Eddie Alvarez is your new UFC lightweight champion. After all these years through various promotions and being held out of fighting due to contracts and politics, Eddie Alvarez has done it. And he did it against a monster in Rafael dos Anjos, who, just a few months ago, was going to fight Conor McGregor. Now we’re here. Holy crap.
Eddie’s fantastic performance capped off a wild and violent night of fights that saw 8 finishes and 4 close decisions in fun fights. This was a hell of a card for Fight Pass owners.
Main Card
-Eddie Alvarez def. Rafael dos Anjos via TKO (round 1). You can watch the replay of Eddie’s incredible performance here.
#RafaelDosAnjos looking dejected after losing his #UFC lightweight title to #EddieAlvarez #UFCFightNight #MMA #RDA pic.twitter.com/OYCCKxs8OY
— James B. McDaniel (@peppermintfatty) July 8, 2016
-Derrick Lewis def. Roy Nelson via split-decision.
I could see some people thinking that this was a boring fight, but this was an absolutely intense fight. Round 1 absolutely went to Derrick Lewis, who can be a UFC champion if he works on his takedown defense. I completely disagree with the decision, as Roy Nelson completely controlled round 2, and outside of a brief flurry in the third, was controlled in the final frame completely. Roy Nelson was impressive, and so was Lewis to a lesser degree. Still, with this win from gatekeeper Nelson, Lewis is in for some interesting fights in the top ten.
WAS THAT A TOOTH?!?! OH MY GOD THAT IMPACT!!! Great fight between @RoyNelsonMMA & @TheBeast_UFC #UFCVegas https://t.co/p0ah0uEPm6
— UFC (@ufc) July 8, 2016
(Not a tooth.)
.@TheBeast_UFC came out firing in the first round but @RoyNelsonMMA has taken it to the ground in the 2nd! #UFCVegas https://t.co/325Dq9dnJb
— UFC (@ufc) July 8, 2016
-Alan Jouban def. Belal Muhammad via unanimous decision. The big takeaway from this one is Muhammad’s chin, which took an absolute beating from Jouban. Despite Jouban knocking down Muhammad three times, the former Titan FC champ came back and rocked Jouban multiple times in the final round rally. Fun fight. Fun show!
HOLY MOTHER OF ………. @AlanJouban smells blood!! #UFCVegas https://t.co/2mfRTOafg8
— UFC (@ufc) July 8, 2016
Now @BullyB170 is tagging Jouban!!! Too late for a comeback? #UFCVegas https://t.co/Cz2gfKY2Hw
— UFC (@ufc) July 8, 2016
-Joseph Duffy def. Mitch Clarke via rear naked choke (round 1). This thrashing only took 25 seconds. The Conor Killer continues.
Prelims
-Alberto Mina def. Mike Pyle via TKO (round 2). Mike Pyle needs to retire, I’d say.
OH MAN!!! @AlbertoMinaUFC rocks Pyle, but @Mike_Pyle recovers!! #UFCVegas https://t.co/jqLoLuciTU
— UFC (@ufc) July 8, 2016
-John Makdessi def. Mehdi Baghdad via split-decision.
Makdessi had an impressive performance but this fight seemed to be given to him by Baghdad who was peppering and damaging Makdessi and even almost had him finished until Baghdad decided to go for a ridiculous flying armbar. That put Baghdad on his back in the third and Makdessi walked away.
Note to self: Don't get leg kicked by @Mehdi_Baghdad 📝 #UFCVegas https://t.co/tKhT4xojQh
— UFC (@ufc) July 8, 2016
HOW DID @JohnMakdessi SURVIVE THIS?!?! WOW!!! #UFCVegas https://t.co/wvDmNUjbM9
— UFC (@ufc) July 8, 2016
-Anthony Birchak def. Dileno Lopes via split-decision.
WHAT A PERFORMANCE from @ABirchakMMA & @DilenoLopes! Laid it all on the line! #UFCVegas pic.twitter.com/MgOfv5WU8n
— UFC (@ufc) July 8, 2016
THIS FIGHT IS AMAZING!!! #UFCVegas https://t.co/ktmeHKA84h
— UFC (@ufc) July 8, 2016
Man are these two firing or WHAT?!?! Fun first round between @ABirchakMMA & @DilenoLopes! #UFCVegas https://t.co/8C9fYvnEXs
— UFC (@ufc) July 8, 2016
-Pedro Munhoz def. Russell Doane
THESE TWO BANTAMWEIGHTS WENT AT IT!!! @PedroMunhozMMA w/ ANOTHER sub at #UFCVegas!! https://t.co/Flxe88NQXC
— UFC (@ufc) July 8, 2016
-Felipe Arantes def. Jerrod Sanders via armbar (round 2)
-Gilbert Burns vs. Lukasz Sajewski
With seconds to spare @GilbertDurinho gets the arm-bar finish!!! Now THAT'S some slick jiu-jitsu!! #UFCVegas https://t.co/iMn1oidl2j
— UFC (@ufc) July 7, 2016
-Marco Beltrán def. Reginaldo Vieir via rear naked choke (round 2)
When you finish the fight & celebrate w/ a head butt 😳 3-0 in the UFC for @BeltranPsycho!! https://t.co/EK0ZdQqGVB
— UFC (@ufc) July 7, 2016
Vicente Luque def. Alvaro Herrera via weird d’arce choke (round 2)
These little, short elbows from @VicenteLuqueMMA can't feel good 😳 #UFCVegas https://t.co/FZb46uZFhb
— UFC (@ufc) July 7, 2016