UFC Vegas 26: Waterson vs Rodriguez Highlights, Bonuses, Reaction & More News | Fight Night Roundup
From Michelle Waterson vs. Marina Rodriguez and Alex Morono finishing Donald Cerrone, to Saturday’s performance bonuses and post-fight press conference — this is your UFC Vegas 26 Fight Night roundup.
UFC Vegas 26 main card highlights: Michelle Waterson, Marina Rodriguez put on a show
Marina Rodriguez def. Michelle Waterson via unanimous decision (48-47, 49-46, 49-46)
Rodriguez and Waterson put on striker’s delight on Saturday night. Rodriguez’s viciousness had her leading the charge; however, “The Karate Hottie” used her veteran savvy to close the cap in rounds four and five.
They’re letting the hands go! —
5️⃣ minutes in the books. #UFCVegas26 pic.twitter.com/EtzBH81Jhn
— UFC (@ufc) May 9, 2021
Strikes are being thrown from everywhere! — #UFCVegas26 pic.twitter.com/CxZ3hWJtRu
— UFC (@ufc) May 9, 2021
Rodriguez is setting an impressive pace! —
Main Event rounds are upon us —
[ #UFCVegas26 LIVE on @ESPN & #ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/xbitKLdxKR— UFC (@ufc) May 9, 2021
Waterson responds with a takedown and control! —
— What are your scorecards heading into the fifth? #UFCVegas26 pic.twitter.com/SvDTzARLbn
— UFC (@ufc) May 9, 2021
Round of applause —
These ladies left it all in the Octagon tonight! #UFCVegas26 pic.twitter.com/LSZNvzBkQQ
— UFC (@ufc) May 9, 2021
Alex Morono def. Donald Cerrone by TKO via strikes (4:40, R1)
Morono delivered a thumping finish against Cerrone on Saturday night. He blasted “Cowboy” with looping overhand rights and the referee waved it off as Cerrone covered up against the fence.
Delivering on short notice! —@AlexMoronoMMA stops Cowboy in RD 1! #UFCVegas26 pic.twitter.com/8ahCkOJsAM
— UFC (@ufc) May 9, 2021
Neil Magny (no. 9) def. Geoff Neal (no. 10) by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Neal started strong, landed hard shots on Magny and swelling up his eye. Magny, however, fired back in rounds two and three with superior cardio and output to take the decision win.
“I need you to dominate this next round.” —
The @HandzOfSteelMMA corner cam gets intense! #UFCVegas26 pic.twitter.com/vJXwfMKIzz
— UFC (@ufc) May 9, 2021
Non stop offense —@NeilMagny grabs the win at #UFCVegas26. pic.twitter.com/0KvwKfcyde
— UFC (@ufc) May 9, 2021
Marcos Rogerio De Lima def. Maurice Greene by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-27)
The most interesting thing about De Lima vs Greene was arguably the drama in between rounds two and three. Referee Herb Dean warned Greene about having his eyes in De Lima’s fingers, eliciting a rebuttal from Greene. De Lima chimed in by punching Greene after the bell. Dean talked to both men like children. Oh yeah, and De Lima won.
—-Pezao!@Pezao011 is heading home with a win! #UFCVegas26 pic.twitter.com/B0n4hUqfz4
— UFC (@ufc) May 9, 2021
Gregor Gillespie (no. 14) def. Diego Ferreira (no. 12) by TKO via strikes (4:51, R2)
Ferreira weathered the Gillespie storm in round one, even rocking the wrestler, but he couldn’t keep up with Gillespie’s pace. Gillespie broke Ferreira in round two en route to a late TKO win.
ALL HEART —@Gregor_The_Gift rallies to get the GnP finish! #UFCVegas26 pic.twitter.com/H7ZybIc8Gy
— UFC (@ufc) May 9, 2021
Phil Hawes def. Kyle Daukaus by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 29-27)
Hawes and Daukus put on one heck of a show. Daukus nearly finished Hawes in round two, but Hawes nearly scored his own finish before completely overwhelming Daukus in round three.
What a combo by @KyleDaukaus —
Setting the pace early in RD 2! #UFCVegas26 pic.twitter.com/moettHzWxB
— UFC (@ufc) May 9, 2021
Back and forth action for 3️⃣ rounds!
