UFC 216 Results and Recap

UFC 216 was a night of title matches and dynamic finishes.

Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson faced Ray Borg in his quest to make history. After getting the better of his foe throughout the first four rounds, Johnson put an exclamation point on his victory with an incredible submission that has since gone viral. With his victory over Borg, Johnson extends his record to 11 consecutive title defenses. This tops the former record which was set by middleweight legend Anderson Silva.

Tony Ferguson solidified his spot as the interim lightweight champion, defeating rival Kevin Lee in the third round. Ferguson also found victory with a submission, using a triangle choke to end a competitive bout. After the fight, Ferguson called out lightweight champion Conor McGregor. A title unification bout between the two is expected, though no date has been set.

 

Fabricio Werdum was originally scheduled to face Derrick Lewis, but Lewis pulled out on short notice. He was replaced by Walt Harris, who was 10-5 and originally fighting on the undercard. Werdum made quick work of the late replacement, submitting him via armbar in just over a minute. 

Mara Romero Borella made an impressive UFC debut, adding a formidable new face to the women’s flyweight division. She quickly overwhelmed opponent Kalindra Faria, putting her on the ground with a beautifully timed takedown and winning by rear-naked choke in the first round.

UFC 216 also featured a draw between Beneii Dariush and Evan Dunham. This was technically the second draw on the card if the prelims are counted, as Lando Vannata and Bobby Green also fought to a similar result.

The card, which took place in Paradise, Nevada, honored survivors and first-responders from the Las Vegas shooting, and the “Vegas Strong” hashtag was on display throughout the event.