UFC 178 Results: ‘Johnson vs. Cariaso’ Play-by-Play & Updates

Manny Gamburyan vs. Cody Gibson

Round 1

Gibson circles the outside and pumps his jab in the shorter man’s face, while Gamburyan stakes out the center and shoots for a long takedown behind a missed overhand right. Gibson tags “The Anvil” with a hook on the way up, and now the bantamweights come back to the middle of the cage. Gamburyan looks to tie up again and gets tossed to the ground, then pressed against the fence when he stands. A knee from Gamburyan catches Gibson on the cup, but Gibson quickly tells referee Chris Tognoni that he’s good to continue. Gamburyan lands a hard leg kick, gets pushed backward with a Gibson straight right. Another low kick lands for Gamburyan, this time answered by Gibson, who follows up with another right hook and a double jab. Gamburyan is sporting damage now, a wide cut under his left eye which only gets worse as Gibson sticks another right hand. Gamburyan backs up to the fence and covers up, allowing Gibson to score with a pair of knees. Gamburyan powers into a takedown with about one minute remaining. He passes to side control but gets overpowered by Gibson, who reverses and then stands to deck Gamburyan with some standing elbows and body shots at the end of the round.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Gibson
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Gibson
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Gibson

Round 2

Gibson covers up and deflects heavy shots from Gamburyan, who traps his opponent near the fence and tries to take off Gibson’s head with right hooks and uppercuts. Gibson steps forward and throws an inside leg kick that lands square on Gamburyan’s cup. Gamburyan shouts and grimaces as he walks around the cage, but after a break, he’s ready to continue. Almost as soon as the fight resumes, Gibson drops Gamburyan with a whipping overhand right. Gibson tries to polish off his kneeling opponent, but Gamburyan scrambles back to his feet and shoves Gibson against the fence. Gibson reverses to take the outside position and trips Gamburyan to the ground. Gamburyan stands, still trapped against the cage, and Gibson makes him pay with two or three big right hands to the gut. Gibson again trips him to the mat, where Gamburyan puts a hand down to avoid knees to the head. Gamburyan is back up and seems to have recovered with half the round to go. Gibson slows his pace and goes back to jabbing at Gamburyan, then puts the former featherweight on the fence. Gamburyan changes levels and hits a takedown with 70 seconds on the clock, then pulls guard to squeeze a guillotine choke at the 20-second mark. Gibson’s right arm is trapped by Gamburyan’s legs, and with no way to escape, he’s forced to tap with just seconds left in the round.

The Official Result

Manny Gamburyan def. Cody Gibson via Submission (Guillotine Choke) R2 4:56

Kevin Lee vs. Jon Tuck

Round 1

The lightweights tie up, and Lee scores a hard knee to the gut of Tuck before they separate. Lee pushes forward with a body kick, then grabs the Thai plum and works a couple more knees up the middle. Tuck breaks loose and tags Lee with a right hand, answered by Lee with another chopping kick. Tuck gets caught turning around with a spinning kick and has his back taken by Lee, who drags the Guamanian to the ground. Tuck uses butterfly guard to elevate Lee and then stands, but Lee keeps hold of Tuck and puts him on the fence. Lee hits a trip takedown halfway through the round and now sits up in Tuck’s closed guard. Tuck opens guard and pushes Lee away to try an armbar, but Lee snuffs it out and smashes Tuck’s face with a pair of right hands. Back up to the feet they come, Lee still controlling the clinch on the fence, attacking Tuck with knees and right hands to the body. A knee catches Tuck on the cup, and referee Jason Herzog calls for time. Tuck takes a couple minutes to recover and the 155ers get back to business with about one minute remaining. Lee swarms into the clinch with body shots and tries a single-leg, can’t get it and goes to pick the ankle, but Tuck stays standing to the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Lee
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Lee
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Lee

