UFC 197: Jones Vs. Saint Preux Results: Jon Jones Makes Return, Mighty Mouse Slays Opponent, More
Welcome to our live, match-by-match coverage of UFC 197: Jones vs. Saint Preux exclusively from WrestlingINC.com. Tonight's show features the number 1 and 2 pound-for-pound fighters in the world in Jon Jones and Demetrious 'Mighty Mouse' Johnson. Below are full results from the show.
Prelim Card
Kevin Lee def. Efrain Escudero via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Marcos Rogerio de Lima def. Clint Hester via sub (arm triangle) (R1, 4:35)
Walt Harris def. Cody East via TKO (punches) (R1,4:18)
James Vick def. Glaico Franca via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Carla Esparza (#2) def. Juliana Lima via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Daniel Roberts def. Dominique Steele via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Sergio Pettis (#14) defeated Chris Kelades via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
MAIN CARD
Yair Rodriguez vs. Andre Fili
Round 1: Both men offer kicks that land, but Fili is the first to connect with a punch. Rodriguez catches a kick and takes Fili down. Rodriguez delivers a hammer fist, but eats an axe kick to the chops from Fili. Rodriguez lands several strikes, including an elbow while controlling Fili with ease until Fili finally gets up, only to be knocked off balance by a leg kick. Fili answers by dropping Rodriguez with a punch and taking him down.
Wrestling Inc scores the round 10-9 for Yair Rodrgiuez
Round 2: Rodriguez opens with a huge dropkick attempt and falls flat on his ass, but then promptly takes Fili down. Fili gets back up and is welcomed by getting knocked out cold by a jumping roundhouse.
Official Result: Yair Rodriguez defeated Andre Fili via KO (Kick) (R2, 2:15)
That may have been the knockout of the year so far. That was unbelievable. Yair Rodriguez is a joy to watch compete.
Robert Whittaker (#8) vs. Rafael Natal (#13)
Round 1: Both men trade strikes, but Whittaker clocks Natal repeatedly. Natal grabs a waistlock, and Whittaker defends the takedown, and a crazy exchange occurs, with Whittaker getting the better of it. Whittaker starts tagging Natal as Sapo throws wild punches.
Wrestling Inc scores the round 10-9 for Robert Whittaker
Round 2: Whittaker tags Natal a couple of times, but Natal starts landing heavy leg kicks on Whittaker. Whittaker's leg is starting to look really nasty, but he's still landing punches. Natal gets a front kick right up the middle, followed by another big leg kick. Whittaker comes back with a left hand, stuffs a takedown and makes Natal pay with another punch.
Wrestling Inc scores the round 10-9 for Robert Whittaker
Round 3: Whittaker accidentally low blows Natal to start the round, which causes a pause in action. Whittaker is changing up his stance a lot and answers a Natal leg kick with one of his own, as well as a jab. Whittaker slugs Natal with an overhand, and starts to mix up his strikes really well. Whittaker is tagging Natal over and over, not sure how Natal hasn't been dropped yet. Natal gets several leg kicks, and Whittaker is in pain, but fires back with a head kick that drops Natal!
Wrestling Inc scores the round 10-9 for Robert Whittaker, giving him the win at 30-27
Official Result: Robert Whittaker (#7) defeated Rafael Natal (#13) via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)
That was an excellent fight. If you listened to the commentary, Joe Rogan made it sound like Natal was in control in the second round.
Anthony "Showtime" Pettis (#3) vs. Edson Barboza (#8)
Round 1: Barboza comes out a little tentative and gets hit a couple of times. Barboza starts to open up about 1:45 in and lands a few strikes before uncorking a big combo and a heavy left hook. Barboza connects with a spinning back kick to the body of Pettis and stops a takedown. The two trade strikes to end the round.
Wrestling Inc scores round one for Edson Barboza 10-9
Round 2: Pettis opens with a jumping kick that doesn't land. Barboza and Pettis both connect with left hands at the same time, but Pettis also throws a straight. Pettis starts with front kicks, but Barboza goes to the body. Pettis scores a nice 1-2, but Barboza goes back to the left hook and follows that with a body kick. Pettis gets a body kick of his own, which Barboza returns with that left hook. Barboza drills Pettis with another one and Pettis shoots in a few seconds later. Barboza slaps Pettis' body with a kick, and Pettis is happy to throw a couple of punches.
