UFC 199 took place in The Forum in Los Angeles on Saturday night and featured a pair of championship bouts. In the main events Michael Bisping challenged Middleweight champ Luke Rockhold. Just prior to that Cruiserweight Champion Dominick Cruz and longtime foe Dominick Cruz went at each other. While fight fans may have one eye toward UFC 200 including the just-announced returning Brock Lesnar, those who caught 199 were treated to a thrilling night of fights that was punctuated by a memorable upset.
Middleweight Championship: (Champion) Luke Rockhold vs. Michael Bisping
Michael Bisping wasn’t even originally slated to have a shot at the Middleweight Championship, but boy did he make the most of the chance. The veteran 37-year-old, who was a late replacement for Chris Weidman, ended up pulling of a stunning upset of Luke Rockhold to claim the title. Bisping knocked out Rockhold in the first round after a devastating left hook and a powerful right gave the Brit the opening he needed to swoop in for the knockout.
In their previous encounter in 2012, Rockhold choked out Bisping in the second round, and the defending champion was a heavy favorite in this one. After the fight Rockhold admitted to taking his opponent too lightly: “I didn’t see it happening,” he said. “I took it for granted. I could have capitalized and fought my fight, rather than play around with him.”
185 lbs.: Michael Bisping def. Luke Rockhold by KO (punches) at 3:36 of Round One
Bantamweight Championship: (Champion) Dominick Cruz vs. Urijah Faber
There was no love lost between Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz and challenger Urijah Farber in the co-main event fight for the Bantamweight Championship. Faber handed Cruz the only loss of his career in 2007 and then Cruz avenged his loss in 2011, making this the much anticipated rubber match for the two Californians. In Faber’s fourth attempt to finally win the Bantamweight belt he again came up short, as Cruz was firmly in control of this fight that went the distance.
135 lbs.: Dominick Cruz def. Urijah Faber by unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 49-46)
The Rest of the Card:
145 lbs.: Max Holloway def. Ricardo Lamas by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
185 lbs.: Dan Henderson def. Hector Lombard by KO (head kick and elbow) at 1:27 of Round Two
155 lbs.: Dustin Poirier def. Bobby Green by TKO (punches) at 2:53 of Round One
145 lbs.: Alex Caceres def. Cole Miller by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
145 lbs.: Brian Ortega def. Clay Guida by KO (knee) at 4:40 of Round Three
155 lbs.: Beneil Dariush def. James Vick by KO (punches) at 4:16 of Round One
115 lbs.: Jessica Andrade def. Jessica Penne by TKO (punches) at 2:56 of Round Two
170 lbs.: Sean Strickland def. Tom Breese by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
205 lbs.: Luis Henrique da Silva def. Jonathan Wilson by TKO (punches) at 4:11 of Round Two
185 lbs.: Kevin Casey vs. Elvis Mutapcic ended in a split draw
155 lbs.: Marco Polo Reyes def. Dong Hyun Kim by KO (punches) at 1:52 of Round Three
