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Main event: Robert Whittaker defeated Yoel Romero
In what started as a one-sided affair quickly turned into one of the greatest fights in UFC history. Robert Whittaker survived to capture the split decision victory, 47-48, 48-47, 48-47, but Romero seemingly came closest to finishing the fight. He scored two knockdowns in the fight – one in the third round and one in the fifth. Whittaker admitted after the fight he broke his right hand in the first round so he was restricted to his left and elbows for the final 20 minutes. Romero came out slow in the bout and looked to save his energy. He began his explosion in the third and kept hurting Whittaker at times in the final three rounds. With the win Whittaker extends winning streak to nine in a row, which is good for the fourth-longest active streak.

THEY SAID IT:
Robert Whittaker: “In the first round, I busted my hand and I cannot feel it up to my elbow. Yoel hits like a truck and I just had to try and survive and make the comeback. I could have seen it going any way because it was tight but I hit him a lot and I thought I did enough to get 3 of the 5 rounds. It was a really tough fight but I want to go back and talk to my team and see what we think should be next.”

Co-main: Colby Covington defeated Rafael Dos Anjos
Rafael Dos Anjos seemed to be in complete control after 10 minutes of the interim welterweight showdown with Colby Covington, but “Chaos’” pace overwhelmed RDA in the end as Covington went on to capture a unanimous decision, 49-46, 48-47, 48-47. Covington was determined to wrestle and turn the fight into a grind to test RDA’s cardio. It held up for the Brazilian former champion for the most part, but Covington’s pace was just incredible. He landed seven takedowns out of 18 attempts for 12 minutes of control in the fight. RDA landed 105 significant strikes to just 99 for Covington, but the new interim champ landed more total strikes, 142-130. Covington turned in an entertaining post fight Octagon interview and called out champ Tyron Woodley, who answered on Twitter.

THEY SAID IT:
Colby Covington : “This moment is exactly what I dreamed of. This is what I’ve been saying all week, to all the media, to all the fans. This is my moment and nobody can say anything about it. I’m the new money fight in UFC. Tell Tyron Woodley that his time is up. This is the real belt. He was supposed to be the one fighting me tonight and he wouldn’t show up. I’m the welterweight champion. I’m the new king here!”

Holly Holm defeated Megan Anderson
Holly Holm showed her experience and level in a one-sided dominant win over UFC debutant Megan Anderson, collecting a unanimous decision win, 30-27, 30-26, 30-26. Holm ate a huge knee in the opening minute as Anderson charged in but the veteran recovered quick and took the fight to Anderson. The former boxing world champion showed her evolution in the MMA game, landing four takedowns that led to some brutal ground and pound. Holm landed143 strikes to just 48 for Anderson. Holm said after the fight she is still eyeing the 145 pounds belt but thinks the next step is trying to reclaim the 135-pound title currently held by Amanda Nunes. “The Lioness” accepted the challenge on social media after the callout.

THEY SAID IT:
Holly Holm : “This was an important fight. I hate losing and I always feel so much pressure to get one back after I lose. This fight went how I wanted it to go. The takedowns were something a lot of people don’t know I have but I do it all the time in the gym so I decided to just let it go out there. I’ve been fighting for a long time and part of my enjoyment is growing and finding new ways to be dangerous. This fight brought that out in me. I just didn’t want to look back at my career and say ‘why didn’t I ever go for those takedowns?’ [Laughs] People keep asking me if I want to be back at 135 or stay at 145 and, to that I say, why not both? Getting back the title I lost at 135 is definitely closer to my heart but I’m always open to whatever comes next.”

Tai Tuivasa defeated Andrei Arlovski
By the end of three rounds both these heavyweights were spewing blood from their mouths and noses, but it was Tai Tuivasa who got his hand raised with a unanimous decision, 29-28, 29-28, 29-28. Tuivasa landed 69 strikes to 64 for Arlovski and the Aussie’s knockdown of Arlovski in the first was likely the difference in the contest. Tuivasa remains undefeated and is likely going to jump into the top 10 of the heavyweight division with the win over the veteran Arlovski.

THEY SAID IT:
Tai Tuivasa : “That should be the Fight of the Night right there. Oath. I feel like my performance, going all 3 rounds, shows where I’m at in this division. Andrei Arlovski is a legend and a former champion. He’s one of the toughest heavyweights ever. He caught me early and cut my nose but I recovered and gave him some good ones back. This kind of fight is what I love about fighting. It’s a test. Test your endurance, test your power, test everything. As for what’s next, I’m not sure just yet but I’m making a lot of noise in the heavyweight division and I’ll be back soon.”

