UFC Events
UFC 177 LIVE RESULTS: Penick's round by round report for "Dillashaw vs. Soto" event
Aug 30, 2014 - 11:45:14 PM UFC 177 LIVE RESULTS: Penick's round by round report for "Dillashaw vs. Soto" event

DISCUSS ALL THIS IN OUR NEW MMATORCH FORUM

...OH, ONE MORE THING - PLEASE BOOKMARK US & VISIT DAILY!

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

UFC 177
AUGUST 30, 2014
LIVE FROM SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA

=====Fox Sports 1 Prelims=====

Whether you're watching or skipping this one tonight, stick with us here to follow along with the action!

PRELIM FIGHT ONE: CHRIS WADE VS. CAIN CARRISOZA (LIGHTWEIGHT)

ROUND ONE: Carrisoza moved in quick and Wade pulled off a throw into side control. Carrisoza tried to escape and Wade tried to take his back, but didn't quite have position. Wade turned it into a tight guillotine choke. Carrisoza's arm was stuck high, and he went out cold after Wade turned him over. Sick finish from Wade, good ground and transition work.

WINNER: Wade via submission (guillotine choke) at 1:12 of the first round

STAR RATING: (**+) Enjoyable debut from Wade. He had a really nice head and arm throw right off the bat, held control on the ground, and transitioned well to get to that guillotine choke. Nice work to start off the card.

-With time to kill, the UFC ran an interview backstage with Dana White in which he ripped into some media members for supposedly writing that fans shouldn't buy tonight's pay-per-view event. He was quite indignant about the idea, and thinks some of the things written about this card have been "disgusting." The issue the UFC has with this event is that they simply didn't put together a card that is on the level of other pay-per-view events, and when you're asking fans to shell out $60 for these pay-per-view cards, they should stand out beyond the events on free TV. Tonight's doesn't for many, and a lot of them will express that opinion by not buying it.

PRELIM FIGHT TWO: ANTHONY HAMILTON VS. RUAN POTTS (HEAVYWEIGHT)

ROUND ONE: Hamilton backed Potts up immediately. In their first exchange, Hamilton grabbed a tight clinch and dropped Potts to the ground in side control. Potts worked up to his feet. Potts landed a right hand as Hamilton ducked in. He clinched and landed a knee to the body. Potts tried to trip Hamilton up and Hamilton wound up on top, but then stood up and backed off. Potts then laid there and tried to goad Hamilton into coming down. Hamilton backed off and made him stand. After a brief clinch Hamilton landed an uppercut. Hamilton landed a kick to the head as Potts was ducking down. Hamilton scored a takedown on Potts into half guard. Potts threw some elbows off his back and got warned for back of the head strikes. Hamilton backed out again and Potts remained on the ground until Hamilton and the ref made him stand. Hamilton scored another takedown, fighting out of a guillotine. Hamilton keeps scoring takedowns, but then doesn't do anything until standing up again. No point in those outside of trying to score points, but he's not doing anything on the ground. Potts rushed forward and scored a left hand. They clinched late and traded knees to end an ugly round.

Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Hamilton. Bad heavyweight MMA is the worst MMA.

ROUND TWO: They showed a replay from one of the early takedowns in the first round where Potts slammed his head on the ground in bad fashion. Hamilton started the second with another takedown, and once again did nothing on the ground before backing out and leaving Potts to lay there for some awkward seconds before standing. Hamilton scored another takedown, and this strategy doesn't make any sense when he's not doing anything offensively on the ground. He finally threw some punches to the body as Potts just laid there. Hamilton kept throwing those body strikes and Potts' body was marking up badly on his ribs. Potts was doing nothing as Hamilton continued throwing punches to the ribs from half guard. The ref continued yelling at Potts to show him something and defend himself. This is just so bad. Neither guy belongs anywhere close to the UFC. The ref continued yelling at Potts to defend himself as Hamilton was landing those body shots, and finally stopped it. Such a ridiculous fight.

WINNER: Hamilton via TKO at 4:17 of the second round

STAR RATING: (*-) Bad fight. Potts absolutely doesn't belong in the UFC, and Hamilton wasn't doing anything with his takedowns until finally throwing the body shots in that final minute.


