UFC Fight Night: Stephens vs. Choi
{{short description|UFC mixed martial arts event in 2018}}
{{Infobox MMA event
|name=UFC Fight Night: Stephens vs. Choi
|image=UFC STL 2017 poster.jpg
|promotion=Ultimate Fighting Championship
|date= {{start date|2018|01|14}}
|venue= Scottrade Center
|city= St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
|buyrate=
|previousevent=UFC 219: Cyborg vs. Holm
|followingevent=UFC 220: Miocic vs. Ngannou
}}
UFC Fight Night: Stephens vs. Choi (also known as UFC Fight Night 124) was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship held on January 14, 2018, at Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri.{{cite news|url=http://www.ufc.com/news/UFC-Announces-Q1-Event-Schedule|title=UFC announces Q1 event schedule|publisher=ufc.com|author=Staff|date=2017-11-05|access-date=2017-11-05}}
Background
The event marked the promotion's first visit to St. Louis. Former Zuffa subsidiary Strikeforce previously contested three events in the city, the most recent in December 2010.{{cite news|url=http://reallifestl.com/2017/11/ufc-coming-st-louis-january-14-2018/|title=UFC coming to St. Louis on January 14, 2018|publisher=reallifestl.com|author=Staff|date=2017-11-05|access-date=2017-11-05}}
The event was headlined by a featherweight bout between Jeremy Stephens and Choi Doo-ho.{{cite news|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2017/12/17/16785746/jeremy-stephens-vs-doo-ho-choi-confirmed-as-ufc-st-louis-main-event|title=Jeremy Stephens vs. Doo Ho Choi confirmed as UFC St. Louis main event|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Alexander K. Lee|date=2017-12-18|access-date=2017-12-18}}
A welterweight bout between Kamaru Usman and Emil Weber Meek was originally scheduled for UFC 219. However, due to an alleged visa issue for Meek which affected his travel schedule, the pairing was delayed and then rescheduled for UFC 220.{{cite news|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2017/12/13/16772840/kamaru-usman-vs-emil-meek-rescheduled-for-ufc-220|title=Kamaru Usman vs. Emil Meek rescheduled for UFC 220|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Ariel Helwani|date=2017-12-13|access-date=2017-12-13}} However, on the next day, it was shifted to this event.{{cite news|url=http://mmajunkie.com/2017/12/kamaru-usman-vs-emil-meek-rescheduled-for-ufc-fight-night-124-in-st-louis|title=Kamaru Usman vs. Emil Meek rescheduled for UFC Fight Night 124 in St. Louis|publisher=mmajunkie.com|author=Staff|date=2017-12-14|access-date=2017-12-14}}
Zak Cummings was expected to face Thiago Alves at the event. However just two days before the bout, Cummings injured himself after falling and the bout was canceled.{{cite news|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2018/1/12/16887290/zak-cummings-out-of-ufc-st-louis-due-to-injury|title=Zak Cummings out of UFC St. Louis due to injury|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Alexander K. Lee|date=2018-01-12|access-date=2018-01-13}}
At the weigh-ins, Mads Burnell weighed in at 150 pounds, 4 pounds over the featherweight non-title fight upper limit of 146 pounds. As such, the bout proceeded at a catchweight and Burnell forfeited 20% of his purse to his opponent Mike Santiago . Meanwhile, Uriah Hall did not weigh in as he fainted en route to the weigh-ins and his fight against former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion and UFC 12 Heavyweight Tournament winner Vitor Belfort was canceled.{{cite news|url=http://mmajunkie.com/2018/01/ufc-fight-night-124-weigh-in-results-and-live-video-stream-10-a-m-et|title=UFC Fight Night 124 weigh-in results: Co-headliner called off, one fighter heavy|publisher=mmajunkie.com|author=Staff|date=2018-01-13|access-date=2018-01-13}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bloodyelbow.com/2018/1/13/16888772/uriah-hall-fainted-ufc-fight-night-st-louis-weigh-ins-vitor-belfort-mma-news|title=Report: Uriah Hall fainted en route to UFC St. Louis weigh-ins|publisher=bloodyelbow.com|author=Nick Baldwin|date=2018-01-13|access-date=2018-01-13}}
Results
{{MMAevent}}
{{MMAevent card|Main Card (Fox Sports 1)}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Featherweight
|def.
|TKO (punches and elbows)
|2
|2:36
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Women's Flyweight
|def.
|Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 29–28, 29–28)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Welterweight
|def.
|Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Featherweight
|def.
|Submission (rear-naked choke)
|2
|2:22
|
}}
{{MMAevent card|Preliminary Card (Fox Sports 1)|header=no}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Lightweight
|def.
|Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Lightweight
|def.
|KO (punch)
|1
|1:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Women's Bantamweight
|def.
|Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Bantamweight
|def.
|Submission (triangle choke)
|1
|4:53
|
}}
{{MMAevent card|Preliminary Card (UFC Fight Pass)|header=no}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Women's Flyweight
|def.
|Decision (split) (29–28, 28–29, 29–28)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Women's Strawweight
|def.
|Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Catchweight (150 lb)
|def.
|Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent end|notes=yes}}
Bonus awards
The following fighters were awarded $50,000 bonuses:{{cite web|url=http://mmajunkie.com/2018/01/ufc-fight-night-124-bonuses-darren-elkins-latest-crazy-comeback-was-worth-an-extra-50000|title=UFC Fight Night 124 bonuses: Darren Elkins' latest crazy comeback worth extra $50,000|publisher=mmajunkie.com|author=Staff|date=2018-01-15|access-date=2018-01-15}}
- Fight of the Night: Jeremy Stephens vs. Doo Ho Choi
- Performance of the Night: Darren Elkins and Polo Reyes
See also
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{UFC Events}}
{{2018 in mixed martial arts}}
Category:Mixed martial arts events in St. Louis
Category:2018 in mixed martial arts