After four years, the UFC returned to Abu Dhabi for a special Friday event that aired entirely on Fight Pass. UFC Fight Night 39 featured a main event between heavyweights Roy Nelson and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.
As he has done to the likes of Cheick Kongo, Matt Mitrione and others, Nelson landed his heavy right hand and dropped Nogueira, flooring the former interim UFC heavyweight champion. Nelson, a former winner of The Ultimate Fighter, offered plenty of respect to Nogueira after the fight.
“He’s a legend,” said Nelson, who improved to 20-9 with the first round win. “Thank you. If it wasn’t for him, there wouldn’t be fighting in MMA. He’s the heavyweight (legend).”
In the co-main event, Clay Guida picked up his second featherweight victory, besting Tatsuya Kawajiri via decision. Other main card results saw Ryan LaFlare defeat John Howard and Ramsey Nijm finish Beneil Dariush.
Nelson and Nijem each earned “Performance of the Night” bonuses and an extra $50,000, while Guida and Kawajiri were named the “Fight of the Night.”
The attendance was announced at 7,963, which UFC president Dana White stated was a sellout, for a live gate of $1.8 million.
Complete results can be found below:
Roy Nelson def. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira via KO (right-hand) at 3:37 of Round 1
Clay Guida def. Tatsuya Kawajiri via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Ryan LaFlare def. John Howard via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Ramsey Nijem def. Beneil Dariush via TKO (strikes) at 4:20 of Round 1
Jared Rosholt def. Daniel Omielanczuk via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Thales Leites def. Trevor Smith via TKO (strikes) at :45 of Round 1
Jim Alers def. Alan Omer via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Johnny Bedford vs. Rani Yahya is declared a no-contest due to accidental head butt at :39 of Round 1
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Unlike Cris Cyborg or Miesha Tate, UFC female bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey actually respects Gina Carano. She respects her so much that, even after almost five years away from MMA, Rousey is willing to put her belt on the line in an immediate championship match if Carano returns to the sport.
“I think it would be the best thing for women’s MMA,” said Rousey, during a media luncheon earlier this week in Los Angeles (thanks to MMAFighting.com for the quotes). “I think it would be the highest profile fight that could be done. I think it would make more sense to go straight to a title fight.
“I don’t think it would make sense for her to come back and fight somebody else and take the risk of losing and not being able to capitalize on the fight between me and her. She’s one of the pioneers of the sport. She’s the reason I fight at all.”
Rousey (9-0) is coming off a first round TKO victory over Sara McMann this past February. Like Carano, she is also working her way through Hollywood, receiving roles in several upcoming projects. She is set to be the lead female in the “Entourage” film, and also filmed scenes for “The Expendables 3” last year.
Carano (7-1) has been away from the MMA spotlight since a 2009 loss to Cyborg in Strikeforce. She selected a movie career full-time after that defeat, but has stated in recent interviews there remains an itch to return to fighting.
UFC president Dana White and Carano met earlier this week to discuss such a return. Her contract remains owned by Zuffa, which purchased it in the Strikeforce deal a few years ago.
“She’s going to come back when she wants to sign,” White said during the same press event. “She’s the type of person like this one here (pointing to Rousey), she’s not coming back just because. She’s coming back because she wants the title.”
