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Oh UFC, how we've missed you!
The promotion's first major PPV of the year was predominantly about Conor McGregor. The showcase event revolved around the Irishman's return but the other fighters on the card were just as determined as the former UFC double champion.
The fight card was stacked with finishes and moments that set things up perfectly for the highly-anticipated main event in which Cowboy looked to silence his detractors by pulling off a major upset.
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However, was he successful in shutting down McGregor's homecoming party? Let's go through the complete results and highlights of the show
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UFC 246 Results: Prelims
Roxanne Modafferi def. Maycee Barber via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
Sodiq Yusuff def. Andre Fili via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Askar Askarov def. Tim Elliott via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Drew Dober def. Nasrat Haqparast via TKO (punches) (1:10, Round 1)
Grant Dawson vs. Chas Skelly
Aleksa Camur def. Justin Ledet via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Sabina Mazo def. J.J. Aldrich via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
UFC 246 Results: Main Card
#1 Anthony Pettis vs. Carlos Diego Ferreira (Lightweight)
Former UFC Champion Anthony Pettis last fought in August last year and lost to Nate Diaz. He came into this fight as the underdog against the highly-rated Carlos Diego Ferreira.
Ferreira entered the fight intending to extend his five-fight win streak and move up the packed Lightweight rankings.
Round 1: They touched gloves and both men didn't take time to engage. Ferreira oddly kept moving in with his leg up while shifting stances. He looked for the clinch and tried to force a takedown, but Pettis defended it well and created some distance.
They traded shots in the pocket. Pettis connected with a 2-piece that landed to the back of Ferreira's ears. Carlos kept lifting his legs before coming in.
Ferreira finally took the fight to the ground and got hold of Pettis' back. He tried to get in the under hooks for the RNC but Pettis stayed mobile, moved his head and got up on his feet. Ferreira kept up the pressure, connected with a combination, changed levels and took Pettis down. He passed guard effortlessly before retreating. He went back in and looked to sweep before the round came to a close.
Round 2: Showtime landed a front kick to the body but Ferreira caught the second and got the fight to the mat again. He got the back again and began to work for the RNC yet again. Pettis looked to control at least one arm before going for a spin. Ferreira was smooth on the ground though as he got the back again and began to control Pettis' wrists. He tried to soften Pettis with shots from the back.
He got his arms under Pettis' chin and squeezed hard to force the former UFC Champion to tap out. It looked more like a neck crank than a traditional rear-naked choke but whatever it was, it was as slick as they come from the BJJ ace.
Result: Carlos Diego Ferreira def. Anthony Pettis via Submission (neck crank) (1:46, Round 2)
#2 Ode Osbourne vs. Brian Kelleher (Bantamweight)
29-fight veteran Brian 'Boom' Kelleher needed a big win as he was on a two-fight losing streak. Jamaican Sensation Ode Osbourne was coming off Dana White's Contender Series and this was his promotional debut.
Round 1: Osbourne exploded right off the gate as he nearly landed a killer right-hand strike. The Jamaican's hand speed was evident from the start but Kelleher had the in-fight IQ to get Osbourne down to the mat.
Osbourne landed elbows from his back as Kelleher tried to assert his dominance in full guard. He landed lefts from the top but Osbourne kept landing the elbows from the back. Kelleher stepped into half guard. Osbourne tried to get his feet but Kelleher postured up and locked in the Guillotine. He wrapped his left arm around Osbourne's neck and squeezed it tight to get the submission.
Result: Brian Kelleher def. Ode Osbourne via Submission (Guillotine) (2:49, Round 2)
Kelleher stuck to his game plan, got the fight to the ground early and clinically got the submission without any fuss. Experience trumped untested explosiveness in this one.
#3 Aleksei Oleinik vs. Maurice Greene (Heavyweight)
Aleksei Oleinik is a bonafide freak of nature who still manages to compete at the highest level despite being 41 years old. The Boa Constrictor was coming off two losses and needed to get back in the win column. It wasn't going to be easy though as he was up against Maurice 'The Crochet Boss' Greene, who himself was coming off a loss against Sergei Pavlovich.
Round 1: Oleinik went for a wild overhand right but missed and ran into a hard kick from Greene. He got back up and continued to swing his arms looking for a finish. Greene didn't get hit but he did give up his back. Oleinik wrestled him down to the mat, passed to half guard and worked towards his trademark Ezekiel choke. Greene created some separation and almost caught Oleinik in a Triangle choke. Oleinik got out and attempted a neck crank but Greene got out and looked for a sneaky Triangle yet again. Green briefly made his way up to his feet before going back down.
