Rafael dos Anjos claims lightweight title at UFC 185

Brazilian challenger Rafael dos Anjos impressively took the UFC lightweight title away from Anthony Pettis on Saturday night, winning the five-round bout by unanimous decision.

Rafael dos Anjos celebrates his win against Anthony Pettis in the lightweight title bout at UFC 185 on Saturday in Dallas, Texas. Ronald Martinez / Getty Images / AFP / March 14, 2015

Associated Press

Rafael dos Anjos and Joanna Jedrzejczyk put the “world” in UFC world champion.

Brazilian Dos Anjos won the lightweight championship belt and Poland’s Jedrzejczyk took the women’s strawweight title, both over American champions, at UFC 185 on Saturday night.

Dos Anjos won a unanimous decision over Anthony Pettis of Milwaukee, with all three judges scoring the five-round bout 50-25.

“Everything went perfect during the fight,” Dos Anjos said. “Our strategy was hit hard and make him afraid of my punch and my hands.”

Undefeated Jedrzejczyk of Poland scored a second-round technical knockout of Carla Esparza of Irvine, California.

“She did a great job,” Esparza said. “There’s never an excuse when you lose.”

Johny Hendricks won a unanimous decision over Matt Brown in returning to the site where he won the welterweight championship belt last March. Hendricks (17-3), who lives in Dallas, was in his first bout since losing the rematch to Robbie Lawler on a split decision in December.

Flyweight Henry Cejudo, a 2008 Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling for the US, remained unbeaten (8-0). He took a unanimous decision over Chris Cariaso, who lost a title fight to champion Demetrious Johnson last September.

In a heavyweight bout, Alistair Overeem (39-14, 1 no contest) won a unanimous decision from Roy Nelson.

Dos Anjos (24-7) was the aggressor from midway through the first round. In the second, blood was dripping from a cut under Pettis’ right eye.

“He hit me with a left. First punch he threw, I couldn’t see out my right eye,” Pettis said.

Dos Anjos said, “I’m a striker.”

He was fighting despite a knee injury he felt in training three weeks earlier. Dos Anjos said he expected to undergo an MRI exam.

Pettis rallied late in the fourth round, but the 30-year-old from Rio de Janeiro regained control and won all five rounds. The 28-year-old Pettis (18-3) had won his two previous title fights and had held the 155-pound belt since August 2013.

Jedrzejczyk (9-0) used her 5-inch height advantage and superior reach to outpunch Esparza (11-3). She also was able to counter Esparza’s wrestling moves.

“I knew I was going to win, but I didn’t expect it would be in the second round,” Jedrzejczyk said. “Every day I’m 100 per cent. That’s why I’m here.

“Nobody going to take this belt from me.”

Jedrzejczyk’s left eye was blackened. Esparza had welts on her nose and left cheek and next to her left eye.

The 27-year-old Polish fighter backed the champ against the wall with a flurry of punches before the referee stopped the scheduled five-round bout at 4:17 of the second.

Esparza, 27, became the first ever to win the 115-pound strawweight title, beating Rose Namajunas by submission in the tournament final on December 12.

Hendricks, a two-time NCAA wrestling champion, is the No 1 UFC welterweight contender. Brown entered the night ranked sixth.

On the undercard, lightweight Ross Pearson (19-8, 1 NC) knocked out Sam Stout with a left hook at 1:33 of the second round.

Another lightweight, Beneil Dariush (10-1), beat Daron Cruickshank by submission with a rear naked choke 2:48 into the second round.

Undefeated middleweight Elias Theodorou (12-0), heavyweight Jared Rosholt (12-2), flyweight Ryan Benoit (8-3), lightweight Joseph Duffy (13-1) and women’s bantamweight Germaine de Randamie (5-3) all won by TKO.

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