Weili Zhang defeats Tecia Torres by unanimous decision If MMA fans didn't know Zhang before UFC 235, they certainly do now. Zhang controlled Torres, primarily on the ground, throughout all three rounds and won by unanimous decision. Zhang has not lost since her professional debut in 2013, winning 19 consecutive bouts. Zhang wasn't the striker of Torres' ability, but her elite grappling ability enabled her to take down her opponent multiple times, leading to ground-and-pound. She closed the third round on top of Torres in side control, landing short but effective punches. "I feel really happy and excited. It's an honor to fight one of the top fighters in the UFC's strawweight division," Zhang said in the Octagon. "I'm one step closer to my goal. My goal is to be the strawweight champion of the UFC." Torres (10-4) has now lost three in a row. Pedro Munhoz defeats Cody Garbrandt by first-round TKO Munhoz knocked out Garbrandt in arguably the wildest round of 2019. Munhoz landed a straight left midway through the first, dropping Garbrandt to the mat. Munhoz pounced, landing ground-and-pound, but Garbrandt was able to get up and landed a flying knee. The two continued to trade hard shots, most of which landed, before Munhoz connected on a right to Garbrandt's face to end the bout at 4:51 in the first. "I have been watching a lot of Cody's fights, studying him, so I knew this would be the perfect matchup for me," Munhoz said. "I've never been dropped in a fight or in practice, I believe in my chin more than anything. I knew I was capable of taking his shots and then giving my shots back. I was 100 percent sure that if I could connect with his chin that I could knock him out." Munhoz (18-3) has won three straight. Garbrandt, the former UFC bantamweight champion, has dropped three in a row, two of them to current titleholder TJ Dillashaw. Zabit Magomedsharipov defeats Jeremy Stephens by unanimous decision Magomedsharipov continued to live up to the hype, using a variety of effective spinning strikes and ground-and-pound to edge veteran Stephens by unanimous decision (all three judges scored the fight 29-28). Stephens, likely down two rounds to zero going into the third, nearly pulled off the comeback with a few hard punches that landed, but it was not enough in the end. Magomedsharipov (17-1) landed more shots in the first round than Stephens and truly took control in the second. He threw Stephens (28-16) to the mat midway through and took his back. Magomedsharipov then added hard elbows and punches as the round ended. After both fighters got up, Stephens shoved Magomedsharipov, and Magomedsharipov did the same back. The Dagestan native has won 13 fights in a row, including five straight in the UFC. His 26 takedowns in his first five UFC fights are tied for fifth-most in UFC history through a fighter's first five fights. Stephens has lost two in a row. Johnny Walker defeats Misha Cirkunov by first-round TKO Walker's epic start to his UFC career continued, as he defeated Cirkunov by first-round TKO just 36 seconds into the fight. Walker landed a huge flying knee that dropped Cirkunov to the mat. The Brazilian then followed up with strikes before the referee jumped in. Walker's night wasn't all happy, though. Celebrating in the cage after the win by flopping to the mat, he might have separated his shoulder or hurt his arm in the process. Walker (17-3), who just a month ago won in 15 seconds, became the sixth fighter in UFC history to start a career with three first-round knockouts. Cirkunov (14-5), once himself a top contender, has dropped three of four. Cody Stamann defeats Alejandro Perez by unanimous decision Stamann edged Perez in a close fight between rising bantamweights, winning by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28). Both fighters traded shots throughout, but Stamann landed more significant strikes, particularly to Perez's head and body. Stamann rebounded from a second-round submission loss to Aljamain Sterling in September. He has now won 11 of his last 12. Perez's loss snaps his four-fight win streak. Diego Sanchez defeats Mickey Gall by second-round TKO UFC veteran Sanchez, 37, turned back the clock with one of the best performances of his career. Sanchez finished Gall, a rising prospect 10 years younger than him, with hard elbows and punches from full mount 4:13 into the second round. "At age 20, I had a passion outside of mixed martial arts, and that's anti-aging," Sanchez (29-11) said in the Octagon after his win. "After this career is over, that's what I'm going to do. The anti-aging game." The finish was Sanchez's first since June 2008. He is the only UFC fighter who has fought in the Octagon every year since 2005. Gall (5-2) has lost two of his last three after winning his first four professional fights. Edmen Shahbazyan defeats Charles Byrd by first-round TKO Shahbazyan continued to make a case as one of the sport's top young prospects, defeating Charles Byrd by TKO only 38 seconds into their bout. The 21-year-old, pressed up against the fence by Byrd, rained down sharp elbows to his opponent's head. He then finished Byrd with a hard right that ended the fight early. Shahbazyan (9-0) has eight first-round TKO finishes and remains unbeaten. Byrd has dropped two in a row. Macy Chiasson defeats Gina Mazany by first-round TKO Chiasson knocked out Mazany just 1:49 into the first round, remaining unbeaten through five professional fights. She landed a hard left hook to the face that sent Mazany stumbling back against the