PRELIM FIGHT THREE: LORENZ LARKIN VS. DEREK BRUNSON (MIDDLEWEIGHT)

ROUND ONE: Brunson tried to close the distance earlier, and before he could grab the clinch he got tagged by a short combo. Larkin got free rather easily without any damage done. Larkin came back forward with a nice right hand and a big kick to the body. He stuffed a half-hearted shot, then came forward with a combo. Brunson tried to rush him back with strikes but didn't land, and Larkin fired off a nice counter. Brunson clinched again and pressed Larkin to the cage. Brunson tried to maneuver to take Larkin down, but Larkin was doing a nice job defending. Brunson let go of the clinch and landed a hard strike. He grabbed a standing guillotine and nearly had it locked on. Larkin got free, but wound up on the ground. He gave up his back and tried to stand, but Brunson dragged him down. Brunson got in some offense from the top as he held position. Brunson landed a hard right hand. Larkin pulled him to full guard. Larkin landed a solid forearm off his back. Larkin nearly got a gogoplata locked on from his back, but Brunson popped out, landing a few more strikes before the end of the round.

Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Brunson. Larkin was doing well striking for the first couple minutes, but Brunson scored a well placed strike out of the clinch and then got Larkin scrambling when he went for that standing choke, allowing him to take over on the ground. Competitive fight here, though.

ROUND TWO: Larkin stuffed a couple of early takedowns and landed a couple of strikes. Larkin got in a hard body kick and Brunson backed off. Larkin landed a punch to the body. Brunson reached for a leg but Larkin held him off. Brunson shot in and stayed relentless on the attempt, pulling Larkin to the ground. Larkin almost got free, but wound up on his back with Brunson in half guard. Larkin got to guard as Brunson wasn't throwing anything from the top. Larkin landed an elbow from the bottom. Brunson drove Larkin to the cage. Larkin tried to sit up, then got to a knee. Brunson landed a couple of strikes. Larkin gave up his back while on a knee. Larkin worked to his feet and got free with a minute left in the round. He landed a nice body shot with a few strikes behind. Brunson shot right back in and scored a takedown. Larkin nearly flipped him over, but couldn't get out. Brunson landed some hard strikes from half guard, riding out the round to the horn.

Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Brunson. Larkin's inability to keep himself up right now could be his downfall. He's landing some big strikes on the feet, but can't accumulate more because he keeps getting taken down.

ROUND THREE: Brunson tried to shoot in early. Larkin stopped two attempts, then moved in with a nice kick to the body. Larkin landed a left hand. Brunson then shot in and scored a trip right into side control. Larkin got a leg for half guard. Brunson was looking for an arm triangle but didn't get it locked up. Larkin landed an elbow from the bottom. Brunson stayed busy with a few strikes. Larkin went for a leg lock, but Brunson easily got out and back into half guard. Larkin landed a hard elbow from the bottom again. Larkin's trying to move off his back, but Brunson continued holding position on top. The crowd booed as Brunson held on up top. More boos as time ticked off against the cage. Larkin got his back to the cage and tried to get to his feet. He got up and landed a hard knee. Brunson stayed heavy on him in the clinch. Larkin backed him off with an elbow. Larkin tried to chase him down and ate a left. Larkin got in a couple of hard knees and threw a rolling kick attempt at the horn. Much too little, and far too late.

Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Brunson. Can argue a little for a Larkin round given Brunson did very little with the takedowns that round, but there's not that good of an argument for that score.

WINNER: Brunson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

STAR RATING: (**) There were some moments of competitiveness in the fight, and on the feet Larkin was having some success, but again, it was the lack of takedown defense that just hurt him in this fight.

-Joe Rogan was pulled mid-round in the hird round to run backstage to interview Renan Barao, bringing Kenny Florian in via an awkward trade off. Just a mess tonight.

-The interview itself continued that. Barao tried to argue that the cut went fine, but Rogan challenged him on that considering he blacked out while doing it. Barao argued that he just stood up too fast out of the tub, got light headed, and that's what caused the blackout. And that's your final sell for tonight's pay-per-view. Ok. That said, Rogan did a good job with the interview, asking some pointed questions of Barao.

=====Pay-Per-View Card=====

-After Goldie and Rogan run down the events of the past day, we head to our first fight of the pay-per-view broadcast.

