UFC 185: Rafael dos Anjos Defeats Anthony Pettis

UFC 185: Pettis vs. Dos Anjos took place on March 14, 2015, at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. Rafael dos Anjos dominated Anthony Pettis over five rounds to win the UFC lightweight championship, while Joanna Jędrzejczyk stopped Carla Esparza to capture the women’s strawweight title. Johny Hendricks, Alistair Overeem, and Henry Cejudo also earned clear decision victories.

Event video: Pettis versus dos Anjos.

Dos Anjos shuts out Pettis and wins the lightweight title

Dos Anjos pressured from the opening bell, repeatedly landing left hands, body attacks, and takedowns. Pettis suffered significant swelling around his right eye and never found the space needed to establish his usual kicking game. All three judges scored the fight 50–45 for dos Anjos.

The performance completed one of the division’s most impressive climbs, turning dos Anjos from a fighter who had started his UFC run with consecutive losses into the promotion’s lightweight champion.

Jędrzejczyk takes the strawweight championship

Carla Esparza repeatedly tried to wrestle, but Jędrzejczyk defended the takedowns and punished her with increasingly sharp boxing combinations. The referee stopped the fight at 4:17 of round two after a sustained series of punches, making Jędrzejczyk the UFC women’s strawweight champion.

Hendricks, Overeem, and Cejudo control their matchups

Johny Hendricks used wrestling and top pressure to defeat Matt Brown by unanimous decision. Alistair Overeem mixed kicks, knees, and movement to outpoint Roy Nelson. Henry Cejudo defeated Chris Cariaso by unanimous decision in his first UFC flyweight bout.

Ross Pearson knocked out Sam Stout in round two. Elias Theodorou stopped Roger Narvaez, Beneil Dariush submitted Daron Cruickshank in a 157-pound catchweight bout, and Jared Rosholt stopped Josh Copeland late in round three.

Complete UFC 185 results

• Rafael dos Anjos def. Anthony Pettis — unanimous decision; round 5, 5:00. Dos Anjos won the UFC lightweight championship.
• Joanna Jędrzejczyk def. Carla Esparza — TKO (punches); round 2, 4:17. Jędrzejczyk won the UFC women’s strawweight championship.
• Johny Hendricks def. Matt Brown — unanimous decision; round 3, 5:00.
• Alistair Overeem def. Roy Nelson — unanimous decision; round 3, 5:00.
• Henry Cejudo def. Chris Cariaso — unanimous decision; round 3, 5:00.
• Ross Pearson def. Sam Stout — KO (punch); round 2, 1:33.
• Elias Theodorou def. Roger Narvaez — TKO (punches); round 2, 4:07.
• Beneil Dariush def. Daron Cruickshank — submission (rear-naked choke); round 2, 2:48. Catchweight: 157 pounds.
• Jared Rosholt def. Josh Copeland — TKO (elbows and punches); round 3, 3:12.
• Ryan Benoit def. Sergio Pettis — TKO (punches); round 2, 1:34.
• Joseph Duffy def. Jake Lindsey — KO (body punch); round 1, 1:47.
• Germaine de Randamie def. Larissa Pacheco — TKO (punches); round 2, 2:02.

UFC 185 produced two new champions on the same night and stands as one of the strongest title-changing cards of 2015.

Sources

UFC: official UFC 185 event record; UFC: dos Anjos title-winning performance; Sherdog event record.

Article Tags

UFC 185, Rafael dos Anjos, Anthony Pettis, Mixed Martial Arts, UFC Results