UFC 231 took place Saturday, December 8, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The card was headlined by Max Holloway’s defense of the featherweight title against Brian Ortega.
Closing odds are courtesy of Several Bookmakers. Here’s a quick recap of each of those fights.
Favorites that Won
Valentina Shevchenko won her first ever UFC title becoming the queen of the flyweights as she out classed Joanna Jedrzejczyk to win by unanimous decision. Shevchenko closed a -300 favorite. Jedrzejczyk closed a +240 underdog.
Gunnar Nelson landed some hellacious elbows on the mat and then quickly synced in a choke to beat Alex Oliveira in the second round. Nelson closed -155. Oliveira closed +125.
After a close two rounds, Hakeem Dawodu took over in the third to win a split decision over Kyle Bochniak. Dawodu closed -205 with the return on Bochniak +165.
Jimi Manuwa and Thiago Santos went toe to toe in an exciting slug fest. It was the Brazilian who got his hand raised after he floored Manuwa in the second round. Santos closed -195 while Manuwa closed +165.
Despite Eryk Anders hurting Elias Theodorou multiple times during the fight, Theodorou was the more active fighter and was able to grab a split decision victory. Theodorou closed -143 with the return on Anders +113.”
Brad Katona took over the fight in the second and third out landing Matthew Lopez to win a decision victory. Katona closed -167 while Lopez closed +137.
After an early flurry by Kyle Nelson, Carlos Diego Ferreira took and dominated the bout on the mat until the referee stepped in during the second round as Nelson wasn’t fighting back against Ferreira. Ferreira closed -530 with the return on Nelson +400.
Aleksandar Rakic was dropped a couple of times in the opening round, but recovered and landed a spinning back fist of his own. The backfist dropped his opponent, Devin Clark, and Rakic followed up with strikes to finish the bout in the opening round. Rakic closed -505 while Clark closed +380.
Underdogs that Won
Nina Ansaroff did well to land her jab throughout the fight and sneak out the biggest win of her career defeating Claudia Gadelha by split decision. Ansaroff closed +240 while Gadelha closed -300.
Gilbert Burns out struck and out grappled Olivier Aubin-Mercier to win a unanimous decision. Burns closed +118 while Aubin-Mercier closed -148.
In a very competitive fight through two rounds, Jessica Eye landed a beautiful straight punch in the third round that cut open Katlyn Chookagian. That was the key punch to win her the third round and edge out a decision. Eye closed +187. Chookagian closed -237.
Chad Laprise was pressing the action and controlling the cage, but a counter hook by Dhiego Lima floored Laprise to give Lima the surprise victory. Lima closed +312 while Laprise closed -412.
Pickem Fighters that Won
In the night’s main event, fans got their money worth as Max Holloway’s volume heavy style was too much for Brian Ortega as the doctor stopped the fight prior to the start of the fifth round. With the result, Holloway once again retained his title. Both fighters closed -115.
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