UFC Philadelphia: Gaethje KOs Barboza in First
It was expected to be a striking duel, and though it lasted just one round, it lived up to that moniker, as Justin Gaethje defeated Edson Barboza in the main event of UFC Philadelphia.
The two men, expert kickers, traded leg kicks to start the fight. Gaethje managed to clip Barboza, however, and went on the attack. Barboza managed to recover in a clinch with his back to the cage, only to get rocked by Gaethje again. Finally, halfway through the round, Gaethje caught Barboza with an overhand right, putting the Brazilian down for a first-round knockout.
WASTING NO TIME.#UFCPhiladelphia pic.twitter.com/E3jhPijLdY
— UFC (@ufc) March 31, 2019
WE TOLD YOU THIS FIGHT WOULDN’T DISAPPOINT!@Justin_Gaethje puts Barboza away in round 1! #UFCPhiladelphia pic.twitter.com/WD40HcctN9
— UFC (@ufc) March 31, 2019
The co-main event also saw a first-round finish, as Jack Hermanson quickly dropped and submitted former WSOF champion David Branch with a guillotine choke in just 49 seconds.
Submission!@JackTheJokerMMA gets the first round arm-in guillotine finish! Wow! #UFCPhiladelphia pic.twitter.com/tXdd1L60kQ
— UFC (@ufc) March 31, 2019
Prior to the co-main event, Josh Emmett scored a big finish in his first fight in the Octagon in over a year. Emmett got an overhand right of his own in on Michael Johnson, sleeping him in the final minute of their featherweight bout.
OH MY GOODNESS JOSH EMMETT!!@JoshEmmettUFC #UFCPhiladelphia pic.twitter.com/2Ci5TSFFni
— UFC (@ufc) March 31, 2019
UFC Philadelphia Main Card Results:
Lightweight: Justin Gaethje def. Edson Barboza via KO (Rd. 1, 2:30)
Middleweight: Jack Hermansson def. David Branch via submission (guillotine choke) (Rd. 1, 0:49)
Featherweight: Josh Emmett def. Michael Johnson via KO (Rd. 3, 4:14)
Women’s Strawweight: Michelle Waterson def. Karolina Kowalkiewicz via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Light Heavyweight: Paul Craig def. Kennedy Nzechukwu via submission (triangle choke) (Rd. 3, 4:20)
Featherweight: Sodiq Yusuff def. Shyemon Moraes via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-28, 29-28)UFC Philadelphia Preliminary Card Results:
Women’s Strawweight: Marina Rodriguez def. Jessica Aguilar via unanimous decision (29-26, 29-27, 29-27)
Lightweight: Desmond Green def. Ross Pearson via TKO (Rd. 1, 2:52)
Featherweight: Kevin Aguilar def. Enrique Barzola via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Middleweight: Kevin Holland def. Gerald Meerschcheart via split decision (29-27, 28-29, 30-27)UFC Philadelphia Early Preliminary Card Results:
Bantamweight: Casey Kenney def. Ray Borg via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Women’s Flyweight: Maryna Moroz def. Sabina Mazo via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Bantamweight: Alex Perez def. Mark De La Rosa via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)