UFC: Demetrious Johnson Faces Ali Bagautinov in Fourth Title Defense

The UFC has made it publict that UFC 174 now has a main event.  UFC 174 will be headlined by a title fight between UFC Flyweight Champion Demetrious Johnson and Ali Bagautinov in Vancouver.  This will be the fourth title defense since Johnson won the title at UFC 152 in 2012.  Demetrius Johnson has been able to go undefeated since dropping down to 125 lbs from 135lbs.  The UFC first introduced the Flyweight division in early 2012 when Demetrious Johnson and Ian McCall fought to a draw in the first ever flyweight match up.

Ali Bagautinov is on an 11-fight win streak coming into his title fight with Demetrious Johnson at UFC 174.  The former Fight Nights Flyweight champion, Bagautinov has a 3-0 record in since making his debut in the UFC at UFC Fight Night 28.  Bagautinov has shown technical striking as well as elite grappling.  Not many contenders are available in the Flyweight division now that Demetrious Johnson has defeated Joseph Benavidez in December.

Bagautinov is the only worthy opponent since Johnson has already defeated John Dodson and Joseph Benavidez.  Bagautinov will present a challenge for Johnson as he is just as well-rounded as Johnson, but Johnson has made all of the stand-out flyweights just look average against him in the UFC and I see things remaining the same even against Bagautinov.

UFC on Fox 9 Recap

UFC on Fox 9 was a great event that featured some of the UFC's best talents at 155 lbs and under that was headlined by a title fight in the UFC's Flyweight Division between Demetrious Johnson and Joseph Benavidez.

The main card started with a lightweight fight between two hungry TUF alumni.  Joe Lauzon and Mac Danzig had a back in forth battle that definitely entertained.  Both men were unable to submit the other, but Lauzon tried a few submissions from his guard.  It was a fight that you could be scored 100% for Lauzon.  Lauzon won by unanimous decision.

The next fight was between Chad Mendes and Nik Lentz.  It was a fight in which Chad Mendes exploded in the first round stunning Lentz early in round one.  Lentz was able to recover and avoid being KO'd in the first round like Mendes' last four opponents.  Though Lentz avoided a KO he did fall victim to repeated takedown after takedown for three rounds.  While watching the fight, it was evident from Mendes' performance that there was something definitely wrong with Chad Mendes and it was later revealed that Mendes had been recovering from a sinus infection and was not 100%.  Mendes earned himself a unanimous decision.

The next bout was truly a fight of top contenders if there ever was one.  It pitted the UFC's #2 and #3 Bantamweights against each other.  Urijah Faber had the home town advantage in Sacramento as he was one of four Alpha Male fighters to grace the Octagon along with team mates Danny Castillo, Chad Mendes and Joseph Benavidez.  He stood across the cage from a very confident and calm Michael McDonald.  Faber was able to out-strike the more decorated striker as well as out-grapple him.  Faber earned a submission victory after rocking McDonald and then sinking in a tight guillotine in the second round.

The next fight had the biggest shocker of all time as Demetrious Johnson defended his UFC title successfully against Joseph Benavidez.  Demetrious Johnson brought the fight straight to Joseph Benavidez and did what most people thought Benavidez would do to him and knocked him out COLD!  The fight ended so suddenly with Benavidez flat on his back within the the first round.

Post Fight Bonuses:
Submission of the Night: Urijah Faber
Knockout of the Night: Demetrious Johnson
Fight of the Night: Danny Castillo and Edson Barbosa

It will be interesting to see who the UFC would have Johnson face next. What are your thoughts?

UFC on Fox 9 Results

Main Card:

Demetrious Johnson def. Joseph Benavidez via KO
Urijah Faber def. Michael McDonald via submission
Chad Mendes def. Nik Lentz via unanimous decision
Joe Lauzon def. Mac Danzig via unanimous decision

Preliminary Card:

Ryan LaFlare def. Court McGee via unanimous decision
Edson Barboza def. Danny Castillo via majority decision
Bobby Green def. Pat Healy via unanimous decision
Zach Makovsky def. Scott Jorgensen via unanimous decision
Sam Stout def. Cody McKenzie via unanimous decision
Abel Trujillo def. Roger Bowling via TKO
Alptekin Ozkilic def. Darren Uyenoyama via split decision