Dana White On UFC 177 Main Event, UFC Title Fight Video Highlights, Gina Carano Update
- T.J. Dillashaw successfully defended his bantamweight title Saturday night at UFC 177, scoring a fifth round knockout of Joe Soto. Dillashaw earned his second straight late round finish after landing a head-kick followed by a right-hand that floored the former Bellator champion.
Dillashaw was expected to face Renan Barao, but Barao went down Friday before weigh-ins. Soto stepped up from the prelims to main event in his first Octagon appearance, which you can see highlights of in the video above.
- UFC president Dana White summed up the late-minute UFC 177 main event by saying "you never know what to expect" during his post-fight interview on FOX Sports 1. The show featured T.J. Dillashaw defeating Joe Soto to retain the bantamweight title.
"Soto was highly motivated and I have a lot of respect for him," White said. "(Dillashaw) was facing an incredible amount of pressure, (but) he went out and performed."
Dillashaw was making his first title defense in his hometown of Sacramento after winning the belt from Renan Barao earlier this year. While the event was torn apart due to injuries and other issues, White was still pleased with how it all turned out in the end.
"We always deliver," he said. "Sacramento is a killer fight town. This town is awesome."
The attendance was announced at over 11,000 with a live gave of $700,000. Dillashaw, Yancy Medeiros, Ramsey Nijem and Carlos Diego Ferreira all earned bonuses.
- The planned Ronda Rousey-Gina Carano fight might take a backseat to Cat Zingano, according to UFC president Dana White. During his post-UFC 177 media scrum, White made mention of Carano once again, explaining that things are still unsigned between the two sides.
"(Zingano) is next in line," White said. "I did at one point (think Carano would get an immediate title shot). There's just one more thing (that needs to be worked out with the contract). It's close; it'll be done."
Carano hasn't fought since 2009, while Zingano returns to action next month after over a year away due to a knee injury and the sudden loss of her husband to suicide.