Skip to content

UFC 201: Woodley upsets Lawler to take title, Kowalkiewicz stays perfect

Jayne Kamin-Oncea / USA TODAY

An Atlanta night filled with finishes crowned a new champion and determined a challenger.

Tyron Woodley def. Robbie Lawler via 1st-round TKO

Tyron Woodley didn't need his wrestling to usurp Robbie Lawler's welterweight throne. After a tentative opening few minutes, Woodley used his speed to close the distance, dropping Lawler with a right hand and finishing him with strikes.

Watch: Woodley drops Lawler in 1st round to capture UFC welterweight title

Karolina Kowalkiewicz def. Rose Namajunas via split decision

Karolina Kowalkiewicz may have booked her ticket to a title fight with a split-decision win over Rose Namajunas.

The speed and agility of "Thug Rose" were neutralized by the sharp clinch work of Kowalkiewicz, who maintained a machinelike pace for three rounds. Kowalkiewicz sliced up Namajunas with knees and elbows in close before sealing the deal with a stiff uppercut that clearly hurt Namajunas in the final frame.

The win all but guarantees a match between Poland's two biggest MMA stars, Kowalkiewicz and UFC strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk.

Recap: Kowalkiewicz remains undefeated with split decision over 'Thug Rose'

Jake Ellenberger def. Matt Brown via 1st-round TKO

Jake Ellenberger almost put Matt Brown away with a right hand to open the first round, but Brown survived the ensuing onslaught to make it back to his feet.

Brown showed little respect for Ellenberger's power, keeping his hands low even after being dropped, and paid for it with a liver kick that again sent him to the canvas. Ellenberger swarmed him for the finish, breaking a two-fight skid and likely saving his job.

Watch: Ellenberger hands Matt Brown first-ever loss by TKO

Erik Perez def. Francisco Rivera via unanimous decision

Three rounds of bloody action ended with Erik Perez's hand being raised. Francisco Rivera was his typically aggressive self, but could not pin down the slippery Perez, who used crisp body work and defensive boxing to avoid Rivera's strongest shots.

The third round had a wild opening with both men swinging for the fences, only for Perez to calm things with a takedown that helped him secure a unanimous decision.

Recap: Perez shakes off ring rust, earns decision over Rivera

Ryan Benoit def. Freddy Serrano via split decision

Ryan Benoit was filling in for Ray Borg on 10 days notice and it could not have been more apparent, as he looked sluggish from the second round onward.

Fredy Serrano's lack of experience was evident as well, and it's what ultimately cost him the decision. His strikes were clumsy and telegraphed, his takedowns low, and he failed to recognize - let alone follow through on - openings for submissions when he did get Benoit on his back.

Recap: Benoit ekes out decision over Serrano in strange contest

Nikita Krylov def. Ed Herman via 2nd-round KO

Nikita Krylov's bag of karate techniques proved too much for Ed Herman. The veteran chose to stand and trade with the Ukrainian and barely made it to the second round, a rare occurrence in a Krylov fight.

Herman was just as game in Round 2 and landed some solid blows in an exchange with his opponent, but he didn't see Krylov's high kick coming and face-planted on impact.

Watch: Krylov cleans Herman's clock with high kick KO

Jorge Masvidal def. Ross Pearson via unanimous decision

The range and striking precision of Jorge Masvidal proved to be the difference against fellow scrapper Ross Pearson. "Gamebred" took over in the second round with a counter left hook that immediately put Pearson on his back. A swarming assault followed that Pearson managed to survive, though he was clearly in rough shape.

Despite Pearson's resilience, Masvidal consistently out-struck him to take a hard-fought unanimous decision.

Recap: Masvidal outstrikes Pearson for UD victory

Anthony Hamilton def. Damian Grabowski via 1st-round KO

Anthony Hamilton needed only 13 seconds to finish Damian Grabowski, good for the second-fastest knockout in UFC heavyweight history. Both fighters took the center of the Octagon and immediately began throwing haymakers, with Hamilton landing several uppercuts to send Grabowski to the canvas.

Watch: Hamilton KOs Grabowski in just 13 seconds

Wilson Reis def. Hector Sandoval via 1st-round submission (rear-naked choke)

Wilson Reis made short work of a short-notice opponent.

Stepping in as an injury replacement with less than a week to prepare, Hector Sandoval came out swinging, which left him vulnerable to a pair of takedowns by the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt. The second takedown proved to be the last as Reis took Sandoval's back and sunk in a rear-naked choke that caused a quick tap out.

Watch: Reis records fastest submission in UFC flyweight history

Michael Graves vs. Bojan Velickovic ends in majority draw

After a first round in which neither fighter could decipher the other's timing on the feet, Michael Graves maintained back control of Bojan Velickovic for the near-entirety of the second in an attempt to lock in a rear-naked choke. The third round opened in similar fashion, after which both fighters traded Octagon control with little damage. Two of the three judges scored the fight 28-28, the third 30-27 for Graves.

Recap: Graves and Velickovic grapple to draw

Cesar Arzamendia def. Damien Brown via 1st-round KO

A grappling specialist, Damien Brown showed some sharp hands as he needed less than three minutes to punch out Cesar Arzamendia. The 31-year-old Australian put Arzamendia in trouble early with a right hand that sent him to the mat. Arzamendia used a submission attempt to survive, only to suffer the same fate moments later when Brown landed two more stunning rights to put a stop to the action.

Recap: Brown clobbers Arzamendia for first-round KO

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox