UFC 186 was once a highly anticipated card with two world titles, big names, and relevant top contenders. As the card got hit with every imaginable curveball, its status as a pay-per-view came in for increasing criticism.
Yet, when you strip away all of the bad hype it still promised much. Another chance to see one of the greatest fighters on the planet perform, the return of Quinton “Rampage” Jackson against the best possible opponent, and a desperate middleweight tussle that would determine whether Michael Bisping or C.B. Dollaway retained top ten status.
Demetrious Johnson def. Kyoji Horiguchi via submission armbar (Round 5, 4:59)
Coming into his flyweight title tilt against Demetrious Johnson, the odds could not have been stacked any higher against Kyoji Horiguchi. While Johnson held wins over four of the top five in the UFC rankings, Horiguchi had not beaten anyone in the top fifteen.
The combined UFC and WEC records of Johnson’s previous UFC opponents was 48-25. Horiguchi’s previous UFC opponents held a combined UFC/WEC 3-13. Should the Japanese fighter win, this would be as big an upset as the company had seen. Unfortunately for Horiguchi, such an upset would not materialize.
Throughout the contest, Horiguchi showed that he belonged in fights against the best in the division. Still, he rarely troubled the champion. There were moments, a knee that connected with Johnson’s jaw in the second round for instance, but it was the champion who controlled the majority of the fight.
Johnson overwhelmed the challenger and slowed his pace with a safe, measured performance. It may have drawn boos from the crowd, but it ensured that Johnson walked out of the cage with his status as the flyweight champion of the world in tact.
Dominated and broken, Horiguchi could do little more than hope to make it through to the end of the fight when the fifth round began. Even that was snatched away from him with just one second left in the fight, Johnson securing an armbar that forced him to tap.
Quinton “Rampage” Jackson def. Fabio Maldonado via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
The on, off, on-again tussle between Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Fabio Maldonado promised to be a slugfest. Both men preferring to stand and box, both capable of taking punishment.
The output might not have been electric, but the two stood and exchanged for the majority of their catchweight bout. As the pace slowed in the second it was still Rampage who was landing the better shots.
It was a theme that continued through to the final bell. The fight was rarely exciting, but Rampage did enough, particularly when you consider the awkward build up to the fight, to justify his return to the UFC.
Michael Bisping def. C.B. Dollaway via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Middleweight veteran Michael Bisping consistently made C.B. Dollaway miss, outlanding his opponent throughout their contest en route to a decision victory. It was however not an easy night for the Brit, while Dollaway wasn’t landing often, when he did he was doing it with power.
Bisping was caught towards the end of the first round and wound up on his back as a result, eventually leading to a frantic exchange as the bell rang. It was not the only time he appeared to be hurt by his opponent.
The longer the fight went on, the more Dollaway’s pace slowed, largely because Bisping was continuously catching him with relentless strikes. As has often been the case throughout Bisping’s career, he outlasted a game opponent to keep alive his, albeit slim, hopes of working his way towards a title shot.
John Makdessi def. Shane Campbell via TKO – punches (Round 1, 4:53)
In the first of two catchweight bouts on the card – this one at 160 pounds – Shane Campbell’s UFC debut lasted less than five minutes thanks to a spectacular performance from John Makdessi.
The two exchanged on the feet throughout the first round, Campbell’s leg kicks finding a home early in an entertaining scrap. Makdessi halted Campbell’s progress with a right hook that dropped the noticeably larger opponent. Had Makdessi not smothered his work he might have got the stoppage there and then.
Instead, referee Philippe Chartier held back, perhaps longer than he should have. It would not be enough to save Campbell, who was dropped again with a big uppercut towards the end of the first round. Makdessi swarmed once more, this time forcing Chartier to stop the bout with just seven seconds left in the first round.
Thomas Almeida def. Yves Jabouin via TKO – punches (Round 1, 4:18)
Experienced Tristar veteran Yves Jabouin was given little chance against undefeated prospect Thomas Almeida. Most expected that once Almeida let go with his skillful, overwhelming combinations, Jabouin would crumble. They were proved right.
As the fighters moved into the last minute of the first round, Almeida hurt Jabouin and was relentless in his attack. Jabouin backed up against the cage as Almeida combined shots to the body and head, looking for the finish. Yves Lavigne quickly intervened, the stoppage confirming Almeida’s position as a genuine prospect at 135 pounds.
Patrick Cote def. Joe Riggs via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Alexis Davis def. Sarah Kaufman via submission – armbar (Round 2, 1:52)
Chad Laprise def. Bryan Barberena via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Olivier Aubin-Mercier def. David Michaud via submission – rear-naked choke (Round 3, 3:24)
Nordine Taleb def. Chris Clements via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Valerie Letourneau def. Jessica Rakoczy via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Randa Markos def. Aisling Daly via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
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