UFC 225: Robert Whittaker wins and Ronda Rousey declared a Hall of Famer

Ronda Rousey will become the first woman to enter UFC's Hall of Fame while Whittaker breaks his hand during win over Yoel Romero

It was a night to remember for MMA fans as UFC 225 provided what was quite possibly the fight of the year and the Chicago event also delivered the news that Ronda Rousey will be inducted into UFC's Hall of Fame.

The main event of the evening saw Australian UFC middleweight world champion Robert Whittaker claim a thrilling split-decision victory over number-one contender, Cuba’s Yoel Romero. 

The pair were due to meet for the UFC middleweight title, but Romero failed to make weight at Friday’s weigh-ins, meaning their bout on Saturday night was downgraded to a non-title fight.

But despite the lack of a belt on the line the pair served up a bout worthy of a world title as they battled back and forth in a fight that is already being talked about as a possible ‘Fight of the Year’.

Please note: As you'd expect with UFC, there are scenes of violence below

World champion Whittaker appeared to be winning the fight comfortably after the first two rounds but a massive right hand from Romero dropped the champion in the third as the Cuban poured on the pressure.

The pair then proceeded to trade huge shots throughout one of the most thrilling rounds of fighting seen in the octagon in 2018, as Romero - struggling with a swollen right eye - and Whittaker - struggling with a broken right hand sustained in the first round - threw everything at each other.

The bout continued with Romero badly rocking Whittaker in the fourth, then dropping him with a huge left hook in the fifth as he came close to finishing the champion in the final round. But to his great credit, Whittaker showed remarkable heart to survive the round and take the fight to the scorecards.

And when the judges rendered their verdict, it was Whittaker who got the nod, with two judges scoring the fight 48-47 in his favour, and one scoring it 48-47 to Romero.

Despite the fact Whittaker has now defeated Romero twice, talk has already started about a potential third matchup between the pair.

Romero said he’d have 100 rematches with the Australian, saying “It would be my pleasure,” while Whittaker was more guarded, saying he’d discuss his options with his team once he’d healed up from his injuries.

In the night’s co-main event, outspoken American welterweight Colby 'Chaos' Covington produced a relentless performance of constant forward pressure to outwork former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos and capture the vacant UFC interim welterweight title.

Covington pressured the Brazilian star right from the off, and did enough over the course of five breathless rounds to earn the nod on all three judges’ scorecards, with scores of 49-46, 48-47, 48-47.

And after the fight, Covington called out reigning UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley, before promising to take the interim belt to Washington DC.

"I'm bringing this belt to the White House and I'm putting it on Donald Trump’s desk!”

A unification match with former team-mate and world champion Woodley looks a near-certainty, with the reigning champion tweeting: “I let you bump your gums. Now you got smoke! I’m exposing you. You were and always will be my warm-up round!”

Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Holly Holm produced one of the most dominant performances of her UFC career to defeat debuting former Invicta featherweight champion, Australia’s Megan Anderson over three punishing rounds.

Holm shook off a flying knee from Anderson in the early stages and dominated the UFC newcomer, earning scores of 30-27, 30-26, 30-26 on the judges’ scorecards.

And after her hugely impressive win, Holm said her wish was to go back to her natural weight class of bantamweight and challenge reigning champion Amanda Nunes for her old title again.

When asked whether she’d prefer to fight for the featherweight title again or drop back down to challenge for her old belt at bantamweight, Holm said: “I want both! I want it all!

“I think sometimes when you get a little attached to something you might want that a little more, so the 135lb belt calls my name a little bit more, because I had it, then I lost it.”

While Anderson was unable to pick up a win on her UFC debut, it was a better night for another Australian on the card, as heavyweight Tai Tuivasa had a night to remember.

The heavy-handed 25-year-old led the Chicago crowd in a rendition of his walkout music, Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” from Titanic, before stepping into the octagon and taking a hard-earned unanimous decision win over former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski.

Then, in what’s becoming a post-fight tradition for the unbeaten prospect, Tuivasa went into the crowd and enjoyed a “shoey”, as he drank beer from a fan’s shoe in celebration.

Former WWE superstar CM Punk kicked off the pay-per-view portion of the card against fellow MMA newbie Mike “The Truth” Jackson, with both men looking to score their maiden UFC win after respective losses to New Jersey prospect Mickey Gall.

It was hoped that the matchup between Punk - real name Phil Brooks - and Jackson would produce a close, competitive affair, but Jackson dominated all three rounds to win a landslide unanimous decision with scores of 30-26 on all three scorecards as the wrestling star fell to his second straight loss in the octagon.

It was also announced during the event that former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey would be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame during International Fight Week next month.

Rousey’s success in the Strikeforce promotion convinced UFC president Dana White to backtrack on his statement that women would never fight in the UFC, as he created a women’s bantamweight division, with Rousey as its champion.

“There would be no women in UFC without Ronda Rousey,” said UFC President Dana White.

“Ronda is an absolute pioneer who helped me personally, and a lot of other people, look at women in combat sports differently. She accomplished everything she set out to do with UFC and became a global icon and role model in the process.”

“This is an immense honour, to not only take part in bringing women to the forefront of this sport, but now the UFC Hall of Fame,” said Rousey.

“May I be the first of many.”

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