Two new champions crowned after McGregor and Rockhold earn spectacular finishes at UFC 194
Share:
by Richard Immel USA Wrestling
LAS VEGAS – It was billed as one of the most anticipated UFC title fights of all-time, and it lasted 13 seconds.
Interim UFC featherweight champion “The Notorious” Conor McGregor connected with a left hand on longtime UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo in the first exchange of the fight. That would be all the Irishman needed to defeat one of the greatest champions in UFC history.
“He’s powerful and he’s fast, but precision beats power, and timing beats speed. That’s what you saw out there,” said McGregor. “Honestly, I feel for Jose. He was a phenomenal champion. We deserved to go a little longer.”
In the UFC 194 co-main event, Luke Rockhold took control of middleweight champion Chris Weidman midway through the third round and never relinquished it.
Rockhold nearly finished the fight at the end of round three after securing mount position and hitting Weidman with vicious strikes, cutting Weidman in the process. Weidman never recovered as Rockhold was able to finish the fight on top, winning by TKO in round four.
“I can’t even believe this is real right now,” Rockhold said. “You don’t even know, the stuff that happened to me in this camp, it’s indescribable. I just take it as blessing in disguise. Everything happens for a reason. All I care is I got the belt.”
Both Rockhold and Weidman come from wrestling backgrounds. Rockhold wrestled at Soquel High School in Soquel, Calif. and posted a brief stint in the California Community College circuit. Weidman was a two-time NCAA All-American for Hofstra University.
“It’s Luke’s night. At the end of the day, I’m going home. I’ve got a beautiful family that loves me. I got fans who love me. God is still good. I’ll be back,” said Weidman.
This marks the first loss in Weidman’s mma career, dropping his record to 13-1. Rockhold is now 15-2.
One of the most decorated wrestlers ever to enter the octagon, 2000 Olympic silver medalist Yoel Romero, earned a tight, split decision victory over Ronaldo Souza at middleweight. The win places Romero next in line to fight for the UFC title.
In addition to his Olympic silver, Romero won five World medals, including gold in 1999. The Cuban owns victories over U.S. legends Cael Sanderson and Les Gutches in freestyle wrestling.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu master Demian Maia dominated fellow grappler Gunnar Nelson by unanimous decision in a matchup of top welterweights.
Featherweight contender Max Holloway defeated Jeremy Stephens by unanimous decision in the opening fight on the main card. The UFC veteran, Stephens wrestled at Norwalk High School in Des Moines, Iowa.
Uriah “The California Kid” Faber topped Frankie Saenz by unanimous decision in a bantamweight clash between two former wrestlers.
Faber was a three-time NCAA qualifier for the University of California Davis, highlighted by a round of 12 finish at the 2002 NCAA Championships. He won a total of 91 matches during his collegiate career and was a University Nationals runner-up in freestyle wrestling.
Saenz earned two Arizona high school state titles before wrestling collegiately at Arizona State University and the University of Northern Colorado. He currently trains with 2008 Olympic champion Henry Cejudo.
Past NCAA All-American and two-time Pac 10 champion for Oregon State, Colby Covington started suffered his first mma defeat Saturday evening, losing by submission to Warlley Alves in the first round. Covington was 8-0 entering UFC 194.
UFC 194 Results
Dec. 12 at MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nev.
Main Event
Featherweight Title Fight
145 lbs. – (#1) Conor McGregor def. (C) Jose Aldo, KO (R1, 0:13)
Co-Main Event
Middleweight Title Fight
185 lbs. – (#1) Luke Rockhold def. (C) Chris Weidman, TKO (R4, 3:12)
Main Card
185 lbs. – (#3) Yoel Romero def. (#2) Ronaldo Souza, Split Decision
170 lbs. – (#6) Demian Maia def. (#12) Gunnar Nelson, Unanimous Decision
145 lbs. – (#5) Max Holloway def. (#8) Jeremy Stephens, Unanimous Decision
Prelims
135 lbs. – (#4) Urijah Faber def. (#13) Frankie Saenz, Unanimous Decision
115 lbs. – (#5) Tecia Torres def. Jocelyn Jones-Lybarger, Unanimous Decision
170 lbs. – Warlley Alves def. Colby Covington, Submission (R1, 1:26)
155 lbs. – Leonardo Santos def. Kevin Lee, TKO (R1, 3:26)
155 lbs. – Magomed Mustafaev def. Joe Proctor, TKO (R1, 1:54)
155 lbs. – Yancy Medeiros def. John Makdessi, Split Decision
170 lbs. – Court McGee def. Marcio Alexandre, Unanimous Decision
Interim UFC featherweight champion “The Notorious” Conor McGregor connected with a left hand on longtime UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo in the first exchange of the fight. That would be all the Irishman needed to defeat one of the greatest champions in UFC history.
