UFC 210
{{short description|UFC mixed martial arts event in 2017}}
{{Infobox MMA event
| name = UFC 210: Cormier vs Johnson 2
| image = UFC_210_event_poster.jpg
| promotion = Ultimate Fighting Championship
| date = April 8, 2017
| venue = KeyBank Center
| city = Buffalo, New York
| buyrate = 300,000{{cite web|url=https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/events/43812-ufc-210|title=UFC 210 Info}}
| estimatedviewers =
| purse =
| previousevent = UFC Fight Night: Manuwa vs. Anderson
| followingevent = UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Reis
}}
UFC 210: Cormier vs. Johnson 2 was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship held on April 8, 2017, at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York.{{cite news|url=http://mmajunkie.com/2017/01/ufc-returns-to-buffalo-for-first-time-since-1995-with-ufc-210-on-april-8|title=UFC returns to Buffalo for first time since 1995 with UFC 210 on April 8|publisher=mmajunkie.com|author=Staff|date=2017-01-15|access-date=2017-01-15}}
Background
File:First Niagara Center front.jpg marked the UFC's first return to Buffalo in almost 22 years.]]
The event was the second that the UFC has hosted in Buffalo, the first being UFC 7 in 1995. It was the first to be held in Buffalo since the state of New York lifted its ban on professional mixed martial arts in early 2016.
A UFC Light Heavyweight Championship rematch between current champion Daniel Cormier and Anthony Johnson headlined the event.{{cite news|url=http://www.mmafighting.com/2017/1/25/14389808/daniel-cormier-vs-anthony-johnson-2-set-for-ufc-210-in-buffalo|title=Daniel Cormier vs. Anthony Johnson 2 set for UFC 210|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Ariel Helwani|date=2017-01-25|access-date=2017-01-25}} The pairing met previously in May 2015 at UFC 187 with Cormier winning the fight (and the vacant title) via submission in the third round.{{cite web|url=http://mmajunkie.com/2015/05/ufc-187-results-daniel-cormier-wears-down-anthony-johnson-for-third-round-tap|title=UFC 187 results: Daniel Cormier wears down Anthony Johnson for third-round tap|author=Steven Marrocco|publisher=mmajunkie.com|date=2015-05-24|access-date=2017-01-25}} This rematch was originally scheduled to take place at UFC 206, but Cormier pulled out due to an injury and the bout was scrapped.{{cite web |url=http://mmajunkie.com/2016/11/report-daniel-cormier-injured-forced-out-of-ufc-206-headliner-vs-anthony-johnson|title=Report: Daniel Cormier injured, forced out of UFC 206 headliner vs. Anthony Johnson|author=Staff|publisher=mmajunkie.com|date=2016-11-25|access-date=2016-11-25}}
Controversy arose at the weigh-in as Cormier, who had initially weighed in 1.2 pounds over the 205-pound limit, minutes later weighed in at exactly 205 pounds. Video appeared to show Cormier supporting himself on a towel held by a teammate, though New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) officials denied such allegations.{{Cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/19102053/daniel-cormier-takes-two-attempts-make-weight-ufc-210-light-heavyweight-title-fight-anthony-johnson|title=Daniel Cormier needs two attempts to make weight for light heavyweight title fight|author=Brett Okamoto|work=espn.com|date=2017-04-07|access-date=2017-04-07}} After this fight, Johnson announced his retirement from the UFC and combat sports, effective immediately.{{Cite web |date=2017-04-10 |title=No longer 'Rumble,' Anthony Johnson posts farewell retirement message following UFC 210 |url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2017/04/no-longer-rumble-anthony-johnson-posts-farewell-retirement-message-following-ufc-210 |access-date=2023-06-03 |website=MMA Junkie |language=en-US}}
Promotional newcomer Pearl Gonzalez was expected to face Cynthia Calvillo at the event. She was ruled out of the contest on the day of the weigh ins after New York State Athletic Commission officials confirmed that she could not fight in the state because of her breast implants, which are banned among combat-sports competitors.{{cite web |url=http://mmajunkie.com/2017/04/breast-implants-rule-pearl-gonzalez-out-of-saturdays-ufc-210-event|title=Breast implants rule Pearl Gonzalez out of Saturday's UFC 210 event|author=Staff|publisher=mmajunkie.com|date=2017-04-07|access-date=2017-04-07}} Later the decision was reversed and the fight was allowed to go on as scheduled.{{cite web|url=http://www.mmafighting.com/2017/4/7/15224864/pearl-gonzalez-vs-cynthia-calvillo-fight-back-on-for-ufc-210|title=Pearl Gonzalez vs. Cynthia Calvillo fight back on for UFC 210|author=Marc Raimondi|publisher=mmafighting.com|date=2017-04-07|access-date=2017-04-07}}
During the main card broadcast, it was announced that former WEC Featherweight Champion and UFC Bantamweight Championship title challenger Urijah Faber would be inducted into the Modern Era wing of the UFC Hall of Fame in this year's ceremony, which took place on July 6 in the midst of the UFC's annual International Fight Week festivities.{{cite web|url=http://mmajunkie.com/2017/04/urijah-faber-announced-as-first-member-of-2017-ufc-hall-of-fame-class|title=Urijah Faber announced as first member of 2017 UFC Hall of Fame class|author=Staff|publisher=mmajunkie.com|date=2017-04-08|access-date=2017-04-08}}
Results
{{MMAevent}}
{{MMAevent card|Main Card}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Light Heavyweight
|Daniel Cormier (c)
|def.