Round 2

Tuck’s first strike of the round is a kick to Lee’s cup, but Lee wants to fight on and they continue without a break. Lee is pressing forward, throwing overhand rights and then marching ahead on Tuck with hands at waist level. Another kick from Tuck lands on Lee’s groin, and this time Lee needs a break. Referee Jason Herzog docks Tuck one point before the fight resumes. Tuck tries some knees as Lee wades into range, but Lee changes levels and rips the “Super Saiyan” with a pair of hard rights to the body after an aborted double-leg attempt. Tuck reverses briefly, then gets shoved back to the fence, but Lee quickly releases to resume striking. Halfway through the fight, Lee shoots another double and this time slams Tuck to the ground. Tuck puts Lee in half guard, then full guard, where he wraps up the “Motown Phenom” to stifle Lee’s ground-and-pound. Tuck tries a triangle-armbar but Lee is able to slip his head out. Referee Herzog stands up the fighters with 25 seconds to go. Lee lands a right hand to the body, has a left high kick blocked and gets push-kicked away by Tuck at round’s end.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-8 Lee
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-8 Lee
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-8 Lee

Round 3

Lee whiffs on an overhand right and gets clipped by a right high kick. Tuck goes to the other side for an outside leg kick, then backs up to avoid some slow punches from Lee. An uppercut knocks out Tuck’s mouthguard, and he makes the mistake of looking to the ground for it, leaving him open to a high kick and follow-up punches from Lee. Referee Herzog gives Tuck his mouthpiece back as the the fighters hit the ground, Lee stacking his man up at the base of the fence. Tuck is leaking blood from a cut on his nose, blood running into both eyes as he fights off his back, trying to keep Lee in half guard. Lee stands and has to avoid a leglock threat from Tuck, so Lee comes back down to Tuck’s closed guard with about one minute left. Tuck throws elbows off his back and tries to creep his legs up Lee’s body for a late sub attempt, but time runs out and this one is going to the judges.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Lee (30-26 Lee)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Lee (30-26 Lee)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Lee (30-26 Lee)

The Official Result

Kevin Lee def. Jon Tuck via Unanimous Decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26) R3 5:00

Brian Ebersole vs. John Howard

Round 1

Ebersole moves around the perimeter in the southpaw stance, looking for an entry for a high double. Howard fends him off and connects with a series of short right hooks as the welterweights tie up, but it’s Ebersole putting the fight on the fence and taking outside position. Howard prevents punching with overhooks and holds Ebersole in the stalemate position until referee Chris Tognoni splits them up. Ebersole goes upstairs with a left high kick and then changes levels to drive Howard to the ground midway through the round. Howard gives up his back in the scramble and absorbs six or seven left hands to the head as he tries to work his way out of the sticky situation. Ebersole has one hook secured with 80 seconds to go, still picking at Howard with short punches as he works to secure the position. Howard stands and shakes Ebersole to the ground, and Ebersole lands an illegal upkick as Howard kneels in front of him. Howard takes a few seconds to recover from the shot, and the round ends shortly after it resumes.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Ebersole
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Ebersole
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Ebersole

Round 2

Howard pushes the action early in round two, chopping on Ebersole with hard low kicks and pushing the “Bad Boy” toward the fence with punches. Ebersole gets underhooks and looks for a trip, but it’s Howard who hooks Ebersole’s leg and trips him to the canvas a few feet from the fence. As they roll toward the center of the cage, Howard tries to extract his right leg from half guard and pass to side control on Ebersole’s left side. Ebersole tries to post and stand, but instead has his back taken by Howard in the scramble. Howard has hooks in, hunting for a rear-naked choke with 90 seconds on the clock. Ebersole turns into the choke and peels away Howard’s arms to escape danger, then works to spin around and reverse into top position. Howard blocks the reversal at first, but Ebersole gets it inside the last minute. Howard hits another takedown almost immediately to finish the round on top.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Howard
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Howard
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Howard

Round 3

Ebersole scores with a few inside leg kicks from his back foot but misses with his picking jabs. Howard waits before stepping into the pocket and touching Ebersole with some heavy punches, then “Doomsday” pushes Ebersole against the cage, grabbing for a single-leg takedown. The takedown doesn’t come, so Howard hits Ebersole with a pair of body punches before backing out. Ebersole goes back to circling the outside, throwing jabs and stepping backward until trying a takedown of his own halfway through the round. Howard stands him up and hits back with a hard leg kick that has Ebersole limping a bit. Ebersole covers up as Howard attacks with a flurry of five or six heavy hooks. Howard catches a knee and runs Ebersole against the fence with 90 seconds to go. They separate and Ebersole dives for a long, high double-leg which is easily sprawled on by Howard. Another hard leg kicks draws a big reaction from Ebersole, who tries the Thai plum and winds up taking body punches from Howard. A knee to the gut lands for Ebersole before he releases and the final horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Ebersole (29-28 Ebersole)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Howard (29-28 Howard)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Howard (29-28 Howard)

