Following two losses to Max Holloway, some wondered if former featherweight champion Jose Aldo had seen better days. But with a stirring performance at Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Aldo resurrected his career with a first-round stoppage of Jeremy Stephens in the UFC Fight Night co-main event.
After a tactical opening, a fight broke out, with Stephens landing some hard shots that rattled Aldo but also prompted the Brazilian star to fire back with haymakers of his own. These exchanges left Stephens with a cut under his eye. And while Stephens continued to press the action, Aldo turned everything around with a left punch to the liver that hurt Stephens and sent him down. Aldo went in for the finish, and while Stephens tried to stay in the fight, when he turned and gave up his back, referee Yves Lavigne stepped in and halted matters at 4:19 of the first frame.
With the win, the No. 2-ranked Aldo improves to 27-4. The No. 4-ranked Stephens falls to 28-15.
Former UFC strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk got back in the win column after a pair of losses to Rose Namajunas, winning a shutout three-round decision over Tecia Torres.
Scores were 30-27 across the board for the No. 1-ranked Jedrzejczyk, now 15-2. The No. 5-ranked Torres falls to 10-3.
Much of the opening round was fought in the clinch against the fence, with both fighters taking turns in control. But with that aspect of the bout being a stalemate, it was Jedrzejczyk’s much busier striking on the inside that likely earned her the round.
Jedrzejczyk controlled the action from long range in the early stages of round two before another clinch attack by Torres, who was searching for a takedown. When she couldn’t get it, the two separated with less than 90 seconds remaining, and Jedrzejczyk’s kicks dictated the pace down the stretch until a late flurry by Torres before the horn.
The first three minutes saw Jedrzejczyk extending her lead on the outside, forcing Torres to look for the clinch once more. After a brief spell against the fence, the two separated and Torres got a brief takedown, but Jedrzejczyk jumped up immediately, with the two clinching until the horn.
No. 13-ranked lightweight contender Alexander Hernandez made it two for two in the Octagon in the main card opener, as he scored a three-round unanimous decision over Canadian standout Olivier Aubin-Mercier.
Hernandez (10-1) didn’t get the sub-one minute finish that he delivered in his UFC debut against Beneil Dariush, but he did set a fast pace as he pressured Aubin-Mercier (12-3) with his standup and grappling attacks. Aubin-Mercier landed his share of shots when Hernandez got sloppy defensively, but a late takedown from the Texan secured the round for him.
Aubin-Mercier and Hernandez battled it out on the mat for much of round two before referee Marc Goddard restarted the bout with under two minutes left. The fighters immediately went into the clinch against the fence for a spell until separating briefly, Hernandez getting off some hard shots before another clinch controlled by Hernandez until the horn.
Hernandez kept the pressure on throughout round three, and while Aubin-Mercier had brief moments of daylight, the Texan’s grueling pace was too much, making it an easy job for the judges, who rendered a 30-27 and 29-28 twice verdict in favor of Hernandez.
Fans voices come first
Favorite athlete? Fantasy match-ups? Comments? Leave 'em here!
