Lightweight Championship Bout: Rafael Dos Anjos def. Anthony Pettis via Unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45) to become the new UFC Lightweight Champion.
Women’s Strawweight Championship Bout: Joanna Joanna Jedrzejczyk def. Carla Esparza to via TKO (Punches) 4:17 R2 to become the new UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion.
Welterweight: Johny Hendricks def. Matt Brown via Unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Heavyweight: Alistair Overeem def. Roy Nelson via Unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Flyweight: Henry Cejudo def. Chris Cariaso via Unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Lightweight: Ross Pearson def. Sam Stout via Knockout (Punch) 1:33 R2
Middleweight: Elias Theodorou def. Roger Narvaez via TKO (Ground & pound) 4:07 R2
Lightweight: Beneil Dariush def. Darion Cruickshank via Submission (Rear-naked choke) 2:48 R2
Heavyweight: Jared Rosholt def. Josh Copeland via TKO (Ground & pound) 3:12 R3
Flyweight: Ryan Benoit def. Sergio Pettis via TKO (Punches) 1:34 R2
Lightweight: Joseph Duffy def. Jake Lindsey via TKO (Head kick & punches) 1:47 R1
Women’s Bantamweight: Germaine de Randamine def. Larissa Pacheco via TKO (Punches) 2:02 R2
UFC 175 will see two titles go on the line. Lightweight Champion Anthony ‘Showtime’ Pettis (18-2) will put his title on the line against Rafael Dos Anjos (23-7) as Women’s Strawweight Champion Carla ‘Cookie Monster’ Esparza (11-2) takes on the undefeated Joanna Jedrzejczyk (8-0).
Join us on The Roar from 9:30am (AEDT) for live play-by-play and results.
Off the back of five straight wins, UFC Lightweight Champion Anthony Pettis will be looking to defend his title for the second time when he enters the octagon against Rafael Dos Anjos.
Despite being known for having devastating knockout power on his feet, Showtime’s last two wins have come via submission. First defeating Benson Henderson (22-5) with an arm-bar in the first round to win the title, then submitting Gilbert ‘El Nino’ Melendez (22-4) with a guillotine choke at UFC 181 last December.
Challenger Rafael Dos Anjos enters the octagon coming off three extremely dominant wins, including a devastating first round knockout of former champion Benson Henderson.
The Brazilian, who has lost just one of his last nine, yields dynamite in his hands and believes that he will be too powerful for the champion. Coming off the back of a three-round dissection of Nate Diaz (17-10), Dos Anjos has proved that he can take the fight anywhere and still be a dominant force.
Former Invicta champion Carla Esparza entered the UFC and became the first ever Women’s Strawweight champion, defeating Rose Namajunas with a rear-naked choke back in December. A finish which earned a performance of the night bonus.
Undefeated challenger Joanna Jedrzejczyk is coming into the title fight full of confidence. Her last two wins coming in the UFC, the challenger believes that she has an experience advantage, as well and a strength and style advantage as well.
In other fights, former Welterweight champion Johny ‘Big Rigg’ Hendricks (16-3) will be looking to get back into the title picture when he takes on Matt ‘The Immortal’ Brown (21-12) in a contest that is almost guaranteed to be a ‘fight of the night’ candidate.
MMA superstar Alistair ‘The Reem’ Overeem (38-14) will be looking to stay in the winner’s column when he takes on the extremely heavy handed Roy ‘Big Country’ Nelson (21-10).
Will Pettis keep his title, or can Dos Anjos bring the lightweight title to Brazil? Will Esparza defend her title, or can Jedrzejczyk become the second undefeated women’s champion in the UFC. Join us from 9:30am (AEDT) to find out.
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
Thank you to everyone who joined us on The Roar for this live blog, we look forward to seeing you all again soon.
