Israel Adesanya entered UFC 271 as middleweight champion.

And left it the same way.

Adesanya dominated former titleholder Robert Whittaker, defending his belt in the main event from the Toyota Center. 

“Stylebender” earned his fourth successful defense, improving to 22-1 overall. His lone loss came last March to Jan Blachowicz for the UFC light heavyweight title.

Adesanya also improved to 2-0 vs. Whittaker, as he unified the belts in 2019 with a second round finish. 

Tuivasa, Cannonier score finishes

In the co-main event, Tai Tuivasa upset Derrick Lewis with a second round finish. Afte nearly being put away by Lewis in the first, Tuivasa stormed out of the gates in the second.

Using all his power, Tuivasa picked up his fifth consecutive win – all of which have come via knockout. He is now 14-3 overall and 8-3 with the UFC. The loss was the second in three fights for Lewis, who is now 26-9.

Jared Cannonier caught Derek Brunson and didn’t let up. Cannonier scored a second round TKO victory over Brunson after landing, claiming his second consecutive win and fifth over the last six fights.

Cannonier improved his overall record to 15-5 with eight of those wins coming inside the Octagon. This was his 12th career finish and 10th via knockout or TKO.

Renato Moicano locked in a rear-naked choke in the second and scored a victory over Alexander Hernandez. The 32-year-old Moicano moved to 16-4-1 and picked up his second consecutive win in the process. 

Bobby Green showed why he remains one of the toughest outs in the lightweight division. In the pay-per-view opener, Green bested Nasrat Haqparast by decision.

Green picked up his second consecutive win, adding to a November TKO victory over Al Iaquinta. He is now 29-12-1 in his career. 

Arlovski, O’Neill highlight prelims

Former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski stretched his current win streak to three with a split decision victory over Jared Vanderaa. Arlovski has won five of his last six and has his first three-fight win streak since winning six in a row between 2013-15.

Casey O’Neill sent Roxanne Modafferi out with a split decision loss, slipping past her in a flyweight fight. The 24-year-old O’Neill improved to 9-0 in her career with the win. 

Kyler Phillips stormed back for a third round submission win over Marcelo Rojo. Midway through the final round, Phillips locked in a triangle armbar and earned the victory, his 10th overall and fourth inside the Octagon. 

Carlos Ulberg kicked off the televised prelims on ESPN with a decision over Fabio Cherant. The light heavyweight dominated, sweeping all three rounds. 

On the early prelims, Ronnie Lawrence, Jacob Malkoun, Douglas Silva, Jeremiah Wells and Maxim Grishin were all winners.

Silva and Wells each won by technical submission. 

UFC 271 Results

Israel Adesanya def. Robert Whittaker via unanimous decision to remain UFC middleweight champion

Tai Tuivasa def. Derrick Lewis via KO (strike) at 1:40 of Round 2

Jared Cannonier def. Derek Brunson via KO (strikes) at 4:29 of Round 2

Renato Moicano def. Alexander Hernandez via submission (rear-naked choke) at 1:23 of Round 2

Bobby Green def. Nasrat Haqparast via unanimous decision

Andrei Arlovski def. Jared Vanderaa via split decision

Casey O’Neill def. Roxanne Modafferi via split decision

Kyler Phillips def. Marcelo Rojo via submission (triangle armbar) at 1:48 of Round 3

Carlos Ulberg def. Fabio Cherant via unanimous decision

Ronnie Lawrence def. Leomana Martinez via unanimous decision

Jacob Malkoun def. A.J. Dobson via unanimous decision

Douglas Silva def. Sergey Morozov via technical submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:24 of Round 2

Jeremiah Wells def. Mike Mathetha via technical submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:38 of Round 1

Maxim Grishin def. William Knight via unanimous decision

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