UFC 255 Returned To The UFC Apex after two consecutive pay-per-views on Fight Island
UFC 255 was the first Pay-Per-View back in the United States after over two months on Fight Island, Abu Dhabi. UFC 255 was headlined by Flyweight Championship bouts featuring Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Alex Perez for the men’s title and Valentina Shevchenko vs. Jennifer Maia for the women’s title. The night was scattered with knockout performances, submissions, and all-out brawls.
UFC 255 Results
Paul Craig defeats Shogun Rua by TKO
#15 ranked Light Heavyweight contender Paul Craig was swift and calculated in his dismantling of UFC Veteran and Former Champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua. Craig had a dominant first round charging forward at the start and even scoring a takedown. By the start of the second the Former Light Heavyweight Champion was the aggressor but Craig remained patient staying behind his jab and ultimately ducking a rushed punch by Shogun, succeeded by a takedown. Shogun scrambled back up to his feet and tried to keep the fight standing but Paul flattened the legend and landed a barrage of punches from the backmount forcing Herb Dean to step in.
Finish: TKO (punches)
Round 2
Time: 3:36
Caitlyn Chookigan Defeats Cynthia Calvillo by Unanimous decision
This fight was all about the reach difference between the two. While it wasn’t a one sided fight it was clearly all going according To Chookigan’s pace. Calvillo tried going for multiple takedowns throughout the fight however was only able to land one in the very first round. The first two rounds saw back and forth action however Caitlyn maintained her distance and was able to land the more precise shots though none of them were big-power punches.
The third round saw very less activity with Chookigan going on defense while Calvillo tried her best to close the distance, often being check-hooked by Caitlyn. Towards the end Calvillo tried to go for the finish but story of the entire fight prevailed and Caitlyn Chookigan won by unanimous decision
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)
Tim Means defeats Mike Perry by unanimous decision
Mike Perry was already making headlines for his antics outside the ring including missing the welterweight limit by over 4.5 pounds (while dabbing during the weigh-in for UFC 255)and now this loss doesn’t go well on his resumé. None the less this fight was an absolute brawl which may support his claim to remain with the organization. Mike Perry came out charging in the first round looking to minimize the significant reach advantage Tim Means had. He even managed to trip Means against the fence and almost ended the fight looking for a choke but not being able to secure the chin.
Means was able to get back up and after managing to survive another barrage from Perry he started taking control of the fight by landing good jabs and keeping his distance, provoking Perry to rush in. Round two and three saw a much heavier breathing Mike Perry trying to close in on the superior Jab-Artist Means who was also able to land a few good elbowsand multiple combos to take home the unanimous decision.
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 29–28, 29–28)
Valentina Shevchenko defeats Jennifer Maia by unanimous decision
This was without a doubt the most adversity the Kyrgyzstani Flyweight Queen has ever faced in the division. Valentina was able to dominate on the ground in the first round and the tables turned when Maia did the same to her in the second. This made her the first woman to win a round against Shevchenko at flyweight. Round three saw Shevchenko land a big left hand in the first minute and since then slowly was able to figure out Maia’s game plan.
Going forth into the championship rounds Shevchenko proved to be the highly superior striker, landing significant shots and turning Maia’s offense ineffective. She won by unanimous decision marking her 4th consecutive title defense. The night also marked the first time two sisters fought on the same UFC Card with her elder sister Antonina Shevchenko securing a TKO victory over Ariane Lipski earlier on the UFC 255 prelims.
Decision (unanimous) (49–46, 49–46, 49–46)
Deiveson Figueiredo defeats Alex Perez by Submission
If dominance were to be personified, Figueiredo’s title run up until now would be the perfect definition for it. After winning the title by submitting perennial title contender Joseph Benavidez in the very first round Figgy was able to replicate the same masterpiece in his first title defense against #4 Ranked Flyweight, Alex Perez. The start of the round saw Perez pressing in with a leg kick and missing which was the only point in the fight where the challenger seemed to have any momentum. Figueiredo was then able to take the fight to the ground and transition into a lighting fast Guillotine Choke to secure the submission victory.
Finish: Submission (guillotine choke) Round: 1 Time: 1:57
UFC 255 Bonuses and Fight of the night
Joaquin Buckley followed up his highlight-reel KO with another equally flashy TKO against Jordan Wright winning him Performance of the Night. Antonina Shevchenko also received a Performance of the Night bonus for her TKO victory over Ariane Lipski in the 2nd Round. UFC 255 Fight of The Night went to Sasha Palatnikov vs. Louis Cosce which ended in a TKO victory for Palatnikov. Each Fighter won $50000
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