Stipe Miocic, delivers a right against Junior Dos Santos. (Gregory Payan/AP)
UFC 211, which unfolded at American Airlines Center in Dallas, proved by far the best MMA events of the year, thanks to two title fights that lived up to the hype and an undercard filled with fireworks.
First and foremost, it appears the UFC’s heavyweight division may have finally found its king in Stipe Miocic. No one has ever defended the belt more than twice, but thanks to a first-round knockout win over Junior dos Santos, Ohio native Miocic will get his chance in the near future.
In the co-main event, meanwhile, Joanna Jedrzejczyk has continued her reign atop the strawweight division, taking a clean five-round decision that saw her land more than 200 strikes against durable, dangerous challenger Jessica Andrade. The undefeated Jedrzejczyk has defended her title five times against the best the division can throw at her, making her just one defense shy of tying Ronda Rousey’s record.
The rest of the card also proved worthy with Brazilian veteran Demian Maia earning his seventh win in a row and securing a long-awaited and well-deserved welterweight title shot for himself with a nailbiter of a win over the experienced, technical Jorge Masvidal. And former lightweight champion and two-time featherweight title challenger Frankie Edgar showed that he’s not over the hill yet by crushing youthful upstart Yair Rodriguez in a one-sided beatdown that reaffirmed Edgar’s status as a top 145-pounder.
Read on for more details and round-by-round analysis.
Stipe Miocic def. Junior dos Santos via TKO, Round 1, 2:22
That’s now two title defenses for Miocic, who ties the division’s all-time record and cements himself as the fighter to take the UFC’s heavyweight division out of the funk it’s been in for nearly the entirety of its existence, save for Brock Lesnar’s reign. The likable, garrulous Miocic could be a star for a division that badly needs one. As for dos Santos, there aren’t a lot of positives to take from this ending. The improved footwork and ringcraft he showed off in his last fight, the antidote to his consistent problems, were MIA tonight. That’s what cost him the fight and a chance at regaining his title. There’s no clear-cut challenger for Miocic now, but it’s hard to believe he won’t be the favorite against anybody he faces at this point. As he said himself when he won, “Too easy.”
Round 1: Dos Santos opens up with some uncharacteristic low kicks — he’s a boxer by nature — as Miocic tries to push him back to the fence. Miocic lands a few shots, but can’t keep dos Santos there, who’s moving off the cage with much more urgency than he’s shown in the past. Eventually he stops, though, and when he does Miocic drops dos Santos with a huge punch and that’s all she wrote. That’s the fight. Miocic wins by knockout.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk def. Jessica Andrade via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-44, 50-45)

