Derek Brunson stuns Lyoto Machida at UFC Fight Night 119, but event marred by Colby Covington's anti-Brazil comments
American Covington labelled Brazil 'a dump and it's people 'filthy animals' following his win over Demian Maia, with the UFC launching an investigation into his comments
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Your support makes all the difference.It was all eyes on Sao Paulo, Brazil on Saturday for UFC Fight Night 119 as Americans Derek Brunson and Colby Covington picked up huge wins on foreign soil.
The main event was contested by Brunson taking on Lyoto Machida, who was returning to action for the first time in over two years having served a suspension for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs).
Machida was given a fantastic reception as he entered the Octagon, but Brunson also looked calm and collected as he walked out into the arena to face the former UFC champion.
Anyone expecting Machida to take a slow, cautious approach to the fight following a lay-off would’ve been surprised to see him take the centre of the Octagon from the outset. The Brazilian looked to be moving well in his vintage karate stance, but he came up short on a few occasions with his left hand as Brunson did will evading his strikes.
With Machida reaching another left hand, Brunson landed his own and Machida legs went out from under him. With the Brazilian off balance, Brunson then followed up with some more short, sharp shots and the referee stopped the fight.
Brunson had knocked out Machida in just two minutes and 30 seconds. The crowd inside the Ibirapuera Gymnasium were completely silent at the sight of watching one of their heroes taken out in style.
Covington picks up the biggest win of his career
In the co-main event, Covington faced Demian Maia in a welterweight contest that turned out to be a lot more action-packed than many thought it would be.
With both predominantly known for taking fights to the mat and doing their best work there, round one saw both men surprisingly keep it on the feet with Maia landing some nice left hooks and low kicks to Covington’s lead right leg.
Maia attempted the first takedown towards the end of round one, but Covington stuffed it well and managed to stay on his feet. The Brazilian then tried taking the fight down to the mat several more times in round two with both single leg and double leg takedowns attempted and failed. Maia was expended a lot of energy in his takedown attempts and towards the latter stages of the round, it began to show as Covington sneaked in a nice right hand to close out the second.
The fight went down to who could take the final five minutes and it was Covington who looked the far fresher of the two. Maia again looked for takedowns but Covington resisted all his attempts and caught with odd counter punches on the feet. By the end of the fight, Maia was totally spent and could barely pick himself off the mat.
The American finished the fight with his hands raised as Maia lay on his back with blood pouring from his head. The fight went to the judges and all three scored the fight in Covington’s favour 30-27, 30-26, 29-27.
In an unsavoury moment afterwards, Covington proceeded to take the microphone after the fight and insult the Brazilian people.
“I should’ve knocked him out,” Covington said. “Brazil, you’re a dump. All you filthy animals suck.”
“Tyron Woodley, I’m coming for you. If you don’t answer the front door, I’m going to knock it in and I’m going to take what’s mine, that welterweight belt!”
The UFC stated afterwards they were very unhappy with Covington’s conduct and they will be investigating whether he deserves to be punished.
Jack Marshman loses in the first round
Elsewhere on the card, Welshman Jack Marshman was also in action as he took on Antonio Carlos Junior on the preliminary card.
The former Cage Warriors man never really got into the fight and when he was taken down to the mat midway through the first round the writing looked on the cards. Carlos Junior is a well renowned Brazilian jiu-jisu practitioner and last evening he showed exactly why.
Carlos Junior transitioned beautifully to Marshman’s back and with only 30-seconds left in theround, he sunk in a beautiful rear-naked choke to get the tap. It was clinical work from the Brazilian and Marshman is now 2-2 under the UFC banner.
UFC Fight Night 119 Full Results
Derek Brunson def. Lyoto Machida via KO (punches) at 2:30 of Round 1
Colby Covington def. Demian Maia via unanimous decision (29-27, 30-27, 30-26)
Pedro Munhoz def. Rob Font via submission (guillotine) at 4:03 of Round 1
Francisco Trinaldo def. Jim Miller via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Thiago Santos def. Jack Hermansson via TKO (punches) at 4:59 of Round 1
John Lineker def. Marlon Vera via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Vicente Luque def. Niko Price via submission (d’arce choke) at 4:08 of Round 2
Antonio Carlos Junior def. Jack Marshman via submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:30 of Round 1
Jared Gordon def. Hacran Dias via unanimous decision (29-26, 29-27, 30-26)
Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos def. Max Griffin via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-27, 29-28)
Deiveson Figueiredo def. Jarred Brooks via split decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)
Marcelo Golm def. Christian Colombo via submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:08 of Round 2
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