Oleinik somehow got in the Ezekiel choke position again but he got into side control and got in a scaffold choke. Greene showed his toughness as he didn't tap and even managed to land hammer fists while being on the brink of getting choked out in the scaffold hold. He held on until the end of the round.
Round 2: Greene landed a few good strikes to begin the second round. An exhausted Oleinik went for the overhand right but Greene cracked him with a head kick followed by a knee. Green was laboured as well.
Oleinik got the fight to the ground again and he tried for the Ezekiel choke. AGAIN! How does he do it every single time? The fans booed as they probably wanted a standup war, however, this was just as entertaining as a brawl.
Greene survived and even attempted a kimura at one point. They scrambled but Oleinik got in a Russian version of the Armbar in which he rolled forward instead of going backwards. Greene tried to defend to the best of his ability by trying to release the pressure with his knee but a heavy-breathing Boa Constrictor extended his arm and forced the tap.
Result: Aleksei Oleinik def. Maurice Greene via Submission (Armbar) (4:38, Round 2)
That was freaking great! Greene hung in there was as long as could but at the end of the day, Oleinik's masterful submission game was just too much of a challenge to overcome.
#4 Holly Holm vs. Raquel Pennington (Women's Bantamweight)
The first time these two women met back in 2015, Holly Holm edged out a close split decision win. Holm has won just two of her last seven fights while on the flipside, Raquel Pennington has lost just two in her last seven Octagon appearances.
Round 1: Holm started in southpaw while Pennington moved around in orthodox. Raquel made inroads and connected with a right. She attempted the leg kicks while Holm tried to connect with side kicks to the knees and thighs, a staple offering from all Jackson Wink products.
They clinched with Holly pressing Pennington against the cage. Holm landed short lefts in the clinch. The referee let them be in the clinch until the end of the round with Holm maintaining her dominant position. Pennington flipped the position but Holm tried to finish her with a standing guillotine before the sound of the buzzer.
Round 2: Holm began with the side kick to the knee. She ducked from an incoming strike before going for a front kick to the body. Holm cut the distance and engaged in the clinch again. The Preacher's Daughter tried to overpower Pennington against the cage and she got the volume with the short right-hand strikes. Pennington turned over but Holm muscled her way back to a dominant position in the clinch.
Holm was winning the clinch battle and Pennington needed to break this up if she wished to win. Holm connected with a knee and a kick to the body on the break. Holm got back into the clinch.
They exchanged knees in the clinch as Pennington's corner grew frustrated with Holm's dependancy on the clinch.
Round 3: Holm attempted to force the clinch but Pennington pushed her away. Holm used the front body kick on a couple of occasions. Pennington pressed forward and engaged in the clinch this time. Holm reversed it with ease and kept her up against the cage for a few seconds. They broke up and returned to the centre. Pennington landed a few lefts with just over two minutes left on the clock. Raquel rushed in for a combination but Holm lost balance. They settled for another clinch with Holm pushing her opponent against the cage. That's been the story of the fight.
They split up and Holm landed a solid combination. Pennington tried to make something happen at the death but it was clearly too late as she ran out of time.
Result: Holly Holm def. Raquel Pennington via unanimous decision (29, 28, 30-27, 30-27)
It wasn't the most entertaining of fights but a win's a win for Holly Holm, whose improved clinch work got the job done tonight.
#5 Conor McGregor vs. Donald Cerrone (Welterweight)
It's the fight we've all been waiting for, so, let's not waste any time and get right down to business.
Round 1: McGregor went for massive left from the get-go but Cerrone wasn't home. They clinched and McGregor rocked Cowboy with four consecutive shoulder attacks. One of them seemed to have shattered Cerrone's nose.
McGregor then landed a picture-perfect head kick to Cerrone's jaw and from there onwards there was just one outcome.
Cowboy dropped to the mat and McGregor was all over him with huge lefts and rights. The referee gave Cerrone the time to recover but McGregor was relentless and precise as he finished off the fight and the fans erupted in unison.
Result: Conor McGregor def. Donald Cerrone via TKO (0:40, Round 1)
The Notorious is well and truly back! Wow! We won't say much. Just sit back and enjoy the McGregor show.
Let's also spare a thought for Cowboy, who is nothing but a class act and one of the all-time greats of the sport.
