UFC 251: Miocic vs Ngannou
Ohio, USA
Attendance: 14,456 (Gate: $3,238,144)
Critical Rating: 71%, Commercial Rating: 90%

MAIN EVENT

(#3) Francis Ngannou (15-3) defeated (#1) Stipe Miocic (19-4) via KO (Punch) at 1:09 of Round 1 to win the UFC Heavyweight Title

CO-MAIN EVENT

(#6) Junior Dos Santos (22-6) defeated (#2) Daniel Cormier (22-3-1NC) via KO (Punch) at 1:03 of Round 2

MAIN CARD

(#11) Robbie Lawler (29-14-1NC) defeated (#9) Nate Diaz (20-13) via TKO (Strikes) at 3:31 of Round 1
(#3) Marlon Moraes (24-6-1) defeated (#5) TJ Dillashaw (16-5) via Split Decision
Matt Brown (23-16) defeated Albert Tumenov (20-5) via TKO (Strikes) at 1:22 of Round 1

PRELIMS

Carlos Condit (31-13) defeated Ben Saunders (22-14-2) via Submission (Guillotine) at 0:50 of Round 1
(#24) Nik Lentz (31-10-2-1NC) defeated Clay Guida (35-20) via Submission (RNC) at 3:25 of Round 1
(#24) Eddie Wineland (25-13-1) defeated Iuri Alcantara (36-11-1NC) via TKO (Strikes) at 0:57 of Round 2
(#13) Ian Heinisch (14-3) defeated (#19) Tim Boetsch (21-14) via Unanimous Decision
Will Brooks (21-4-1) defeated Steven Ray (23-11) via Unanimous Decision
(#18) Mairbek Taisumov (28-6) defeated Bobby Green (24-11-1) via TKO (Strikes) at 1:06 of Round 3
Nordine Taleb (16-7) defeated Nathan Coy (15-8) via Unanimous Decision
Devonte Smith (11-2) defeated Magomed Mustafaev (14-3) via TKO (Strikes) at 0:33 of Round 1
Devin Clark (11-4) defeated Bojan Mihajlovic (10-7) via Unanimous Decision
Ottman Azaitar (13-0) defeated Omar Antonio Morales (9-1) via Submission (RNC) at 2:39 of Round 2


Bonuses: ($50,000)

Fight of the Night: Ian Heinisch vs Tim Boetsch
Knockout of the Night: Francis Ngannou (vs Stipe Miocic)
Submission of the Night: Nik Lentz (vs Clay Guida)


Notes:

- Ottman Azaitar remained undefeated in his career in the opening fight, while ending Omar Antonio Morales' undefeated record. This moves the German to 12-0 and 2-0 in the UFC. Azaitar then called out Dong Hyun Ma for his next fight, the fighter who was Morales last fight, which he lost.
- 40 year old Serbian, Bojan Mihajlovic dropped his 4th UFC fight out of 4 and was released from his contract.
- Devin Clark said he'd love to face returning Brazillian slugger, Fabio Maldonado in his next fight.
- Nathan Coy slips to 1-3 in the UFC and gets released after his loss to Nordine Taleb.
- Will Brooks made a successful return to the UFC with a Unanimous Decision over Steven Ray, this moved the former Bellator Lightweight champion's undefeated streak to 4.
- Eddie Wineland says he'd like to fight young prospect Nathaniel Wood next, it would be an old school vs new school fight if it came to fruition.
- Carlos Condit was relieved to pick up his first win in almost 5 years, and it only took 50 seconds to sink in a guillotine choke to get the tap from Ben Saunders, which was Saunders 5th loss in a row and will likely see him released from his contract.
- ACA Welterweight champion, Albert Tumenov had a less than successful return to the UFC after veteran Matt Brown stopped him with the first minute and a half of the first round.
- Marlon Moraes close split decision victory over TJ Dillashaw was hotly debated by fans after the result was announced. Many felt Dillashaw shouldve got the decision. This was Moraes second fight in a row where he took home a dubious split decision over a former UFC champion after his last fight against Jose Aldo. He called out Cory Sandhagen after the fight, but Sandhagen will be fighting Aljamain Sterling next for the Bantamweight belt.
- Robbie Lawler ended a 3 fight losing streak with a fantastic stoppage over the usually durable, Nate Diaz.
- Junior Dos Santos' stunning knockout of Daniel Cormier put his opponent on his first career losing streak.
- Francis Ngannou destroyed Heavyweight Champion Stipe Miocic in just over a minute to get revenge for a previous loss. Ngannou now has 4 first round finishes in a row, 3 of which are over fighters who have held the UFC Heavyweight Title.
- Curtis Blaydes stepped into the cage after the fight to staredown the new champion.


Rankings Changes:

Heavyweight: Francis Ngannou up to #1, Junior Dos Santos up to #2, Daniel Cormier down to #6, Stipe Miocic down to #7
Light Heavyweight: N/A
Middleweight: Ian Heinisch up to #12
Welterweight: Robbie Lawler up to #6, Nate Diaz down to #15
Lightweight: Nik Lentz up to #19
Featherweight: N/A
Bantamweight: Marlon Moraes up to #2, TJ Dillashaw down to #8, Eddie Wineland up to #16