UFC: The WME Era

[wargall]

As the title suggests, this save is set in the WME-owned UFC. Meant to be less of a serious save and more of an exaggeration. Over the top super cards, big money fights, title shots not based on rankings, etc.

 

I started this save before UFC 222 happened and made it Holloway vs. Edgar with Cyborg vs. Megan Anderson as the co-main with different prelims fights. Results:

 

© Max Holloway def. Frankie Edgar by KO (punch), R4 3:28

© Cris Cyborg def. Megan Anderson by KO (knee), R1 1:11 [KO of the Night bonus]

#12 Stefan Struve def. #10 Andrei Arlovski by KO (punch), R3 0:12 [Fight of the Night bonus]

Sean O'Malley def. Andre Soukhamthath by TKO, R2 4:57

#7 Cat Zingano def. Ketlen Vieira by SUB (kimura), R3 1:39 [sub of the Night bonus]

C.B. Dolloway def. Jack Hermansson by TKO, R1 4:49

Gabriel Benitez def. Godofredo Pepey by UD

#12 Yuta Sasaki def. Dustin Ortiz by UD

Drakkar Klose def. Gilbert Burns by KO (elbow), R2 1:49

Joby Sanchez def. Matt Schnell by UD

 

Going to have less FOX events in order to make stronger PPVs. Fight Pass will be used more frequently and with more notable names. Conor has been stripped which is a total non-WME move, but only to make the Nate trilogy without holding up the division.

 

Upcoming events, rest of the cards will be revealed in later posts to avoid a giant wall of text:

UFC 223: (undisputed champ) Ferguson vs. Khabib/Rose vs. Joanna II

UFC 224: © Nunes vs. Pennington/Aldo vs. Jeremy Stephens

UFC Fight Night Liverpool: Bisping vs. Evans II/Till vs. Usman

UFC 225: McGregor vs. Diaz III/©Whittaker vs Romero II/©Montano vs. Shevchenko

UFC 226: ©Miocic vs. (C-LHW)Cormier/©Woodley vs. RDA/©Mighty Mouse vs. (C-BW)Dillashaw

[wargall]

<p>Almost immediately after I started this thread, I saw the RDA/Covington interim title rumors. Seems that I've been out-WME'd already lol.</p><p> </p><p>

After this post I'll start working on some form of presentation so the whole thread isn't just a bland mess of words.</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>NEWS</strong></p><p>

-<strong>Brock Lesnar's</strong> contract with the WWE has expired and he has signed a multi-fight deal with the UFC. The former heavyweight champ is expected to return to the Octagon this summer.</p><p>

-<strong>Anthony "Rumble" Johnson</strong> has ended his short-lived retirement, signing with the UFC once again. This time, however, he plans to make a run in the heavyweight division.</p><p>

-The UFC has announced several new fights, including <strong>Demian Maia</strong> vs. <strong>Robbie Lawler</strong> and <strong>Shogun Rua</strong> vs. <strong>Volkan Oezdemir</strong> at UFC 224. UFC 225 will see the long-awaited matchup between <strong>Francis Ngannou</strong> and <strong>Derrick Lewis</strong>, as well as <strong>CM Punk's</strong> second shot in the UFC against <strong>Mike Jackson</strong>.</p><p>

-<strong>Edson Barboza</strong> vs. <strong>Kevin Lee</strong> has been moved to UFC 223 in Brazil after their FOX main event bout was cancelled.</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>UFC 223: Ferguson vs. Khabib</strong></p><p>

<em>Brooklyn, New York</em></p><p><em>

April 7th, 2018</em></p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Main card:</strong></p><p>

© Tony Ferguson vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov</p><p>

© Rose Namajunas vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk</p><p>

Dustin Poirier vs. Justin Gaethje (brought to 223 since I didn't create their FOX card)</p><p>

Calvin Kattar vs. Renato Moicano</p><p>

Anthony Pettis vs. Michael Chiesa</p><p>

Paul Felder vs. Al Iaquinta</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Prelims on FS1:</strong></p><p>

Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs. Felice Herrig</p><p>

Ray Borg vs. Brandon Moreno</p><p>

Joe Lauzon vs. Chris Gruetzemacher</p><p>

Olivier Aubin-Mercier vs. Evan Dunham</p><p>

Pound-for-pound king Artem Lobov vs. Alex Caceres</p><p>

Nadia Kassem vs. Bec Rawlings</p><p>

Devin Clark vs. Mike Rodriguez</p><p>

Kyle Bochniak vs. Zabit Magomedshapirov</p>

[Martel123]

Main card:

© Tony Ferguson vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov

© Rose Namajunas vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk: Joanna moves up a division after this

Dustin Poirier vs. Justin Gaethje (brought to 223 since I didn't create their FOX card)