— What does your scorecard look like? #UFCVegas26 pic.twitter.com/GcPrmEfnUi
— UFC (@ufc) May 9, 2021
UFC Vegas 26 prelims highlights: fighter choked unconscious
Michael Trizano def. Ludovit Klein by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Trizano came out guns blazing in the third round, knowing that he was likely tied 1-1 or down 2-0. He nearly finished Klein with his hands and with a late guillotine choke. The judges, however, were on the Trizano train, to begin with.
Foot on the gas! —@TheLoneWolfMMA came out swinging in round 3️⃣. #UFCVegas26 pic.twitter.com/Cr7cts4Inw
— UFC (@ufc) May 8, 2021
Junyong Park def. Tafon Nchukwi by majority decision (30-25, 29-26, 28-28)
Unfortunately for both men, Nchukwi was at his best when he was repeatedly low-blowing Park. Nchukwi was deducted a point for the fouls and spent most of the fight being out-jabbed and out-wrestled. Park nearly got in the finish in round three with huge ground-and-pound that had Nchukwi bleeding profusely.
Saved by the bell —
Park almost secured the guillotine! #UFCVegas26 pic.twitter.com/tsedr8Gcv3
— UFC (@ufc) May 8, 2021
Carlston Harris def. Christian Aguilera by submission via anaconda choke (2:52, R1)
Harris and Aguilera clipped one another with big shots in their short card opener. Aguilera shot for a panicked takedown and Harris made him pay with an anaconda choke that had Aguilera snoozing.
— ANACONDA —
—- @CarlstonMMA makes good on his UFC debut! #UFCVegas26 pic.twitter.com/4IE2OxUzpV
— UFC (@ufc) May 8, 2021
UFC Vegas 26 bonuses:
Four fighters are leaving UFC Vegas 26 with a little extra spending cash.
Morono and Carlston were each awarded $50,000 Performance of the Night bonuses for their first-round finishes of Cerrone and Aguilera, respectively.
First round finishes —
— @AlexMoronoMMA & @CarlstonMMA cash in on the POTN bonuses. #UFCVegas26 pic.twitter.com/c21Ji3q74d
— UFC (@ufc) May 9, 2021
Additionally, Ferreira and Gillespie were each presented with $50,00 for Fight of the Night. The two men put on a whirlwind pace for nearly two whole rounds.
— BREAKING — Fight of the Night goes to Diego Ferreira vs. Gregor Gillespie pic.twitter.com/18U4KP3Nbz
— Shakiel Mahjouri (@Shak_Fu) May 9, 2021
UFC fighters react to Marina Rodriguez and Michelle Waterson’s five-round scrap
Rodrigue and Waterson put on a fun scrap for five rounds, and their fellow UFC fighters appreciated it. Former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz, Raquel Pennington and more share their thoughts.
Waterson has such accuracy. She throws her legs like she throws her hands.#UFCVegas26
— Dominick Cruz (@DominickCruz) May 9, 2021
She’s not going to pull this off but Waterson is so GAME! Someone to study if you’re looking to sharpen your sidekick as well. Rodriguez, just had too much volume and pressure. Excellent clinch knees as well.
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) May 9, 2021
Hell of a main event with these two ladies @ufc
— Raquel Pennington (@RockyPMMA) May 9, 2021
Damn those ladies threw down!
— Funky (@Benaskren) May 9, 2021
Pros react to Alex Moreno’s TKO of Donald Cerrone
UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling, Olympian Ben Askren and more react to Moreno’s clubbing TKO vs. Cerrone on Saturday night.
Damn that was brutal!
— Funky (@Benaskren) May 9, 2021
That was the best striking display from Morono I’ve ever seen. Clean and much more technical and precise. I thought Cerrone was gonna win that one. #UFCVegas26
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) May 9, 2021
)))):
— Kay Hansen (@KayHansenMMA) May 9, 2021
UFC Vegas 26 post-fight press conference live stream
You can watch the UFC Vegas 26 post-fight press conference live stream below.
The presser started at approximately 11:15 p.m. ET/8:15 p.m. PT following the conclusion of Saturday’s main event.
Refresh periodically for live tweets below highlighting the most important news bits.
Alex Morono: “Other than Conor McGregor, Donald Cerrone is the most recognizable fighter on the planet” #UFCVegas26
— Fightful MMA (@FightfulMMA) May 9, 2021
Marina Rodriguez wants to fight a couple more times this year, hopefully, a top 3 opponent. Name drops Xiaonan Yan and Joanna #UFCVegas26
— Fightful MMA (@FightfulMMA) May 9, 2021
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