The wait finally over, UFC 226 went down Saturday night in Las Vegas, starting off with a pair of bouts in the women’s strawweight and men’s lightweight divisions.
And just like that, it was upon us. The big show, the pinnacle of International Fight Week 2018, UFC 226. The event went down Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena, boasting a champion vs. champion super-fight between Stipe Miocic and Daniel Cormier. Max Holloway, of course, had been scheduled to defend his featherweight title against Brian Ortega, but a health scare forced him from the event. Ortega followed, and though the UFC tried to put a replacement fight together, calling upon names like Frankie Edgar and Jeremy Stephens, in the end, the behemoth vs. leviathan battle that is Francis Ngannou vs. Derrick Lewis was bumped up to the co-main event.
Before all that action kicked off, however, the evening got underway on UFC Fight Pass. There, Emily Whitmire took on Jamie Moyle at strawweight, while lightweights Dan Hooker and Gilbert Burns thew down in the featured UFC Fight Pass preliminary bout.
Check back come fight time — 7PM EST — for a full recap and results from the night’s early action!
Emily Whitmire vs. Jamie Moyle
Whitmire held center early in the opening bout of the UFC 226 card, using her length to keep Jamie Moyle on the outside. Moyle, however, found success moving forward with combinations. Moyle was certainly showing slicker footwork, easily moving in and out on her foe, and escaping when Whitmire press the action. Whitmire was arguably more active with strikes thrown, but on the whole, it was a relatively easy round with little in the way of significant damage.
Round two saw the action pick up almost immediately. More exchanges, and cleaner punches from both fighter. Moyle went to work on Emily Whitmire’s lead leg, something that seemed to hinder her ever so slightly as the round wore on. Come mid-round, Moyle changed levels and worked for a takedown. That was stuffed, only for Whitmire to initiate one of her own, which she couldn’t finish either. Whitmire would initiate a clinch around the one minute mark, only to be reversed and have to stave off a takedown by Moyle.
The third opened with Whitmire working her jab, launching an overhand right, then moving seamlessly into a takedown, landing it. After a bit of a scramble Whitmire established herself on top, in half guard. For the remainder of the round, Whitmire would control the fight, adding in ground n’ pound at every opportunity, mixing in elbows to the body, and avoiding some late upkicks.
When the scores were read, it was Whitemire up two rounds. Post-fight, she lashed out at Vinny Magalhães, using some colorful language to describe her teammate, who cornered against her, apparently without warning.
Emily Whitmire def. Jamie Moyle by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Dan Hooker vs. Gilbert Burns
Hooker vs. Burns opened with an exchange of kicks, and a spinning back kick by Burns that landed to the body. Hooker attacked the leg of Burns only to eat a big right hand. Hooker continued to work the lead leg of Burns, who checked a number of the attacks. A right then dropped Burns; Hooker refused to venture into his guard, but a moment later it was Hooker looking to wrap up a choke anyway. Back on the feet, Hooker then landed a pair of left hooks — one to the body, and another to the head as Burns returned fire. The second left, upstairs, dropped Burns, and ended his night.
“Give me someone in the top ten. Put some respect on my name. That’s four in a row!” Hooker said when all was said and done. “There’s levels to this game. You can’t stand with me, you’re going to get hurt,” he added. “I smell blood in this division, and I’m coming for it!”
Dan Hooker def. Gilbert Burns by knockout, Round 1, 2:28
UFC 226 Fight Pass Preliminary Results:
Dan Hooker def. Gilbert Burns by knockout, Round 1, 2:28
Emily Whitmire def. Jamie Moyle by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
