ANAHEIM, Calif. — Francis Ngannou retained his UFC heavyweight name with a shocking show of awesome grappling in a unanimous-decision victory over prior to now unbeaten Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 on Saturday evening.
Deiveson Figueiredo additionally beat Brandon Moreno via unanimous resolution, concluding an exhilarating combat trilogy via reclaiming the flyweight championship belt he misplaced to Moreno seven months in the past.
Ngannou (17-3) defended his heavyweight belt for the primary time with spectacular perseverance towards Gane (10-1), his fellow French citizen. The champ additionally did it on an injured knee, and he mentioned in a while that a number of medical doctors urged him to drag out of the bout 3 weeks in the past.
“I am more than happy to transport on via damage and all of the drama, all of the communicate round this combat,” Ngannou mentioned. “I am more than happy to in any case recover from this in the easiest way. … That was once the purpose I got here right here this night to make, to end up that I am the champ, and what it takes to end up this is to protect the name. It feels beautiful excellent. It is all the time excellent to have the victory. It’s not relevant how.”
Each heavyweights possess fantastic energy and uncommonly fluid athleticism for large males, however the champion took keep watch over of a cagey combat within the 0.33 around with the primary of a number of takedowns. Ngannou became a matchup between fearsome strikers right into a wrestling fit that showcased his much-improved recreation at the flooring.
The judges scored it 48-47, 48-47 and 49-46 for Ngannou, who had by no means received a choice in his blended martial arts occupation. The Related Press additionally scored it 48-47 for Ngannou, the Cameroon-born French citizen who trains in Las Vegas.
Simply 10 fights and three 1/2 years after his skilled MMA debut, Gane perceived to have an edge within the first two rounds of his first name combat with awesome placing with each opponents confirmed suitable warning for each and every different’s energy.
Gane jumbled in some spinning kicks with expanding self assurance, however Ngannou modified the tone of the combat early within the 0.33 when he were given an arm beneath Gane’s leg and lifted the challenger skyward, slamming him down. Gane had by no means been taken down in his UFC occupation, however Ngannou did it time and again within the 0.33 and fourth rounds, appearing off his markedly stepped forward wrestling and Gane’s weaknesses in protection.
“It was once no longer a wonder,” Gane mentioned. “We knew already it was once imaginable. It was once certainly one of his largest probabilities to win some rounds. He did it, and he did it really well. Excellent process.”
Ngannou landed a leg sweep within the 5th, however Gane recovered and tried to protected a heel hook. The bid failed, and Ngannou were given again on most sensible and completed the combat robust.
Figueiredo (21-2-1) received the penultimate bout 48-47 on all 3 judges’ scorecards after a frenetic, bodily addition to a competition that has featured 13 rounds of exceptional motion over the past 13 months. The trilogy started with a majority attract December 2020 and persisted with Moreno’s third-round stoppage victory final June in Arizona.
Figueiredo and Moreno (19-6-2) traded giant photographs all the way through the 0.33 bout, however the Brazilian winner rode a robust begin to his first victory since November 2020. Figueiredo was once extremely joyful after reclaiming his belt in his first combat since shifting his coaching camp to Phoenix to paintings with former two-division UFC champ Henry Cejudo.
“I’ve undoubtedly tasted the flavour of being champion as soon as, however this one has a different taste as a result of it is with a brand new circle of relatives,” Figueiredo mentioned via a translator. “As a way to carry this to them is essential. … This can be a crew that embraced me, that welcomed me, that took care of me. The one factor I wish to do is pass house and take hold of my circle of relatives and produce them to The usa, not to simplest center of attention in this recreation, however center of attention in this crew.”
Moreno received a number of exchanges, and he had the ferocious backing of a Southern California crowd that includes a number of enthusiasts who drove 110 miles from his local Tijuana to observe the UFC’s first Mexican-born champion.
The judges gave it to Figueiredo via a slender margin — however he does not assume this competition is done.
“I am in a position for a fourth combat towards Brandon in Mexico,” mentioned Figueiredo, who later mentioned he would additionally do the combat in Brazil or within the U.S.
With a fiery pink stripe painted into his bleached-blond hair, Figueiredo got here out with a robust first around at Honda Middle, hurting the champ each with kicks and fast fingers. That they had a number of exciting standup exchanges within the 0.33 around, each and every getting harm and convalescing — and Figueiredo despatched Moreno crashing to the canvas with a proper hand to the temple with about 8 seconds left within the around.
Moreno’s placing picked up within the fourth, and he landed a dramatic upper-body takedown 30 seconds into the 5th. Each opponents went out swinging in a brutal 5th around that concluded with 30 seconds of heedless swinging and slinging.
Moreno’s enthusiasts time and again chanted “Si se puede!” and roared for anything else the champion did in Orange County, a space with deep MMA roots. Moreno was once sponsored each via the Los Angeles house’s large Mexican-American inhabitants and a number of touring enthusiasts.
“It is a bizarre feeling, as a result of it is the first time in my existence after I misplaced a choice however I felt like I received,” Moreno mentioned. “I am hungrier than ever. I wish to see this man once more.”
Ngannou received his name final March within the fruits of a rocky adventure to the highest. He was once ticketed as a long term champion from just about the instant he introduced his fearsome energy to the UFC, however psychological lapses and surprising losses behind schedule his ascent till a five-fight profitable streak capped via his stoppage of champion Stipe Miocic.
