Impressive Chandler defends his title
(Long Island, NY., November 21, 2016) – In what was an unprecedented day of fights around the MMA world, with two UFC cards and a Bellator card, MMA fans were treated to a rare day of over 30 fights that lasted over 12 hours on Saturday.
The UFC, holding two events in two different time zones, pulled off an exciting day and night of fight cards, with the first one starting in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It couldn’t have worked out any better, as the main and last event ended right before their next card began in Sao Paulo, Brazil. While there were no title fights on either of the UFC cards, Bellator 165, held in San Jose, California, put on a classic title fight between Michael Chandler and Benson Henderson for the lightweight championship.
In Belfast, which was streamed exclusively on UFC Fight Pass, was a fast paced card with 13 fights lined up. With Ireland native and UFC featherweight and lightweight champion, Conor McGregor in attendance to watch some of his teammates and friends fight, the card delivered with entertaining bouts from start to finish.
In the main event, in a battle of two middleweight fighters, Gegard Mousasi looked to avenge his loss to Uriah Hall from UFC Fight Night 75 in September of 2015, when Hall landed a knockout to remember with a flying knee in round two that was easily one of the best finishes of the year.
It was a different story this year, a little less than 15 months to the day; Mousasi got his revenge by knocking out Hall this time at the 4:31 mark of round one. Mousasi, who now has won four consecutive fights and three via finish, has certainly put his name into the title contention hat in an already stacked middleweight division.
The main event in Sao Paulo saw another rematch in a light heavyweight clash between Ryan Bader and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. Their first fight, back in 2010 at UFC 119 saw Bader win via unanimous decision, when Bader was at top of the division, having won his fifth consecutive fight to begin his UFC career. He eventually lost to Jon Jones in his next fight back in 2011, but was still a force in a stacked division.
Before the rematch, Bader who is 33, announced that regardless of the outcome of the fight, he would test free agency. It was a surprising announcement because Bader was currently ranked number four in the light heavyweight rankings. Bader could only increase his stock because he once again won in the rematch defeating Nogueira via TKO in round three. With the win, he can now be as high as the number two contender in the division. However, after the win and now second all-time in wins (15) behind Jones in the division, he still proclaimed to test the free agency market.
As that fight ended, Bellator 165 had a title fight for the lightweight division as Chandler and Henderson, two veterans off the sport, put on a memorable performance. Chandler, looking to defend his title had his biggest challenge yet as he fought Henderson, who is one of the most accomplished MMA fighters in the history of the sport and a former lightweight champion in the UFC.
Chandler came out of the gate looking sharp as ever, landing an early storm of punches and almost finished the durable Henderson just before the bell to end round one. Henderson responded in the second round looking more aggressive and using a plethora of body kicks. Chandler got the better of Henderson in rounds three and four, using a guillotine attempt and out striking Henderson. In the last round, Henderson looked to take the round as Chandler was visibly gassed out. It went to the judges, and what was scored a close fight, (48-46, 46-48, 48-47), Chandler earned the split decision victory, but easily could have won it via unanimously.
After the gold was once again put around Chandler’s waist, it capped off a long and exciting all-day affair of fights. With over 30 fights in three different countries, the MMA world took over yet again, and delivered as promised.
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Photo credit: Bloody Elbow
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