Sean O’Malley vs Marlon Vera (W) – Bantamweight Bout
In the co-main event of the evening, we are set for an absolute war as rising superstar and the 14th ranked contender at bantamweight Sean O’Malley takes on the extremely violent Marlon Vera. Well, this was a weird one, the fight started and Sean was throwing a lot of fakes, as he threw a fake leg kick, he stumbled and really hurt his leg. Sean tried his best to hide it but Marlon knew, applied the pressure and got the finish on the floor with a huge right hand and an elbow to follow up. Herb Dean had no other choice but to stop the fight and protect Sean. Sucks it ended that way but Marlon was looking good in there before the injury, hopefully, Sean isn’t too hurt and it doesn’t cost him a couple of years of his career. All of us at PSN wish you a speedy recovery Sean!
Stipe Miocic (W) vs Daniel Cormier – Heavyweight Title Bout
It’s finally here, the main event of the evening, one of the biggest fights in the history of MMA and one that not only determines the heavyweight champion, or the winner of the trilogy but also determines who the greatest heavyweight of all time is, Stipe Miocic vs Daniel Cormier! Round 1 was very tense, with both guys not letting their hands go too much, Cormier enjoyed some success with some leg kicks early on as Stipe worked on some boxing combos to the head and body. Cormier tried for a takedown and did some work in the clinch but Stipe came back with some more combos and a couple of nice leg kicks. The fight was paused for a little bit after an eye poke from Cormier on Stipe. 10-9 Stipe for me.
A lot of the early round of round 2 was the same as 1, both guys who are just completely elite having counters for everything the other threw at them. Cormier put some combos together whilst Stipe was chipping away at the body. Stipe then started to come alive near the end and he knocked Cormier down with a flurry of rights and almost finished the fight but the round came to an end. 20-18 for me, but probably 19-19.
Round 3 was all Stipe as he looked to follow up on that knockdown at the end of round 2 and he was finding early success with some more boxing combos, switching the levels as he went to the body with a left and then hit the head with a right. Cormier was trying to find a left jab and then huge right hands as a counter but Stipe got him in the clinch and controlled Cormier there for some time. Stipe caught Cormier with another couple of right hands to end the round. 30-27 Stipe for me, but probably 29-28.
As replays showed during the break between rounds, Stipe caught Cormier with a nasty eye poke and the left eye of Cormier is really messed up and it was the story of the round as Stipe was finding more success with his boxing combos and got some more time in the clinch. Cormier enjoyed a lot more success in the round with some huge right hands and it was a close round in the end to score. 40-36 for me but probably 39-37 depending on that first round.
Stipe was extremely smart in the 5th round after eating some huge rights over the course of the fight he got Cormier in the clinch and controlled him for the majority of the round. Cormier looked to try and get some right hands again and Stipe had some more combos go through. Cormier tried for a late guillotine choke but Stipe easily broke it up and that was the end of the fight. 49-36 for me but that round 1 could have gone either way, and that round 4 was close too but Stipe should be winning. Judges agree and Stipe keeps his title and will go down as the greatest heavyweight of all time.
Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
