Cormier retains title in thriller at NorCal-studded UFC 192

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Some fighters believe they’re not really a champion until they defend their belt. By any measure, whether gold or mettle, Daniel Cormier is a champion.

The AKA product defeated Alexander Gustafsson in a bloody slugfest via split decision to retain the UFC light heavyweight championship in the main event at UFC 192 in Houston. The challenger won 47-48 on one scorecard, but the other two judges favored the fight 48-47 and 49-46 for the champion. CSNBayArea.com tallied the contest 49-46 for Cormier.

“Thank you Alexander Gustafsson, you made me a better man and fighter. I will forever be indebted to you for your performance tonight,” a visibly exhausted Cormier, 36, said after the fight. “I left a part of myself in The Octagon tonight.”

The fight was GIF-worthy from the very beginning. In the first few minutes of the opening round, Cormier, a former Olympic wrestler, landed a takedown where he flipped Gustafsson, 28, over his head.

The Swedish No. 1 contender took a page from DC’s playbook in the second round, scoring a takedown of his own and landing a right hand that cut the San Jose-based Cormier under his right eye. But it was the third round that was the most compelling.

Cormier (17-1) dominated most of the frame, landing uppercuts in the clinch. Gustafsson (16-4) was bleeding profusely from his nose, and it appeared as though it may have been broken. But in the final minute of the round, Gustafsson, six inches taller than his opponent, landed a knee that dropped the champion. ‘The Mauler’ followed with a flurry and it looked as if there would be a new champion. But Cormier weathered the storm and made it to the bell.

“DC’s a beast. He proved he could strike. He’s a good boxer, he’s a good standup guy,” said Gustafsson. “He’s the real champ. He’s the legit champ.”

Cormier looked to still be clearing the cobwebs in the fourth stanza, but his relentless pursuit of Gustafsson in the final two rounds sealed his first title defense.

In the co-main event, Ryan Bader defeated Rashad Evans by unanimous decision in another 205-lb match. It is expected that Bader will be the next challenger for Cormier’s light heavyweight strap.

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It was a battle of former flyweight championship contenders, and in the end, Sacramento-based Joseph Benavidez came out on top.

The Team Alpha Male 125-pounder was a unanimous decision victor over Ali Bagautinov. The judges scored the bout 30-27, 30-27, and 29-28. CSNBayArea.com also scored the fight 30-27 for Benavidez.

It was a tactical fight that produced a lot of movement and speed that MMA fans are accustomed to seeing in the flyweight division, but that didn’t equate to very much action. The Houston crowd began to boo during the third round.

“Don’t boo me. Sorry. I gave it all I got. It’s a really tough guy in here,” Benavidez, 31, apologized from The Octagon in a postfight interview. “It’s not the exciting fight people are used to from me, but go watch any of Ali’s fights and see how tough he is.”

As tough a challenge as Bagautinov, 30, posed, Benavidez (23-4) seemed to control most of the fight. He landed a big right in the very first minute of the fight, a thudding body kick in the second round, and a big knee in the clinch in the third and final round.

Bagautinov (13-4) had his moments as well. The Russian landed a right uppercut in the first round that cut Benavidez over his left eye. The cut looked bad enough that it might cause a problem for Benavidez throughout the fight, but Benavidez’s corner was able to make it a non-factor.

“It hardly touched me, it’s a small price to pay for good bone structure and soft skin,” Benavidez joked.

Bagautinov also secured two takedowns in the last two rounds, but Benavidez popped right back up to his feet both times.

Benavidez, who mentioned that he’s getting married in six days, will surely retain his No. 1 UFC flyweight ranking. And even though he’s lost twice to reigning champion Demetrious Johnson, he is still looking for another shot at the gold.

“I’m working hard in the gym everyday. I know I’ll get there. Knock it out one at a time.”

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In a flyweight bout on the preliminary card on Fight Pass, San Francisco native Chris Cariaso dropped a unanimous decision to Sergio Pettis. The judges scored the bout 29-27, 29-27, and 29-28. Cariaso, 34, had a leg lock on Pettis, 22, as time expired in the third and final round but was unable to get his opponent to submit. Pettis (12-2) is the younger brother of former UFC lightweight champion, Anthony ‘Showtime’ Pettis. It’s Cariaso’s third consecutive loss and drops his professional record to 17-8.

 

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