On January 31, 2004 at UFC 46 two champions were dethroned, as Vitor Belfort beat Randy Couture for the UFC light heavyweight title and B.J. Penn tapped out Matt Hughes to capture the 170-pound gold. Fast forward eleven years and once again two divisional title holders were ousted of their titles.
First time two new champions crowned since UFC 46
At UFC 185 not only did two of the companies leading fighters lose their belts, but they were dominated throughout the course of their matches.
Unlike UFC 46, the main event at UFC 185 went the distance. However, it was an utter domination from bell to bell. Back in 2004, the bout was stopped due to a cut early in the first, not because there was one man having his way with the other.
The number one contender, Rafael dos Anjos was not a betting favorite against Anthony Pettis. But he proved that pushing the pace and getting in Pettis’ grill is easily “Showtime’s” Achilles heel. Right from the opening bell, dos Anjos was the aggressor and it didn’t take long for him to land a heavy punch that broke Pettis’ orbital bone. That was the beginning of the end for the man who was considered a pound for pound best. Dos Anjos proved that he is a force to be reckoned with in the 155-pound division and will have to keep proving that, as his next test will be against either Khabib Nurmagomedov or Donald Cerrone. The Brazilian has fought and lost to Nurmagomdeov and earned a decision victory against Cerrone.
In the evening’s co-main event, everyone and their dog seemed to be counting Poland’s own Joanna Jędrzejczyk out of her championship bout against Carla Esparza. The odds weren’t overblown, but if you were going by the consensus, you could have bet your houses and still went home with some money picking champion Esparza. It’s a good thing you didn’t however, because Jędrzejczyk was too much for the TUF strawweight winner. Having her way on the feet and stuffing 16 of 17 takedown attempts. Just 42-seconds into the second round Jędrzejczyk smothered Esparza with strikes and that was the end of her title reign.
Jędrzejczyk has a name that can be very tough to say, but if she keeps putting on performances like the one at UFC 185, then that name could become as household as UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey. She is undefeated at 9-0, is 3-0 inside the Octagon and has what Bleacher Report‘s Jeremy Botter says to be quite possibly the best boxing in the entire organization.
Both dos Anjos and Jędrzejczyk will have a target on their back, but that shouldn’t worry them. Especially if they can continue to put on performances like the ones this past Saturday night.
