Two UFC Title Fights Set, UFC 178 Highlights, Dana White On Romero - Kennedy Controversy

By Wrestling Inc. Staff

- For the fifth straight time, Demetrious Johnson had little trouble defending his UFC flyweight title, as "Mighty Mouse" submitted Chris Cariaso Saturday night in the UFC 178 main event. The finish was the third for Johnson since claiming the inaugural title, and you can see highlights in the video above.

Johnson (21-2-1) has now stopped Joseph Benavidez, John Moraga and Cariaso, while holding decision wins over Ali Bagautinov and John Dodson.

- UFC president Dana White confirmed a pair of future title fights following UFC 178 Saturday night, as Cat Zingano will meet Ronda Rousey for the female bantamweight belt, while former champion Dominick Cruz takes on T.J. Dillashaw for the male bantamweight title.

Rousey-Zingano is penciled in for UFC 182 this January as the co-main event to Jon Jones-Daniel Cormier for the light heavyweight title. Zingano earned a third round finish over Amanda Nunes Saturday, solidifying her status as the No. 1 contender.

Cruz returned from almost three years away and finished Takeya Mizugaki in just over a minute. He was stripped of the title currently worn by Dillashaw earlier this year after another injury.

- The Tim Kennedy-Yoel Romero main card bout at UFC 178 Saturday night was filled with controversy, as Romero remained on his stool after the bell sounded to begin the third round. After receiving almost an additional 30 seconds to recover, Romero finished Kennedy.

At the end of the second, Kennedy had Romero on the ropes, busting him open. That forced the Octagon-side doctors to apply vaseline to stop the bleeding on Romero. Too much, though, was used, and the referee ordered it be cleaned off. Romero remained sitting throughout the entire ordeal.

"It was very controversial," said UFC president Dana White on the FOX Sports 1 post-fight show. "It's the oldest, dirtiest trick in combat sports. Yes, it was bad. The handlers from the athletic commission were screaming at them to get out of the Octagon."

Kennedy posted on Twitter a rule from the Nevada Athletic Commission, saying the bout should have been stopped once Romero stayed seated. No word yet if the decision will be overturned.

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