“He’s powerful and he’s fast, but precision beats power, and timing beats speed. That’s what you saw out there,” said McGregor. “Honestly, I feel for Jose. He was a phenomenal champion. We deserved to go a little longer.”
In the UFC 194 co-main event, Luke Rockhold took control of middleweight champion Chris Weidman midway through the third round and never relinquished it.
Rockhold nearly finished the fight at the end of round three after securing mount position and hitting Weidman with vicious strikes, cutting Weidman in the process. Weidman never recovered as Rockhold was able to finish the fight on top, winning by TKO in round four.
“I can’t even believe this is real right now,” Rockhold said. “You don’t even know, the stuff that happened to me in this camp, it’s indescribable. I just take it as blessing in disguise. Everything happens for a reason. All I care is I got the belt.”
Both Rockhold and Weidman come from wrestling backgrounds. Rockhold wrestled at Soquel High School in Soquel, Calif. and posted a brief stint in the California Community College circuit. Weidman was a two-time NCAA All-American for Hofstra University.
“It’s Luke’s night. At the end of the day, I’m going home. I’ve got a beautiful family that loves me. I got fans who love me. God is still good. I’ll be back,” said Weidman.
This marks the first loss in Weidman’s mma career, dropping his record to 13-1. Rockhold is now 15-2.
One of the most decorated wrestlers ever to enter the octagon, 2000 Olympic silver medalist Yoel Romero, earned a tight, split decision victory over Ronaldo Souza at middleweight. The win places Romero next in line to fight for the UFC title.
In addition to his Olympic silver, Romero won five World medals, including gold in 1999. The Cuban owns victories over U.S. legends Cael Sanderson and Les Gutches in freestyle wrestling.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu master Demian Maia dominated fellow grappler Gunnar Nelson by unanimous decision in a matchup of top welterweights.
Featherweight contender Max Holloway defeated Jeremy Stephens by unanimous decision in the opening fight on the main card. The UFC veteran, Stephens wrestled at Norwalk High School in Des Moines, Iowa.
Uriah “The California Kid” Faber topped Frankie Saenz by unanimous decision in a bantamweight clash between two former wrestlers.
Faber was a three-time NCAA qualifier for the University of California Davis, highlighted by a round of 12 finish at the 2002 NCAA Championships. He won a total of 91 matches during his collegiate career and was a University Nationals runner-up in freestyle wrestling.
Saenz earned two Arizona high school state titles before wrestling collegiately at Arizona State University and the University of Northern Colorado. He currently trains with 2008 Olympic champion Henry Cejudo.
Past NCAA All-American and two-time Pac 10 champion for Oregon State, Colby Covington started suffered his first mma defeat Saturday evening, losing by submission to Warlley Alves in the first round. Covington was 8-0 entering UFC 194.
UFC 194 Results
Dec. 12 at MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nev.
Main Event
Featherweight Title Fight
145 lbs. – (#1) Conor McGregor def. (C) Jose Aldo, KO (R1, 0:13)
Co-Main Event
Middleweight Title Fight
185 lbs. – (#1) Luke Rockhold def. (C) Chris Weidman, TKO (R4, 3:12)
Main Card
185 lbs. – (#3) Yoel Romero def. (#2) Ronaldo Souza, Split Decision
170 lbs. – (#6) Demian Maia def. (#12) Gunnar Nelson, Unanimous Decision
145 lbs. – (#5) Max Holloway def. (#8) Jeremy Stephens, Unanimous Decision
Prelims
135 lbs. – (#4) Urijah Faber def. (#13) Frankie Saenz, Unanimous Decision
115 lbs. – (#5) Tecia Torres def. Jocelyn Jones-Lybarger, Unanimous Decision
170 lbs. – Warlley Alves def. Colby Covington, Submission (R1, 1:26)
155 lbs. – Leonardo Santos def. Kevin Lee, TKO (R1, 3:26)
155 lbs. – Magomed Mustafaev def. Joe Proctor, TKO (R1, 1:54)
155 lbs. – Yancy Medeiros def. John Makdessi, Split Decision
170 lbs. – Court McGee def. Marcio Alexandre, Unanimous Decision
NCAA Men’s wrestling award standings update for February 18
NCAA releases midseason coaches’ rank and RPI for 2026 Division I Wrestling Championships
Penn State routs Michigan for 84th win in a row, sets stage for Big Ten clash with second-ranked and unbeaten Ohio State
Men’s College Notebook: Rutgers Upsets Minnesota; Ohio State Tops Iowa
