The UFC returned to Canada for the first time in almost four years at the sold-out Rogers Arena in Vancouver, Canada. Amanda Nunes and Irene Aldana headline the UFC 289 card.
Marc-Andre Barriault vs. Eryk Anders
Barriault opens as the -140 favorite in this middleweight bout against Anders.
Round 1
A body kick followed by a right hand by Barriault drops Anders in the first thirty seconds. Pouncing on his opponent, Barriault throws a couple of punches before Anders gets back to his feet, and the pair exchange blows in the clinch.
Numerous knees and elbows from Anders as he picks up the pace and grows into the round. He’s getting caught as he enters range, though, due to his hands being low.
If the fight continues in this fashion, we will almost certainly see a knockout as Anders is going for the jugular, and Barriault is landing some ample counters, too—great first round.
Round 2
A stop in the action as Barriault lands a low blow. From the replay, it’s not clear whether it landed in the groin area or if it was the inside of Anders’ thigh. We resume.
Anders lands a nice left hand and continues to be the one pressing forwards before landing a takedown. Barriault gets back to his feet and lands a couple of excellent elbows before Anders lands a low before a clean low blow lands from Barriault, causing the second stoppage of the round.
The referee is having some internal dialogue about whether or not to deduct a point from Barriault. He ultimately decides against it. A good call, as the first one wasn’t clear and obvious.
Round 3
Barriault presses forests this time and lands a clean right hand early on. Anders attempts a takedown after eating some nice counters, but the Canadian resists.
A right body kick and jab combo lands from Barriault, almost identical to the first round, which floored his opponent. This time, Anders stays on his feet.
Anders looks to be slowing down as we enter the final ninety seconds. He attempts another takedown, his 10th of the fight. He’s only been successful with one.
Barriault lands a couple of high kicks before both fighters throw bombs to close the round. Great fight to open up the main card. We have it 29-28 for Barriault on our scorecard, but the only ones who matter are the judges:
Marc Andre Barriault wins via unanimous decision, 30-27 x 3
Dan Ige vs. Nate Landwehr
Ige has the sixth-fastest knockout in UFC history. Landwehr has earned fight bonuses in his previous three outings.
Round 1
The first minute is a feeling-out process, and only a little is thrown. Ige counters, landing a couple of body shots.
There is respect from both men towards their opponent’s abilities as they stay out of each other’s range. Ige closes the distance, lands a couple of shots, and retreats. He follows this approach for the rest of the round. An evenly-matched first round, with Ige being a little busier. A left hook from Ige drops Landwehr, but he seems ok as the buzzer sounds to finish the round.
Round 2
Nate ‘The Train’ has success with some knees from the clinch as he tried to keep the fight in the center of the octagon, per his coaches instructions.
Nice combo from Ige, who succeeds whenever the fight is close to the cage wall.
Ige floors Landwehr with a strong left hand. He eats an up kick from ‘The Train’ as he tries to end the fight with some ground-and-pound. Nate survives but looks disheveled in his corner. We go to round 3!
Round 3
Landwehr presses forwards. He looks good, considering what just happened sixty seconds ago.
He then gets hit with another left hand and wobbles. Ige utilizes level changes well, making it difficult for his opponent to predict the next move.
Landwehr lands a couple of nice elbows from the clinch. He needs more of this as a finish is required for him to win this fight.
Dan Ige wins via unanimous decision, 30-27, 29-28 x2
Mike Malott vs. Adam Fugitt
Malott fights in his home country for the first time in six years and closes as the -200 betting favorite. All of Malott’s precious nine finishes have come in round one.
Round 1
A body kick from Malott visibly hurts Fugitt.
Malott takes his time and lands another two body kicks, the second hurts Fugitt again, but the third doesn’t land clean.
The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, Malott, lands a takedown but can’t capitalize, and we return to the feet. The round ends with another takedown from the Canadian.
Round 2
Mallot lands a right hook, followed by a left hook, and Fugitt drops. He secures the guillotine, and Fugitt taps.
Mike Malott wins via submission. His third submission victory in his last four bouts extends his winning streak to six.
Charles Oliveira vs. Beneil Dariush
Tonight is Dariush’s 22nd fight in the UFC, and he has the second-longest win streak in the lightweight division (8).
Charles Oliveira, the -150 favorite, is emotional as he makes the walk to the octagon. ‘Do Bronxs’ has the most finishes in UFC history and looks to extend that record tonight.
Round 1
Nice head kick from Oliveira. The fight goes to the ground with Dariush in the top position. He lands some strikes on Oliveira.
As the fighters separate, ‘Do Bronxs’ is happy to stay on his back rather than attempt to get to his feet. He rates his chances of securing a submission.
We eventually get back to the feet, and Oliveira lands a huge head kick. It wobbles Dariush, who then eats a right hook. Ground and pound from Oliveira follow, and the fight is ended in the first! Twenty stoppages victory in the UFC for ‘Do Bronxs. ‘
Charles Oliveira wins via TKO. It will be hard to deny Oliveira a chance for redemption against Islam Makhachev.
Amanda Nunes vs. Irene Aldana
Time for the UFC 289 main event. The female GOAT looks to add to her legacy as she defends her Bantamweight title against the number five-ranked Mexican.
Round 1
Aldana stays on the outside, which encourages Nunes to throw leg kicks. Nunes lands a takedown but lets the Mexican return to her feet. The champion wants to keep it standing.
The output from the challenger is really low in this first round, but she lands a right hand on Nunes. Quite an uneventful first round; Nunes was by far the more active, picking her shots in the opening four minutes of the round.
Round 2
Nunes’ jab solids the guard of Aldana and continues to land shots at range. The kicks and jabs will be making a mark on the judges, and Aldana needs to increase her output, landing just seven strikes in the opening seven minutes.
Nunes lands a left to the body and a right upstairs in what has been a sparring match so far. Nunes secures another takedown but gets straight back up.
Round 3
Despite having a range disadvantage, Nunes is picking her shots. She can do as she pleases due to the lack of engagement from her opponent.
The champion lands another takedown and decides to stay there this time. Nunes is on Aldana’s back, but the challenger escapes and is able to get to her feet.
Nunes lands multiple shots at the end of the round and there will need to be a stoppage if we’re to see a new champion. We have it 3-0 to the champion so far.
Round 4
Huge elbow from Nunes, but the challenger eats it. A cut opens up on Aldana’s face, and since the blood has begun flowing, we have seen a slight increase in the number of strikes being thrown.
Aldana’s corner is shouting at her to come forwards; they understand a finish is required. Jon Anik, on commentary, informs us that Nunes has almost landed as many significant strikes as her opponent has thrown in the fight.
A beautiful one-two from Nunes, but the chin of the Mexican is strong -another round in the books for the Brazilian.
Round 5
Nunes winces as she eats a knee to the body while in the clinch and can still secure the takedown. The challenger is tired and can’t get off her back due to fatigue and having to dodge elbows which rain down on her as the final bell sounds.
One of the most dominant displays in Amanda Nunes’ illustrious career. If Pena hadn’t defeated her in their first fight, Nunes would seem unbeatable.
Amanda Nunes wins via unanimous decision. 50-44 x2, 50-43.
Amanda Nunes retires! Very sad news, but what a career! The UFC Bantamweight and Featherweight phenom retires as the double champion.
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