FIREWORKS WERE EXPECTED from the main event at UFC Fight Night 89 but in the end it was “a chess match”, according to the man who emerged victorious.
In a fight that was a billed as a number one contender bout in the welterweight division, Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson was always one step ahead of Rory MacDonald in a tactical battle in Ottawa overnight.
Thompson marginally had the better of the first three rounds but he surged ahead in the fourth and fifth, appearing noticeably quicker than his bloodied opponent who clearly began to slow down as he competed for the first time since his memorable defeat to reigning champion Robbie Lawler in July of last year.
Thompson was able to withstand several takedown attempts from MacDonald, and while the Canadian was by no means out of his depth in the striking exchanges, the American was undoubtedly superior in that range thanks to his extensive kickboxing and karate background.
The unanimous decision marked a seventh consecutive win for Thompson, which takes his record to 13-1. With his last five victories coming against MacDonald, Johny Hendricks, Jake Ellenberger, Patrick Cote and Robert Whittaker, the 33-year-old is now in line to face the winner of the 30 July title bout between Lawler and Tyron Woodley.
“Title belt, baby!” Thompson said afterwards. “Title belt, Robbie Lawler. I want the winner of Robbie Lawler and Tyron Woodley in New York.”
In the co-main event, Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone picked up his second consecutive win since moving to welterweight. Cerrone produced what was undoubtedly one of the best performances of his career, scoring several knockdowns against Patrick Cote before eventually sealing a TKO stoppage midway through the third round.
Elsewhere on the main card, Steve Bosse earned a decision win against Sean O’Connell after a thrilling light-heavyweight contest, Olivier Aubin-Mercier submitted Thibault Gouti, and Scotland’s Joanne Calderwood finally put her diverse range if striking on show en route to stopping ex-strawweight title challenger Valerie Letourneau in the first ever women’s flyweight bout in the UFC.
Highlights on the prelims included a winning return for former flyweight title challenger Ali Bagautinov, a long-awaited first UFC win for Joe Soto, and big first-round KO for Poland’s Krzysztof Jotko against Tamdan McCrory — the only fight of the night that didn’t make it as far as the third round.
UFC Fight Night 89
- Stephen Thompson def. Rory MacDonald via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 48-47)
- Donald Cerrone def. Patrick Cote via TKO (punches) after 2:35 of round three
- Steve Bosse def. Sean O’Connell via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-27)
- Olivier Aubin-Mercier def. Thibault Gouti via submission (rear-naked choke) after 2:28 of round three
- Joanne Calderwood def. Valerie Letourneau via TKO (body kick and spinning back fist) after 2:51 of round three
- Jason Saggo def. Leandro Silva via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
- Misha Cirkunov def. Ion Cutelaba via submission (arm-triangle choke) after 1:22 of round three
- Krzysztof Jotko def. Tamdan McCrory via KO (punch) after 0:59 of round one
- Joe Soto def. Chris Beal via submission (rear-naked choke) after 3:39 of round three
- Elias Theodorou def. Sam Alvey via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
- Randa Markos def. Jocelyn Jones-Lybarger via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
- Colby Covington def. Jonathan Meunier via submission (rear-naked choke) after 0:54 of round three
- Ali Bagautinov def. Geane Herrera via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
