Jose Aldo overcame a slow start to outpoint Rob Font and take a comfortable unanimous decision victory in the main event of UFC on ESPN 31 at the Apex in Las Vegas.
Font (19-5-0) came out using some good striking to keep Aldo (31-7-0) on the defensive. He managed to get Aldo down but did not do much with it. Still, it was enough to win the first round.
THE CRAZINESS CONTINUES IN THE FIFTH 🔥🔥🔥 #UFCVegas44 pic.twitter.com/WHO1Hqwn9Z
— UFC (@ufc) December 5, 2021
But then Aldo went on to use some vintage striking of his own to knock Font down multiple times over the next four rounds to shut Font down on the scorecards. Only Font’s defence prevented an early finish, but the judges scored it 50-45, 50-45, and 49-46.
Now Aldo wobbles Font 😳 #UFCVegas44 pic.twitter.com/1a82j8tU5f
— UFC (@ufc) December 5, 2021
The win was Aldo’s third consecutive and likely exchanges spots with Font in the rankings. Font’s four-fight win streak was snapped with the loss.
Kenai Andrews checks in with his thoughts on the main card.
Said they were going for the bonus and got FOTN! 💰
[ #UFCVegas44 | B2YB @ToyoTires ] pic.twitter.com/JXaR6lAeOF
— UFC (@ufc) December 5, 2021
Cheyanne Buys and Mallory Martin earned Fight of the Night, while Clay Guida, Chris Curtis, Rafael Fiziev, and Jamahal Hill earned performances of the night. Each fighter earned a $50,000 USD bonus.
So many great performances tonight we needed to hand out 4️⃣ POTN bonuses! 💸
[ #UFCVegas44 | Presented by WSOP ] pic.twitter.com/gVPfdlS0i2
— UFC (@ufc) December 5, 2021
In case you missed the prelims:
VINCE MORALES DEF. LOUIS SMOLKA VIA KO (PUNCHES) R1 2:02
CLAUDIO PUELLES DEF. CHRIS GRUETZEMACHER VIA SUBMISSION (KNEEBAR) R3 3:25
WILLIAM KNIGHT DEF. ALONZO MENIFIELD VIA UD (29-28,29-28, 29-28)
CHEYANNE BUYS DEF. MALLORY MARTIN VIA UD (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
BRYAN BARBERENA DEF. DARIAN WEEKS VIA UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
MANEL KAPE DEF. ZHALGAS ZHUMGALOV VIA TKO (PUNCHES) R1 4:02
DUSKO TODOROVIC DEF. MAKI PITOLO VIA TKO (PUNCHES) R1 4:34
MAIN CARD
ALEX MORONO VS. MICKEY GALL
🦈 The Great White strikes again!@AlexMoronoMMA makes it 3️⃣ in a row! #UFCVegas44 pic.twitter.com/a5iQcnmIGy
— UFC (@ufc) December 5, 2021
WINNER: ALEX MORONO VIA UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: ALEX MORONO VIA UD
Andrews: Morono outstruck Gall, who did not get the fight to the ground.
BRENDAN ALLEN VS. CHRIS CURTIS
HE DOES IT AGAIN!!! 🤯 @Actionman513 with a HUGE win! pic.twitter.com/cv8ckD7Jq9
— UFC (@ufc) December 5, 2021
WINNER: CHRIS CURTIS VIA TKO (PUNCHES) R2 1:58
ANDREWS PREDICTION: CHRIS CURTIS VIA TKO
Andrews: As predicted, Curtis comes through with another shocking finish. Wow!
CLAY GUIDA VS. LEONARDO SANTOS
WHAT A COMEBACK!!!!!!!@ClayGuida is a wild man 😤 #UFCVegas44 pic.twitter.com/vqLNGUR1zR
— UFC (@ufc) December 5, 2021
WINNER: CLAY GUIDA VIA SUBMISSION (RNC) R2 1:21
ANDREWS PREDICTION: LEONARDO SANTOS VIA SD
Andrews: Santos caught Guida and almost finished it but yet another great comeback for The Carpenter.
#13 JIMMY CRUTE VS. #14 JAMAHAL HILL
SWEET DREAMS!! 😴
🇺🇸 @JamahalH gets the finish in under a MINUTE! #UFCVegas44 pic.twitter.com/MMth2WnQNi
— UFC (@ufc) December 5, 2021
WINNER: JAMAHAL HILL VIA TKO (PUNCHES) R1 0:48
ANDREWS PREDICTION: JIMMY CRUTE VIA SUBMISSION
Andrews: Hill connected before Jimmy could get the fight to the ground. Excellent win.
#12 BRAD RIDDELL VS. #14 RAFAEL FIZIEV
WHEEL KICK!!!!! @RafaelFiziev landed it on the button 🎯 #UFCVegas44 pic.twitter.com/5Oo8IERQ1m
— UFC (@ufc) December 5, 2021
WINNER: RAFAEL FIZIEV VIA TKO (SPINNING WHEEL KICK) R3 2:20
ANDREWS PREDICTION: BRAD RIDDELL VIA UD
Andrews: Wow! Riddell could not avoid that last power kick and boy did it deliver.
MAIN EVENT
#4 ROB FONT VS. #5 JOSE ALDO
VINTAGE ALDO INSIDE THE APEX 💢 #UFCVegas44 pic.twitter.com/hmk6gnJ4ci
— UFC (@ufc) December 5, 2021
WINNER: JOSE ALDO VIA UD (50-45, 50-45, 49-46)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: ROB FONT VIA UD
Andrews: Aldo was just too much for Font.
The next UFC event is UFC 269, which takes place Dec. 11 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Charles Oliveira defends the lightweight title against Dustin Poirier in the main event.
