UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley used a late fifth round knockdown of challenger Stephen Thompson to capture a narrow majority decision win at UFC 209 in Las Vegas.
The fight was much like their first encounter at UFC 205. Thompson used his length and kicks to pressure Woodley against the cage, but did not mount a lot of offence. Woodley’s inactivity early on gave the early two rounds by default to Thompson. In Round 3, Woodley used a takedown to mount some offence, but lagged again in Round 4, setting up the need to push the action in Round 5.
And the challenger gets back to his feet and separates! Big momentum shift for @WonderboyMMA! #UFC209 pic.twitter.com/kVTVEUmh1d
— UFC (@ufc) March 5, 2017
Head kick from Thompson lands as he avoids the champ's flurry #UFC209 pic.twitter.com/8JL6yvIsst
— UFC (@ufc) March 5, 2017
With less a than a minute left, Woodley landed a right hand that knocked Thompson down. Follow up strikes almost finished Thompson, but with referee John McCarthy watching closely, Thompson weathered the storm.
The judges scored it 48-47, 47-47 and 48-47. Woodley will now likely fight the winner of the Demian Maia vs Jorge Masvidal matchup currently slated for UFC 211 in Dallas.
David Teymur and Lands Vannata captured Fight-of-the-Night honours, while Luri Alcantara and Darren Elkins won performances of the night. Each fighter earned a $50,000 USD bonus.
UFC FIGHT PASS PRELIMSÂ
ALBERT MORALES VS ANDRE SOUKHAMTHATHÂ
That first UFC win feeling … @Warrior135UFC #UFC209 pic.twitter.com/D3TjekBlFb
— UFC (@ufc) March 5, 2017
WINNER: ALBERT MORALES VIA SPLIT-DECISION (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: ALBERT MORALES VIS UNANIMOUS DECISION
Andrews: Good opening fight. Each took a round, and then the ground control of Morales overshadowed the crisp striking of Soukhamthath late in the third round. Good performances by both fighters.
AMANDA BOBBY COOPER Â VS CYNTHIA CALVILLOÂ
WHOOP! #UFC209 pic.twitter.com/VY5QY0meK9
— UFC (@ufc) March 5, 2017
WINNER:Â CYNTHIA CALVILLO VIA SUBMISSION
ANDREWS PREDICTION: AMANDA BOBBY COOPERÂ VIS UNANIMOUS DECISION
Andrews: Beautiful rear-naked choke by Calvillo, taking Cooper to the ground with beautiful takedown transitions. Cavillo is for real.
TYSON PEDRO VS PAUL CRAIGÂ
WINNER: TYSON PEDRO VIA TKO R1 4:10
ANDREWS PREDICTION:Â TYSON PEDRO VIA TKO
Andrews:Â Pedro outsmarted Craig as I predicted, getting the clinch, and finishing the fight on the ground. Excellent win for Pedro.
RDS 2 PRELIMSÂ
MARK GODBEER VS DANIEL SPITZÂ
Big win for @MarkGodbeerUK – his first INSIDE the Octagon! #UFC209 pic.twitter.com/HLWBGCm1qi
— UFC (@ufc) March 5, 2017
WINNER: MARK GOODBEER VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION (30-27,30-27, 30-27)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: DANIEL SPITZ VIA TKO
Andrews: Spitz gassed out early and Goodbeer took advantage with strikes. That’s about it in this lacklustre fight.
#15 LURI ALCANTARA VS LUKE SANDERSÂ
NEVER SAY NEVER! @IuriMarajo comes from behind to get the B-E-A-U-TIFUL 2nd RD submission!! #UFC209 pic.twitter.com/0USkU1xCNW
— UFC (@ufc) March 5, 2017
WINNER:Â LURI ALANTARA VIA SUBMISSION R2 3:13
ANDREWS PREDICTION: LURI ALCANTARAÂ VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION
Andrews: Alcantara was getting beat up and was closed to having the fight stopped when he reversed and landed a nifty kneebar submission. Great come-from-behind win by Alcantara!
#13 MIRSAD BEKTIC VS #14 DARREN ELKINSÂ
OHHHHHHH MYYYYYY @DarrenElkinsMMA!!! WHAT A COMEBACK!!! #UFC209 pic.twitter.com/tSmwC0xg7u
— UFC (@ufc) March 5, 2017
WINNER:Â DARREN ELKINS VIA TKO R3 3:19
ANDREWS PREDICTION:Â MIRSAD BEKTIC VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION
Andrews: Bektic was cruising to victory until Elkins landed a headkick and an improbable come-from-behind win. Bektic will learn from his hard lesson.
MARCIN TYBURA (14-2-0) VS LUIS HENRIQUE (10-2-0, 1NC)
Front kick to the face followed by a couple hard shots! @MarcinTybura switching it up nicely here in round 3! #UFC209 pic.twitter.com/ra9f1eFmYj
— UFC (@ufc) March 5, 2017
WINNER: MARCIN TYBURA VIA TKO R3 3:46
ANDREWS PREDICTION: MARCIN TYBURA VIA TKO
Andrews: Excellent technical win for Tybura. He let Henrique tire himself out with his takedowns and clinches and then got the fight to the ground and pounded him out.
MAIN CARDÂ
#3 ALISTAIR OVEREEM VS #8 MARK HUNTÂ
Left elbow, right knee, LIGHTS OUT! @AlistairOvereem w/ the 3rd round KO at #UFC209! pic.twitter.com/PjUR3C56ch
— UFC (@ufc) March 5, 2017
WINNER: ALISTAIR OVEREEMÂ VIA TKO R3Â 1:44
ANDREWS PREDICTION: MARK HUNTÂ VIA TKO
Andrews: Overeem used a very calculated plan of clinching Mark Hunt once he got inside. It was very effective, and in the clinch, Overeem used those knees to devastating effect. Excellent win for The Reem.
LANDO VANNATA VS DAVID TEYMUR
The Swede @DavidTeymur landing NASTY knees! #UFC209 pic.twitter.com/8Cl2JwVEI9
— UFC (@ufc) March 5, 2017
WINNER:Â DAVID TEYMUR VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: LANDO VANNATA VIA TKO
Andrews: Good high-level striking. Vannata started out fast, but Teymur out-worked Vannata in the second and third rounds.
RASHAD EVANS VS DANIEL KELLY
.@SugaRashadEvans lands the nice body kick, but @DanKellyJudo gets in the clinch, then lands the right hook! #UFC209 pic.twitter.com/jSS1DeYE0o
— UFC (@ufc) March 5, 2017
WINNER:Â DANIEL KELLY VIA SPLIT-DECISION (29-28, 28-29 29-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION:Â RASHAD EVANS VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION
Andrews: Evans fought well, but Kelly fought better, surprisingly outstriking Suga with a volume of strikes. I thought Evans won and landed the more damaging strikes, but give Kelly credit for a great performance.
MAIN EVENTÂ
TYRON WOODLEY VS #1 STEPHEN THOMPSONÂ
The champ shoots for the takedown and GETS IT! Big round for the champion @TWooodley so far! #UFC209 pic.twitter.com/ljf31AB8g1
— UFC (@ufc) March 5, 2017
WINNER: TYRON WOODLEY VIA MAJORITY DECISION (48-47, 47-47, 48-47)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: TYRON WOODLEY VIA SPLIT-DECISION
Andrews: Woodley used the last round to come back and steal the win from Wonderboy, who still should have won in many people’s eyes. Pretty much like the first fight.
