 and 29-28 for Neal,
while Douglas Crosby saw it 29-28 for Ponzinibbio.
There was not much to differentiate the two well-matched
contenders. Ponzinibbio (28-5, 10-4 UFC) chipped away with inside
leg kicks, fired off basic one-twos and mixed in a second-round
takedown but failed to gain traction in terms of momentum. Neal
(14-4, 6-2 UFC) seemed to find another gear in Round 3, where he
strung together two, three and sometimes four punches at a time
while doing just enough to counteract the American Top Team-trained
Argentinian’s efforts.
The setback was Ponzinibbio’s second in three outings.
France Ambushes Flyweight Garbrandt
City Kickboxing’s Kai Kara
France put away former 135-pound champion Cody
Garbrandt with punches in the first round of their flyweight
feature. Garbrandt (12-5, 7-5 UFC) bowed out 3:21 into Round 1. He
could not have envisioned a ruder welcome to a new division.
The 28-year-old France (23-9, 6-2 UFC) floored the Team Alpha Male
export with an overhand right and gave chase. Still resourceful in
a compromised state, Garbrandt briefly stymied the Kiwi with a
takedown. However, France returned to his feet, reset and cut loose
with punches. He pinned Garbrandt to the fence, wobbled him with a
multi-punch volley that included a right uppercut and then
punctuated the finish with one final right hand while his opponent
tried to retreat.
France has rattled off 11 victories in 13 appearances.
Sensational O’Malley Stops Paiva
Dana White’s Contender Series graduate Sean O’Malley chopped down
Raulian
Paiva with punches in the first round of their bantamweight
showcase. Paiva (21-4, 3-3 UFC) met his end 4:42 into Round 1, his
three-fight winning streak having run its course.
O’Malley (15-1, 7-1 UFC) kept the Team Alpha Male-trained Brazilian
at a manageable distance with a punishing jab and let his punching
power do the rest. The Tim Welsh protégé staggered Paiva with an
overhand right, swarmed with follow-up punches and sprawled out of
a desperate takedown attempt. O’Malley continued to fire punches
until his counterpart hit the canvas, at which point referee Jason
Herzog moved in to prevent further damage.
The 27-year-old O’Malley will ride a three-fight winning streak
into his next assignment.
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UFC 269 Prelims: Josh Emmett,
Dominick
Cruz, Tai Tuivasa
Victorious in Las Vegas
