The first UFC event was held at McNichols Sports Arena in Denver, Colo., in front of about 7,800 people. There were no rules, no time limits, no judges, not even weight classes — just two fighters with a referee to stop the fight when a fighter or his corner gave up. Twenty-five years later, the UFC celebrated its birthday by returning to where it all started. They couldn't have asked for a better gift than what we saw Saturday night at Fight Night 139.
In the years since UFC 1 — a tournament that featured legendary MMA fighters such as Frank Shamrock and Royce Gracie, the eventual winner of the tournament — the cards have evolved to showcase superfights and championship bouts. Weight classes and timed rounds were instituted, and certain strikes were deemed illegal.
And the fighters have become more skilled and complete. Gone are the days of clashing styles, a wrestler versus a striker. Now we see kickboxers who are highly trained in jiu jitsu and wrestlers who have turned into knockout artists. The sport has never looked so good.
Yair Rodriguez def. The Korean Zombie via KO, Round 5 (145-pound featherweight division)
If you have not seen the main event of UFC Fight Night 139 yet, you simply must (FS1 aired both the prelims and the main card, with a cool touch of using the original UFC logo and graphics). This was a classic on par with Stephan Bonnar-Forrest Griffin in the finals of "The Ultimate Fighter 1" and ended with one of the most incredible knockouts of all time.
Rodriguez and Chan Sung Jung (known as the Korean Zombie) each were coming off long layoffs. Jung was last seen in the Octagon in February 2017 beating Dennis Bermudez. He was scheduled to fight last July, but pulled out due to a knee injury. On Saturday, he was originally scheduled to fight future Hall of Famer Frankie Edgar, who had to withdraw because of a torn biceps. Rodriguez stepped in with two weeks' notice.
Rodriguez had been missing in action for more than 18 months since suffering a loss to Edgar, the man he replaced. Rodriguez was linked to fight Zabit Magomedsharipov after that loss, but was terminated by UFC before the fight could be made. He was reinstated to the roster, then injuries scuttled the fight with Magomedsharipov. He was healthy again in time to take on the Korean Zombie.
Rodriguez and Jung took the first round to find their footing. The exchanges became more frequent in the second round, and at the tail end of the round, Rodriguez landed a few elbows and strikes that left the Zombie walking away with a bloody lip. Jung started to land his own shots in the third round and busted up Rodriguez's nose.
As the fifth and final round was winding down, the crowd cheered the two tired and bloody foes. With 15 seconds left, they touched gloves. Rodriguez threw a kick with his final flurry. The Zombie walked through it and started to throw a combo. Rodriguez ducked and swung his right elbow — and knocked out Jung just seconds before the horn sounded.
Rodriguez could potentially fight Magomedsharipov next, at long last.
Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone over Mike "Platinum" Perry via Armbar, Round 1 (170-pound welterweight division)
Cerrone, a UFC mainstay fighting in his hometown of Denver, came in to the night needing one win and one finish to set the promotion's all-time records. Perry is a vicious knockout artist, but lacks the complete package to beat opponents who are not willing stand in front of his face and trade strikes.
Cerrone was patient, and Perry made a mistake at the end of the first round when he shot for a takedown. Cerrone was able to sneak out of a compromising situation and put Perry in a very deep armbar. Perry tried to power through it, but eventually he tapped. Perry said later that Cerrone broke his arm.
After the fight, Cerrone brought his 4-month-old son into the cage and soaked up the adulation of the crowd. He said he was ready to go back down to the lightweight division and that UFC has someone in mind for him. He probably won't get a top-five opponent off the bat, but top 10 is quite possible (think: Nate Diaz or Justin Gaethje).
Maycee Barber over Hannah Cifers via KO/TKO, Round 2 (115-pound women's strawweight division)
Barber, just 20 years old, made her UFC debut a memorable one and quickly established herself in the strawweight division.
At 5-foot-5, Barber towered over the 5-foot-1 Cifers, a last-minute replacement. Barber landed some hard head kicks in the first round and had her way holding Cifers to the cage, but Cifers gamely stuck it out. In the second round, Barber worked her way into a clinch and knocked Cifers off her feet. Before you knew it, Barber was destroying her with brutal ground and pound that left Cifers a bloody mess.
Barber called out Mackenzie Dern during her post-fight interview. That matchup likely will happen eventually, it may be a few fights away. Potential next opponents for Barber are Alexa Grasso, Felice Herrig and Angela Hill.
On the rest of the card:
Ashley Yoder defeated Amanda Cooper via split decision to get her first UFC win.
Bobby Moffett defeated Chas Skelly via Darce Choke in a controversial stoppage.
Devonte Smith defeated Julian Erosa via KO, just 46 seconds into the first round.
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