DISCLAIMER: This article is reviewing the co main and main event ONLY.
UFC 212 had two blockbuster fights that would determine the future of their divisions (the Women's Strawweight and the Men's Featherweight divisions respectively) and in the Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the courses of both divisions were dramatically changed.
Claudia Gadelha defeats Karolina Kowalkiewicz via first-round rear-naked choke
Claudia Gadelha (now 15-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) swiftly defeated Karolina Kowalkiewicz (now 10-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC) via first-round rear-naked choke to stake her claim for a third fight with UFC strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC).
Going into the fight, I, like many others, said that Gadelha's main form of offensive would come in the form of wrestling and unfortunately for Karolina, the Pole was taken to the ground by the Brazilian and eventually forced to tap.
One woman goes to the first of the line for a title shot and the other goes to the back of the line after suffered back-to-back losses.
Max Holloway defeats Jose Aldo via third-round knockout to become the undisputed UFC Featherweight Champion
There is a new king of the 145 pound division.
In Jose Aldo's (now 26-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC) hometown of Rio de Janerio, Max Holloway (now 18-3 MMA, 14-3 UFC) did what he said he'd do in the build-up and knocked out the best featherweight fighter in MMA history in the third round (which I successfully predicted!).
It was a strange performance by Aldo, who didn't go for any takedowns at all throughout the fight, and looked to be slightly gassed when the third round came around.
Holloway took full advantage and ground and pounded the Brazilian until referee John McCarthy stopped the fight, thus ushering in the new featherweight blood to not only regain the undisputed 145 title but to strech his winning streak to 11.
The next big fight in the division looks to be Holloway against Frankie Edgar (22-5-1 MMA, 16-5-1 UFC) whilst Aldo will look to take some time off before he thinks of his next fight.
Max to Dana: You told me this is big game hunting. Bring in big game, get the big paychecks. It's time to have that talk. I wanna get paid.— Shaheen Al-Shatti (@shaunalshatti) June 4, 2017
Holloway debuted on short notice in 2012 when he was just 21. Been remarkable to see him evolve as a fighter and a person.— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) June 4, 2017
Gimme Holloway x Edgar in Hawaii next. (Fun with the Edgar/BJ history.)— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) June 4, 2017
Flip side, very curious to see what Aldo does now.
— Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) June 4, 2017
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