Jon Jones (23-1-0) made a triumphant return to the octagon Saturday night with a third-round TKO win over Alexander Gustafsson (18-5-0) in the main event of UFC 232 in the Inglewood Forum in Inglewood, California.
Jones nullified the attacks and mobility of Gustafsson by keeping him at kick range for most of the first two rounds, while outstriking Gustafsson. A takedown near the centre of the octagon led to Jones getting the back and reigning down shots to the back of the Swedish challenger that forced referee Mike Beltran to call the bout at 2:02.
Jones is now the UFC light-heavyweight champion again, just over a year from being stripped of the belt due to a failed drug test.
In the post-fight interview, Jones thanked his Jackson-Winklejohn team and called out previous titleholder Daniel Cormier, who vacated the belt.
Stealing the spotlight from the main event was the destruction of Cris Cyborg by UFC bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes, who by her 51-second knockout added the featherweight belt to her collection and became the third dual champion in UFC history. She joined Conor McGregor and Daniel Cormier is now considered by most to be the baddest woman on the planet.
💰💰💰 @Amanda_Leoa | @RyanHall5050 | @ChadMendes vs @AlexVolkanovski @P3Protein #UFC232 pic.twitter.com/lGjnrZkKLm
— UFC (@ufc) December 30, 2018
Nunes and Ryan Hall secured performances of the night, while Chad Mendes and Alexander Volkanovski secured Fight of the Night. Each fighter earned a $50,000 USD bonus.
Kenai Andrews checks in with his thoughts on the main card.
UFC FIGHT PASS PRELIMS
BRIAN KELLEHER VS. MONTEL JACKSON
Done in 1️⃣!@Montello135 rocks Kelleher with an elbow, then submits him with the D'Arce in the first round! Wow! #UFC232 pic.twitter.com/2HRf4oK5dD
— UFC (@ufc) December 29, 2018
WINNER: MONTEL JACKSON VIA SUBMISSION (D’ARCE CHOKE) R1 1:40
ANDREWS PREDICTION: BRIAN KELLEHER VIA UD
Andrews: Kelleher encountered early trouble, but experience did not help as he quickly got caught in the D’Arce near the fence and was forced to tap. Excellent win for Jackson.
CURTIS MILLENDER VS. SIYAR BAHADURZADA
What. A. Fight.#UFC232 @Siyarized @CurtiousCurtis 👏 pic.twitter.com/07UfZ3jSJc
— UFC (@ufc) December 30, 2018
WINNER: CURTIS MILLENDER VIA UD (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: SIYAR BAHADURZADA VIA UD
Andrews: Millender piled on the points easily, then held on in the third to get the decision. Siyar need to find ways to get inside taller fighters.
URIAH HALL VS. BEVON LEWIS
ONE shot! @UriahHallMMA closes the show in the 3rd with a beautiful counter right hand! What a comeback win! #UFC232 pic.twitter.com/LY1gt8zUA6
— UFC (@ufc) December 30, 2018
WINNER: URIAH HALL VIA TKO (KICK) R3 1:32
ANDREWS PREDICTION: URIAH HALL VIA TKO
Andrews: Uriah Hall was looking very depressed until he connected in the third round with a nice one counterpunch TKO. I’m still concerned he does not have the fire anymore, despite what he said afterwards. Tough loss for Lewis, but he made a good showing and will be back.
NATHANIEL WOOD VS. ANDRE EWELL
2️⃣ Octagon appearances, 2️⃣ submission victories! @TheProspectMMA gets his 13th finish in 15 pro fights at #UFC232! pic.twitter.com/sHO2A9DYhi
— UFC (@ufc) December 30, 2018
WINNER: NATHANIEL VIA SUBMISSION (REAR-NAKED CHOKE) R3 4:12
ANDREWS PREDICTION: ANDRE EWELL VIA UD
Andrews: Once the fight went to the ground, Ewell couldn’t get back up, allowing Wood to dominate and get the choke. Good win for Wood.
TSN 2 PRELIMS
B.J. PENN VS. RYAN HALL
The first man to EVER submit BJ Penn.