Calvin Kattar vs. Renato Moicano

Anthony Pettis vs. Michael Chiesa

Paul Felder vs. Al Iaquinta

 

Prelims on FS1:

Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs. Felice Herrig

Ray Borg vs. Brandon Moreno

Joe Lauzon vs. Chris Gruetzemacher

Olivier Aubin-Mercier vs. Evan Dunham

Pound-for-pound king Artem Lobov vs. Alex Caceres: sorry

Nadia Kassem vs. Bec Rawlings

Devin Clark vs. Mike Rodriguez

Kyle Bochniak vs. Zabit Magomedshapirov

[wargall]

<p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><a href="" rel="">https://i.imgur.com/eG9fjmV.png[/img]"]<img alt="eG9fjmV.png" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/eG9fjmV.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></a><p> </p><p>

© <strong>Tony Ferguson</strong> def. Khabib Nurmagomedov by SUB (guillotine), R5 4:08</p><p>

© <strong>Rose Namajunas</strong> def. Joanna Jedrzejczyk by TKO, R2 0:39</p><p>

<strong>Dustin Poirier</strong> def. Justin Gaethje by submission (rear naked choke), R1 4:37</p><p>

<strong>Renato Moicano </strong>def. Calvin Kattar by submission (armbar), R1 4:41</p><p>

<strong>Anthony Pettis</strong> def. Michael Chiesa by TKO, R2 0:24</p><p>

<strong>Al Iaquinta</strong> def. Paul Felder by split decision (29-28x2, 27-30)</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Karolina Kowalkiewicz</strong> def. Felice Herrig by technical submission, R2 2:28</p><p>

<strong>Ray Borg</strong> def. Brandon Moreno by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28x2)</p><p>

<strong>Joe Lauzon</strong> def. Chris Gruetzemacher by submission (rear naked choke), R3, 4:24</p><p>

<strong>Evan Dunham</strong> def. Olivier Aubin-Mercier by submission (rear naked choke), R3 4:26</p><p>

<strong>Alex Caceres</strong> def. Artem "GOAT" Lobov by submission (triangle with armbar), R2 2:54</p><p>

<strong>Nadia Kassem</strong> def. Bec Rawlings by TKO, R3 2:04</p><p>

<strong>Devin Clark</strong> def. Mike Rodriguez by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)</p><p>

<strong>Zabit Magomedshapirov</strong> def. Kyle Bochniak by submission (rear naked choke), R3 3:50</p><p>

</p></div><p></p><p></p>

[wargall]

<p>Wow. Tony was taken down 7 times and was pretty much ground to a paste for 24 minutes before the submission. The commentary suggested that Khabib shot in for a lazy takedown in the 5th because of fatigue and fell straight in to the guillotine, a la Cain vs. Werdum. I guess Khabib got gassed after beating Tony to a pulp for the entire fight? Regardless, Tony will get the winner of the Conor and Nate trilogy which is scheduled for UFC 225 in Chicago.</p><p> </p><p>

In the co-main event, Rose proved that the first fight with Joanna was no fluke and legitimized herself as the best strawweight in the world with an emphatic 2nd round TKO. Unless something goes wrong, she'll make her next defense against Jessica Andrade.</p><p> </p><p>

Our next card is a month away in Rio de Janeiro, where Amanda Nunes looks to make her third defense of the UFC Women's Bantamweight Title against Raquel Pennington.</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>UFC 224: Nunes vs. Pennington</strong></p><p>

<em>May 12th, 2018</em></p><p><em>

Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil</em></p><p> </p><p>

© <strong>Amanda Nunes</strong> vs.<strong> Raquel Pennington</strong></p><p>

<strong>Jose Aldo</strong> vs. <strong>Jeremy Stephens</strong></p><p>

<strong>Robbie Lawler</strong> vs. <strong>Demian Maia</strong></p><p>

<strong>Edson Barboza</strong> vs. <strong>Kevin Lee</strong></p><p>

<strong>Shogun Rua</strong> vs. <strong>Volkan Oezdemir</strong></p><p>

<strong>Glover Texeira</strong> vs. <strong>Jan Blachowicz</strong></p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Mackenzie Dern</strong> vs. <strong>Kailan Curren</strong></p><p>

<strong>Marcel Fortuna</strong> vs. <strong>Magomed Ankalayev</strong></p><p>

<strong>Emil Meek</strong> vs. <strong>Erick Silva</strong></p><p>

<strong>Sergio Moraes</strong> vs. <strong>Tim Means</strong> (forgot to put this one somewhere other than Brazil lol but I'm rolling with it)</p><p>

<strong>Steven Ray</strong> vs.<strong> Francisco Trinaldo</strong></p><p>

<strong>Alex Morono</strong> vs. <strong>Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos</strong></p>