Mike Jackson defeated CM Punk
Mike Jackson made it a point all of fight week to point out that he was a true professional fighter and it showed against CM Punk, who hung tough for three rounds but ultimately lost a unanimous decision, 30-26, 30-26, 30-26. Punk landed a takedown in the fight but “The Truth” shut down eight other attempts and out-struck Punk, 129-56. Punk drops his second fight in the UFC and Jackson picks up his first win.

THEY SAID IT:
Mike Jackson : “[Punk] is a tough guy and I give him all the credit for that. I knew that I’d either finish him or I’d have to outlast him. I’m pretty and I don’t like to get hit so I just kept the pressure on him and got the win. As for what’s next, I’m going to talk to Dana and see what he wants me to do. Maybe another UFC fight or maybe Zuffa Boxing when that gets started.”

Curtis Blaydes defeated Alistair Overeem
After a slow 10 minutes to open the heavyweight scrap between Curtis Blaydes and legend Alistair Overeem, the third round was full of excitement. Blaydes finished the fight with an unbelievable barrage of hellacious elbows after a takedown to secure his fourth straight win inside the Octagon. Blaydes was hurt for a moment earlier in the fight when Overeem landed a punch and a knee as “Razor” shot in for a takedown. But Blaydes relied on his wrestling in the end and hurt Overeem on the fence with a pretty combination of big haymakers before landing the takedown that eventually led to the brutal finish.

THEY SAID IT:
Curtis Blaydes : “I put it all together tonight. I knew this fight was a big one and I wanted to make sure I stepped up in my moment. Overeem is a legend and a world champion. There’s no doubt that I am the next one in line for the title. Give me Stipe, give me DC, all that matters is that I’m the next one in line.”

Claudia Gadelha defeated Carla Esparza
Claudia Gadelha had to work for it after getting rocked several times in the fight, but in the end she did enough to squeak out a split decision victory against Carla Esparza, 28-29, 29-28, 29-28). Gadelha landed 4-of-5 takedown attempts, which amounted to almost a round of control on the ground. Esparza’s striking was superb, however. She landed 72 percent of her total strikes and out-struck Gadelha, 205-78 (43-26 in significant strikes). Gadelha collected her fifth UFC win – the third-most in division history.

THEY SAID IT:
Claudia Gadelha : “I definitely feel like this was my fight. I controlled her throughout every round. She landed a lot but I controlled the fight. I am one of the best women in the world and I want to keep improving and get another shot at the belt.”

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JUNE 09: (L-R) Ricardo Lamas blocks a take down from Mirsad Bektic of Bosnia in their featherweight fight during the UFC 225 event at the United Center on June 9, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC)Mirsad Bektic defeated Ricardo Lamas
Mirsad Bektic out-struck and out-grappled Ricardo Lamas to earn a 29-28, 28-29, 30-27 split decision win. Lamas had the most opportunistic spot of the fight in the third round when he had Bektic in a dangerous guillotine choke, but the slippery Bektic was able to defend and make it to the judges’ scorecards. The unofficial numbers show Bektic with the 107-74 strike advantage and a 50 percent (2-of-4) takedown rate in the fight. Bektic has now won two in a row and improves to 6-1 in the UFC.

THEY SAID IT:
Mirsad Bektic : “I know everyone was looking forward to this fight and I’m fighting a guy in his hometown so you always have to worry a little when the decision is split. However, I thought I had done more and had been more dominant throughout each round to get the job done. My one loss was to a veteran and Ricardo Lamas has been around for a long time, fighting some of the best in the world. I mean, this is a guy who fought Aldo… So I wanted to learn from my mistakes in the Elkins fight and really bring the fight to him. I just beat the number 7 guy, so at the least, I should be number 7 and I want to keep climbing. I’ve heard Charles Oliveira is talking about coming back to 145 so I would love to fight him but, really, I want someone who is going to advance me in the rankings. Whoever it is, I will be ready.”

Chris De La Rocha defeated Rashad Coulter
Fists were flying in this heavyweight clash between Rashad Coulter and Chris De La Rocha. It seemed that Coulter was getting the better of the exchanges at different points in the fight, but De La Rocha showed off his toughness and chin to survive some huge shots while delivering some of his own. In the second round De La Rocha landed a few big ones that dropped Coulter and he followed up with some big shots to earn the TKO win. That is the first win in the UFC for De La Rocha, who stepped in on short notice to take the fight vs. Coulter, who falls to 0-3 in the UFC.

THEY SAID IT:
Chris De La Rocha : “It’s a huge weight off my shoulders to get my first UFC win. I knew coming into this fight that it was going to be a tough one and it was a barnburner – that’s for sure. Rashad Coulter is very tough but I tried to use my size advantage to make the difference and it worked out. I like to take things one step at a time so I’m looking forward to getting home and we’ll see what we do next.”