The Official Result

Brian Ebersole def. John Howard via Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) R3 5:00

Patrick Cote vs. Stephen Thompson

Round 1

Thompson takes the center of the cage in his flat-footed karate stance, then circles to the outside when the more bouncy Cote presses forward. Cote gives chase and puts “Wonderboy” on the fence with an underhook, only to be reversed by Thompson a few seconds later. The welterweights trade knees in the clinch before Thompson slips away and resets in the center. Cote hits Thompson’s lead leg with a hard low kick, then clips him with a short right hook when Thompson steps too close. Thompson is on his back foot now, hitting Cote with a body kick and sliding out of range of the Canadian’s return fire. Cote shoots a double-leg against the fence, but Thompson denies the shot with a wide sprawl and gives Cote a few knees to the body. Cote looks for a throw and winds up on his knees, then has to scramble back to his feet to avoid Thompson’s hands.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-10
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Thompson
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Cote

Round 2

Thompson finds a home for his right hand early in round two, countering Cote’s low kicks with hard punches over the top. Cote uses good head movement to slip the next few rights, so Thompson taps him with a left-handed jab. Thompson crouches low and still, trying to bait Cote forward, and Cote obliges with a sweeping left hand that grazes as Thompson backpedals. Thompson sticks a stiff jab as he continues to switch stances, then has to defend as Cote tries a single-leg against the cage. Thompson delivers a couple elbows to the side of Cote’s head as they fight on the fence, and now Cote relents on the takedown attempt. Cote pulls up short on a pair of punches, and Thompson makes him pay with a stinging left hand.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Thompson
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Thompson
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Thompson

Round 3

Working from the orthodox stance, Thompson zaps Cote with a straight right down the center and then circles away as Cote dives for a takedown. A jab touches Cote, who backs up to avoid a Thompson axe kick. Cote catches Thompson upright and changes levels to try a single-leg, but Thompson snuffs out another takedown attempt. Cote comes over the top to land a right hand with about 1:40 on the clock. Seconds later, Thompson drops him with a blistering right straight. Cote survives Thompson’s follow-up shots and gets back to his feet to slap hands with “Wonderboy.” With one minute to go, Thompson knocks Cote backward toward the fence, stuffs another shot and forces Cote to the ground. Thompson wants Cote back on his feet, so referee Jason Herzog orders him up. Both men miss with high spinning kicks, then Thompson connects with one to Cote’s gut and finishes the fight with a right hand up top.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Thompson (30-28 Thompson)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Thompson (30-27 Thompson)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Thompson (29-28 Thompson)

The Official Result

Stephen Thompson def. Patrick Cote via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) R3 5:00

James Krause vs. Jorge Masvidal

Round 1

There’s lots of feinting and pawing in the opening minute of the fight, then Krause begins to find his mark down the middle with straight right hands. Masvidal responds with a leg kick inside, answered in turn by Krause, who presses forward and backs the American Top Team product toward the fence with long front kicks. Krause catches a kick from Masvidal and runs him against the fence, where Masvidal briefly considers a guillotine before releasing to defend a takedown. The lightweights separate and Masvidal tags Krause with a short right hook upstairs, just misses with a spinning-back kick. Masvidal ups his aggression in the final minute, attacking Krause with heavy punching combinations and finishing the frame in the clinch.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Masvidal
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Masvidal
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Masvidal

Round 2

Krause opens with a three-piece combo on Masvidal, who responds with a pair of punches and a hard low kick that backs up Krause to the fence. Krause decides to change levels in the middle of the cage, pushes Masvidal to the fence and finishes the takedown there about 90 seconds into the round. Masvidal sits up against the cage, snares Krause in a guillotine and uses it to roll Krause onto his back. Krause works back to his feet but takes a knee to the body in the process, and Masvidal holds him on the fence as they stand. Krause circles out of the clinch midway through the round. He tries a cartwheel kick, misses and takes a pair of punches on the grill as he stands. Again, Masvidal is turning up the heat late in the round, tripping Krause to the ground with a caught kick and touching him with a spinning kick as he stands. Masvidal gets another takedown on the fence, but this time Krause is able to take top position in the scramble. Krause is angling for a brabo choke but can’t find the angle, and Masvidal is able to stand. Krause follows to the feet and gets dropped right back down courtesy of a Masvidal right hook at the end of the frame.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Masvidal
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Masvidal
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Masvidal