|Submission (rear-naked choke)
|2
|3:37
|For the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Middleweight
|def.
|TKO (knees)
|2
|3:13
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Women's Strawweight
|def.
|Submission (rear-naked choke)
|3
|3:45
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Welterweight
|def.
|Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Lightweight
|def.
|Submission (rear-naked choke)
|1
|2:30
|
}}
{{MMAevent card|Preliminary Card (Fox Sports 1)|header=no}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Featherweight
|def.
|TKO (elbows and punches)
|1
|3:30
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Welterweight
|def.
|Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–26, 30–26)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Featherweight
|def.
|TKO (punches)
|3
|1:59
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Light Heavyweight
|def.
|Decision (majority) (29–28, 29–28, 28–28)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent card|Preliminary Card (UFC Fight Pass)|header=no}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Lightweight
|def.
|KO (punches)
|1
|0:21
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Lightweight
|def.
|Decision (split) (28–29, 29–28, 30–27)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Women's Bantamweight
|def.
|Decision (split) (28–29, 29–28, 29–28)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Flyweight
|def.
|Decision (unanimous) (29–26, 29–26, 29–26)
|3
|5:00
|Bibulatov was deducted one point in round 2 due to a groin strike.
}}
{{MMAevent end|notes=yes}}
Bonus awards
The following fighters were awarded $50,000 bonuses:{{cite web|url=http://mmajunkie.com/?p=241455|title=UFC 210 bonuses: Two undefeated prospects taking home some extra cash|publisher=mmajunkie.com|author=Staff|access-date=2017-04-09|date=2017-04-09}}
- Fight of the Night: Shane Burgos vs. Charles Rosa
- Performance of the Night: Charles Oliveira and Gregor Gillespie
Aftermath
The NYSAC issued a two-month suspension for Oliveira for hopping over the cage after defeating Brooks.{{cite web|url=http://mmajunkie.com/2017/04/cage-hopping-gets-charles-oliveira-60-day-suspension-from-nysac|title=Cage hopping gets Charles Oliveira 60-day suspension from NYSAC|publisher=mmajunkie.com|author=Steven Marrocco|date=2017-04-12|access-date=2017-04-12}}
On April 13, Johnson's team officially filed an appeal with the NYSAC over the controversial weigh-in of Cormier. In their appeal, they took grievance with the fact that no representative from the NYSAC questioned Cormier over the baffling notion of him losing 1.2 pounds in a matter of minutes. Johnson's team then called for Cormier to address the issue under oath, and if his testimony does not provide a satisfactory explanation, for Cormier to be fined 20 percent of his fight purse and stripped of his UFC light heavyweight title for failing to make weight. Johnson has stated that he does not want Cormier to be stripped of his title but instead be fined 20%.{{cite web|url=http://www.mmafighting.com/2017/4/13/15292820/anthony-johnson-officially-files-appeal-ufc-210-weigh-ins-daniel-cormier-to-be-stripped-of-title|title=Anthony Johnson officially files appeal of UFC 210 weigh-ins, calls for Daniel Cormier to be stripped of title|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Shaun Al-Shatti|date=2017-04-13|access-date=2017-04-13}} On June 2, the NYSAC denied Johnson's appeal.{{cite web|url=http://mmajunkie.com/2017/06/nysac-denies-retired-ufc-anthony-johnson-appeal|title=NYSAC denies Anthony Johnson's appeal stemming from UFC 210 weigh-in|publisher=mmajunkie.com|author=Steven Marrocco|date=2017-06-02|access-date=2017-06-02}}
At the UFC 2022 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, Cormier admitted that he "may have grabbed the towel" during the weigh-in, which is believed by many analysts to be a confession.{{cite web |last1=Fuentes |first1=Jon |title=Daniel Cormier Finally Admits To 'Towelgate' During UFC HOF Speech |url=https://www.mmanews.com/2022/07/daniel-cormier-towelgate/ |publisher=mmanews.com |access-date=2022-07-01}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{UFC Events}}
{{2017 in mixed martial arts}}
Category:Ultimate Fighting Championship flagship events
Category:2010s in Buffalo, New York
Category:Mixed martial arts in New York (state)
Category:Sports competitions in Buffalo, New York
Category:2017 in mixed martial arts