UFC 232: Jones Regains Gold, Nunes Makes History

By Fight Sports Dec 30, 2018 Last updated Jan 4, 2019

On a night where the UFC closed out 2018, as well as a week of controversy, two new champions were crowned at UFC 232, held at The Forum in Inglewood, California.

In the main event, Jon Jones became the UFC light heavyweight champion once again, defeating Alexander Gustafsson in a rematch of their original UFC 165 encounter from 2013, making Jones officially a two-time champ in the process. In the co-main event, UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Amanda Nunes made history, defeating Cris Cyborg to capture the UFC Women’s Featherweight Championship. Nunes becomes the first woman in UFC history to win titles in two weight classes, becomes the first woman to hold two UFC titles simultaneously, and joins Conor McGregor and Daniel Cormier as the only UFC fighters overall to pull off the simultaneous champion feat.

Resume Update — @JonnyBones:
– Gustafsson (x2)
– Cormier (1W, 1NC)
– OSP
– Teixeira
– Rampage
– Belfort
– Machida
– Evans
– Shogun@Amanda_Leoa:
– Cyborg (:51, RD1)
– Shevchenko (x2)
– Rousey (:48, RD1)
– Tate (3:16, RD1)
– McMann (2:53, RD1)
– GDR

🐐🐐 #UFC232 pic.twitter.com/t10TfGli9Y

— UFC (@ufc) December 30, 2018

The opening round of Jones vs. Gustafsson started with some light trading outside of an early low blow, though the action was controlled by Jones despite him being on the back foot. Jones blocked much of Gustafsson’s shots, looking for a counterpunch or knee. A Jones takedown attempt, however, was stuffed by Gustafsson. The second round saw Gustafsson. Gus opened up more in the second round, but Jones attacked his legs with severe leg kicks.

In the third, Jones put things away by taking Gustafsson down, and after some striking, took the Swedish fighter’s back and unleashed ground-and-pound until the fight was stopped. Jones not only becomes a two-time light heavyweight champion, but he passes Chuck Liddell for the most wins ever at 205 pounds in the UFC.

Jones gets the takedown in round 3, and starts landing those short elbows! #UFC232 pic.twitter.com/P0wQpABwYr

— UFC (@ufc) December 30, 2018

JON JONES RECLAIMS THE THRONE!!!#UFC232 @JonnyBones pic.twitter.com/M2vG8gvcS6

— UFC (@ufc) December 30, 2018

The Cyborg-Nunes co-main event was quicker than the main event, and quicker than most people expected. The two swung wildly from the start, and Cyborg tried to walk through Nunes’ punches. It proved to be her Achilles’ heel, as Nunes would rock Cyborg with several shots. Despite Cyborg’s best efforts to carry on, punches to the temple by Nunes would cause Cyborg to faceplant, giving Nunes the women’s 145-pound title. This is Cyborg’s first loss since her pro debut in 2005, and Nunes has now picked up first-round wins over Cyborg, Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate.

OH MY GOD AMANDA NUNES!!!!!!!#UFC232 pic.twitter.com/EzyAhUYeSR

— UFC (@ufc) December 30, 2018

The first female Champ Champ!!#UFC232 @Amanda_Leoa pic.twitter.com/GEYAOU1LwR

— UFC (@ufc) December 30, 2018

UFC 232 Main Card Results:
For the vacant UFC Light Heavyweight Championship: Jon Jones def. Alexander Gustafsson via KO (Rd. 3, 2:02)
UFC Women’s Featherweight Championship: (bantamweight champion) Amanda Nunes def. (c.) Cris Cyborg via KO (Rd. 1, 0:51)
Welterweight: Michael Chiesa def. Carlos Condit via submission (kimura) (Rd. 2, 0:56)
Light Heavyweight: Corey Anderson def. Ilir Latifi via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Featherweight: Alexander Volkanovski def. Chad Mendes via TKO (Rd. 2, 4:14)

UFC 232 Preliminary Card Results:
Heavyweight: Walt Harris def. Andrei Arlovski via split decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)
Women’s Featherweight: Megan Anderson def. Cat Zingano via TKO (Rd. 1, 1:01)
Bantamweight: Petr Yan def. Douglas Silva de Andrade via TKO (corner stoppage) (Rd. 2, 5:00)
Lightweight: Ryan Hall def. B.J. Penn via submission (heel hook) (Rd. 1, 2:46)

UFC 232 Early Prelims Card Results:
Bantamweight: Nathaniel Wood def. Andre Ewell via submission (rear-naked choke) (Rd. 3, 4:12)
Middleweight: Uriah Hall def. Bevon Lewis via KO (Rd. 3, 1:32)
Welterweight: Curtis Millender def. Siyar Bahadurzada via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Bantamweight: Montel Jackson def. Brian Kelleher via submission (d’arce choke) (Rd. 1, 1:40)