UFC Light Heavyweight title fight: Daniel Cormier def. Anthony Johnson via Submission (Rear-naked choke) 2:39 R3 to become the new UFC Light Heavyweight Champion
UFC Middleweight title fight: (C) Chris Weidman def. Vitor Belfort via TKO (Punches) 2:53 R1 to retain the UFC Middleweight championship
Lightweight: Donald Cerrone def. John Makdessi via TKO (Head kick) 4:44 R2
Heavyweight: Andrei Arlovski def. Travis Browne via TKO (Punches) 4:41 R1
Flyweight: Joseph Benevidez def. John Moraga via Unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Flyweight: John Dodson def. Zach Makovsky via Unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Welterweight: Dong Hyun Kim def. Josh Burkman via Submission (Arm-triangle choke) 2:13 R3
Middleweight: Rafael Natal def. Uriah Hall via Split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Welterweight: Colby Covington def. Mike Pyle via Unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)
Lightweight: Islam Makhachev def. Leo Kuntz via Submission (Rear-naked choke) 2:38 R2
Flyweight: Justin Scoggins def. Josh Sampo via Unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
UFC 187 will see two titles go on the line as #1 Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson takes on #3 Daniel ‘DC’ Cormier for the newly-vacant UFC light heavyweight title. Meanwhile Chris ‘The All-American’ Weidman will look to defend his middleweight belt for the third time when he takes on #3 Vitor ‘The Phenom’ Belfort.
Join The Roar from 12pm (AEST) for live commentary and round-by-round updates.
Coming off a heartbreaking loss to then-champion Jon Jones in his last fight, Daniel Cormier has been given a second chance at UFC gold and he does not want to throw it away.
Unbeaten for 15 fights before his loss, with most of those wins coming at heavyweight, Cormier may have the best wrestling in the game and the fastest hands in the heavyweight and light heavyweight divisions. He will look to use take down the heavy handed Johnson, and grind his way to his first UFC belt.
Perhaps the biggest comeback story in MMA, former welterweight and middleweight Anthony Johnson made his way back into the UFC after a two-year hiatus to a much heavier division, and dominated top contender Phil Davis for a decision victory.
Johnson then proved he may be the scariest man in the UFC, with his new-found power he destroyed Antonio Rogerio Nogueira in under a minute, before stunning the world by finishing number-one contender Alexander Gustafsson in the first round in Stockholm. Johnson will be looking to use his insane knockout power be first man to knock Cormier out, and win the UFC light heavyweight title.
Since his loss in his light heavyweight title fight against then-champion Jon Jones, Vitor Belfort has been on an absolute tear. Belfort will enter the octagon against Chris Weidman riding a three-fight win streak, over top middleweights Michael Bisping, Luke Rockhold and MMA legend Dan Henderson.
To top it all off, he won those bout via spectacular head-kick knockouts, and became the first man to knock Henderson out. He will be looking to end the unbeaten run of the champion in devastating fashion.
Chris Weidman made history when he knocked out Anderson Silva to win the middleweight belt. Weidman made history again when he beat Silva for a second time, and after a dominant performance against Lyoto Machida in his last title defence Weidman proved that he deserves to be at the top of the middleweight ladder.
With superior wrestling and devastating knock-out power, Weidman will be confident that he can take out Belfort and remain the champion in yet another dominant performance.
Will it be #1 Anthony Johnson or #3 Daniel Cormier that win the newly-vacant light heavyweight belt? Can Chris Weidman dismantle yet another contender when he defends his belt against #3 Vitor Belfort? Join us on The Roar from 12pm for live commentary to find out.
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
Great to hear Puti, glad you enjoyed the blog!
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
Thanks heaps Sonny, means a lot! Glad you enjoyed it.
Sonny
Guest
Isaac, First time following your blog. Excellent! Much better than my old stand-by Fox. See you next time Guru!
Puti
Guest
Thanks again for all the great commentary, was hanging on every word!
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
Thank you to everyone who joined us for this live blog, we look forward to seeing you all again soon!
