Enrique Briones and Guido Cannetti put on the “Fight of the Night.” | Photo: Jeff Sherwood/Sherdog.com
Fabricio Werdum, Kelvin Gastelum, Enrique Briones and Guido Cannetti left Mexico City with $50,000 bonuses for their performances at UFC 180.
Tasked with facing hard-hitting late replacement Mark Hunt, Werdum overcame some early danger to put away the “Super Samoan” in style. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace dropped Hunt with a knee to the jaw, then pounded him out with punches on the ground to become the UFC interim heavyweight champion at 2:27 of round two.
Welterweight up-and-comer Gastelum scored a lightning-quick submission of Jake Ellenberger in the show’s co-headliner. The winner of “The Ultimate Fighter 17” improved to 10-0 as a professional by attaching himself to Ellenberger’s back and forcing the Nebraskan to submit to a rear-naked choke at 4:46 of the opening round.
After being hurt by Cannetti’s body kicks in the opening round of their bantamweight duel, Briones stormed back in round two and floored the Argentinan with a crisp counter-uppercut. Briones got the Mexican crowd going at 1:44 of the second frame when he tapped Cannetti with a tight rear-naked choke.