Middleweight champion Robert Whittaker (19-4) of New Zealand takes on Cuba’s Yoel Romero (13-2) on Saturday night in the main event at UFC 225 at the United Center in Chicago. The belt will not be on the line after Romero missed two chances to make weight. Rafael dos Anjos (28-9) and Colby Covington (13-1) will be featured in the co-main event with the interim welterweight belt on the line. Former champion Holly Holm (11-4) will battle Megan Anderson (8-2) in a women’s featherweight bout, while former professional wrestling superstar CM Punk (0-1) takes on Mike Jackson (0-1).
Jun. 9, 2018, 9:37 p.m.
This was originally scheduled to be for the UFC middleweight title, but Romero missed weight by 1/5 of a pound. That’s the second straight fight Romero missed weight for. Whittaker and Romero fought last year, and Whittaker won via decision. Whittaker is a striker who relies on speed and cardio while Romero comes from a wrestling background and has tremendous athleticism and knockout power.
Round 1. Whittaker opens with a series of kicks. He attacks the lead leg in particular. Romero just stays back in defensive mode. Whittaker continues to attack the leg while mixing in his boxing. Romero lunges in with a powerful hook that misses. Whittaker remains quite active throughout the round while Romero is throwing very little. Romero lands one hard leg kick. Whittaker attacks the body with a few punches. 10-9 Whittaker.
Round 2. As in the first round, Whittaker is the much more active fighter. He’s using his kicks principally to the legs and then utilizing his boxing to keep Romero at bay. Romero is fighting a strange fight, still doing exceedingly little. Romero throws a head kick that doesn’t land. Romero’s eye is swollen shut. Romero, now compromised, becomes more aggressive with his attacks. He lands a nice uppercut but Whittaker answers back and then blocks a takedown. 10-9 Whittaker.
Jun. 9, 2018, 8:50 p.m.
This is being billed as an interim welterweight title fight even though champion Tyron Woodley is ready to fight. Covington comes from a wrestling background and has gained attention with his brash, abrasive trash talking. He has been particularly nasty towards the country of Brazil, angering his opponent for this fight. Dos Anjos is a former UFC lightweight champion now looking to become champion in a second weight class.
Round 1. Covington runs across the cage and gets caught with a hard punch in the process. Covington keeps pressing for the takedown. He gets Dos Anjos down momentarily but Dos Anjos pops back up and they fight for position by the cage. They trade punches and elbows from the clinch but Covington can’t get the takedown. Dos Anjos lands a few hard knees to the body. He is really connecting well there but Covington keeps coming. Both men throw some kicks from distance before Covington again goes to the clinch. Covington was constantly instigating clinches that round but Dos Anjos landed the better shots. 10-9 Dos Anjos.
Round 2. Covington goes for an early takedown again and again gets it quickly but just like in the first, Dos Anjos gets up quickly. Dos Anjos uses a solid body kick on the break. Covington again looks for a takedown. Dos Anjos continues to attack the body with kicks and punches. Covington goes back to the clinch. Dos Anjos lands a nice looping left hand. Covington answers with a right hand of his own and then an uppercut. Covington goes back to the clinch. Covington gets a takedown late but Dos Anjos gets up quick again. 10-9 Dos Anjos.
Jun. 9, 2018, 8:21 p.m.
Holly Holm is the former UFC women’s bantamweight champion who knocked out Ronda Rousey to end Rousey’s reign on top. She has struggled in recent fights but is looking for another major title fight. Megan Anderson is the former Invicta featherweight champion making her UFC debut. She is eyeing a bout with UFC featherweight queen Cris “Cyborg” Justino.
Round 1. Anderson moves in with punches and lands a heavy knee to the head. They clinch and Anderson lands a knee to the body. Neither fighter is able to do much in the clinch but they trade smaller blows. They break and Anderson moves in again throwing big punches. Holm answers with a nice front kick up the middle. Holm then shoots and secures a takedown. Holm ends up in side control. Holm looks for full mount but ends up in half guard instead. 10-9 Anderson.
Round 2. Anderson moves into closer range, with Holm throwing some kicks as Anderson attempts to close distance. They end up in a clinch before Holm backs up. Holm throws a few kicks from range, mostly low. Holm takes Anderson down as Anderson is moving in. Anderson has half guard and Holm passes into side control. Holm lands a series of punches from there. Holm looks to set up an arm triangle choke but gives it up when she gains full mount. Holm opens up with punches from there. Holm lands a series of elbows from there. 10-8 Holm.
Jun. 9, 2018, 7:47 p.m.
Andrei Arlovski is the former UFC heavyweight champion and is toward the tail end of his career. He has won two straight via decision. Tai Tuivasa is 7-0 with knockouts in all of his wins.