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
Here are the full results from the event! UFC Light Heavyweight title fight: Daniel Cormier def. Anthony Johnson via Submission (Rear-naked choke) 2:39 R3 to become the new UFC Light Heavyweight Champion UFC Middleweight title fight: (C) Chris Weidman def. Vitor Belfort via TKO (Punches) 2:53 R1 to retain the UFC Middleweight championship Lightweight: Donald Cerrone def. John Makdessi via TKO (Head kick) 4:44 R2 Heavyweight: Andrei Arlovski def. Travis Browne via TKO (Punches) 4:41 R1 Flyweight: Joseph Benevidez def. John Moraga via Unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) Flyweight: John Dodson def. Zach Makovsky via Unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) Welterweight: Dong Hyun Kim def. Josh Burkman via Submission (Arm-triangle choke) 2:13 R3 Middleweight: Rafael Natal def. Uriah Hall via Split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) Welterweight: Colby Covington def. Mike Pyle via Unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27) Lightweight: Islam Makhachev def. Leo Kuntz via Submission (Rear-naked choke) 2:38 R2 Flyweight: Justin Scoggins def. Josh Sampo via Unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
We have a new light heavyweight champion in Daniel Cormier, and Chris Weidman is still the middleweight champion. It's been crazy, Browne vs Arlovski has to take fight of the night for sure, Cerrone broke Makdessi's jaw, and I have no idea who took performance of the night honours. Great event, full of great fights.
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
Cormier's post fight interview went simply like this: "Jon Jones, get you're s**t together, I'm waiting for you" before walking out.
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
THE OFFICIAL DECISION: Daniel Cormier def. Anthony Johnson via Submission (Rear-naked choke) 2:39 R3
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
Velasquez the champion at heavyweight, Cormier the champion at light heavyweight. Those two are on top of the world.
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
Johnson needs to work on his ground game, and his endurance.
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
Rumble looked done after round two, DC imposed his will, weathered the early storm, and ended up getting his hand raised. Great performance by him!
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
Anthony Johnson vs Daniel Cormier – ROUND 3/5 Round three underway. They touch gloves. Rumble pressuring him and looks for a kick, he finds it. Rumble throwing shots and changes levels. Johnson has Cormier on the fence and Rumble gets the take down! DC right back up as he switches positions, and looks for the single leg take down. Johnson lands two hard right hands, Cormier still smothering him on the cage. Beautiful wrestling for Cormier, as he gets the back of Rumble. Johnson looks well and truly done, he needs something special here, and fast. Cormier has him on the fence, and is throwing shots on top of him. Cormier gets his hooks in and has a rear-naked choke! Rumble is fading quickly. Rumble taps! We have a new Light Heavyweight Champion! What a performance by Daniel Cormier!
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
Anthony Johnson vs Daniel Cormier – ROUND 2/5 Round two underway. They touch gloves again. Cormier lands a quick jab. Johnson lands a big right hand, Cormier throws a head kick but Johnson lands a clean head kick of his own and Cormier is hurt again! Overhand right hurts DC again, and Cormier gets the clinch, he needs to hang on. Cormier picks up Rumble and slams him, DC on top now in half guard, as he looks to keep grinding Johnson. Elbow lands for Cormier on top. Cormier looking for the kimura, he might have it! Rumble gets his arm free but DC lands more shots. Cormier going for the kimura again, and Johnson defends again. More elbows land for Cormier and he is going for the kimura again. Once again he can't get it but continues to pour it on Johnson. More shots land on top for DC who manages to posture up. Rumble trying to hip escape and explode out of there. Cormier landing shots on top. Cormier trying to advance to side control or mount but Rumble defends it. Rumble hip escapes but Cormier stays in control and he is landing punches and elbows on top. Rumble is cut, and DC will keep landing shots to end the round. Great round for Cormier. My score: 10-9 Cormier Overall score: 20-19 Cormier
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
Anthony Johnson vs Daniel Cormier – ROUND 1/5 Round one of this title fight is underway. They touch gloves. Big leg kick early for Rumble. Cormier looking for the jab. Rumble with a huge shot early and Cormier goes down! Rumble looking to finish the fight early and Cormier slips and and gets his back. Cormier gets a takedown and Johnson makes his way back up right away. Cormier looks to drag him down again and looks for a hook. Once again Rumble is back up to his feet. DC has Rumble on the cage, and he is looking for a take down. Johnson throwing shots and Cormier gets him down again. Cormier making Johnson carry his weight, Rumble looking to us the cage to get back up. Cormier is working hard to keep control of Rumble. Johnson is back up but Cormier still has his head. Johnson is free and looks for a head kick. Johnson throws a big shot and another head kick. Cormier swinging too! DC looks for a take down but its stuffed. Rumble aggressive! Spinning kick lands for Rumble. Both men switching stances. Cormier gets the clinch, as he looks to grind Rumble on the fence. Cormier with some dirty boxing on the fence, still in control. Cormier has Rumble on the cage still, and both men swing to end the first round, what a close round! My score: 10-10 (Draw) Overall score: 10-10 (Draw)
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
Bruce Buffer is making the introductions!
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
Anthony Johnson is inside the cage, Rumble vs DC moments is just away!
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
I would not want to be the person looking across into his eyes.
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
Here comes Anthony 'Rumble' Johnson!
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
Daniel Cormier is inside the octagon. It's been five months since his last fight, which was against Jon Jones.