MAIN CARD FIGHT ONE: YANCY MEDEIROS VS. DAMON JACKSON (LIGHTWEIGHT)

ROUND ONE: Jackson came straight ahead with strikes. Medeiros landed a body kick, but Jackson connected ona few hard punches. He landed a right hand, but Medeiros countered with one of his own. Jackson through a push kick. He rushed in low and landed a couple of hard right hands as he moved in to the clinch. Medeiros held off the initial takedown attempt. They traded strikes in the clinch. Each got in a couple of knees. Jackson landed a short forearm and a knee. Medeiros turned him around briefly and they traded strikes again. Jackson again turned him around, staying on the takedown attempt. Medeiros regained position and got in a knee to the body. They traded knees but Medeiros' landed low and the action was briefly halted. After the restart, Medeiros landed a hard jab. Jackson moved in with a solid combination. Medeiros landed a nice uppercut. Jackson grabbed a body lock and tried to get Medeiros down, but Medeiros nicely held it off on the cage. Jackson again nearly got him down, only for Medeiros to stay on his feet. Medeiros went for a guillotine, but Jackson rolled out of it. Medeiros landed a nice combination as they got to the feet. He landed another couple of punches. Jackson fired back with a couple of clinch knees. Jackson threw out a couple of kicks that missed the mark. Medeiros missed a kick before the horn.

Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Medeiros. Good, competitive round. Jackson scored some offense, but Medeiros had the more effective strikes that round.

ROUND TWO: Jackson pressed in with a few strikes. Medeiros landed a left. Medeiros threw out some kicks. Medeiros pressed in with a short combo and Jackson fired back. Jackson got in a head and body kick. Medeiros landed some good counter-strikes while avoiding Jackson's offense. Medeiros landed a two punch combo. Medeiros landed a hard uppercut as Jackson shot in. Jackson nearly got him down, but Medeiros again held it off. Medeiros got on a front headlock and snuck behind Jackson as he got it to the ground. Jackson went out cold in scary fashion to what was essentially, as Rogan called it, a reverse bulldog choke. Jackson tried to turn out of it, but he got caught. I've never seen anyone in that position before.

WINNER: Medeiros via submission (reverse guillotine) at 1:54 of the second round

STAR RATING: (***) The first round was competitive, and the finish is must-see as it's something that just hasn't happened in the UFC before, and I'm not sure if I've ever seen that happen in a fight anywhere ever before. Absolutely sick submission.

-Note: All winners on tonight's main card are winning a Harley Davidson motorcycle on top of their fight purse and any potential bonuses.

MAIN CARD FIGHT TWO: RAMSEY NIJEM VS. CARLOS DIEGO FERREIRA (LIGHTWEIGHT)

ROUND ONE: Nijem came straight across the cage and landed a few strikes. Ferreira laughed it off and fired back the next time he came in. Nijem tripped Ferreira and threw a kick aimed at his head while he was on the ground, but it didn't land as Ferreira got up to his feet. Ferreira tried to move forward and Nijem engaged with kicks. Nijem circled on the outside some more. Ferreira landed a kick. Nijem scored a solid left hook, but it didn't slow Ferreira down. Nijem caught a kick and too Ferreira to the ground. Nijem moved to half guard, but as Ferreira moved to do something off his back, Nijem stepped out and to his feet. Nijem dropped Ferreira with a combo and again threw a kick to the face while Ferreira was still a grounded fighter. I don't think that one landed, either, but the intent has been there twice. Nijem got in some kicks as Ferreira tried to connect on a few strikes. Ferreira moved in, but Nijem took him down with a well-timed takedown. Ferreira countered though and got to his feet. Ferreira staggered Nijem out of nowhere. He started attacking on the ground, but Nijem managed to recover and escape at the cage. Ferreira went for a leg lock and got on top, landing a couple of body strikes before the horn. Wild round.

Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Nijem. Close round. Both scored some big strikes and hurt one another, but Nijem had a bit more overall offense. That said, momentum's turning in Ferreira's favor into the second.

ROUND TWO: Nijem went down off an early exchange. Ferreira landed some hard strikes, then grabbed for a guillotine and pulled guard. He lost the hold and let it go. This still isn't a bad position for a guy like Ferreira, though. Nijem landed a hard right hand, then backed off as Ferreira was looking to attack from his back. Nijem rushed in again and Ferreira dropped him with another counter-punch. Ferreira unloaded some more strikes on the ground and the ref rushed in. Nice finish from Ferreira. Perfect counter right as Nijem left his chin out while rushing in.