cage. Chiasson followed with multiple right and left hooks that forced Mazany to the mat, causing the referee to step in and end the bout early. It was Chiasson's second career first-round finish. Mazany has now lost three of her past four fights. Hannah Cifers defeats Polyana Viana by split decision Cifers (9-3) and Viana (10-3) opened the card with a back-and-forth striking battle that ended in a split decision win for Cifers (29-28, 29-28, 28-29). Cifers and Viana traded shots throughout and were close overall on significant strikes (77 to 67 in favor of Viana), though Cifers landed a hard shot in the second round that sent her opponent to the mat. She opted not to pounce on the ground due to Viana's elite grappling skills, and the bout continued. It was Cifers' fourth pro win by decision and her sixth victory in her past seven.<doc-sep>Former Bellator and ONE champion Ben Askren made a successful Octagon debut Saturday night at UFC 235, submitting Robbie Lawler. The victory, though, left many questioning the end result in Las Vegas. Askren took one of the worst beatings of his career, landing on his head after a suplex by Lawler that was followed by several strikes on the ground. Askren, though, recovered and worked a bulldog choke that forced referee Herb Dean to stop the bout in the first round. Lawler immediately protested the decision, stating that he wasn’t out from the choke attempt and could continue. Nevertheless, the bout was over and Askren was declared the champion. “I feel great,” Askren said afterwards (thanks to MMA Fighting for the quotes). “I watched the video. I saw the arm go limp. I know he was trying to relax himself, but I don’t know any conscious person that just goes (limp). It just doesn’t happen.” UFC president Dana White, who was very outspoken against even bringing Askren to the UFC for years, said that a rematch could be possible between the two. However, Askren declined, stating “I pass” and saying he planned to attend an upcoming event to see Darren Till and Jorge Masvidal square off. “We gotta do the rematch,” White said. “It’s only fair. (Askren) battled some adversity. I think the ref made a made decision. The rematch should be great.”<doc-sep>They said what?! Twitter reacts to Ben Askren’s controversial sub win over Robbie Lawler at UFC 235 Ben Askren finished Robbie Lawler with a seemingly not locked in choke at UFC 235. On Twitter, pro fighters were displeased with the referee’s stoppage.<doc-sep>
After waiting 10 years and 19 pro fights to make his long-awaited UFC debut, Ben Askren sure made up for lost time. In a fight that featured an insane amount of violence, drama, suspense, heart and controversy packed into just over three minutes of action, Askren survived nearly being stopped to submit former welterweight champion Robbie Lawler on Saturday at UFC 235 in Las Vegas. The debate over whether Lawler (28-13, 1 NC) was actually ever unconscious will likely linger on thanks to the inconclusive replays and referee Herb Dean's questionable stoppage. What isn't up for debate, however, is how much Askren (19-0, 1 NC) was forced to endure in a wild and entertaining entrance to the Octagon. With his face covered in blood and his clock cleaned after being slammed onto his head, Askren rallied to force a takedown and apply a bulldog choke that caused Dean to jump in at 3:20 of Round 1 after Lawler's right arm dropped while he was kneeling. Immediately after the stoppage, though, Lawler popped up to protest before hugging Dean and graciously accepting defeat. Can't get enough UFC? Subscribe to my podcast State of Combat with Brian Campbell where I break down everything you need to know in the Octagon. The disputed victory gave the 34-year-old Askren a chance to incite the crowd and poke the bear in the direction of UFC president Dana White, who feuded with Askren for years while preventing the former Bellator MMA and ONE Championship titleholder from signing with the promotion. "I want to know how long until Dana bitches about that stoppage," Askren said. "I have one other question, 'Hey Dana, is that really the best you got? Bring it baby.' "If you watch the tape, I was actually kind of shocked by it but Herb asked him a few times whether he was OK and didn't hear anything, so I was wondering whether he really was out." The fight began with Askren instantly shooting for a double-leg takedown. Although he was stuffed, he continued to chain wrestle in order to hang on until Lawler lifted Askren up onto his shoulders and dropped him down with a suplex. Askren appeared to be out as Lawler leaped on top and bloodied him with short elbows and punches. Dean showed restraint in not instantly waving the fight off as Askren scrambled to cover up. Eventually, Askren fought off the attack and worked the fight back up to the feet despite eating clean knee strikes to get there. After a long clinch along the cage wall that allowed Askren to clear the cobwebs, he eventually wrestled Lawler down and took his back before applying the choke. "Guys, you can boo. I'm not the freeking referee, that's what it all comes down to," Askren said. "Robbie is obviously one of my favorite fighters so it kind of sucked that I had to fight him first. I was freaking discombobulated from that slam. I landed on my head a little bit and it took me a while to get my wits about me, but I expected a game plan. 'Funky' sure ain't going anywhere. "Again, I'm not the referee. My job is to come here and fight." For complete results from UFC 235, click here.