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
FIGHT RESULTS Lightweight Championship Bout: Rafael Dos Anjos def. Anthony Pettis via Unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45) to become the new UFC Lightweight Champion. Women’s Strawweight Championship Bout: Joanna Joanna Jedrzejczyk def. Carla Esparza to via TKO (Punches) 4:17 R2 to become the new UFC Women's Strawweight Champion. Welterweight: Johny Hendricks def. Matt Brown via Unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) Heavyweight: Alistair Overeem def. Roy Nelson via Unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) Flyweight: Henry Cejudo def. Chris Cariaso via Unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) Lightweight: Ross Pearson def. Sam Stout via Knockout (Punch) 1:33 R2 Middleweight: Elias Theodorou def. Roger Narvaez via TKO (Ground & pound) 4:07 R2 Lightweight: Beneil Dariush def. Darion Cruickshank via Submission (Rear-naked choke) 2:48 R2 Heavyweight: Jared Rosholt def. Josh Copeland via TKO (Ground & pound) 3:12 R3 Flyweight: Ryan Benoit def. Sergio Pettis via TKO (Punches) 1:34 R2 Lightweight: Joseph Duffy def. Jake Lindsey via TKO (Head kick & punches) 1:47 R1 Women’s Bantamweight: Germaine de Randamine def. Larissa Pacheco via TKO (Punches) 2:02 R2
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
Two belts changed here. Dos Anjos was a 4-1 underdog, and he won all five rounds. Crazy stuff.
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
Well done to Dos Anjos. Pettis gracious in defeat.
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
THE OFFICIAL DECISION: Rafael Dos Anjos def. Anthony Pettis via Unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45) to become the new UFC Lightweight Champion.
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
My score: 10-9 Dos Anjos (50-45 Dos Anjos)
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
Anthony Pettis just got destroyed for five rounds. Rafael Dos Anjos take a bow.
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
Anthony Pettis (c) vs Rafael Dos Anjos – ROUND 5/5 Fifth and final round of this title fight! Five minutes to go, Pettis needs a finish. He comes out with a flying knee. Body kick blocked by Pettis. Left hand lands for Dos Anjos. Right hand lands for Dos Anjos. Dos Anjos clinches and has Pettis up against the fence. Both men land shots in the clinch on the fence. They break. Dos Anjos eats a left, but lands a kick to the body and to the leg. Dos Anjos looking for another takedown and he gets it. That's takedown eight for Dos Anjos, and he has side control. Dos Anjos has good control, landing elbows. Dos Anjos looking to transition to north-south, and he gets the back instead. Pettis is back up and they seperate. Dos Anjos with another body kick. Dos Anjos changes levels again, and that is takedown nine. Dos Anjos in Pettis' guard now. Pettis trying very hard to control the wrists of Dos Anjos and secure an arm bar. Pettis is looking for a kimura, but Dos Anjos gets out. Dos Anjos has the back and has the body triangle. Pettis is rolling but he can't get out. The fight ends with Dos Anjos having Pettis' back and this one goes the distance. We have to have a new champion here. That was a one-sided beat down.
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
Pettis has five minutes to finish this fight. My score: 10-9 Dos Anjos
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
Anthony Pettis (c) vs Rafael Dos Anjos – ROUND 4/5 Championship rounds underway. Dos Anjos takes centre of the octagon again. Pettis needs a finish. Both men land shots in an exchange. Inside leg kick lands for Pettis. Right hand lands for Dos Anjos. Pettis with a hard body kick and a head kick. Dos Anjos just taking it! Dos Anjos looking for another takedown, and he gets it again. Pettis almost reverses it, but Dos Anjos does well to force it off. Dos Anjos in side control now. Dos Anjos is looking for the kimura, and Pettis is hanging on for dear life! Can Dos Anjos get it? Pettis gets out! Well done to him, but Dos Anjos has his back now. Dos Anjos has one hook in, and now he has the second hook in. Pettis gets out and Pettis gets the takedown now! Pettis has him on the cage now, and lands some right hands on Dos Anjos. Both men land knees. One minute to go in the fourth round of this title fight. Dos Anjos turns him, and has Pettis pressed on the cage now. Dos Anjos with another takedown, and Dos Anjos with ground and pound and a high kick as we go into the final round.