Round 3

Both lightweights pick with jabs at the start of the final round, but Masvidal lands harder right hands as he pushes forward, causing Krause to cover up momentarily. It’s a big enough gap for Masvidal to close the distance and drag Krause to the ground, though Krause is instantly back on his feet and escapes from Masvidal’s clutches soon after. Masvidal gets another takedown near the fence and grinds on Krause with forearms, elbows and punches, then keeps hold with underhooks as Krause stands. Krause shoves him away, and the lightweights are back to striking with two minutes left in the bout. Krause opts to close the gap this time, can’t find the takedown and quickly backs out. Masvidal marches him toward the fence and initiates a clinch. Krause turns it around to take the outside position and complains to referee Herb Dean that Masvidal is grabbing his gloves. With 50 seconds to go, the 155ers separate. Masvidal decks Krause with a big right hand, then thwarts a takedown attempt and shoves Krause to the canvas, where Masvidal steps straight into full mount. Krause rolls over, and the fight ends with Masvidal working to secure back mount.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Masvidal (30-27 Masvidal)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Masvidal (30-27 Masvidal)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Masvidal (30-27 Masvidal)

The Official Result

Jorge Masvidal def. James Krause via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) R3 5:00

Dominick Cruz vs. Takeya Mizugaki

Round 1

Cruz evades early punches from Mizugaki, who steps forward on the fleet-footed former champion. Cruz hits an easy takedown, then ragdolls Mizugaki back to the ground as soon as the Japanese fighter gets to his feet. Cruz gives Mizugaki no space, unloading with heavy lefts on his kneeling opponent. Referee Chris Tognoni is having a close look as Mizugaki turns to the other side and Cruz wallops him with thunderous right hands. Mizugaki’s right arm is trapped behind his back, leaving him no way to defend himself, and Cruz’s punches turn out his lights.

The Official Result

Dominick Cruz def. Takeya Mizugaki via KO (Punches) R1 1:01

Amanda Nunes vs. Cat Zingano

Round 1

Zingano goes straight after a takedown and instead finds herself overpower, tripped to the canvas by Nunes, who pushes the American toward the fence while working from half guard. As they near the fence, Zingano swings her legs around to try an armbar, but Nunes yanks the limb free and defends the heel hook attempt behind it, too. Nunes stands over Zingano, kicking at her legs and staying out of range of Zingano’s upkicks. Nunes dives to the ground with a big right hand and smashes on Zingano with heavy punches while Zingano tries to kick the Brazilian away. Pinning Zingano’s head to the ground, Nunes continues to unload with right hands and elbows. More heavy rights catch Zingano with her head flush to the canvas, and now Nunes tries for a leglock. The sub attempt proves ill-advised, as Zingano is able to take top position with about one minute left in the round. Zingano allows Nunes to stand, dodges a leaping punch from the Brazilian and whips her to the ground with a headlock to finish the round on top.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Nunes
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Nunes
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Nunes

Round 2

The bantamweights move straight to the clinch, and this time Zingano is able to execute a takedown near the fence. Zingano works from side control, leaning right to left across Nunes’ body and sitting up to hunt for an armbar. Nunes defends the submission and puts Zingano back in butterfly guard, where Zingano sits up to drop elbows, then stands to kick Nunes in the rear. Zingano drops back for a heel hook, loses it, but maintains top position. Zingano throws short punches from Nunes’ half guard, then slices open the Brazilian’s face under the right eye with a pair of elbows. Zingano tries a toe hold but loses it as Nunes rolls over, looking for a leglock of her own. Zingano is able to stuff Nunes to her back again and rides out the final 40 seconds of the round throwing short body punches.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Zingano
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Zingano
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Zingano

Round 3

Once again, the women go right to the clinch. This time, Zingano roughs up Nunes with some knees before tossing her to the ground. Zingano takes full mount and bloodies Nunes further with heavy elbows. Referee Jason Herzog is telling Nunes to fight back as Zingano wails away with punches and elbows. After three or four more shots land with no response from Nunes, the ref calls a halt to the bout.

