Robert Whittaker and Darren Till were the main attraction of the fourth consecutive ‘Fight Island’ event. The fight was bloody, but it didn’t end with either fighter’s overwhelming dominance.
The main stars of the day didn’t hold back. Viewers enjoyed a lengthy five-round fight that was extremely close and thoroughly entertaining. Whittaker was the one with a slight edge, taking home a victory by a unanimous decision from the judges.
Even though the scores indicate that Till performed better in the first round, the second and the third went to Whittaker as he retaliated. Darren Till did not lose hope and won the fourth round, but the fifth round victory secured Whittaker the win in the bout.
The Clash of Brazilians
Another notable fight took place in the light heavyweight division. Mauricio Rua and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, the two veterans of the MMA met for the third time, continuing their 15-year-old interpersonal history.
The bout, once again, was close and ended by decision, not by TKO or submission. Rua took the win after three rounds by a split decision.
Nogueira previously stated that he’d retire after that fight. Unfortunately for the Brazilian, he did not go out with a bang.
Effective Victory
Alexander Gustafsson returned to the UFC after a brief retirement (a common occurrence these days), but he wasn’t ready for the dominating force that was Fabricio Werdum.
The latter didn’t drag the fight for very long. Instead, he found the angle and forced Gustafsson into submission in the first round. But that fight will be the last UFC bout for Werdum. He will not be continuing his contract with the promotion.
Performance Bonuses
Werdum got paid a substantial sum of money for his performance, too. He left the ‘FIght Island’ $50,000 dollars richer.
The two other fighters who were acknowledged (and compensated) for their performance were Khamzat Chimaev (TKO in the first round) and Tanner Boser (second-round TKO).
Aspinall, Ronson, and Craig also shined at the UFC on ESPN 14 and were rewarded accordingly.
Conclusion
The UFC on ESPN 14 was a mix of intense strategic battles and sweeping victories. No matter which type suits your taste, there was something to enjoy for everyone.
What fight did you like the most?
Also, you can read Kamaru Usman Defends His Welterweight Title – But at What Cost?
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