Amanda Nunes made shot work of former champion Ronda Rousey, earning a quick 48-second TKO win at UFC 207 Friday evening.
Nunes hurt Rousey to the body early, then teed off with strikes to the face, that wobbled Rousey against the cage, forcing referee Herb Dean to call the fight less than a minute into the opening frame.
— Amanda Nunes (@Amanda_Leoa) December 31, 2016
Welcome back to The Crossfire.
MMA Crossfire Vault – UFC 207 Wrapup
Cody Garbrandt and Dominick Cruz earned Fight-of-the-Night honours, while Nunes and Alex Garcia earned performances of the night. Each fighter earned a $50,000 USD bonus.
Kenai Andrews shares his thoughts.
UFC FIGHT PASS PRELIMS
ALEX OLIVEIRA VS TIM MEANS
WINNER: NO CONTEST (ILLEGAL KNEES) R1 3:33
ANDREWS PREDICTION: TIM MEANS VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION
Andrews: Means was getting the better of Cowboy until he landed some “illegal” later reviewed and thought to be legal by Joe Rogan and Marc Ratner. This one needs to be redone.
TSN 3 PRELIMS
BRANDON THATCH VS NIKO PRICE
WINNER: NIKO PRICE VIA SUBMISSION R1 4:30
ANDREWS PREDICTION: NIKO PRICE VIA TKO
Andrews: Everyone knows Thatch’s weakness is the ground and Price smartly got the fight there, locked in the arm triangle and it was all over. Another disappointing performance for Thatch, he needs to improve his ground game as soon as possible.
MIKE PYLE VS ALEX GARCIA
WINNER: ALEX GARCIA VIA TKO
ANDREWS PREDICTION: ALEX GARCIA VIA TKO R1 3:34
Andrews: What a knockout by Garcia. A right hand right down the pike as Pyle was moving in for a kick. Picture perfect and somebody better compensate Garcia for that one.
ANTONIO CARLOS JUNIOR VS MARVIN VETTORI
WINNER: ANTONIO CARLOS JUNIOR VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: ANTONIO CARLOS JUNIRO VIA SPLIT-DECISION
Andrews: After a round of eye pokes, ACJ overcame a good second round by Vettori to control him in the last round. Not a barnburner of a fight, to be honest.
#6 JOHNY HENDRICKS VS #8 NEIL MAGNY
WINNER: NEIL MAGNY VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: NEIL MAGNY VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION
Andrews: I thought Hendricks won, but the activeness of Magny won him the fight.
MAIN CARD
#12 LOUIS SMOLKA VS #13 RAY BORG
WINNER: RAY BORG VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION (30-27, 30-26, 30-26)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: LOUIS SMOLKA VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION
Andrews: Borg was just too strong and fast for Smolka, who didn’t give up but couldn’t mount much offence.
#9 DONG HYUN KIM VS #12 TAREC SAFFIEDINE
WINNER: DONG HYUN KIM VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: DONG HYUN KIM VIA SUBMISSION
Andrews: I thought Saffiedine won with his kicks and offence and Stun Gun didn’t seem to get much offence in despite chasing down Saffiedine most of the fight. I guess The Sponge was back pedalling too much.
#1 TJ DILLASHAW VS #2 JOHN LINEKER
WINNER: TJ DILLASHAW VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: TJ DILLASHAW VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION
Andrews: TJ just picked apart Lineker and never let him land that power punch. Great win for TJ.
DOMINICK CRUZ VS #5 CODY GARBRANDT
WINNER: CODY GARBRANDT VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION (48-46, 48-47, 48-46)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: DOMINICK CRUZ VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION
Andrews: An almost flawless performance by Cody Garbrandt , especially in the fourth where he knocked Cruz down multiple times. He didn’t back down and earned the win.
MAIN EVENT
AMANDA NUNES VS RONDA ROUSEY
WINNER: AMANDA NUNES VIA TKO R1 0:48
ANDREWS PREDICTION: AMANDA NUNES VIA TKO
Andrews: Flawless victory by Nunes, just beating Ronda with strikes until referee Herb Dean had to step in. It was embarrassing.
