A night full of action brought over 11,000 spectators out to the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on Saturday night, as UFC on ESPN 2 was headlined by Justin Gaethje and Edson Barboza.
Philadelphia, PA — The second ever UFC card on the flagship ESPN station is in the books. And after a night where the majority of the fights went to decisions, the final three ended in exciting finishes. Josh Emmett, returning for the first time in over a year after severe facial injuries suffered in his fight with Jeremy Stephens, threw down with Michael Johnson. The featherweights went a full two rounds and then some, before Emmett pulled off a third-round knockout.
Perhaps a little karma, after Johnson quipped that Emmett was anything but a knockout artist leading into the bout.
In the co-main event, Jack Hermansson surprised everyone, especially David Branch, by pulling off a guillotine choke under a minute into the bout. Forcing the tap, Hermansson has set himself up for another big fight in the middleweight division.
And in the main event, Justin Gaethje did what Justin Gaethje does. Attacking with leg kicks, he’d later engage in a brief exchange with opponent Edson Barboza, rocking him. Gaethje would pursue, but the Brazilian survived, for a time. Not long after, however, a lunging right hook tagged Barboza, putting him out.
Following the event, UFC officials announced an attendence of 11,123 at the Wells Fargo Center. That was good for a gate of $1,102,542.16 US.
