BUFFALO, N.Y. — Daniel Cormier beat Anthony Johnson for the second time, using a submission victory to retain the light heavyweight championship in the main event of UFC 210 on Saturday night.
With tears in his eyes, Johnson announced his retirement inside the octagon, saying “it’s time for me to do something else.”
Cormier edged Johnson at UFC 187 in 2015 by submission, and he won with a rear naked choke at the KeyBank Center.
Jon Jones, considered perhaps the true light heavyweight champ, looked on from cageside and stretched his arms in approval as the crowd went wild for the former champ. Three months from completing a yearlong doping ban, Jones said he was focused on reclaiming the light heavyweight title he’s lost twice due to suspensions.
Cormier wanted nothing to do with Jones’ posturing, saying, “don’t talk to me about a guy who’s ineligible. When you get your (act) together, I’ll be here waiting to fight.”
Cormier was awarded the light heavyweight belt only after Jones was stripped of it in early 2015, when he was suspended by the UFC following his involvement in a hit-and-run accident in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Jones had successfully defended his title eight times through 2013. But he’s fought just three times over the past four years.
He had joked that he would confront Cormier in the cage but stayed in his seat and hung out with several members of the Buffalo Bills
“I’m not going in that cage. I’ll leave that man alone. Let him enjoy his night,” Jones said. “I want to talk to my business partners, talk to the UFC and see what they want to do.”
Cormier’s lone loss in a 19-fight MMA career came against Jones in 2015.
Gegard Mousasi stopped Chris Weidman by TKO in the second round of a confusing conclusion to a middleweight bout.
Mousasi connected with two knees to the right side of Weidman’s head that stunned the former champion and led to a stoppage. Mousasi had lifted Weidman and delivered one right knee to the head, a seemingly clean blow that clearly did some damage. Mousasi’s second knee caused some of the confusion.
Referee Dan Miragliotta gave Weidman, who suffered his third straight loss, a 5-minute recovery period because he thought the fighter had both hands on the canvas, which would make the second knee illegal. Fighters can’t deliver those knees when the opponent has two hands down.
Mousasi’s first knee was clearly legal, though replays seemed inconclusive on Weidman’s hand placement on the second knee. After an extended break and plenty of commotion, doctors checked on Weidman and the fight was stopped as a packed KeyBank Center drowned out the decision with boos.
UFC fans hadn’t fully settled down for the main event from the mess of a finish in what had been a punishing Moursasi-Weidman bout.
Weidman yelled profanities as he looked at replays on the screen and believed he should have been won because of illegal kicks.
“Why did they even stop the fight if it was a legal hit?” Weidman asked.
Weidman lost his third straight bout following a run of 13 victories to open his career. The New York native apologized to fans who had gone wild with “USA” chants against the Dutch Mousasi.
“It’s not the way I wanted to win. I wanted to continue to fight,” Mousasi said. “I was just in the moment of the match. If he wants a rematch, he can have his rematch.”
Charles Oliveira, sent back to the 155-pound division because of a checkered history of missing weight in the 145-pound class, choked out Will Brooks at just 2:30 of the first round in the first bout of the main card. He made quick work in his first lightweight bout since 2011 of Brooks. Brooks buried his head in his hands and was crestfallen on a stool for several minutes after the bout before Oliveria popped over for some encouraging words.
“I’m the best there is in jiu jitsu. I brought everything and I was able to do it,” he said.
Thiago Alves used a stunning left hook in the first round and battered Patrick Cote’s face to point where it was bathed in blood in a unanimous decision victory. Cote (23-11) dropped his gloves and retired in the wake of the punishing defeat.
“Win or lose, it would be my last fight,” he said.
Cynthia Calvillo earned a submission win in a fight that was nearly scrapped over Pearl Gonzalez’s breast implants. The state athletic commission cleared Gonzalez to fight after talking to her physician. Gonzalez might have wished the fight was called off when she gave up late in the third.
Buffalo Bills were seated cageside and Hall of Fame running back Thurman Thomas also was in the house.
Shane Burgos, a winner in his preliminary bout, and Patrick Cummins, who lost, both were transported to the hospital for precautionary reasons following their bouts.
UFC announced Urijah Faber will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in July during International Fight Week.