UFC 289 Results: Amanda Nunes Announces Retirement

UFC 289 Main Card Results: Charles Oliveira TKOs Beniel Dariush

Women’s Bantamweight Main Event: Champ. Amanda Nunes Def. #5 Irene Aldana via UD (50-44 50-44 50-43)

Fight Notes: To start the fight Nunes was working the body of Aldana in a conservative round from both women. In round 2, Nunes continued the bodywork and began mixing in level changes. Aldana was clearly struggling to find her rhythm against the greatest women fighter of all time. She also found success in the clinch, landing brutal knees to the body and head. Round 3 was where the champ really began to let loose, dominating the standup while she mixed in takedowns. For the rest of the fight, it was dominance from Nunes in every aspect of the fight, from the standup, clinch, and ground game. Nunes was able to land on the face of Aldana with little resistance all night. Another dominant performance to add to the countless from Amanda Nunes. After the dominant victory, she announced in the octagon that she will be retiring. What a career and what a performance. Double UFC Champ forever.

Lightweight Co-Main Event: #1 Charles Oliveira Def. #4 Beniel Dariush via rd 1 TKO (Punches)

Fight Notes: Dariush started the fight off by pressuring Oliveira against the cage and he ends up on the ground on top, after Oliveira failed to reverse positions. On the ground, Dariush attempted ground and pound. Oliveira did a decent job defending and fending him off with up-kicks and submission attempts. As the fight ends up back on the feet, Oliveira was able to land a head kick behind a cross. Dariush was wobbled from then on, Oliveira smelled blood and unleashed on Daruiush. First, dropping him with a right and then unloading brutal ground and pound until the fight was stopped. What a performance for Charles Oliveira after losing the belt last year. He was able to finish yet another top lightweight, this time taking minimal damage. Oliveira will certainly be back in the title conversation, as he looks to regain his belt. Dariush snaps an 8-fight-win streak and will have to bounce back after falling short against the toughest opponent of his career.

Welterweight: Mike Mallot Def. Adam Fugitt via rd. 2 Sub (Guillotine)

Fight Notes: Malott was finding success early with his punches and kicks; dropped Fugitt in round 1 and was able to momentarily end up on top. Fugitt made his way to his feet, only to be taken down again to end the round. In round 2, Malott’s success continued, he dropped Fugitt with a beautiful combo that ended in a left hand. Before Fugitt knew he was in a guillotine of Malott and had no choice but to tap out or go to sleep. Mallot made it look relatively easy and dominated every aspect of the fight. He improves to 10-1-1 (2-0 in UFC). Fuggit will look to bounce back as his record falls to 9-3 (1-2 in UFC).

Featherweight: #13 Dan Ige Def. Nate Landwehr via UD (30-27 29-28 29-28)

Fight Notes: A composed start from both men until Ige was able to land a left hook that dropped Landwehr. However, Nate bounced right back up. Round 2 was another composed start until Ige’s left started to find its home. Ige eventually landed another left on Landwehr, this time an even more brutal blow. Miraculously, Landwehr survived to the third, after throwing a flurry of up-kicks off his back, while clearly still dazed. Round 3 began with Ige looking to finish. He was really pushing the pressure and finding his timing. However, he began to fatigue and Nate ended up landing some good punches of his own before the end of the fight. A very entertaining fight, as Ige showed he is still at the elite level and Landwehr displayed his heart and resilience.

Middleweight: Marc-Andre Barriault Def. Eryk Anders via UD (30-27 30-27 30-27)

Fight Notes: Barriault started out very strong, knocking down Anders with a body kick right-hand combination. An all-out war ensued with both men landing in the clinch and in space. This continued throughout the fight until in round 2 there was a bad groin strike. However, both men wasted no time getting right back to work. I am surprised there were not any more knockdowns with how hard these men were throwing. In the end, Barriault did enough to outscore Anders in each round, but it was a much more competitive fight than the scores suggest. A good performance from both men in a very entertaining fight.

UFC 289 Prelim Results

Middleweight: #12 Nassourdine Imavov vs. #14 Chris Curtis: NO CONTEST (Clash of Heads)

Fight Notes: Competitive round 1, but Imavov started with the upper hand, out-landing Curtis on the feet and landing multiple takedowns. Imavov displayed technical excellence with his varied offense from a distance. Unfortunately, there was a clash of heads as both men entered the striking distance. Curtis ended up getting a bad gash on his right eye. Afterward, Curtis was unable to see out of his eye, and Referee Jason Herzog called a stop to the fight. Resulting in a no-contest, an unfortunate ending for all involved. Imavov was starting to heat up in the fight, Curtis was not able to continue and the fans weren’t able to see the fight play out, but ultimately the right decision.

Women’s Flyweight: Jasmine Jasudavicius Def. #15 Miranda Maverick via UD 29-28 29-28 29-28

Fight Notes: Jasudavicius displayed impressive takedown defense early in the fight, stuffing all of Maverick’s Takedowns. Jasudavicius dominated the final two rounds of the fight, finding success on the ground. She almost secured a rear naked choke and was able to land some ground and pound. In the final round, she started to dominate the standup as well. A very impressive performance over the ranked Maverick, as Jasudavicius improves to 9-2 (3-1 in UFC), while Maverick falls to 13-5 (4-3 in UFC).

Bantamweight: Aiemann Zahabi Def. Aoriqileng via Rd. 1 KO (Punch)

Fight Notes: I do not have too many notes on this as it lasted less than two minutes. Zahabi was able to land a tricky left hand behind the straight right, that landed on the chin of Aoriqileng, putting Aoriqileng out and on the canvas. The fight momentarily continued until Zahabi landed a few more strikes after he realized the fight was not ended. Canada’s Zahabi improves to 10-2 (4-2 in UFC) and is now riding a 3-fight win streak with great momentum heading into his next fight.

Featherweight: Kyle Nelson Def. Blake Bilder via UD 30-27 30-27 29-28

Fight Notes: Good start for Bilder, defending on the cage and landing standing up. Bilder had a clear speed advantage in the striking department. Nelson stayed patient and ended round 1 with the most damaging strike of the round. Nelson began to dominate the fight in round 2, establishing his jab and mixing in an occasional high kick in between his consistent leg-kicks. It was a competitive round 3 to start, however, Bilder ended the fight taunting Nelson more than looking to finish. Unfortunately for Bilder, he was behind on the cards. Impressive and composed performance from Nelson taking the 0 of the previously undefeated Bilder.

UFC Early Prelim Results

Flyweight: Steve Erceg Def. #10 David Dvorak via UD 30-27 29-28 29-28

Fight Notes: UFC debut for Erceg. Fast start in round 1 for Erceg, pressuring Dvorak while getting caught by counters a few times in the process. Dvorak was momentarily hurt in round 2, and narrowly escaped a submission from Erceg but was still finding his own limited success. Round 3 was very competitive with Erceg ending in control. What a debut for Steve Erceg, against the #10 ranked fighter in the division, a very game David Dvorak. I am eager to see how his UFC career will turn out.

Women’s Straw-weight: Diana Belbita Def. Maria Oliviera via UD 30-27 30-27 29-28

Fight Notes: After a competitive round 1, Belbita began to take over with her striking. Oliviera attempted to rally late in the final round, finding some success with knees but it was not enough. Impressive performance for Belbita and both women put on an entertaining fight. Belbita improves to 15-7 (2-3 in UFC), while Oliviera falls to 13-7 (1-3 in UFC).

By: Max Rhoades

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