UFC 126 Results: The favorites reigned supreme at last night's UFC 126, with only Forrest Griffin (+135) and Demetrious Johnson (-110) securing wins for the underdogs. Count middleweight champion Anderson "The Spider" Silva among those who spoiled the evening for his challenger as he knocked out former training partner Vitor Belfort in the first round. Silva, who has retired all 14 fighters he has faced inside the Octagon, was a -220 moneyline favorite heading into last night's main event at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.
All the hype, all the build up…it proved for
not, once again, as Anderson Silva destroyed Vitor Belfort with a devastating front kick midway through the first round of the five round championship match.
Silva and Belfort spent the majority of the fight in a feeling out process, but Belfort struck first with a couple of legs kicks. The former UFC light heavyweight champion started to get more aggressive after that and landed a couple of jabs to Silva's face shortly before taking the champ down. Belfort was playing into The Spider's hands, though, or feet in this case, as Silva unloaded an unorthodox front kick that connected square on Belfort's chin, sending him crashing to the canvas.
Silva landed a few blows to Belfort's head before the refree jumped into save the clearly disoriented Brazilian.
In the evening's co-main event, Forrest Griffin won a unanimous decision victory over former middleweight champion Rich Franklin. Griffin, who had not fought since November of 2009, took the always game Franklin down early in the first round and he kept him glued to the canvas with an aggressive top game.
Franklin made a fight of it in rounds two and three, but Griffin outstruck the Cincinnati native and he also landed the more punishing blows as he buckled Franklin's knees at least two times in the three round battle.
Rapidly rising star Jon "Bones" Jones earned a second round submission over the previously undefeated Ryan Bader in the night's third feature fight. Jones' impressive victory led to an impromtu title fight of sorts as commentator Joe Rogan informed the New York native that the UFC was offering "Bones" a shot at light heavyweight champion Mauricio "Shogun" Rua in place of the injured Rashad Evans. Evans and Rua were slated to fight for the title at UFC 128 in March, but Evans, who blew out his knee, will now be replaced by Jones.
Anderson Silva (-220) vs Vitor Belfort (+175)
Forrest Griffin (+135) vs Rich Franklin (-165)
Ryan Bader (+220) vs Jon Jones (-300)
Antonio Banuelos (+250) vs Miguel Torres (-350)
Carlos Eduardo Rocha (+220) vs Jake Ellenberger (-300)
Paul Kelly (+220) vs Donald Cerrone (-300)
Michihiro Omigawa (+250) vs Chad Mendes (-350)
Gabe Ruediger (+165) vs Paul Taylor (-210)
Demetrious Johnson (-110) vs Norifumi Yamamoto (-120)
Ricardo Romero (-105) vs Kyle Kingsbury (-125)
Kenny Robertson (+200) vs Mike Pierce (-260)
