DEMETRIOUS JOHNSON CAN now boast the same number of consecutive title defences as the rest of the UFC’s current champions combined.
However, it certainly wasn’t as easy as many expected for the reigning flyweight title-holder as he saw off the challenge of Tim Elliott over five rounds in last night’s main event of the TUF 24 Finale at the Palms Casino in Las Vegas.
At the climax of an event that attracted an attendance of just 2,044 for gate receipts of $188,602 — the lowest on both fronts for any UFC event in 2016 — Johnson recorded a unanimous-decision victory (49-46, 49-46, 49-45).
While Johnson thoroughly deserved the win, the judges’ scorecards didn’t fully reveal just how much of a challenge that Elliott — who entered the bout as an 8/1 underdog — posed of the UFC’s longest-reigning current champion, who’s now just one win away from equalling Anderson Silva’s all-time record of 10 consecutive title defences.
“He’s a hell of a fighter. He’s like fighting a muskrat trying to neutralise him,” said Johnson, paying tribute to Elliott who was fighting in the UFC for the first time since February 2015.
After being released by the UFC following a trio of consecutive defeats, Elliott earned another shot in the organisation by winning the 24th season of The Ultimate Fighter. Last night’s performance won him plenty of new fans too.
“I’m just a guy who loves to fight and I love my daughter,” said Elliott. “He [Demetrious Johnson] is best in the world and I’m happy to share the octagon with him.”
Elliott took the first round and even looked for an early finish with a guillotine choke. Johnson had the better of the contest from there, however, and threatened with submission attempts of his own. But the UFC’s pound-for-pound number one fighter had to settle for the decision to score his 11th straight win.
Next up for Johnson could be a third meeting with Joseph Benavidez, who defeated Henry Cejudo via unanimous decision in last night’s co-main event.
TUF 24 Finale results
- Demetrious Johnson def. Tim Elliott via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-45)
- Joseph Benavidez def. Henry Cejudo via split decision (27-29, 30-26, 29-27)
- Jorge Masvidal def. Jake Ellenberger via TKO (toe injury) after 4:05 of round one
- Jared Cannonier def. Ion Cutelaba via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Sara McMann def. Alexis Davis via submission (arm-triangle choke) after 2:52 of round two
- Brandon Moreno def. Ryan Benoit via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
- Ryan Hall def. Gray Maynard via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Rob Font def. Matt Schnell via KO (knee and punches) after 3:47 of round one
- Dong Hyun Kim def. Brendan O’Reilly via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Jamie Moyle def. Kailin Curran via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Anthony Smith def. Elvis Mutapcic via TKO (elbow and punches) after 3:27 of round two
- Devin Clark def. Josh Stansbury via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
