UFC 221: Yoel Romero knocks out Luke Rockhold; unable to capture interim title
With Yoel Romero failing to make weight, can Luke Rockhold emerge from UFC 221 the interim middleweight champion?
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The focus heading into the UFC 221 interim middleweight title fight between Yoel Romero and Luke Rockhold was the fact it had a chance to be an amazing fight. That idea shifted in another direction when Romero missed weight by almost three pounds and would no longer be competing for the belt. The fight was on the verge of not happening but after intense negotations, the fight was still on and Romero forfeited 30 percent of his purse to Rockhold.
Not only did being unprofessional cost him a significant amount of money but also a belt as he knocked out Rockhold at 1:48 of the third round.
"I’m so sorry for the weight cut being so bad for me," Romero told Jon Anik in his post-fight interview. "That was the first time in my career I couldn’t get down."
Here was our live coverage of UFC 221.
(All times Eastern.)
UFC 221: Rockhold vs. Romero results
12:19: Round 2 to Romero (10-9, 19-19). Both fight teams must be reading this during the action. Romero came out more aggressive to start the round, charging right at Rockhold with a fury of combinations which sent Rockhold back for a moment. About 90 seconds later, Romero did the same thing again to the same result. He stood more on the pocket and willing to exchange with Rockhold. In the later half of the round, Rockhold started to gain some momentum back towards the end of the round. Lets see if Romero could keep the gas tank heading into the third round.
12:13: Round 1 to Rockhold (10-9). Rockhold did exactly what I said he needed to do, stay in Romero's face and consistent fire off shots. The leg kicks were the shots of choice for the former champion. Romero started come around halfway through the round with some leg kicks of his own. The 2000 Olympic silver medalist needs to be more active earlier in the round. Cannot fight for two minutes and expect to steal rounds.
12:01 a.m.: It is time for the main event of UFC 221 for the interim middleweight championship as No. 1 ranked Yoel Romero battles No. 2 ranked Luke Rockhold. Romero won't be fighting for the title as he failed to make weight so Rockhold will be only one who can walk out the interim titleholder. How does Romero deal with coming in overweight? Can Rockhold put what happened on Friday in the past and once again become a UFC champion? If Romero can use his wrestling and efficiently use his gas tank, he has a good chance of winning. Rockhold needs to apply constant pressure early and utilize the striking which won him the title in 2015. Should be an amazing main event.
Curtis Blaydes upsets Mark Hunt to become a contender in heavyweight division
11:52: Blaydes def. Hunt by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 29-27). A highly exciting opening round. For about half the round, Blaydes stayed on the feet and tried to stike with Hunt. Blaydes got a takedown but Hunt got up quickly. Hunt looked to have Blaydes finished as he landes punch after punch and nearly knocked him out with a thunderous right hand. To Blaydes' credit, he somehow survived and scored a key takedown to control the rest of the round. Not much happened in the second round. Hunt was tentative in his striking, not wanting to get taken down again. Blaydes finally secured a takedown much to the dismay of the crowd. He kept Hunt on the ground and smothered him for the remainder of the round.
The third round was much like the second round. Anytime Hunt would get up, Blaydes would rag doll him back to the mat and deliver more ground and pound punches to the face of Hunt. Give Blaydes a lot of credit. He went into Hunt's backyard, walked through shots 99% of the heavyweight division wouldn't be able to survive, came back and earned the biggest win of his career. He doesn't know who he wants to face next but wants to be in his hometown of Chicago at UFC 225 in June. Blaydes is now unbeaten in his last five fights. We have a new contender in the heavyweight division which is sorely needed.
With Yoel Romero failing to make weight, can Luke Rockhold emerge from UFC 221 the interim middleweight champion?
More
The focus heading into the UFC 221 interim middleweight title fight between Yoel Romero and Luke Rockhold was the fact it had a chance to be an amazing fight. That idea shifted in another direction when Romero missed weight by almost three pounds and would no longer be competing for the belt. The fight was on the verge of not happening but after intense negotations, the fight was still on and Romero forfeited 30 percent of his purse to Rockhold.
Not only did being unprofessional cost him a significant amount of money but also a belt as he knocked out Rockhold at 1:48 of the third round.
"I’m so sorry for the weight cut being so bad for me," Romero told Jon Anik in his post-fight interview. "That was the first time in my career I couldn’t get down."
Here was our live coverage of UFC 221.
(All times Eastern.)
UFC 221: Rockhold vs. Romero results
12:19: Round 2 to Romero (10-9, 19-19). Both fight teams must be reading this during the action. Romero came out more aggressive to start the round, charging right at Rockhold with a fury of combinations which sent Rockhold back for a moment. About 90 seconds later, Romero did the same thing again to the same result. He stood more on the pocket and willing to exchange with Rockhold. In the later half of the round, Rockhold started to gain some momentum back towards the end of the round. Lets see if Romero could keep the gas tank heading into the third round.
12:13: Round 1 to Rockhold (10-9). Rockhold did exactly what I said he needed to do, stay in Romero's face and consistent fire off shots. The leg kicks were the shots of choice for the former champion. Romero started come around halfway through the round with some leg kicks of his own. The 2000 Olympic silver medalist needs to be more active earlier in the round. Cannot fight for two minutes and expect to steal rounds.
12:01 a.m.: It is time for the main event of UFC 221 for the interim middleweight championship as No. 1 ranked Yoel Romero battles No. 2 ranked Luke Rockhold. Romero won't be fighting for the title as he failed to make weight so Rockhold will be only one who can walk out the interim titleholder. How does Romero deal with coming in overweight? Can Rockhold put what happened on Friday in the past and once again become a UFC champion? If Romero can use his wrestling and efficiently use his gas tank, he has a good chance of winning. Rockhold needs to apply constant pressure early and utilize the striking which won him the title in 2015. Should be an amazing main event.
Curtis Blaydes upsets Mark Hunt to become a contender in heavyweight division
11:52: Blaydes def. Hunt by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 29-27). A highly exciting opening round. For about half the round, Blaydes stayed on the feet and tried to stike with Hunt. Blaydes got a takedown but Hunt got up quickly. Hunt looked to have Blaydes finished as he landes punch after punch and nearly knocked him out with a thunderous right hand. To Blaydes' credit, he somehow survived and scored a key takedown to control the rest of the round. Not much happened in the second round. Hunt was tentative in his striking, not wanting to get taken down again. Blaydes finally secured a takedown much to the dismay of the crowd. He kept Hunt on the ground and smothered him for the remainder of the round.
The third round was much like the second round. Anytime Hunt would get up, Blaydes would rag doll him back to the mat and deliver more ground and pound punches to the face of Hunt. Give Blaydes a lot of credit. He went into Hunt's backyard, walked through shots 99% of the heavyweight division wouldn't be able to survive, came back and earned the biggest win of his career. He doesn't know who he wants to face next but wants to be in his hometown of Chicago at UFC 225 in June. Blaydes is now unbeaten in his last five fights. We have a new contender in the heavyweight division which is sorely needed.