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
Pettis needs a finish here. Dos Anjos is fighting like a champion, can he get that belt? My score: 10-9 Dos Anjos
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
Anthony Pettis (c) vs Rafael Dos Anjos – ROUND 3/5 Round three underway. Dos Anjos takes centre of the octagon once again. Body kick lands for Dos Anjos, but eats a right from Pettis. Eye poke on Dos Anjos, and the fight is stopped. He's okay, and they continue. Pettis lands a head kick and Dos Anjos just eats it and moves forward, throwing shots as he does. Dos Anjos throws a head kick but Pettis read it. Dos Anjos changes levels and gets his third takedown of the fight. Dos Anjos in the full guard of Pettis now. Dos Anjos is reading all of Pettis' submission attempts. Dos Anjos has Pettis on the fence now, but Pettis did well to get up. Dos Anjos has his back now, and Pettis is on the fence. Dos Anjos landing knees to the thigh of Pettis. They break and Pettis lands a head kick, Dos Anjos hits him with a body kick. Dos Anjos clinches, and takes down Pettis again. One minute to go in round three. Pettis back to his feet and Dos Anjos takes him down again. Pettis crawls back to the fence, and he will try and use it to stand up. Dos Anjos has Showtime's back now and he is hammering him to end the round.
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
Dos Anjos still looks great, round two to him for sure. My score: 10-9 Dos Anjos.
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
Anthony Pettis (c) vs Rafael Dos Anjos – ROUND 2/5 Round two is underway. Inside leg kick lands for Dos Anjos. Pettis with a front kick. Good jab lands for Pettis. Left hand lands for Dos Anjos. Dos Anjos clinches with him and has Pettis up on the cage. Knees by Dos Anjos. Pettis with a hard body kick and Dos Anjos answers with one of his own. Pettis is busted up underneath his eye, he is cut. Lead elbow misses by Dos Anjos and he takes Pettis down. Dos Anjos in Pettis' guard, he needs to be careful here. Dos Anjos to the body then to the head. Elbow lands for Dos Anjos. Another big shot lands for Dos Anjos. The right eye of Pettis is clearly bleeding. Both men busy, but Dos Anjos is on top in the guard, and he does well to avoid the arm bar. Dos Anjos lands a big right elbow. Short elbow by Dos Anos. Pettis tries for an arm bar but he can't get it. More ground and pound by Dos Anjos. Dos Anjos ends the second round on top.
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
Rafael Dos Anjos looks incredible! My score: 10-9 Dos Anjos.
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
Anthony Pettis (c) vs Rafael Dos Anjos – ROUND 1/5 Round one of this title fight is underway. No touch of the gloves during the face off! Dos Anjos takes centre if the octagon. Early kick lands for Pettis. Dos Anjos returns the kick. Kick lands for Dos Anjos now. Dos Anjos aggressive to start off. Dos Anjos lands a good left hand! Pettis ducks a big shot. Dos Anjos aggressive early on. Pettis hits him with a jab. Pettis returns on a counter, and a good hard shot to the body by Dos Anjos, Pettis returns it. Kick to the body then the left hand by Dos Anjos. Pettis misses with the spinning back kick. Body kick lands again for Dos Anjos. And a left behind it for Dos Anjos. Left hook to the body lands for Dos Anjos but Pettis does well to return with a left hand. Good body kick for Pettis. Right hand lands for Dos Anjos. Body kick lands for Dos Anjos. Another left kick to the body lands for Dos Anjos. Inside leg kick lands for Dos Anjos. Dos Anjos goes high but misses. Good combination lands for Pettis, and Dos Anjos does well to return it. Big takedown by Dos Anjos. One minute left in the round. Pettis landing some shots, but Dos Anjos has him on the cage. Dos Anjos landing hard shots to the body. Dos Anjos has Pettis on the cage and lands knees and elbows to end the round.
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
Moments away from the main event, both fighters are in the octagon. Bruce Buffer will introduce the two.
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
Here comes the champion, Anthony Pettis. Showtime!
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
The challenger, Rafael Dos Anjos, makes his way to the UFC's octagon for the biggest fight of his career.
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
Anthony Pettis wants to be the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, and he is on his way. Coming off four finishes, two submissions and two knockouts, Pettis can do it all. He won the title with an arm bar in the first round against Benson Henderson, then defending it at UFC 181 against Gilbert Melendez whom he submitted with a guillotine choke in the second round. Pettis can stop anyone, and he wants to knock out Dos Anjos- and climb up the pound-for-pound rankings in the process.