Jared Cannonier (13-4-0) used a well-timed uppercut to neutralize a charging No. 5 Jack Hermansson (20-5-0) in the main event of UFC on ESPN+ 18 in Copenhagen.
Hermansson started off the bout looking to get the fight to the ground – but thanks to some fierce leg kicks and good defending by Cannonier – landed only a single takedown in six attempts. “The Killa Gorilla” took advantage of another Hermansson shot early in the second round, countering the takedown with an uppercut that knocked “The Joker” to the ground. Follow up strikes forced referee Marc Goddard to stop the bout 29 seconds into the second round.
It was another impressive victory for Cannonier, who stopped former champion Anderson Silva using his patented leg kicks in a previous bout. He is almost certain to leapfrog from his current No. 9 ranking, and is undefeated in three middleweight fights.
Hermansson’s four fight win streak ended in Copenhagen.
💵 Bonus winners 💰 #UFCCopenhagen pic.twitter.com/ENgs21Qi7L
— UFC (@ufc) September 28, 2019
Cannonier, Ovince St. Preux, John Phillips, and Jack Shore earned performances of the night. Each fighter earned a $50,000 USD bonus.
Kenai Andrews checks in with his thoughts on the main card.
In case you missed the prelims:
JACK SHORE DEF. NOHELIN HERNANDEZ VIA SUBMISSION (REAR-NAKED CHOKE) R3 2:51
MARC DIAKESE DEF. LANDO VANETTA VIA UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
LINA LANSBERG DEF. MACY CHIASSON VIA UD (29-27, 29-27, 29-28)
GIGA CHIKADZE DEF. BRANDON DAVIS VIA SD (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
ISMAIL NAURDIEV DEF. SIYAR BAHADURZADA VIA UD (30-25, 30-25 30-26)
MAKHMUD MURADOV DEF. ALESSIO DI CHIRICO VIA UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
JOHN PHILLIPS DEF. ALEN AMEDOVSKI VIA KO (PUNCHES) R1 0:14
Kenai Andrews checks in with his thoughts on the main card.
MAIN CARDÂ
NICHOLAS DALBY VS. ALEX OLIVEIRA
Dalby does it!@DalbyMMA gets the win in his homecoming at #UFCCopenhagen pic.twitter.com/5NXk5Z91ea
— UFC (@ufc) September 28, 2019
WINNER: NICHOLAS DALBY VIA UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: ALEX OLIVEIRA VIA UD
Andrews: Give Dalby credit. He took it to Oliveira and used the home crowd to his advantage. Well done.
MICHEL OLEKSIECZUK VS. OVINCE ST. PREUX
He did it … AGAIN!@003_OSP hits the VON PREUX choke and submits Oleksiejczuk! pic.twitter.com/D8M2KWYpeD
— UFC (@ufc) September 28, 2019
WINNER: OVINCE ST. PREUX VIA SUBMISSION (VON FLUE CHOKE) R2 2:14
ANDREWS PREDICTION: MICHEL OLEKSIECZUK VIA TKO
Andrews: Wow! We saw one more vintage performance by OSP and not the aging Ovince St. Preux I was expecting.
ION CUTELABA VS. KHALIL ROUNTREE
That is it!@ICutelaba finishes Rountree at #UFCCopenhagen! pic.twitter.com/wVcg9DyBSA
— UFC (@ufc) September 28, 2019
WINNER: ION CUTELABA VIA TKO (PUNCHES AND ELBOWS) R1 2:35
Andrews: I expected Rountree to perform, but now he is on a major bubble.
GUNNAR NELSON VS. GILBERT BURNS
Burns beats Nelson!@GilbertDurinho steps up on short notice and up a weight class, defeats Gunni at #UFCCopenhagen pic.twitter.com/DIhGG7DXKx
— UFC (@ufc) September 28, 2019
WINNER: GILBERT BURNS VIA UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Andrews: Nelson once again underperforms just when you think he has it figured out. But let’s also give full props to Burns, who came in on short notice and moved up in weight.
MARK MADSEN VS. DANILO BELLUARDOÂ
And Still Undefeated!@MarkTheOlympian remains undefeated and finishes Belluardo in round 1! #UFCCopenhagen pic.twitter.com/UxLGYkduPD
— UFC (@ufc) September 28, 2019
WINNER: MARK MADSEN VIA TKO R1 1:12Â
ANDREWS PREDICTION: MARK MADSEN VIA UD
Andrews: Madsen went in there like his car was double-parked.
MAIN EVENT
#5 JACK HERMANSSON VS. #9 JARED CANNONIERÂ
Statement. Made.@KillaGorillaMMA is a serious contender at 185! #UFCCopenhagen pic.twitter.com/OnkBTecgj9
— UFC (@ufc) September 28, 2019
WINNER: JARED CANNONIER VIA TKO (PUNCHES AND ELBOWS) R2 0:29
ANDREWS PREDICTION: JACK HERMANSSON VIA UD
Andrews: Cannonier is the real deal. Hermansson had a good plan, but got beaten up with leg kicks and out countered too.