Round 1. Tuivasa lets his hands go early. Arlovski knocks him down with a punch, but he quickly gets up and is fine. Tuivasa gets a takedown and lands in full mount. Arlovski is able to tie Tuivasa up and prevent Tuivasa from doing anything in the position. Arlovski then explodes and pushes him off. Arlovski returns to his feet. Tuivasa is bleeding badly. Tuivasa drops Arlovski with a hard punch. Arlovski gets up and goes for the takedown. Tuivasa prevents that. Tuivasa lands a few punches and they clinch. Arlovski lands on the break, but Tuivasa answers back with big punches. Whenever it appears Tuivasa is going for the finish, Arlovski answers back and keeps him honest. 10-9 Tuivasa.
Round 2. Arlovski opens with a few low kicks. Tuivasa connects with a few solid punches. Arlovski then answers back. Arlovski connects with a couple more punches after that. Arlovski’s boxing looks very crisp. Tuivasa clinches but then gives it up. Arlovski lands a few more quality punches and Tuivasa is bleeding pretty badly again. Tuivasa moves in with punches of his own, but Arlovski clinches to neutralize Tuivasa. As Arlovski moves in, he gets countered with a nice hook. 10-9 Arlovski.
Jun. 9, 2018, 7:10 p.m.
CM Punk was an extremely successful professional wrestler, becoming one of the WWE’s most popular wrestlers. After a falling out with that company, Punk decided to pursue an interest in MMA, and UFC decided to give him an opportunity. Punk lost his first fight but now gets a second shot. Mike Jackson was used as an opponent for Punk’s first foe, Mickey Gall, and he competes here with an identical 0-1 record.
Round 1. Punk misses with a kick. He lands a leg kick. Jackson connects with a straight punch. Jackson blocks a takedown attempt. Punk lands a right hand and looks for the takedown. He doesn’t get it. Punk lands a right hand. Jackson lands a hard right hand of his own. Punk clinches. Punk lands a couple knees to the body. Punk pushes for the takedown but can’t get it. Punk looks tired with a few of his strikes. Punk looks for another takedown but again it is blocked. Punk gets a takedown in the final minute. Punk lands a few elbows late but Jackson gets back up. Jackson lands a couple body punches late. 10-9 Jackson.
Round 2. Jackson lands a few nice jabs. They end up in a clinch but Jackson backs away. Jackson hurts Punk with a punch but Punk looks for a standing guillotine. He doesn’t come close and Jackson takes him down. Jackson lands some punches from the top. Punk looks for a triangle choke but doesn’t come close. Jackson continues to land punches from the top. 10-8 Jackson.
Jun. 9, 2018, 6:38 p.m.
Alistair Overeem is one of the most accomplished heavyweight fighters in MMA history. He possesses devastating striking but does have an issue with his chin. Curtis Blaydes is a rising star from Chicago with three straight wins.
Round 1. Overeem switches stances and gives some different looks while keeping his hands low. Blaydes is in a much more orthodox stance. Neither man does much in the first minute. Blaydes attempts a head kick, but it misses. Overeem appears to be waiting for Blaydes to come in, but Blaydes is cautious himself. Blaydes gets a takedown at the midpoint of the round. Blaydes isn’t able to generate a lot of offense but does land some punches here and there while Overeem focuses on tying him up. 10-9 Blaydes.
Round 2. Overeem lands a massive knee to the head and a few big punches as Blaydes moves in. Overeem looks for a guillotine choke but loses it. Overeem then looks for a heel hook. He can’t get that either. Blaydes lands a nice uppercut back on the feet. Overeem moves in with a knee, but Blaydes catches him off balance and takes him down. Blaydes lands punches and elbows from the top as the round comes to an end. 10-9 Blaydes.
Jun. 9, 2018, 6:06 p.m.
Claudia Gadelha and Carla Esparza are two of the top women’s strawweight contenders. Gadelha is 15-3 with her only losses coming to elite opponents, while Esparza is a former champion riding a two-fight win streak.
Round 1. Gadelha drops Esparza with a punch and then lands another big one. Esparza dives in for a takedown but doesn’t get it. Gadelha lands another big punch but moves in recklessly, and Esparza catches her off balance with a takedown attempt. Esparza can’t keep Gadelha down, but it does give Esparza time to recover. Esparza returns to the striking and she rocks Gadelha with a punch. Gadelha’s legs go wobbly and Esparza moves in and gets a takedown. Gadelha goes for a heel hook and then uses the opportunity to get out from under Esparza. Gadelha then takes top position. Esparza gets up but Gadelha then takes her back down. Gadelha goes for a guillotine late but time runs out. 10-9 Gadelha.
Round 2. After trading punches, they end up in a clinch. Gadelha gets a takedown. Esparza attempts to use a headlock to reverse but ends up back on the bottom. Gadelha lands a nice elbow but Esparza stands back up. Gadelha is able to pull Esparza back down. Esparza gets up and takes Gadelha down at the very end of the round. 10-9 Gadelha.