Jon Jones successfully defended his UFC light-heavyweight championship submitting Lyoto Machida in the second round in Toronto.
UFC light-heavyweight champion successfully defends title
Jon Jones successfully defended his UFC light-heavyweight championship submitting Lyoto Machida in the second round in Toronto.
The victory completed a perfect year for the 24-year-old in which he handed Ryan Bader his first loss, defeated Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua for the 205-pound title, and then defended his belt with submissions of former champs Rampage Jackson and Machida.
The Brazilian challenger began well but eventually succumbed as 'Bones' found his range before cutting, hurting, and eventually choking out his opponent.
"He's just smart. He's definitely a very tough puzzle. He didn't have me hurt, but he did punch me pretty good and wobbled me a bit," Jones admitted after the fight.
Jones was the aggressor in the early stages of round one but neither landed any significant shot until Machida knocked his opponent off balance with a quick flurry with a minute left.
Jones was then cracked with a hard right in the second round but landed a good right hand of his own shortly after before scoring his first takedown of the fight.
Machida made it to his feet and was able to continue despite a cut to his forehead, but he was soon back down courtesy of a left hand and Jones then locked in a guillotine choke to end the fight.
Mir wins
Elsewhere on a marquee UFC 140 card at the Air Canada Centre, Frank Mir submitted Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in round one to win their long-awaited heavyweight rematch.
Nogueira started the fight with some crisp standup strikes but it was Mir who scored the first takedown, although the American was then himself dropped to the mat.
Nogueira tried to lock in a choke and the end looked near but Mir somehow managed to escape and locked in a kimura during the subsequent scramble, pulling Nogueira's arm and forcing the Brazilian to tap.
"I'm the first person to knock him out and now the first person to submit him," Mir said.
The other Nogueira twin - Antonio Rodrigo - had a better night as he claimed a first-round stoppage victory over Tito Ortiz, who was competing in the Octagon for a record 26th time.
Ortiz held his own at the start of the light-heavyweight contest but was hurt with a left and dropped by a follow-up knee around the 90 second mark, with an ensuing barrage of heavy shots forcing the referee to step in.
Home town fighter Claude Patrick was left disappointed as he lost a split decision to Brian Ebersole in their welterweight bout, while another Canadian, Mark Hominick, was knocked out by Chan Sung Jung in just seven seconds, tying the fastest finish in UFC history.
