UFC 200 Analysis: The Rise of the Lioness Era
Rising From the Ashes: Reliving UFC 200's Dramatic Saga
Three years ago, the UFC world eagerly anticipated the historic UFC 200 event, yet the fence-sitting UFC management had no choice but to roll with the punches. The card, fraught with a curse that seemed to haunt its construction, would require a Herculean effort to save it from collapsing.
In the tumultuous world of mixed martial arts, you have to be agile to navigate the treacherous waters of fighter rivalries and drama. The UFC brass had to display their agility in spades to salvage what appeared to be a cursed event.
Initially set to feature the eagerly anticipated rematch of Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz at welterweight, the grand event at the T-Mobile Arena on July 9, 2016, in Las Vegas, Nevada, fell apart due to a heated dispute over media obligations that saw McGregor being replaced by Anderson Silva, a late replacement for Daniel Cormier in the light heavyweight title bout. This sudden change was necessitated by Jon Jones's pulling out of the event following a potential doping violation just days before the event.
Amanda Nunes vs. Miesha Tate: The Lioness Roars
Closing the show inside the Octagon, which sported a unique yellow canvas, Miesha Tate looked to make the first defense of her bantamweight belt against an ascending Amanda Nunes. Tate had claimed the title in epic fashion at UFC 196, choking Holly Holm unconscious in the final round, and sought to rely on her experience and world-class wrestling to neutralize her heavy-handed Brazilian opponent.
Instead, she crashed headfirst into a buzzsaw as Nunes unleashed a barrage on the feet, leaving Tate in a bloody mess before forcing her to tap out with a rare-naked choke inside the first round. It was a statement win by "The Lioness," the dawn of a new era as she embarked on a five-year reign, became the only female two-division champion in history, and cemented her status as the greatest women's MMA fighter of all time.
Brock Lesnar's Big Return: A Tale of Two Rounds
After a five-year hiatus, Brock Lesnar made a triumphant return in a much-anticipated co-main event battle against heavy-hitting Mark Hunt. Stylistically, it was a classic striker versus grappler matchup. Hunt, one of the most feared strikers in UFC history and the master of the walk-off knockout, aimed to keep the fight standing, while Lesnar, a former NCAA Division I amateur wrestling champion, sought to ground "The Super Samoan."
The freakishly big, strong, and fast Lesnar, who had headlined UFC 100 as heavyweight champion in 2009, stuck to his strengths and had a big first round. He took Hunt down and landed heavy ground and pound. Hunt, a former K1 Grand Prix winner, won a rather uneventful second round before "The Beast Incarnate" returned in the third round, grounding Hunt once more, and winning by unanimous decision.
The victory marked Lesnar's return to the MMA ranks. However, it was later overturned to a no-contest after Lesnar tested positive for a banned substance during a post-fight screening.
Legends Collide: Cormier vs. Silva
With Jones out of the picture, Cormier still secured a UFC 200 payday thanks to Anderson Silva stepping up at the last minute. Despite being one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time, the odds were stacked against the former middleweight champion. Moving up 20 pounds to face the light heavyweight champion, Silva lacked a training camp, making the challenge even tougher.
Cormier, one of the greats in his own right, relied heavily on his size and Olympic-level wrestling to suffocate Silva over the three rounds, winning a clear-cut decision. Silva performed admirably given the circumstances, managing to have some moments on the feet, but they were too few and far between. The fight was not the most exciting, but it presented a welcome clash between UFC legends.
Aldo Claims Interim Featherweight Gold
Facing contrasting circumstances, Jose Aldo and Frankie Edgar entered their interim featherweight title bout. Aldo's world crumbled in his previous fight as overconfidence against an ascending Conor McGregor led to his first defeat in nearly a decade. Edgar, on the other hand, entered on a five-fight win streak with his last loss dating back two years to his first encounter with Aldo, which the Brazilian had won by decision.
History, as it turned out, repeated itself as Aldo was once again a step ahead of Edgar and got the nod from the judges after five rounds of exciting action.
Quintin Van Jaarsveld is a seasoned sports journalist with over 15 years of experience. Having been awarded the MDDA-Sanlam SA Local Sports Journalist of the Year and the Vodacom KwaZulu-Natal Sports Journalist of the Year accolades, he has worked for reputable publications such as The Fever Media Group, eHowzit, SARugby.com, and Rugby365.com. His work as the sports editor and Outstanding Journalist of the Year award winner at The Fever Media Group has been marked by precision and authority. Currently, he operates as a freelance sports journalist.
In the world of mixed martial arts, the odds often take a backseat as evidenced by Anderson Silva's courageous match against Daniel Cormier at UFC 200. Despite being an exceptional middleweight champion, Silva faced a steep challenge when he moved up 20 pounds to face the light heavyweight champion, lacking a training camp and the odds seemingly against him. On the other hand, rugby and sports enthusiasts were treated to a mixed-martial-arts spectacle as Amanda Nunes solidified her status as the greatest women's MMA fighter of all time by defeating Miesha Tate in the bantamweight title bout, showcasing a thrilling display of mixed martial arts skills.