The Official Result

Cat Zingano def. Amanda Nunes via TKO (Elbows and Punches) R3 1:21

Tim Kennedy vs. Yoel Romero

Round 1

Romero presses forward in the southpaw stance, momentarily backed up by a body kick from Kennedy. A heavy left hand from Romero rocks Kennedy’s head, and now the American circles off the cage to meet Romero in the center. Romero looks for the left again, gets blocked, but finds Kennedy’s face with the next one. Kennedy is leaking blood from his nose as he comes off the fence again, swinging a big overhand right which Romero ducks under. Kennedy dives for a takedown after missing a high kick and right hand, but Romero snuffs out the shot. Now, Romero drives Kennedy to the ground with a double-leg and immediately allows him to stand. Kennedy walks into an overhand right, and now his nose is really bleeding. Romero gets the last word in the round, catching a kick and swiping at Kennedy with another right hand.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Romero
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Romero
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Romero

Round 2

Kennedy takes a stiff, straight left down the center and circles away to try a head kick which Romero sidesteps. The southpaw is doing well to dodge almost all of Kennedy’s power strikes, though Romero’s offense has dropped off a bit in the opening 90 seconds of round two. Romero blocks another shot and makes Kennedy pay with a wide right hand. Kennedy gets a couple reaching rights on Romero, though there doesn’t seem to be much behind them. Two or three uppercuts in the clinch connect for Kennedy, but Romero denies the takedown attempt behind it. Kennedy has another shot stuffed a few seconds later, then pulls guard with a guillotine. Romero escapes and stands with just under two minutes remaining in the round. Kennedy is throwing everything at Romero, grazing with a spinning back fist before Romero grabs hold of him and muscles him against the cage. Romero puts short right hands on Kennedy’s ribs, answered by Kennedy with a level elbow and an uppercut. The 185ers split with 25 seconds to go, and Romero tags Kennedy with some hard uppercuts. Kennedy explodes in the final 10 seconds and rocks Romero with a right hook, an uppercut. More punches land as Romero staggers backward to the fence, barely surviving to hear the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Kennedy
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Kennedy
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Kennedy

Round 3

Romero takes a long time getting off his stool to begin the final round, but once he does, he floors Kennedy with a huge right hand. Kennedy gets back to his feet, only to be dropped again with an uppercut. Romero is trying desperately to finish this fight, pounding on Kennedy with everything he has, but Kennedy holds him off with half guard. Just when it looks like Kennedy may survive the assault, Romero comes alive and lands a few more punches that have Kennedy covering up, and now referee John McCarthy has seen enough.

The Official Result

Yoel Romero def. Tim Kennedy via TKO (Punches) R3 0:58

Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier

Round 1

McGregor opens with a hook kick and then touches Poirier with a kick to the body. The Irishman slips to the ground on his next kick but gets back to his feet before Poirier can capitalize. Poirier moves to the outside, leaving McGregor to try the range with more kicks in the center. Poirier lands an inside leg kick, takes a left hand from McGregor and then backs him up with a left hook. McGregor thumps Poirier with a left hook on the ear, just misses with a spinning kick upstairs. Poirier is on his back foot when McGregor steps into the pocket and drops him with a left hook behind the ear. Poirier hits the ground, slumping forward, and McGregor finishes the job with four hard left hands that force referee Herb Dean into action.

