Woodley Controversially Retains Belt in Cagey Rematch

Tyron Woodley controversially scored a majority decision victory over Stephen Thompson to retain the welterweight championship in a cagey rematch.

It was another close affair between the two top 170 lbs fighters, with Woodley struggling against the patient gameplan but landing the takedown and almost finishing him in the last minute of the fight.

Image: UFC Europe

It was a dull ending to an otherwise absorbing night, despite taking a big blow 24 hours prior, when Khabib Nurmagomedov was hospitalised during a weight cut and was withdrawn from his highly-anticipated interim lightweight championship bout with Tony Ferguson.

Prelims set the tone

Before the premium portion of the card, six fights were on tap to get things warmed up in Las Vegas, and there were a handful of jaw-dropping moments.

That started in the Fight Pass headliner, when Tyson Pedro got another finish by stopping Scottish prospect Paul Craig through ground strikes. Then, on the televised part of the card, there were some stuning comebacks. It's never over until it's over - we found that out on back-to-back occasions.

Iuri Alcantara first off executed a sensational kneebar in a fight where he was on the verge of being finished. It was all action as Luke Sanders brought the fight and backed him up, before an illegal knee when Alcantara was grounded resulted in a point deduction. The Brazilian fought on tho, and just after he was almost TKO'd up against the fence, he got the leg on the ground and secured a huge submission win.

After that, highly touted prospect Mirsad Bektic was stunned by a sudden knockout from Darren Elkins in an otherwise dominant performance. Bektic's lightning fast takedown and tough striking had Elkins in trouble, and sporting a nasty cut from an elbow. But he pulled off a crazy finish up on the cage wall, with some strikes and a head kick, and just like that 2 rounds of domination from Bektic were wiped away.

Overeem brutally flattens Hunt

Image: Jeff Bottari / Zuffa LLC

A barn-burning heavyweight contest kicked off the pay-per-view as Mark Hunt and Alistair Overeem looked to get back on to winning ways - and it was The Reem who took home the W with a duo of brutal knees to put the New Zealand native to sleep.

Mark Hunt suffered a big gash to his leg in the early exchanges when a leg kick was checked, although it wouldn't deter him from going to the body and trading strikes. The Dutchman's clinch-work was effective but not significant early on, instead looking to chop away at the lead leg.

Continuing with his conserved approach, the former heavyweight title contender unloaded some crisp combinations which created some space, however Hunt would stagger him in the clinch even when he was on the outside. Some huge elbows to close out the second stanza left it all in the mix with a round left.

THAT KNEE!!!!! #UFC209 pic.twitter.com/GDhL4FxGBo

— UFC Canada (@UFC_CA) March 5, 2017

Left elbow, right knee, LIGHTS OUT! @AlistairOvereem w/ the 3rd round KO at #UFC209! pic.twitter.com/PjUR3C56ch

— #UFC209 (@ufc) March 5, 2017

Fans in attendance at the T-Mobile Arena weren't happy when Overeem decided to run round and get away from the pressure, and when he managed to get the clinch, he had the fight wrapped up. An elbow before a massive knee landed flush, and it was pretty much over there before another knee sent an unconscious Mark Hunt tumbling face first into the canvas - a massive, statement-making win for The Reem. Even if he got knocked out by the heavyweight champion 7 months before, he's not out of the picture just yet.

Cynthia's symphonic submissions shine on debut

Cynthia Calvillo enjoyed a hugely successful promotional debut by submitting Amanda Cooper in a wild first round.

After a few exchanges on the feet, Calvillo caught a kick, and took her down. A massive scramble saw her find the anaconda choke, but Cooper survived as her opponent crawled to take the back. She worked on the body hooks and sunk in the rear-naked choke and eventually got the tap - the strawweight division may have a new star on the up.

Image: Esther Lin / MMAFighting

Kelly edges Evans

Dan Kelly welcomed Rashad Evans to the middleweight division with a hard-fought three rounder in which the Aussie took home a split decision victory.

Image: Getty Images

Evans seemed to hold back and apply a more tactical approach early on but would turn it on in the third round. It wouldn't be enough though as Evans' work was just about enough to win him the fight.

Teymur brings the Groovy hype train to a halt

David Teymur worked his way to a thrilling unanimous decision victory over LA co-main event spot presented a massive opportunity for the lightweight contenders, and they showed their hunger with some entertaining first-round striking exchanges. Vannata attempted some spinning back kicks and a cartwheel kick, while Teymur was swinging for the fences with some aggressive boxing. Some scrambles and sensational exchanges with both men getting tagged was pleasing the crowd.

Image: MMA Fighting

Some great kicks, takedowns and wild exchanges made for a cracking finale, with Vannata's chin holding up but not doing enough to win. David Teymur won 30-27 on all 3 judges scorecards.

Woodley keeps crown in uninspiring rematch

The main event proved to be an underwhelming tactical battle for the purists, as Tyron Woodley edged Stephen Thompson in a razor-close five-round bout.

Image: USA TODAY Sports

Only six significant strikes were landed in a cagey, uneventful first round where the challenger controlled the centre and patiently waited for his chances. Woodley tried exploding early but Thompson slid out and landed, before pushing the champion to the edge of the cage, coming in with a flurry then getting back out to safety - a first round in favour of Wonderboy.

Fans weren't happy after two rounds were in the books with more cagey stuff, as Wonderboy calmly waited in the centre after a small period of pressure from Woodley. The output of the champion was not enough, and he was playing into Thompson's gameplan. A few attempts at exploding through were moderately successful, and managed to cut the kickboxer at one point too, but Wonderboy finished with some side kicks and had two rounds up on the scorecards.

Image: USA TODAY

Tyron Woodley was having a frustrating evening, but the third round yielded more success when he grabbed the leg, took him to the fence and got the double-leg takedown. He landed some body shots to score, but didn't do much damage on the ground - instead controlling, and when they were back up he landed some shots in the clinch. Woodley landed an overhand left when he was on the outside, but Thompson got more aggresive, teeing off and landing some body shots and a thunderous hook to end the third. It appeared that Woodley had got one back and the scorecards were poised 29-28.

It was a more subdued fourth round as we got into the championship rounds, Thompson almost connected with a wheel kick out of nowhere, but did ring the champion's bell with a head kick. He worked well from the centre and with one round left it was clear, Tyron Woodley needed a stoppage to keep his title.

Image: MMA Fighting

Tyron Woodley came out like a man knowing what was at stake, looking for the overhand shots but Thompson moved well and fired off kicks. In the last minute, Woodley managed to land a right hand as Thompson fell backwards, and Wonderboy was close to getting knocked out as the referee got nearby, but Wonderboy was able to gut it out, and somehow got his way to the final buzzer: 10 seconds more and we may have seen the end. Five rounds were done, one for the purists certainly, 25 minutes of more tactical and casual fighting.

One judge scored it a draw while the two others scored it narrowly in favour of the champion - another debatable call. Vegas certainly wasn't happy.

Image: MMA Fighting