Anthony Smith defeated Rashad Evans
Anthony Smith took full advantage of his showcase on the FIGHT PASS prelims featured bout with a first-round KO against former light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans. Smith had a underhook as Evans tried to work for a takedown and when the time was right, Smith blasted Evans with a perfectly-placed knee to the head to finish the fight and collect his first win at 205 pounds.

THEY SAID IT:
Anthony Smith : “This moment feels incredible to me. I just want to thank Rashad Evans for giving me the opportunity and UFC for putting me on such an incredible card. Rashad is an OG so it was an honor for me to fight him. I feel that my striking is some of the best in the division and I want to keep climbing and building. That’s why I think Sam Alvey should be next. I want someone with a number next to their name. If it’s not Sam, I don’t care who else it might be but I really want to get on this Lincoln, Nebraska card. That’s my territory. I made my pro debut a few miles away from that arena. You can’t have a fight in Lincoln without Anthony Smith.”

Sergio Pettis defeated Joseph Benavidez
It was the biggest spot of his career against longtime No. 1 flyweight Joseph Benavidez, and Sergio Pettis turned in the signature performance of his career. Pettis stuffed 17 of 19 takedown attempts by the former title challenger and knocked Benavidez down in the first round on his way to a split decision win over Joe B, 28-29, 29-28, 30-27. Benavidez ratcheted up the volume as the fight went along, finishing with an unofficial advantage in total strikes, 102-79. But Pettis’ work in the first round and his ability to thwart Benavidez’s wrestling gameplan gave him the edge on the judges’ scorecards. The next 125-pound title fight was announced tonight as Demetrious Johnson defends against Henry Cejudo in a rematch at UFC 227. Pettis sets himself up nicely for a potential shot at the winner.

THEY SAID IT:
Sergio Pettis : “When I heard the split decision, I was definitely nervous. I thought I had done enough to get the win but you never know how the judges will score things. He had two takedowns and he was landing but I think my output meant more. I feel like I’m next in line for the winner of Demetrious Johnson vs. Henry Cejudo. Joe Benavidez has only lost to DJ and Dominik Cruz. He hasn’t lost in six years. Now I’m the next guy in line. I’ve grown a lot since I fought Cejudo and I feel like I will be the next flyweight champion.”

Charles Oliveira defeated Clay Guida
Clay Guida was extra hyped up for his fight against Charles Oliveira in his hometown, but it went bad quickly for “The Carpenter.” Guida talked about Oliveira’s underrated striking earlier in the week and having to be careful in exchanges. Oliveira proved to be up for the challenge on the feet, landing 14/31 strikes and bloodying up Guida before catching him on a bad shot attempt in a guillotine choke. The choke was tight and forced Guida to tap immediately. Oliveira ties Royce Gracie’s all-time mark of 10 total submissions in the UFC and has now won two of three since moving back up to 155 pounds.

THEY SAID IT:
Charles Oliveira : “I am always training. I wasn’t training hard because I didn’t have a fight, but I am always training and always ready. I am a UFC fighter and my job is to be ready to fight. Clay Guida had a full camp and was much more prepared than I, but that does not intimidate me. I knew what my job was. I lost my last fight so I knew I had to make a statement here. Clay is a legend in the sport and I hope people take notice of my performance against him. For my next fight, I want to fight in Brazil in front of my country and my people.”

Dan Ige defeated Mike Santiago
Dan Ige didn’t waste any time in the opener of the evening getting to work, as “Dynamite” threw a three-punch combo that shocked Mike Santiago. Ige bull rushed Santiago and wound up in top position. That was the beginning of the end for Santiago, who ate a bunch of big shots before the referee stopped the fight at :50 of the first round. Ige improves to 2-1 in the UFC with the victory.

THEY SAID IT:
Dan Ige : “It was incredible to kick off the card tonight. This is one of the biggest shows of the year and I wanted to make an impression. I got the first round knockout and now everyone can build on that momentum and try to top it. My plan was to get the finish but I didn’t know if it would come that soon. Mike Santiago has proven how tough he is. You’re talking about a guy who went deep into the fight with Zabit, who is one of the best in the world right now, and went three hard rounds with Mads Burnell. I’m very happy with my performance. I don’t care who my next opponent is. My focus is always going to be getting back in the gym and being a better me each fight. It means a lot to get my first UFC win here tonight and I plan to be even better the next time. I live in Vegas so I would love to fight in Vegas but, if UFC ever decides to come to Hawaii, sign me up!”

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