[wargall]

<p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><a href="" rel="">https://i.imgur.com/eNdmeHZ.png[/img]"]<img alt="eNdmeHZ.png" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/eNdmeHZ.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></a><p> </p><p>

© <strong>Amanda Nunes</strong> def. Raquel Pennington by unanimous decision (48-47, 50-45x2)</p><p>

<strong>Jose Aldo</strong> def. Jeremy Stephens by TKO, R1 0:51</p><p>

<strong>Demian Maia</strong> def. Robbie Lawler by submission (leglock), R2 3:37</p><p>

<strong>Kevin Lee</strong> def. Edson Barboza by TKO, R2 2:00</p><p>

<strong>Volkan Oezdemir</strong> def. Shogun Rua by KO (kick), R1 0:44</p><p>

<strong>Glover Teixeira</strong> def Jan Blachowicz by split decision, (28-29, 29-28x2)</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Kailan Curren</strong> def. Mackenzie Dern by unanimous decision (30-27x3)</p><p>

<strong>Magomed Ankalayev</strong> def. Marcel Fortuna by unanimous decision (30-27x3)</p><p>

<strong>Emil Meek </strong>def. Erick Silva by KO (punch), R3 0:29</p><p>

<strong>Sergio Moraes</strong> def. Tim Means by unanimous decision (29-28x3 lmfao)</p><p>

<strong>Francisco Trinaldo</strong> def. Steven Ray by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28x2)</p><p>

<strong>Alex Morono</strong> def. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos by submission (Americana), R1 3:11</p><p>

</p></div><p></p><p></p>

[wargall]

<p>Nunes got a nasty cut from a clinch elbow but that was the only real adversity she faced. Pennington is tough, but there's clearly a gap in skill between Nunes and everyone else at 135. Unless a contender appears out of thin air she'll be fighting Cyborg for the 145 title next.</p><p> </p><p>

Another theme from this card was guys rebounding after tough losses. Aldo, Maia, Lee, and Oezdemir were all coming off of some heartbreaking defeats. Each of them left with a win via stoppage. </p><p> </p><p>

<strong>NEWS:</strong></p><p>

-The UFC announced it will host a card in Hawaii on August 4th. Within hours, current UFC Featherweight champion<strong> Max Holloway</strong> and #1 contender <strong>Brian Ortega</strong> verbally agreed to a title bout on Twitter.</p><p>

-UFC 225 has added two title fights, the rematch between middleweight champ <strong>Robert Whittaker </strong>and <strong>Yoel Romero</strong> as well as <strong>Nicco Montano's</strong> first title defense against <strong>Valentina Shevchenko</strong>. This gives Chicago the McGregor/Diaz trilogy fight as well as 2 belts on the line.</p><p> </p><p>

Our next event is in three weeks time in Liverpool where Michael Bisping will make his final walk to the Octagon against Rashad Evans.</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>UFC Fight Night Liverpool: Bisping vs. Evans II</strong></p><p>

<em>May 27th, 2018</em></p><p><em>

Echo Arena in Liverpool, England</em></p><p>

<strong>Michael Bisping</strong> vs.<strong> Rashad Evans</strong></p><p>

<strong>Darren Till</strong> vs. <strong>Kamaru Usman</strong></p><p>

<strong>Leon Edwards</strong> vs. <strong>Belal Muhammad</strong></p><p>

<strong>Brett Johns</strong> vs. <strong>Iuri Alcantara</strong></p><p>

<strong>Arnold Allen</strong> vs. <strong>Alexander Volkanovski</strong></p><p><strong>

</strong></p><p>

<strong>Elias Theodorou</strong> vs. <strong>Trevor Smith</strong></p><p>

<strong>Yaozong Hu</strong> vs. <strong>Mark Godbeer</strong></p><p>

<strong>Daniel Kelly</strong> vs.<strong> Thales Leites</strong></p><p>

<strong>Joanne Calderwood</strong> vs.<strong> Angela Hill</strong></p><p>

<strong>Tyson Pedro</strong> vs.<strong> Gadzhimurad Antigulov</strong></p><p><strong>

</strong></p>

[Martel123]

Michael Bisping vs. Rashad Evans

Darren Till vs. Kamaru Usman

Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad

Brett Johns vs. Iuri Alcantara

Arnold Allen vs. Alexander Volkanovski

Elias Theodorou vs. Trevor Smith

Yaozong Hu vs. Mark Godbeer

Daniel Kelly vs. Thales Leites

Joanne Calderwood vs. Angela Hill

Tyson Pedro vs. Gadzhimurad Antigulov

 

Suggestion: Can we maybe get some type of rankings report after every few events?