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UFC 187: Cormier submits Johnson to win title; Weidman retains belt with TKO victory over Belfort

Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Daniel Cormier emerged from UFC 187 on Saturday night with the lightweight belt firmly strapped around his waist with an impressive submission victory over Anthony Johnson, while Chris Weidman retained his middleweight title with a first-round drubbing of Vitor Belfort.

See below for the complete results:

Daniel Cormier def. Anthony Johnson via third-round submission

Daniel Cormier survived a harrowing first round against Anthony Johnson on Saturday night. Johnson floored Cormier with a massive overhand right, forcing the Olympian into survival mode. Cormier, though, used his superior wrestling to turn the tables, and ground Johnson down on the floor with heavy elbows. After controlling the second round, Cormier continued to wear down Johnson in the third, eventually sinking in a fight-ending rear-naked choke at 2:39 of the frame.

Chris Weidman def. Vitor Belfort via first-round TKO

Vitor Belfort gave it his all for about 30 seconds, and it wasn't enough. Belfort rocked Chris Weidman and bloodied the champion with uppercuts from the clinch early in the first round, but Weidman survived the onslaught, changed levels, and brought Belfort down to the mat with a power double-leg. From there it was academic, as Weidman carved through Belfort's guard and rained down vicious ground-and-pound until referee Herb Dean waved it off at 2:53 of the opening round.

Donald Cerrone def. John Makdessi via second-round TKO

A jaw-jarring head kick violently ended John Makdessi's night. Donald Cerrone spent more than a round and a half carving up Makdessi's legs with vicious kicks, and although Makdessi was more than game, he was clearly out of his depth during the exchanges on the feet. Late in the second stanza, Cerrone wobbled Makdessi with a massive head kick, causing the Canadian to back away and try and call timeout, indicating Cowboy's shin had broken his jaw.

Andrei Arlovski def. Travis Browne via first-round TKO

Andrei Arlovski's career renaissance continued in a spectacularly violent fashion on Saturday night. Arlovski blitzed Travis Browne early, putting Browne on wobbly legs with scintillating combinations while Browne desperately tried to stay upright. Firmly entrenched in survival mode, Browne briefly turned the tide, flooring Arlovski with a massive right hand. Arlovski quickly sprung back to his feet, though, and eventually decimated Browne with a vicious uppercut before referee Mark Smith mercifully stepped in to stop the onslaught.

Joseph Benavidez def. John Moraga via unanimous decision

After a relatively listless prelim card, Joseph Benavidez and John Moraga woke the crowd back up with a spirited 15-minute affair. Moraga was game, and frequently threw caution to the wind, hurling heavy combinations at Benavidez in the hopes of separating the Team Alpha Male product from his senses. Benavidez, though, was the more well-rounded fighter, avoiding peril with his superior wrestling and suffocating top-control.

John Dodson def. Zach Makovsky via unanimous decision

It wasn't the stirring, division-altering victory expected of a top contender, but John Dodson did just enough to top Zach Makovsky in his return to the Octagon. After a listless round and a half, Dodson sprang to life midway through the second, slamming Makovsky and landing some decent ground-and-pound. Dodson proceeded to outwork Mokovsky in the third frame, earning a unanimous decision with the heavier combinations and a late takedown.

Dong Hyun Kim def. Josh Burkman via third-round arm-triangle choke

Josh Burkman tried to clinch with Dong Hyun Kim, and it was a terrible, horrible, no good idea. Burkman was able to light Kim up with heavy strikes on the feet, but foolishly tried to clinch with Kim, and once he did, Kim completely ran a train on his opponent. Early in the third round, Burkman stunned Kim with a combination punctuated with a big knee, but instead of staying at range, clinched Kim. Once in the clinch, Kim grounded Burkman and eventually finished the fight with a slick arm-triangle choke.

Rafael Natal def. Uriah Hall via split-decision

It wasn't an impressive or transformative performance, but Rafael Natal did juuuust enough to snag a split decision victory against Uriah Hall. Hall looked comfortable on the feet, and was able to land some decent kicks to the head and body, but his sheer inactivity likely cost him the bout. Natal, though less impressive with his strikes, was the aggressor, throwing wild, looping punches while trying to engage Hall in the clinch.

Colby Covington def. Mike Pyle via unanimous decision

Wrestling was the name of the game for Colby Covington, who used his superior takedowns and heavy top-control grappling to score a unanimous decision victory over wily veteran Mike Pyle. Covington threw bombs to get into Pyle's clinch before easily taking his opponent to the mat. From there, Covington used heavy ground-and-pound to completely grind Pyle down. Pyle showed brief flashes of offense, and even threatened with a rear-naked choke in the waning moments of the third round, but ultimately wasn't able to pull off a miraculous comeback.

Islam Makhachev def. Leo Kuntz via second-round rear-naked choke

It was a fantastic UFC debut for Islam Makhachev, who absolutely ran game on an over-matched Leo Kuntz. Following a first round in which Makhachev dominated Kuntz in the clinch and on the floor, Makhachev took Kuntz back to the mat in the second stanza, and after some elbows and hammerfists to the head, secured a fight-ending rear-naked choke.

Justin Scoggins def. Josh Sampo via unanimous decision

Justin Scoggins kicked off the prelim card with an easy, unanimous decision victory over Josh Sampo. Scoggins' vaunted striking was too much for Sampo, as he easily picked his opponent apart at range with a variety of heavy kicks to the legs and body, while mixing in the occasional hook kick to the head.

Main Card

Daniel Cormier (205) vs. Anthony Johnson (204.5)
Chris Weidman (185) vs. Vitor Belfort (184)
Donald Cerrone (156) vs. John Makdessi (155.5)
Andrei Arlovski (241) vs. Travis Browne (236.5)
Joseph Benavidez (125.5) vs. John Moraga (126)

Prelim Card

John Dodson (125.5) vs. Zach Makovsky (126)
Josh Burkman (170.5) vs. Dong Hyun Kim (170.5)
Uriah Hall (186) vs. Rafael Natal (185.5)

Fight Night Prelims

Colby Covington (170.5) vs. Mike Pyle (171)
Leo Kuntz (155.5) vs. Islam Makhachev (155.5)
Josh Sampo (126) vs. Justin Scoggins (126)

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