Wrestling Inc scores round 2 for 10-9 for Edson Barboza
Round 3: Pettis goes for another crazy kick and misses another crazy kick, only to stand up and get dropped by a 1-2-leg kick from Barboza. Pettis gets an inside leg kick and says he was kicked in the grapes right after. Barboza starts throwing disgusting body kicks and leg kicks and really starts running away with the round. Pettis lands a couple of punches, and they wheel kick each other to finish the fight.
Wrestling Inc scored round 3 for Edson Barboza 10-9, making it a 30-27 victory for him
Official Result: Edson Barboza (#8) defeated Anthony "Showtime" Pettis (#3) via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)
That was a really bad matchup for Pettis, who has lost three fights in a row. His brother Sergio now has as many UFC wins as Anthony.
UFC Flyweight Championship
Demetrious "Mighty Mouse" Johnson (c) vs. Henry Cejudo (#3)
Round 1: MM opens with a punch as Cejudo is pressuring him. MM initiates the clinch, then throws a right hand on the break. MM gets in another clinch, Cejudo takes him down and Johnson pops up with ease and stuns Cejudo with a knee. Another rocks Cejudo, Mighty Mouse drops him! It's all over!
Official Result: Demetrious "Mighty Mouse" Johnson (c) defeats Henry Cejudo (#3) via TKO (strikes) R1, 2:49 to retain the UFC Flyweight Championship
Mighty Mouse initiated a clinch twice, got taken down by an Olympic Gold Medalist, kicked him off with ease and knocked him dead.
Interim UFC Light Heavyweight Championship
Jon Jones (#1) vs. Ovince St. Preux (#6)
Round 1: Jones lands a front kick to the leg and a spinning kick to the body, and OSP returns with a punch and leg kick. Jones goes at OSP with more kicks. He misses a spin kick and OSP gets a couple of uppercuts in the clinch. Jones is remarkably flat footed right now, but still gets some kicks in. OSP comes over the top with a soft punch, Jones trips OSP and lands a knee.
Wrestling Inc scores the round 10-9 for Jon Jones
Round 2: Jones catches a kick, but OSP scores several punches during the takedown attempt. Jones aggressively gets out of the clinch and lands a body kick. Jones no sells a low blow knee and pushes OSP against the cage where he delivers elbows. OSP breaks and smashes Jones with a big right. Jones throws a body kick and eats two big punches from OSP. Jones gets a wheel kick to end the round.
Wrestling Inc scores the round 10-9 for Jon Jones, making it 20-18
Round 3: Jones lands a knee and a straight during the first minute, and he's still really flat footed. Jones gets another elbow off against the cage. Jones starts throwing hard kicks, including a high kick with a punch behind it. OSP lands two to the head, and another good one to the body, but then gets kicked five times.
Wrestling Inc scores the round 10-9 for Jon Jones, making it 30-27
Round 4: OSP opens with a body kick to Jones, and lands a leg kick after some inactivity. Jones takes OSP down, and OSP gets right up, which is very impressive. Jones elbows OSP and gets another takedown. Jones works for a mounted crucifix and throws some gross elbows to the face. OSP gets turtled up, then over to his back and beaten until the end of the round.
Wrestling Inc scores the round 10-9 for Jon Jones, making it 40-36
Round 5: OSP's hands are down and he looks cooked. Jones lands an elbow and a giant slam before soccer kicking OSP to the body. They go against the cage, where Jones elbows the hell out of OSP. The fight ends. Jones was dominant.
Wrestling Inc scores the round 10-9 for Jon Jones making it 50-45.
Official Result: Jon "Bones" Jones (#1) defeated Ovince Saint Preux via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-44, 50-45) to win the Interim UFC Light Heavyweight Championship
Jones won't accept the championship, saying he wants his real belt back. He says he felt amazing physically, but mentally he was afraid of his performance. Jones said he really needed that fight. OSP says he's pretty proud of himself on three weeks notice, and says his arm is wrecked.