After The Crossfire – UPDATED – UFC 186: Johnson vs Horiguchi

Demetrious Johnson scored a last-second armbar submission victory over Japanese challenger Kyoji Horiguchi to defend his flyweight crown at UFC 186 in Montreal.

Johnson and Thomas Almeida snagged performance-of-the-night honours, while Chad Laprise and Bryan Barberena were chosen for fight-of-the-night. All fighters earned $50,000 USD each in bonuses.

Welcome back to The Crossfire.

MMA Crossfire Expert Kenai Andrews shares his thoughts.

UFC FIGHT PASS EARLY PRELIMS 

#10 AISLING DALY VS #6 RANDA MARKOS

ANDREWS PREDICTION: RANDA MARKOS VIA TKO

WINNER: RANDA MARKOS VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

Andrews: A back-and-forth fight in which the aggressiveness and striking skills of Markos shone through. Daly fought well but needs to continue to improve. I thought she was going to use the clinch when Markos connected with strikes but went with the takedowns. Good win for Markos.

Me & @randamma post fight. What an amazing sport to be involved in, Fantastic fights, Great people 🙂 @ufc pic.twitter.com/nokIGFYc2K

— Aisling Daly (@aisydaly) April 26, 2015

JESSICA RAKOCZY VS VALERIE LETOURNEAU

ANDREWS PREDICTIOM: JESSICA RAKOCZY VIA TKO

WINNER: VALERIE LETOURNEAU VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

Andrews: So much for that upset feeling. Rackoczy got outstruck on the feet and with her vision being lowered in the right eye. From there, Letourneau picked her apart. Good win for Letourneau. Back to the drawing board for Rakoczy.

True story: I met Rakoczy after my third MMA fight and got her autograph. Admired her tremendously as a boxer.

— Julie Kedzie (@julesk_fighter) April 25, 2015

NORDINE TALEB VS CHRIS CLEMENTS

ANDREWS PREDICTION: NORDINE TALEB VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION

WINNER: NORDINE TALEB VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Andrews: As expected, Taleb controlled the fight with his takedowns and cautious counters. Clements took some big swings on the feet and did well with the kimura attempt on the ground, but just couldn’t connect. Good win for Taleb.

TSN 2 PRELIMS 

OLIVIER AUBIN-MERCIER VS DAVID MICHAUD 

ANDREWS PREDICTION: OLIVIER AUBIN-MERCIER VIA SUBMISSION

WINNER: OLIVIER AUBIN-MERCIER VIA SUBMISSION 3RD 3:24

Andrews: Aubin-Mercier outworked Michaud, bringing the fight to the ground staying out of trouble save for a nice Michaud strike that dropped him. Nicely done.

CHAD LAPRISE VS BRYAN BARBERENA

ANDREWS PREDICTION: CHAD LAPRISE VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION

WINNER: CHAD LAPRISE VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION

Andrews: Laprise started well, then held off a Bam Bam rally, making things close.

#3 ALEXIS DAVIS VS #5 SARAH KAUFMAN

ANDREWS PREDICTION: SARAH KAUFMAN VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION

WINNER: ALEXIS DAVIS VIA SUBMISSION 2RD 1:52

Andrews: Clearly, this is not the Alexis that lost twice to Kaufman previously. But Kaufman was doing well until things went to the ground in the second round.  I do think fighting for the title helped her to take a page out of Ronda Rousey’s book. Excellent win.

True honor to fight someone as skilled as @mmasarah https://t.co/mmYbDDPlFw

— Alexis Davis (@AlexisDavisMMA) April 26, 2015

PATRICK “THE PREDATOR” COTE VS JOE “DIESEL” RIGGS

ANDREWS PREDICTION: JOE RIGGS VIA TKO

WINNER: PATRICK COTE VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION 

Andrews:  I have to admit, Cote performed well. He ate Rigg’s best punches and delivered some of his own. When he was trouble, he worked his way out of it. Good performance by both fighters, good win for Cote.

MAIN CARD 

YVES “TIGER” JABOUIN VS THOMAS “THOMINHAS” ALMEIDA

ANDREWS PREDICTION: THOMAS ALMEIDA VIA TKO

WINNER: THOMAS ALMEIDA VIA TKO 1RD 4:18

Andrews: Jabouin started well, but then got overwhelmed. A tidy win for Almeida.

JOHN “THE BULL” MAKDESSI VS SHANE CAMPBELL 

Note: This was a 160lbs catchweight bout.

ANDREWS PREDICTION: JOHN MAKDESSI VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION

WINNER: JOHN MAKDESSI VIA TKO

Andrews: Good striking shown by Makdessi but let’s remember he’s fighting a new guy in Campbell. Campbell went out on his shield, getting some good kicks in before Makdessi turned up the right hand heat.

#10 MICHAEL “THE COUNT” BISPING VS #11 CB DOLLAWAY 

ANDREWS PREDICTION: CB DOLLAWAY VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION

WINNER: MICHAEL BISPING VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Andrews: Bisping landed a ton of strikes and kicks, and although CB landed some takedowns, they were late and he didn’t do much with them.  Big props for Bisping for believing in himself and his trash talk.

QUINTON “RAMPAGE” JACKSON VS #12 FABIO MALDONADO  

Note: This was a catchweight bout at 215 lbs.

ANDREWS PREDICTION: FABIO MALDONADO VIA TKO

WINNER: RAMPAGE JACKSON VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)

Andrews: I was disappointed in Maldonado’s performance. He wasn’t active enough, while Rampage surprisingly was. Was there a little hero worship going on? I don’t know, but the result could have been different had Fabio engaged more. You have to credit Rampage for bringing his game tonight.

Puxa tudo isso de pessoas me apoiando e eu dei esse mole ….. Estou arrasado pessoal me desculpem do fundo do… http://t.co/8nWA1BTrfz

— Fabio Maldonado (@MaldonadoMMA) April 26, 2015

MAIN EVENT 

DEMETRIOUS “MIGHTY MOUSE” JOHNSON VS KYOJI HORIGUCHI 

ANDREWS PREDICTION: DEMETRIOUS JOHNSON VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION

WINNER: DEMETRIOUS JOHNSON VIA SUBMISSION R5 4:59

Andrews: Horiguchi proved to be game early, even landing a rare takedown on Johnson, but Demetrious controlled the fight for the most part. And then strted landing takedowns once he figured Kyoji out. Big props to get the finish late in the last round.Demetrious is just too good. He doesn’t make a lot of mistakes in there, and can recover if he does. Yet another good win.

Want to thank everybody for getting behind me, my coaches and teammates to always push me in the gym physically and mentally. THANK YOU!

— Demetrious Johnson (@MightyMouse) April 26, 2015

皆さんの期待に応えられずにすいませんでした
また頑張ります！

— Kyoji Horiguchi (@kyoji1012) April 26, 2015

@kenaiandrews