UFC 196 started off a little slow with three decisions wins, but all three fights were fairly exciting. Things turned around in the co-main and main event which were two action packed fights that ended in dramatic fashion.
Amanda Nunes vs. Valentina Shevchenko
Although only 1-0 in the UFC, Valentina Shevchenko was a decorated kickboxing fighter and even has a win over UFC strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejcyzk. Despite her veteran striking background, she could not seem to pull the trigger against Amanda Nunes.
Nunes is one of the UFC’s top women bantamweights and showed veteran poise in the fight and a superior ground game. Nunes was able to get the fight to the mat more than once and when she did landed some awesome ground and pound.
Shevchenko came on strong half way through the third round, but it was a little too little a little too late. Nunes was awarded a unanimous decision win.
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Tom Lawlor vs. Corey Anderson
Tom Lawlor was making his second Octagon appearance since returning to the light heavyweight division and was taking on Ultimate Fighter winner Corey Anderson.
Lawlor started the fight out strong, pushing Anderson against the cage and landing some heavy shots that looked to have Anderson rocked. Anderson was able to recover and the first round was back and forth action.
The second round was a razor close round with both fighters having their moments and Anderson finished the round strong, hurting Lawlor with a good punch.
Anderson was able to secure a solid takedown on Lawlor in the third and control top position for much of the round. When it was all over, the judges awarded Anderson a unanimous decision win.
Ilir Latifi vs. Gian Villante
The next match of the PPV main card featured lightheavyweights Ilir Latifi and Gian Villante battling for positional ranking in the UFC light heavyweight division.
Latifi spent some time in the first round adjusting to the height advantage of Villante and kicks, but landed the first damaging blow of the fight and drove Villante to the cage.
The rest of the fight was Latifi pushing the action and trying to deal with the kicks of Villante, but controlling the action. When the fight was over, Latifi was awarded a unanimous decision win.
Miesha Tate vs. Holly Holm
The women’s bantamweight title fight lived up to the hype. Holm controlled the first round, but Tate rebounded in the second round securing a takedown and following up with quality punches.
Holm was able to use her superior striking and distance to keep Tate at bay in the third and fourth rounds and was likely ahead on the score cards coming into the fifth round. Again Holm was able to land shots at distance and keep Tate away until her opponent was finally able to get a takedown. Tate scrambled to Holm’s back, secured a rear naked choke, and won by technical submission when Holm went unconscious from the choke at 3:30 of the fifth round.
McGregor vs. Diaz
Nate Diaz overcame fighting on a short notice and being a big underdog to shock everyone when he submitted Conor McGregor in the second round. McGregor came out strong in the first round, landing some hard shots on Diaz, but not enough to put away the tough veteran. McGregor seemed intent on landing the big knock out shot and through his overhand left often. However, the taller Diaz was able to get out of the way, or just enough, to absorb the shots. The end of the round ended with McGregor on top of Diaz in full guard and likely was a 10-9 round for McGregor.
The second round seemed to be going the same way until Diaz was able to start landing some solid punches as well. Half way through the round Diaz seemed to hurt McGregor who then shot in for a takedown. Diaz used his superior ground game to scramble to McGregor’s back and sink a fight ending rear naked choke.
