Fight Results

UFC on FOX 8: ‘Johnson vs. Moraga’ Event Review and Results

Published

10 years ago

July 29, 2013

Things don’t always work out the way you expect them to. Especially in MMA.

Coming into the UFC’s 8th Fox show in Seattle this Saturday the general consensus was that the main event between Demetrious Johnson and John Moraga would be a long uneventful affair that went to a decision and that the co-main event between Jake Ellenberger and Rory McDonald would be titanic battle that steals the show. In actual fact the exact opposite happened.

It’s impossible to give a detailed outline of the welterweight contenders bout other than saying McDonald jabbed Ellenberger for 15 minutes and won the fight. The Canadian fought to a smart and tactical gameplan with no risk. Ellenberger had no plan B when he wasn’t able to get inside the reach of his opponent and land his punches. A match-up that promised so much ended up making a Klitschko fight look like Henderson vs. Shogun.

The main even was a much different affair. Although Johnson dominated almost all of the fight he did so in a manner which made the people who portray the flyweights as boring look rather foolish. The champion started quickly and kept up the pace for the whole fight – almost finishing the game Moraga at the end of the second round. It wasn’t all one way traffic, though, as Moraga broke the nose of ‘Mighty Mouse’ in the fourth frame with a well timed right hand. As the blood poured from his nose, Johnson kept his composure and ended the round with a takedown which brought the number he landed in the fight into double figures. Having won at least three of the opening four rounds Johnson could have rested on his laurels and coasted the last to victory. He didn’t do that though and with time running out armbared Moraga to earn the latest submission in UFC history, and a submission of the night bonus. It was a fight worthy of the main event with a champion who is quickly becoming one of the most dominant in the sport.

Elsewhere on the card Liz Carmouche became the first woman to ever fight twice in the UFC when she stopped Jessica Andrade in a dominant performance. Speaking of dominant performances, Robbie Lawler earned his second UFC victory in as many fights – knocking out Bobby Voelker with a ruthless headkick. He certainly is beginning to look like a contender in the making.

The undercard consisted of some well contested fights mixed with a plethora of strange judging scores. Jorge Masvidal defeated Michael Chiesa via submission in the last second of round two after a topsy turvy affair. Danny Castillo, Ed Herman and Daron Cruickshank all picked up decision victories with odd judges score cards whilst fan favourites Julie Kedzie, Aaron Riley and John Albert all came up short on the night.

Performance of the night would probably have to go to Melvin Guillard, though, who picked up a knockout victory over Mac Danzig in the second round after a really intelligent and skillful display. It looks like the TUF veteran is back to somewhere near his best after a period of sketchy performances.

All in all it was a good night for the UFC with the co-main event the only damper on the evenings proceedings. Once again the flyweights delivered in front of the network television cameras to begin a whirlwind period of fights over the next few months. Roll on UFC 163.

UFC on FOX 8 Results:

Preliminary Card (Facebook)

• Catchweight Bout (137 lbs) Yaotzin Meza (20-8) defeats John Albert (7-5) via RNC – Round 2, 2:49

• Lightweight Bout: Justin Salas (11-4) defeats Aaron Riley (30-14-1) via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Preliminary Card (FX)

• Women’s Bantamweight Bout: Germaine de Randamie (4-2) defeats Julie Kedzie (16-12) via Split Decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)

• Middleweight Bout: Ed Herman (21-9) defeats Trevor Smith (10-4) via Split Decision (27-30, 30-27, 29-28)

• Lightweight Bout: Daron Cruickshank (13-3) defeats Yves Edwards (42-20-1) via Split Decision (30-27, 27-30, 30-27)

• Lightweight Bout: Melvin Guillard (31-12-2) defeats Mac Danzig (21-11-1) via KO (punches) – Round 2, 2:47

• Lightweight Bout: Danny Castillo (16-5) defeats Tim Means (18-5-1) via Split Decision (29-28 x 3)

• Lightweight Bout: Jorge Masvidal (25-7) defeats Michael Chiesa (9-1) via d’arce choke – Round 2, 4:59

Main Card (FOX)