UFC 217 took place last night at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The action was intense and the crowd of 18,201 in attendance left feeling they got their monies worth. There were TKOs, KOs, submissions and even a disqualification. But, more importantly the UFC fans left with three new champions.
World Strawweight Championship
Champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk took on Rose Namajunas for the title. Most media members and fight experts predicted Joanna “Violence” would dominate the bout. Jedrzejczyk did all the talking and posturing leading up to the fight and as the two faced-off before the start of the bout she taunted Namajunas. Jedrzejczyk’s “Violence” nickname was well earned and she successfully won her title defenses heading into Saturday night.
Namajunas remained unfazed and approached the match with laser focus and waited for her opening, and when she found it, she capitalized. She stunned Jedrzejczyk with a left hook and when Jedrzejczyk hit the canvas, Namajunas pummeled her repeatedly until the referee stopped the fight. The crowd was stunned and Namajunas was overwhelmed by the moment and cried when she was announced as the new, UFC champion.
See Rose Namajunas exit the ring as champion.
World Bantamweight Championship
Champion Cody Garbrandt and challenger TJ Dillashaw entered the octagon to a raucous crowd. Garbrandt was clearly the crowd favorite, and he played to it. But much like any fight crowd, when it appears a KO is coming their allegiances quickly shift. Dillashaw knocked out Garbrandt at the 2:41 mark of the second round. The finish was quick, Dillashaw put Garbrandt down with a kick to the head and once on the canvas TJ was able to finish the match and reclaim his title.
World Middleweight Championship
So, Geroges St-Pierre is back and he is now a two weight UFC champion. St-Pierre defeated Michael Bisping by submission with a rear-naked choke. St-Pierre floored Bisping with a solid left hook before jumping to Bisping’s back and applying the choke. Bisping refused to tap and went unconscious.
Despite the victory, the match was not easy for St-Pierre, Bisping opened a cut on St-Pierre in the third round. Plus Bisping’s jab was causing some issues for the Canadian.
Beating Bisping or the title was quite an accomplishment for St-Pierre who has accomplished so much in the sport. The question is what’s next?
Flip the page for more video.