The Official Result

Conor McGregor def. Dustin Poirier via TKO (Punches) R1 1:46

Donald Cerrone vs. Eddie Alvarez

Round 1

Alvarez strikes first with a straight left to the body, while Cerrone threatens with kicks before landing a slapping shot to Alvarez’s lead leg. The former Bellator champ switches stances a few times and winds up orthodox, maybe looking to avoid the body kicks Cerrone is landing to the other side. Cerrone pulls the Thai plum and gets lit up with a dozen or more uppercuts and right hooks over the top of the clinch. Alvarez is just bombing all over the “Cowboy,” who looks dazed but on steady feet as he steps out of the clinch. Cerrone is coming up short as he lobs combinations on the smaller man. Alvarez dives on a double-leg behind a body shot, but Cerrone sprawls and winds up with his back to the fence. Alvarez backs off and Cerrone follows with a hook to the body. Inside the last minute now, and Alvarez lands a reaching overhand right before Cerrone finishes the round with a pair of body kicks.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Alvarez
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Alvarez
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Alvarez

Round 2

Cerrone goes to the outside with a leg kick as he inches forward on Alvarez, who’s cutting angles and looking for an entry. Again, Cerrone pulls the clinch, but this time he scores with a knee and releases before Alvarez can mount any offense. Alvarez catches a low kick, gives chase after Cerrone yanks the leg away but can’t get the takedown on the second effort either. Cerrone puts a hard knee on Alvarez’s body, then another from the clinch a few seconds later. Alvarez is on his back foot, taking leg kicks and two-punch combinations while mounting almost no offense of his own. Alvarez is wiping and squinting his right eye as Cerrone marches him down, kicking low and high, throwing high knees when he gets into range. Alvarez is limping, too, his legs showing damage from the powerful low kicks, but he manages to end the round by putting a spinning back fist on Cerrone’s face.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Cerrone
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Cerrone
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Cerrone

Round 3

Alvarez shoots almost immediately, gets stood up by Cerrone and takes a body kick on the break. Timing a low kick, Alvarez decks Cerrone and nearly knocks him to the ground with a huge overhand right. Cerrone keeps his balance and stays in the pocket to trade with Alvarez, who takes a leg kick to land another pair of punches. Cerrone rocks Alvarez with a knee, and the Pennsylvanian staggers backward against the cage, trying to evade Cerrone’s follow-up punches. Cerrone backs off with three minutes still left in the round, resumes his leg kicking and nearly chops Alvarez to the ground. Another knee drills Alvarez on the chin, and now Cerrone is stalking his wounded opponent, destroying Alvarez’s already beaten lead leg with more kicks. Alvarez finally drops to the ground. Cerrone gives chase, coming down to Alvarez’s half guard and trying to pound him out with punches. Alvarez is able to wrap up at first, then has to turn over when Cerrone lays a forearm across his throat. Elbows and punches score for Cerrone as the clock ticks down, with Alvarez just clinging on underneath until the final horn.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Cerrone (29-28 Cerrone)
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Cerrone (29-28 Cerrone)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-8 Cerrone (29-27 Cerrone)

The Official Result

Donald Cerrone def. Eddie Alvarez via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) R3 5:00

Demetrious Johnson vs. Chris Cariaso

Round 1

Referee Herb Dean is the third man in the cage for tonight’s main event, with judges Sal D’Amato, Marcos Rosales and Glenn Trowbridge scoring at cageside. Johnson opens with a few leg kicks as he switches stances on the southpaw Cariaso. The champ slides backward when Cariaso presses forward with punches, then downs the challenger with a speedy takedown at the base of the fence. Johnson works to pass Cariaso’s butterfly guard, moving to side control for a few seconds before being placed back in half guard. “Mighty Mouse” keeps control as he shoves Cariaso to a post, then throws knees to the body as he stands. Johnson has Cariaso pinned to the fence, working more knees to the gut which send Cariaso shooting. More damage to the challenger as Johnson stuffs the shot and makes Cariaso work to get up. Johnson takes a leg kick in the closing seconds, presses forward and drills Cariaso with a right hand and step-in knee at the close of the round.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Johnson
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Johnson
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Johnson

Round 2

Cariaso tries to fend off Johnson with leg kicks but still gets backed up to the fence. He tries to move off the cage and slips to the ground throwing a kick, allowing Johnson to take top position. Johnson passes to side control and drops half a dozen quick right hands, then another flurry as Cariaso grimaces underneath, his arms trapped in the crucifix now. Cariaso gets out of the crucifix but he’s not out of danger, as Johnson is now leaning across his body to work a kimura on the challenger’s left arm. Cariaso resists at first but has to tap out when Johnson steps over his head to crank the arm.

The Official Result

Demetrious Johnson def. Chris Cariaso via Submission (Kimura) R2 2:29