Jose Aldo, Urijah Faber Both Drop Big Fights At UFC 245, Other Top 15 Bouts | HIGHLIGHTS
UFC’s completely loaded UFC 245 card wasn’t just limited to its championship fights. They had a wealth of top 15 fighters competing and showing off, as well.
Close one to call at BW!@MMarlonMoraes and @JoseAldoJunior go the distance – how’s your scorecards looking? #UFC245 — pic.twitter.com/bRLD3irzTb
— UFC (@ufc) December 15, 2019
Former UFC Featherweight Champion and legend Jose Aldo made a very controversial move to Bantamweight for UFC 245. However, in his way was #1 Marlon Moraes, who brought the fight right to him. Aldo and Moraes slugged it out, and Aldo didn’t look depleted or emaciated in the cage as many suspected. It ended up being vindication for Aldo, who didn’t get outstruck in any round. However, it wasn’t vindication on the scorecards, as Aldo won a split decision that was unpopular with the live crowd.
DROPPED! —
But Faber’s still in it! @PetrYanUFC #UFC245 pic.twitter.com/4oLKAPmwX8
— UFC (@ufc) December 15, 2019
Petr Yan was already making a name for himself, as his #4 ranking displayed, but he made even more of one by knocking out the legendary #12 Urijah Faber. Yan head kicked Faber out of the fight in the third round, and called out Henry Cejudo for a Bantamweight Championship fight.
Caught! @ViviAraujoMMA #UFC245 pic.twitter.com/1WtkqOtDvd
— UFC (@ufc) December 14, 2019
#2 Jessica Eye bounced back from her title fight loss effectively, derailing the hype train of Viviane Araujo. Eye used combinations and pressure to chip away at Araujo, and led to a unanimous decision victory.
Great showcase for the flyweight division!
Give it up for @TheAssassinBaby and @KaiKaraFrance! —#UFC245 pic.twitter.com/vmcUj30Vge
— UFC (@ufc) December 15, 2019
Immediately after Eye took to the cage to work her way back to a title fight, #5 Brandon Moreno made his case for supremacy in a depleted UFC Flyweight division. He would hand #6 Kai Kara France his first UFC loss via unanimous decision. The fight was a standout, immediately considered one of the top in the division’s history.
HUGE slam from @Omari_Akhmedov! —#UFC245 pic.twitter.com/Pvgjv870cH
— UFC (@ufc) December 15, 2019
#14 Omari Akhmedov was curiously ranked behind #10 Ian Heinisch going into their UFC 245 fight, but won’t be after. Akhmedov is now unbeaten in his last six UFC fights, after taking a unanimous decision win from Heinisch.
OHHHHHHHHH! —
Picture perfect left hook from @IreneAldana_! #UFC245
— Watch LIVE on ESPN 2 NOW! pic.twitter.com/bcp4I5x7Vu
— UFC (@ufc) December 15, 2019
#2 Ketlen Viera looked poised to get a title shot at 135 pounds — or 145 pounds if she so chose, and a win over #10 Irena Aldana would have likely put her in line. That didn’t happen, and instead, Aldana knocked her cold and put herself in the championship conversation.
#14 Geoff Neal made short work of Mike Perry, and said he knows he’s at least a couple of fights away from a title opportunity, but he made sure to specify his intent.
Returning in style! —
After two years out, @IAmTheImmortal is back in a BIG way! #UFC245 pic.twitter.com/5K74a1Daks
— UFC (@ufc) December 15, 2019
Elsewhere on the show, Matt Brown returned to the cage for the first time since 2017, finishing Ben Saunders.
You can see Fightful’s full results of UFC 245 at this link, and make sure to check out our post-show podcast as well, at this link.
