UFC 211 Results: Miocic Stops Dos Santos, Jędrzejczyk Cruises Past Andrade

On Saturday, May 13, the UFC hosted UFC 211: Miocic vs. Dos Santos 2 from the American Airlines Center in Dallas.

In the night’s main event, heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic defended his belt against Brazilian Junior dos Santos. The pair met previously at UFC on Fox 13, with the former champion dos Santos winning via unanimous decision. Since then, Miocic had ascended the rankings with four straight knockout victories. He claimed the belt from Fabricio Werdum last May and most recently defended it against Alistair Overeem at UFC 203. Dos Santos had not competed since last April, where he battered Ben Rothwell for five rounds. The 33-year-old had alternated wins and losses since losing his belt to Cain Velasquez at UFC 155.

The night’s co-main event also featured gold on the line as women’s strawweight titleholder Joanna Jędrzejczyk took on Jessica Andrade. Poland’s Jędrzejczyk was looking for her fifth consecutive title defense. Brazil’s Andrade, meanwhile, had won three straight since dropping from bantamweight.

The 12-fight event kicked off Saturday at 6:30 p.m. ET with three fights streaming on UFC Fight Pass. Four additional preliminary card bouts followed at 8 p.m. ET on FX, with the five-fight main card airing live on pay-per-view at 10 p.m. ET.

Stipe Miocic retained the heavyweight title with a first-round TKO win over former champion Junior dos Santos. Miocic pressed forward from the opening bell, cutting off the cage. He backed dos Santos against the cage and began firing right hands. One connected flush with the jaw of the Brazilian, sending him to the mat. Miocic smelled blood and went for the finish. After a series of unanswered punches, Herb Dean halted the bout.

Strawweight champion Joanna Jędrzejczyk survived an early assault from challenger Jessica Andrade before cruising to a lopsided decision win. Andrade clipped Jędrzejczyk with a pair of hooks early that wobbled the champion and caused a hematoma on her forehead. After that, however, it was all Jędrzejczyk. She peppered Andrade at range with her jab and low kicks. As the fight progressed, she began throwing left head kicks that connected flush with the jaw of Andrade. The Brazilian absorbed the onslaught and continued to march forward. Jędrzejczyk used her footwork to stay at range and counter the flurries of Andrade. The fight went the distance and Jędrzejczyk swept the scorecards.

Brazilian Demian Maia showcased his world-class grappling arsenal, taking a decision win over Jorge Masvidal. Early in round one, Maia dove for takedown and latched onto Masvidal along the cage. He moved to the back and secured a body triangle. Masvidal was able to stand and use the fence to alleviate the pressure, but was forced to defend choke attempts. In round two, Masvidal was able to land kicks and gained top position briefly. Late in the frame, Maia again took his back once more and attacked with choke attempts. Masvidal sprawled well to begin round three, but Maia ultimately got the fight to the ground and took his back. He never found the finish, but Maia claimed the win.

Featherweight Frankie Edgar put on a clinic, battering Mexico’s Yair Rodriguez before earning a doctor’s stoppage. Edgar navigated the length of Rodriguez and took the fight to the mat early. From the top position, Edgar scored with elbows and hammerfists. The left eye of Rodriguez poured blood and began to swell. It was more of the same in round two as Edgar slammed Rodriguez to the canvas. He pounded away, further damaging the eye. Between rounds, the doctor’s stepped in, handing Edgar the TKO win.

The main card kicked off with a lackluster affair between former WSOF champion David Branch and Krzysztof Jotko. The pace was slow as both fighters looked for openings. Branch earned a takedown in the opening frame and worked from the top position. The second round featured Branch pinning Jotko against the cage. There was no sense of urgency from either fighter in the final frame. When it was over, the judges were split and the crowd booed heavily, but Branch left with the victory.

The highly anticipated lightweight clash between former champion Eddie Alvarez and Dustin Poirier ended with a whimper after Alvarez illegally kneed a downed Poirier in round two. The pair engaged in a tactical battle in round one, each picking their shots carefully. Poirier opened round two by rocking Alvarez and looking to finish, but Alvarez showed his usual resilience, turning the tide. Alvarez pinned Poirier against the fence, firing knees. Poirier took a knee and Alvarez landed consecutive blows that forced referee Herb Dean to halt the bout and declare a no-contest.

Jason Knight spoiled the night of Texas fighter Chas Skelly with a third-round stoppage win. The pair started slow on the feet, but once Skelly earned a takedown, the pair went to work in a game of human chess on the ground. Knight was active from his back with omoplata attempts, preventing Skelly from mounting offense. The pair scrambled back and forth for top position, with Knight getting the better of the exchanges. Round two was spent mostly on the feet, but Knight was able to get the fight to the mat and looked for a crucifix. The pair traded armbars attempts before slugging it out to the bell. In round three, Knight cracked Skelly with an uppercut that sent him crashing to the mat. Knight followed with an onslaught of punches, forcing the referee to intervene.

Heavyweights Chase Sherman and Rashad Coulter beat the hell out of one another while the fight lasted. Sherman attacked the lead leg of Coulter early and often, which paid dividends throughout the fight. Coulter was hobbling within two minutes, but he fired counter right hands over and over. Sherman took the punishment and was patient with his attack. Coulter frequently used the cage to stay upright, but Sherman was relentless. A right elbow in round two put Coulter out for good, handing Sherman the TKO win.

James Vick delighted his hometown crowd, finishing Polo Reyes in the first round with punches. The pair spent the first half of the opening round finding their range and feeling out one another. The action picked up with Reyes tried to close the distance. Vick looked for a choke and Reyes stayed in range. A body shot followed by a straight right dropped Reyes and Vick flurried for the finish.

Strawweight Cortney Casey handed veteran Jessica Aguilar her second straight defeat inside the Octagon with a lopsided performance. Aguilar buckled Casey with a leg kick early and scored with hammerfists. Casey was active from her back, landing repeated upkicks. Aguilar struggled trying to navigate Casey’s length. The last stanza was all Casey on the feet, as she busted up Aguilar with knees and punches. The result was never in doubt, as Casey swept the scorecards.

Featherweights Enrique Barzola and Gabriel Benitez engaged in a three-round war, with Barzola capturing the decision win. Benitez was crisp with his striking early, prompting Barzola to search for takedowns. That would be the story of the fight as Barzola repeatedly put Benitez on his back. In round two, Barzola took the back of Benitez and threatened with a rear-naked choke, but Benitez escaped. The final frame was largely spent on the feet and Benitez was able to drop Barzola as the final horn sounded. It was too little, too late, however. All three judges favored Barzola.

Gadzhimurad Antigulov opened the night with a dominant submission win over Joachim Christensen. Antigulov scored with a left hook and then dragged Christensen to the mat along the cage. He transitioned to the back with both hooks and applied the fight-finishing rear-naked choke.