Wow, @RyanHall5050 #UFC232 pic.twitter.com/dCvhlVBP0g
— UFC (@ufc) December 30, 2018
WINNER: RYAN HALL VIA SUBMISSION (HEEL HOOK) R1 2:46
ANDREWS PREDICTION: RYAN HALL VIA TKO
Andrews: Wow! You don’t see a heel hook everyday. Perhaps it’s time for BJ to retire again.
DOUGLAS SILVA DE ANDRADE VS. PETR YAN
"No Mas!"@PetrYanUFC stops D'Silva by TKO! #UFC232 pic.twitter.com/Okbdw0oZUL
— UFC (@ufc) December 30, 2018
WINNER: PETR YAN VIA TKO R2 5:00
ANDREWS PREDICTION: DOUGLAS SILVA DE ANDRADE VIA UD
Andrews: Wow! Yan with an impressive performance, making de Andrade quit on the stool.
CAT ZINGANO VS. MEGAN ANDERSON
https://twitter.com/CoyotesGlendale/status/1079199660462362624
WINNER: MEGAN ANDERSON VIA TKO (EYE INJURY) R1 1:01
ANDREWS PREDICTION: MEGAN ANDERSON VIA UD
Andrews: Unfortunate for Zingano. Let’s run this one back.
ANDREI ARLOVSKI VS. WALT HARRIS
Left hand like a piston for @TheBigTicket205! #UFC232 pic.twitter.com/WrpAVWY65P
— UFC (@ufc) December 30, 2018
WINNER: WALT HARRIS VIA SD (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: ANDREI ARVLOSKI VIA UD
Andrews: Good performance for Harris to edge out The Pitbull.
MAIN CARD
CHAD MENDES VS. ALEXANDER VOLKANOVSKI
Only men to beat Mendes inside the Octagon:
– Jose Aldo
– Conor McGregor
– Frankie Edgar
– @AlexVolkanovskiWow. #UFC232 pic.twitter.com/bq2HQQQLfg
— UFC (@ufc) December 30, 2018
WINNER: ALEXANDER VOLKANOVSKI VIA TKO (PUNCHES)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: CHAD MENDES VIA UD
Andrews: Mendes was doing well, but Alexander caught fire in the second frame. Good win.
COREY ANDERSON VS. ILIR LATIFI
Fun back-and-forth fight!
How'd you score it? #UFC232 pic.twitter.com/fHtd3REAWJ
— UFC (@ufc) December 30, 2018
WINNER:COREY ANDERSON VIA UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: ILIR LATIFI VIA SUBMISSION
Andrews: Latifi tried to bully Anderson, but Corey was more than equal to the task and took the starch out of him. Good win.
CARLOS CONDIT VS. MICHAEL CHIESA
A ONE-ARMED submission?!?!@MikeMav22 stops Condit in round 2! #UFC232 pic.twitter.com/TfeXTyUpWD
— UFC (@ufc) December 30, 2018
WINNER: MICHAEL CHIESA VIA SUBMISSION (KIMURA) R2 0:56
Andrews: Wow! Condit tried, but its clear the UFC has moved on with fighters like Mike who picked him apart on the ground.
CRIS CYBORG VS. AMANDA NUNES
OH MY GOD AMANDA NUNES!!!!!!!#UFC232 pic.twitter.com/EzyAhUYeSR
— UFC (@ufc) December 30, 2018
WINNER: AMANDA NUNES VIA TKO (PUNCHES) R1 0:51
ANDREWS PREDICTION: CRIS CYBORG VIA UD
Andrews: Wow! Nunes teed off on Cyborg like no one else had done before. She simply destroyed her. Unbelievable performance by The Lioness. There will be a rematch.
MAIN EVENT
JON JONES VS. ALEXANDER GUSTAFSSON
JON JONES RECLAIMS THE THRONE!!!#UFC232 @JonnyBones pic.twitter.com/M2vG8gvcS6
— UFC (@ufc) December 30, 2018
WINNER: JON JONES VIA TKO (STRIKES) R3 2:02
ANDREWS PREDICTION: JON JONES VIA UD
Andrews: Jones adjusted from the first fight and kept Gustafsson within kick range, then switched for the takedown after he took the starch out of Alex. Good plan and it went very well.