WINNER: Ferreira via TKO at 1:53 of the second round

STAR RATING: (***) Good fight. Nijem was doing well early in the first round, but Ferreira made some nice mid-round adjustments. He started timing his strikes a bit better in those wild exchanges, and he dropped Nijem several times because he took advantage of Nijem leaving his chin out like that. Really good performance from Ferreira to remain undefeated.


MAIN CARD FIGHT THREE: BETHE CORREIA VS. SHAYNA BASZLER (WOMEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT)

ROUND ONE: Baszler tied Correia up and brought her to the cage almost immediately. Correia tried to separate, but couldn't get free. Baszler got in a knee, but as she tried for a takedown, she wound up on her back with Correia in half guard. Baszler got to full guard. Baszler attacked from her back for a triangle, then tried to turn it into an armbar. She landed some elbows from her back as she had Correia locked up a bit. Correia tried to break out of the position. She finally slid out and got to her feet. Baszler came straight back ahead and landed a few strikes. She clinched again and pressed Correia to the cage. She went for a single leg, but Correia held off the attempt. Correia landed a series of uppercuts and Baszler shot for a single leg. Correia landed some strikes. Baszler then tripped her up and got on top with 30 seconds left in the round. Baszler went for an arm in guillotine late but couldn't get it locked on before the horn.

Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Baszler. She was attacking throughout the round on the ground and occasionally on the feet. Not a runaway round, but she did a lot more than Correia.

ROUND TWO: Correia opened up with several solid strikes. She landed another combination and Baszler clinched. Correia landed a hard knee and an uppercut trying to break out. Correia hurt her with elbows and punches against the cage and Baszler covered up. Correia continued landing strikes against the cage. Baszler tried to fire back, but Correia kept tagging her with combinations. Correia just kept teeing off and Baszler wasn't doing much but standing on the cage. Correia continued unloading combinations to the body and head. Baszler wasn't moving off the cage, just standing there as Correia continued to rip into her with strikes. "Big" John McCarthy finally stepped in to stop it.

WINNER: Correia via TKO at 1:56 of the first round

STAR RATING: (**+) Some decent action in the first round, nice work from Correia to rebound in the second. Baszler pretty much gave up against the cage and McCarthy made the right call on the stoppage.

-Correia said after that she's going to be the one to take the belt from Ronda Rousey. She's not getting that fight just yet, but it could come by this time next year.


MAIN CARD FIGHT FOUR: TONY FERGUSON VS. DANNY CASTILLO (LIGHTWEIGHT)

ROUND ONE: Ferguson opened up with an inside leg kick and backed Castillo up. Castillo shot in but Ferguson easily stuffed it. Ferguson back inside with the leg kick. Castillo missed a winging strike and Ferguson briefly took his back standing. Ferguson landed some good jabs. Ferguson connected with a hard body kick. Ferguson continued pressuring in with kicks and punches. Castillo threw a high kick that was blocked. Ferguson landed a solid combo and stuffed a takedown attempt. Ferguson slipped on a kick but popped back up. Ferguson landed a hard right hand. He landed a left behind it. Castillo landed a right hand. They traded strikes and Ferguson landed a combo. Fergson went for a D'Arce standing and brought Castillo to the ground. It wasn't the perfect position for it, but he tried to maneuver around to tighten it up. Castillo defended it for a while and tried to get to a spot to loosen the hold. Ferguson lost the hold and Castillo was in his half guard. Ferguson got full guard, then Castillo stood up. He tried to pass, but Ferguson held him in guard. Castillo landed a hard elbow late in the round, then got in a punch, but Ferguson scored some strikes from the bottom before the horn.

Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Ferguson. Very good round for Ferguson offensively, but he didn't have the best position for that D'Arce attempt.

ROUND TWO: Ferguson pressed the pace early and they traded punches. Castillo shot in, got stuffed, and nearly got tripped up himself. Both missed strikes. Ferguson landed a left. Ferguson pressed in with some inside leg kicks. Castillo landed a solid right hand as Ferguson tried to press him back. Castillo shot in but again got stuffed. Castillo landed a two punch combo, but Ferguson continued pressing forward Castillo was firing back. They both slipped. Ferguson went for a flying knee. He landed another inside leg kick. Castillo shot in for a single leg, took Ferguson's back standing, but Ferguson rolled for a knee bar. He lost it and Castillo got on top into half guard. Ferguson pulled off a beautiful sweep off the cage into mount, but Castillo scrambled out and wound up on top again. Castillo not doing anything on top. Ferguson landed some elbows from the bottom. Castillo still not doing anything offensively. Ferguson tried to escape but Castillo stayed on top. Ferguson landed some more strikes from the bottom to the horn.

Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Ferguson. He's got to be worried that the judges will give Castillo these rounds simply for being on top, but he's been a lot more active offensively all fight.

ROUND THREE: Castillo immediately shot in but got stuffed. They traded strikes in a flurry with Castillo landing a few. Castillo landed a hard right hand. Ferguson rolled down for a knee and almost wound up with Castillo on top again. Ferguson attacked for a kimura, but lost the position. He got to his feet. Castillo shot back in and Ferguson tried for the kimura again. Castillo took Ferguson's back standing after escaping the kimura. Castillo dragged him back down. Ferguson got to his feet, but got taken down again. Ferguson used a knee bar to scramble, but Castillo wound up back on top. Ferguson went for a triangle, but lost it, and it was Castillo back on top in half guard. Castillo again not doing anything offensively on top, while Ferguson continued to try to work from his back. Ferguson got it back to guard and tried to lock Castillo down. He landed strikes from his back. Castillo transitioned to mount as Ferguson was trying to get to the cage. Ferguson got to the cage, though. Castillo transitioned back to the side and went for an arm triangle at the horn.

Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Castillo. Castillo's probably going to get the round for top control, but it was the definition of lay and pray. Almost no offense whatsoever on top from Castillo, but given the fact Ferguson gave him that position it's hard to give Ferguson the round either. Not a good finish to this one.

WINNER: Ferguson via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

STAR RATING: (**+) The crowd booed the decision, but the judges got it right. Castillo played the lay and pray game and it didn't work for him this time. He was upset about it, but you've got to have offense in addition to control.

-In a completely laughable post-fight interview, Castillo complained about the scores and said he didn't think Ferguson landed any punches on the feet. Ferguson must have punched the memory of those punches out of his head. Then he made the most ridiculous comment of the night, saying "we went to the ground, and he wasn't doing anything." Considering he did absolutely nothing offensively on top, that was hysterical.


MAIN EVENT FIGHT FIVE: T.J. DILLASHAW VS. JOE SOTO (UFC BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP)

ROUND ONE: Dillashaw backed Soto up early with his movement, but Soto avoided a couple of strikes thrown. Dillashaw tripped Soto up with a leg kick, but Soto popped up. Soto caught a kick, but Dillashaw landed a couple of hard strikes. As they scrambled, Dillashaw took his back. Soto escaped and got to his feet, but ate a couple of hard strikes as he covered up. Dillashaw reset. Dillashaw missed a head kick but hopped out of a single leg. Dillashaw landed a nice left hand as he sidestepped Soto. He landed an uppercut. Soto landed a right hand. He landed a counter left. Dillashaw tried to back Soto up. Soto was throwing out counter strikes as Dillashaw tried to engage. They traded strikes. Dillashaw landed a nice uppercut to the body. He went to the head kick but it was blocked. Both had slowed down as they hit the final minute of the round. Soto landed a right hand. Dillashaw pressed in with a few strikes in combination. They clinched briefly and Dillashaw landed a hard right hook. Soto got in a trip with a leg kick, and they traded some wild strikes late.

Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Dillashaw. Soto held his own there, and forced Dillashaw to adjust things mid round with a few well placed strikes. Dillashaw needs to get a feel for this as he wasn't preparing for this fight.

ROUND TWO: Dillashaw rushed in with strikes, but Soto was firing off counter rights and landing. Soto landed a jab. Soto started pressing in. Dillashaw landed a couple of hard leg kicks. Soto continued moving forward, but Dillashaw cracked him with a hard uppercut. Soto landed a jab and Dillashaw backed out. Dillashaw pawed out a nice combination that was partially blocked. Soto scored with a left hand. Dillashaw landed a nice right with a knee behind it as Soto moved in. Soto landed a couple of jabs. Dillashaw connected on a straight left. Soto moved forward, but Dillashaw fired out some strikes. Soto landed a hard left hand. Dillashaw connected on an uppercut to the body. Soto continued moving in, but Dillashaw drove him back with a combination. Dillashaw landed a nice uppercut. Soto landed a leg kick. Soto landed a hard jab. He covered up as Dillashaw looked for an opening. Soto landed a right hand. Dillashaw landed a kick to the body. They traded jabs. Dillashaw got in a knee up the middle. He pressed Soto back with a combo, but Soto continued covering up well. Soto pressed in late with a combo. Dillashaw got in a punch at the horn.

Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Dillashaw. Soto's gaining some confidence and was playing the aggressor a lot that round, but Dillashaw's a lot more active overall thus far.

ROUND THREE: Dillashaw landed a leg kick. Soto got in a kick. Dillashaw landed a solid combination and pressed him back. Dillashaw landed a good kick to the body but Soto avoided the follow up. Dillashaw landed a nice left. He was firing off several strikes, but Soto continued covering up. Dillashaw landed a good hook to the body. Dillashaw went up high with a kick, partially blocked again. Dillashaw inside with a leg kick. Dillashaw landed several strikes in combination while Soto fired back a few strikes. Dillashaw shot in and scored a good takedown into guard. Soto attacked from his back and scrambled to his feet. Dillashaw was right back on him with strikes. Dillashaw landed a hard kick to the body. Another nice kick landed and he kept the pressure on. Soto landed a left. Dillashaw landed a nice left. He threw out several more strikes. Soto blocked and landed a right. Soto connected on a jab. He landed another one that popped Dillashaw's head back. They traded short flurries. Dillashaw pressed him back and threw another head kick.

Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Dillashaw. He's taking more damage than he did against Barao, but the Champ is still in control of this fight right now.

ROUND FOUR: Dillashaw just missed on a head kick attempt. The crowd got a little restless as things slowed down a bit. Dillashaw landed a nice inside leg kick. Soto threw a right hand that connected. Dillashaw landed several jabs as Soto tried to walk him down. Dillashaw with a short combo. Soto fired back. Soto got in a couple of body punches. They traded jabs again. Dillashaw landed a solid uppercut. Dillashaw threw a few kicks. Soto continued pressing in. They traded strikes in the center. Soto pressed in with a few strikes. Dillashaw shot in and scored a takedown into Soto's guard. Dillashaw landed an elbow. Dillashaw tried to smother Soto's face with his forearm Soto finally scrambled and escaped to his feet. Dillashaw threw a kick as the round ended.

Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Dillashaw. Soto may take that round on aggression, but I doubt that. Offensively a bit more even, but Dillashaw's takedown gives him the edge as well.

ROUND FIVE: Soto shot in, but Dillashaw countered and stayed on his feet. He went high with a kick and backed Soto to the cage. He landed a nice combination to the head and body and Soto had to circle out quickly. Soto covered up as Dillashaw moved in. Dillashaw landed a hard knee to the body. Soto landed a left. Dillashaw landed a kick to the body as Soto tried to move in. Dillashaw landed another kick. Dillashaw landed a nice body kick. Dillashaw cracked Soto with a head kick and he was out on his feet! He landed a big left hand and Soto was out! Huge finish in a great fifth round for Dillashaw.

WINNER: Dillashaw via KO at 2:20 of the fifth round

STAR RATING: (***-) This was a weird fight because of the circumstances. Many expected a complete wash for Dillashaw, but he had to be more cautious in this fight than he might have been against Barao had that fight gone through. Soto's a legit guy, and though Dillashaw's definitely the better fighter, anything can happen in a fight on 24 hours notice like this, and Dillashaw found a tougher fight through four rounds than most probably expected. Give Dillashaw immense credit though, as he's scored fifth round finishes two fights in a row - which I believe is the first time that's ever happened - and he was up 4-0 on the scorecards in both. He didn't need a finish to win, but he turned things up in the final frame, and you can't ask for more than a Champion always looking to stop fights.

-That's the card for tonight. Not sure if fans who tuned in will feel they got their money's worth or not, but it was certainly an entertaining night, and Dillashaw got the job done in what could have been a nerve-wracking spot. Thanks for sticking with us here; we'll have more reaction to the event over the next several days, and then we turn our attention to Friday night and Bellator's final "season" on Spike before turning to monthly events in 2015, as well as the UFC's busy September schedule, which kicks off on Friday night as well.