UFC 180: Fabricio Werdum Stops Mark Hunt

UFC 180: Werdum vs. Hunt took place on November 15, 2014, at Arena Ciudad de México in Mexico City, marking the UFC’s first event in Mexico. Fabricio Werdum knocked out short-notice replacement Mark Hunt in the second round to win the interim UFC heavyweight championship. Kelvin Gastelum submitted Jake Ellenberger, Ricardo Lamas submitted Dennis Bermudez, and The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America crowned its first two tournament winners.

Event video: UFC 180 in Mexico City.

Werdum survives early trouble and wins interim gold

Heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez had been scheduled to face Werdum but withdrew with a knee injury. Hunt accepted the interim-title fight on short notice and immediately made it dangerous, dropping Werdum in the opening round.

Werdum changed the fight in round two. He feinted a takedown, drove a flying knee into Hunt’s face, and followed with punches and hammerfists. The stoppage came at 2:27, making Werdum interim heavyweight champion.

Gastelum and Lamas finish quickly

Kelvin Gastelum took Jake Ellenberger’s back during a scramble and secured a rear-naked choke at 4:46 of round one. Ricardo Lamas hurt Dennis Bermudez with a jab before finishing a guillotine choke at 3:18 of the first.

Augusto Montaño stopped Chris Heatherly with knees and punches at 4:50, while Hector Urbina submitted Edgar Garcia with a guillotine choke at 3:38.

TUF Latin America crowns Rodriguez and Pérez

Yair Rodriguez defeated Leonardo Morales by unanimous decision to win the featherweight tournament. Alejandro Pérez defeated José Quiñónez by unanimous decision in the bantamweight final.

Jessica Eye defeated Leslie Smith by doctor stoppage after damage to Smith’s ear. Henry Briones submitted Guido Cannetti in a Fight of the Night bout, Gabriel Benitez submitted Humberto Brown, and Marco Beltrán outpointed Marlon Vera.

Complete UFC 180 results

• Fabricio Werdum def. Mark Hunt — TKO (knee and punches); round 2, 2:27. Werdum won the interim UFC heavyweight championship.
• Kelvin Gastelum def. Jake Ellenberger — submission (rear-naked choke); round 1, 4:46.
• Ricardo Lamas def. Dennis Bermudez — submission (guillotine choke); round 1, 3:18.
• Augusto Montaño def. Chris Heatherly — TKO (knees and punches); round 1, 4:50.
• Hector Urbina def. Edgar Garcia — submission (guillotine choke); round 1, 3:38.
• Yair Rodriguez def. Leonardo Morales — unanimous decision; round 3, 5:00.
• Alejandro Pérez def. José Quiñónez — unanimous decision; round 3, 5:00.
• Jessica Eye def. Leslie Smith — TKO (doctor stoppage); round 2, 1:30.
• Gabriel Benitez def. Humberto Brown — submission (guillotine choke); round 3, 0:30.
• Henry Briones def. Guido Cannetti — submission (rear-naked choke); round 2, 1:44.
• Marco Beltrán def. Marlon Vera — unanimous decision; round 3, 5:00.

UFC 180 delivered the promotion’s long-awaited Mexican debut, crowned an interim heavyweight champion, and introduced Yair Rodriguez to the broader UFC audience.

Sources

UFC: official UFC 180 event record; UFC: official UFC 180 weigh-in results; Sherdog event record.

Article Tags

UFC 180, Fabricio Werdum, Mark Hunt, Mixed Martial Arts, UFC Results