Ronda Rousey didn't need her go-to finisher at UFC 170. | JoshHedges/Zuffa LLC/Getty Images
RondaRousey holstered her trademark armbar in favor of a newweapon.
Rousey retained her Ultimate Fighting Championship women’sbantamweight crown with a first-round technical knockout overSaraMcMann in the UFC170 headliner on Saturday at the Mandalay Bay Events Center inLas Vegas. A knee strike to the liver folded McMann (7-1, 1-1 UFC)66 seconds into round one, the 2004 Olympic silver medalist beatenfor the first time as a professional.
Advertisem*nt
“We studied her videos and noticed that no one ever really tries tohit her to the body,” Rousey said. “Since she’s a wrestler, she hasthat bent posture, so we felt like it was the best thing toconcentrate on the liver shot for this camp. The left knee has beenworking for me the most during this camp, and I thought if I stayedconsistent on that one spot that it would eventually work.”
McMann tagged the champion with power punches during their initialexchange, but Rousey (9-0, 3-0 UFC) closed the distance and trappedher along the cage. Standing elbows and knees opened up thechallenger for the fight-ending blow. McMann collapsed to her kneesupon absorbing the liver shot, leading referee Herb Dean tointervene on her behalf.
“I thought it was a good fight,” McMann said. “I got hit in theliver. No matter how hard you train, it’s not like you can get yourliver stronger. I just look forward to going back to the drawingboard. I hope to get a rematch and put on a better fight.”
McMann did not dispute the stoppage.
“I was trying to get back up, but it’s my own fault,” she said. “Ifyou see a fighter drop, [the referee] is trying to protect us. Ishould have gotten back to my feet quicker.”
Cormier Smashes Cummins in 79 Seconds
In the co-main event, DanielCormier dazzled in his light heavyweight debut, as he needed alittle more than a minute to smash through PatrickCummins with savage first-round punches. A late replacement forthe injured RashadEvans, Cummins (4-1, 0-1 UFC) succumbed to the blows 79 secondsinto round one.
Cormier (14-0, 3-0 UFC) went to work right away, cracking the ReignMMA representative with a pair of right uppercuts, the second ofwhich left Cummins in a dazed state. The American KickboxingAcademy ace then swarmed with unanswered punches, securing hisfirst stoppage since arriving in the UFC in April.
“It had to happen this way,” Cormier said. “It could not have gonethe distance. I’m mad that he even hit me twice because of all thetalking he did. It feels good. When you talk, you’ve got to be ableto back it up. That’s what I do. Pat has a bright future in theUFC, but this was a big challenge for him. I feel good about myfirst time down [at 205 pounds].”
Standup, Sprawl Spurs MacDonald
An effective sprawl and a multi-pronged standup attack carriedTristar Gym’s RoryMacDonald to a unanimous decision over 2007 Abu Dhabi CombatClub Submission Wrestling World Championships gold medalistDemianMaia in a high-stakes welterweight encounter. All three judgesarrived at the same verdict: 29-28 for MacDonald (16-2, 7-2UFC).
Maia (18-6, 12-6 UFC) was in prime form in the first round. Hesecured a takedown inside the first 20 seconds, softened theCanadian with elbows and eventually moved to mount. However, Maiaexpended a great deal of energy in achieving the dominant position.By round two, fatigue had set in on the Brazilian. MacDonaldpeppered him with jabs and body kicks, leaning on his superiorconditioning in turning the corner.
Though physically compromised, Maia managed to score anothertakedown in the third round. His inability to control MacDonaldproved costly, as the former King of the Cage champion rose to hisfeet and picked up where he left off with accurate and damagingpunching combinations.
“I think if I overreacted and got stressed out against a guy of hiscaliber that it wouldn’t have taken him long to tire me out,”MacDonald said. “The animal is back. I’m ready to kick some ass.I’m ready to kill. I’ve got my mindset back on track, and I’m readyfor that title.”
Surging Pyle Finishes Waldburger
Former World Extreme Cagefighting champion Mike Pyledispatched T.J.Waldburger with third-round ground-and-pound in a featuredclash at 170 pounds. Pyle (26-9-1, 9-4 UFC) closed the deal 4:03into round three, as he won for the fifth time in sixappearances.
The matchup was competitive for two rounds, but the tide turned inPyle’s favor in the third. There, he wobbled Waldburger (16-9, 4-4UFC) with an overhand right, a spinning back elbow and a pair ofstanding elbows in the clinch before diving on a guillotine choke.The maneuver failed to secure the desired submission, but Pylesettled into mount and ultimately transitioned to the fadingTexan’s back, finishing it there with elbows and punches.
“He was tough,” Pyle said. “He hit me with some good shots. His legkicks were pretty hard. I expected a battle, and that’s what I got.We prepared for him fully, and he did just what we thought hewould.”
‘Wonderboy’ Thompson Manhandles Whittaker
StephenThompson put away “The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes” winnerRobertWhittaker with first-round punches in a welterweight showcase.Thompson (9-1, 4-1 UFC) drew the curtain on the Aussie 3:43 intoround one, as he delivered his third straight victory inspectacular fashion.
Whittaker (11-4, 2-2 UFC) was on his heels from the start. Thompsonfloored him with a straight right, swarmed with punches as he stoodand dropped him again before finishing the kneeling 23-year-oldwith a series of unanswered blows. Whittaker had never before beenstopped by strikes.
“The more I do this, the more I get comfortable with it,” Thompsonsaid. “I’m a striker. That’s who I am. I wouldn’t say I’m the bestMMA fighter, but I’m working on it. I’m getting better every day,and you’ll see me back in here very soon. When I see him go down, Iknow I have to be careful. I’ve seen guys rush in and get knockedout, so I’m very hesitant going in, but I knew he wasn’t gettingback up, and I finished him from there.”
More UFC 170 »
• UFC 170 Prelims: Davis Outduels Eye, Calls for Bantamweight TitleShot
• UFC 170 Play-by-Play