Joanna Jedrzejczyk poses for photographers during a weigh-in before UFC 211 on Friday, May 12, 2017, in Dallas before UFC 211. ( AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
It was a clean and technical beating against a fighter who, on paper, was a tough stylistic matchup for Jedrzejczyk. If the champion had lost her discipline, if she’d panicked in the face of Andrade’s pressure, if she’d made mistakes with her timing or distance, Andrade could’ve finished her in a heartbeat. But none of that happened, and there wasn’t much margin for error. This affirms yet again that Jedrzejczyk is the best technical striker in MMA and likely the greatest female fighter of all time. She’ll either fight Rose Namajunas at 115 pounds or, perhaps, pursue the inaugural 125-pound title, because why not?
Well, there’s one big reason. Now with five title defenses, Jedrzejczyk’s got just one more to go to tie Ronda Rousey’s record and the 29-year-old strawweight has made it pretty clear she wants to beat the former bantamweight champion’s record.
“Ronda Rousey, she had six title defenses so I want to get to this spot as well,” Jedrzejczyk said (via the Los Angeles Times) this week. “I like that with every fight I break some small records, with punches, kicks or other things. I want to be an undefeated champion and stay humble and work hard enough to retire this way.”
Andrade, meanwhile, has nothing to be ashamed of, and at just 25, she’ll be back again at the top. Her game face, in any case, is as good as the champ’s.
Round 1: Jedrzejczyk comes out a bit more aggressive than usual, delivering jabs and kicks, while Andrade lets Jedrzejczyk come to her. The champion’s footwork is outstanding early, but she stays in the pocket just a bit too long and absorbs a big counter combination from Andrade. The two tie up for the first time and Andrade slams Jedrzejczyk to the canvas, but can’t hold her down. When they clinch, Jedrzejczyk responds with a series of knees and elbows. This is smart fighting and game planning from Jedrzejczyk to use her reach and wear the shorter, more explosive fighter down. Andrade is trying to pick her spots to explode into a combination, but Jedrzejczyk is doing a great job of sliding out of range and then moving laterally to avoid them and minimize Andrade’s opportunities. This is masterful stuff from the champion early. 10-9 to Jedrzejczyk, but ouch.
Round 2: Jedrzejczyk goes right back to work with the low kicks, chopping away at Andrade’s lead leg. That’ll limit her substantial explosiveness as the fight goes on. Andrade’s pressure hasn’t been especially successful, mostly because of Jedrzejczyk’s masterful footwork. The champion is sticking her with jabs and now the straight right is starting to make an appearance; look for Jedrzejczyk to start sitting down on more combinations as Andrade wears down. Andrade is landing the occasional shot when she backs Jedrzejczyk up, but Andrade will need to get lucky and land one that really counts: She normally does her work with flurries of four or more punches, and the champion isn’t giving her opportunities to bomb away. A sharp right hand snaps Andrade’s head back, and you can feel the momentum start to turn. Andrade isn’t done yet, though, and she lands a hard combination before executing a big high-crotch lift. She can’t keep Jedrzejczyk on the ground, though, and we’re right back to range, where Jedrzejczyk slams home jab after jab, then a high kick, before eating one more shot from Andrade as the round ends. 10-9 Jedrzejczyk and 20-18 overall.
Round 3: More low kicks from Jedrzejczyk early, and Andrade finally counters one with a brutal right hand. The champion withstands it and goes right back to work, though, slipping in another high kick and then a sharp jab-cross. This is gorgeous work. Finally a mistake from Jedrzejczyk as she stands her ground to throw for a moment too long, letting Andrade onto her hips, but she stuffs the takedown and makes Andrade pay in the clinch. This is turning into a mauling. Andrade’s explosiveness has been drained away by nearly 50 low kicks and a ton of body work, and she’s really struggling to get close enough to land shots. Jedrzejczyk is starting to throw more counters and stay in the pocket more, and if she really decides to dig in and go to work, I don’t think Andrade will see the final bell. 10-9 Jedrzejczyk and 30-27 overall.
Round 4: Andrade goes southpaw early, but Jedrzejczyk continues to chip away with low kicks and stops her with a long jab. The champion is actually kicking while moving backward, something we rarely see in MMA but a move that high-level kickboxers do effectively. Jedrzejczyk is sitting down on her shots now, connecting on two and three punches at at a time to the body and head. This is a clinical mauling. Andrade walks into the clinch and pins Jedrzejczyk against the fence, but takes an elbow for her trouble and then a series of knees to the body. Back in open space, a sharp right hand snaps Andrade’s head back, then a left high-kick lands, then a left hook. Somehow Andrade is still in there, which is absurd. 10-9 Jedrzejczyk and 40-36 overall.
Round 5: This is just textbook stuff from Jedrzejczyk, a master class in how to keep a swarmer at bay with footwork, straight punches, and discipline. Andrade is game enough, but she just doesn’t have the tools to consistently get close enough to let her combinations go, and an Andrade who’s throwing single shots rather than flurries doesn’t have a prayer of winning this fight. She’s still landing some shots, and they’ve done some real damage to Jedrzejczyk’s face, but this is a wide fight. Unbelievable heart from Andrade has kept her in this fight, and it’s a huge credit to her that she’s still in it after eating all these shots. Incredible performance from Jedrzejczyk. 10-9 in the fifth and 50-45 to the champion.
Demian Maia def. Jorge Masvidal via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Demian Maia tangles with Jorge Masvidal in their Welterweight bout Saturday. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Demian Maia is on track to take on welterweight champion Tyron Woodley after this fight and to make sure, he walked right on over to UFC president Dana White, who assures him he’s next in line. Nice move. Because with seven wins in a row, Maia absolutely deserves it, and his veteran, savvy game will present real problems for Woodley. Meanwhile, Masvidal fought a valiant fight and made only a couple of mistakes, but they were enough to lose it for him in a razor-thin fight.
Round 1: Maia’s trademark pressure is steady but not desperate, and he slowly tries to push Masvidal back to the fence. His first shot isn’t a good one, but he reloads and eventually gets Masvidal down. Masvidal fights it the whole way, though, and never lets Maia establish position on the mat. Finally, Maia finishes the takedown with a trip from the back and sinks in the hooks. He has a body triangle, but Masvidal stands up and tries to use the fence to scrape Maia off. Maia is content to make Masvidal carry his weight and looks to land short punches to open up Masvidal’s defense to sink in the choke, but Masvidal is calm and experienced, never panicking and allowing an easy rear-naked choke. Masvidal shakes Maia off and immediately drops a huge series of shots from top position to end the round. Probably 10-9 Maia with all the back control, but while he won the battle, he lost the war at the end there.
Round 2: Maia is trying to pressure again, but Masvidal turns the tables and goes after Maia, who comes up well short on a bad level change and takedown attempt. This is Masvidal’s world, and he stuffs another bad shot before Maia can chain another. Sharp, technical kicks are stabbing into Maia’s body, further draining the already tired Brazilian’s gas tank. Maia tries another shot and goes deeper this time, but Masvidal defends and makes him eat a couple of strikes for his trouble. Yet again Maia shoots, and Masvidal gets a bit too cocky, letting Maia stick around in half guard before giving up a takedown. Masvidal looks a bit tired himself here and isn’t doing much to get back to his feet, but eventually wall-walks and regains his footing against the fence. This exposes his back to Maia, though, who trips him and tries to get the hooks in. This is a grueling affair and both fighters are tired with a minute to go. Maia never gets close with a choke as the round closes, but cements the round. Probably 10-9 Maia again, but it could’ve gone either way. 20-18 Maia.

Round 3: There’s no pressure from Maia early, and Masvidal lands a series of kicks. He’s a bit too wary, though, and needs to let his shots go if he wants to finish Maia. The Brazilian veteran is doing a great job of minimizing the amount of damage he takes here while he recovers some gas. Finally Maia shoots, and while he doesn’t complete the takedown he does get Masvidal to the fence, where Maia immediately jumps on his back and establishes control. This is the best back control Maia’s had all night: Masvidal is in real trouble here and can’t create any space to escape Maia’s stifling ground work. 10-9 Maia in the third and 30-27 to him overall.
Frankie Edgar defeats Yair Rodriguez via TKO (doctor stoppage), Round 2, 5:00

Yair Rodriguez suffers one of the more gruesome eye injuries in recent years. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The commentators were talking about this as a stylistic matchup that favored Edgar, but that really wasn’t it. This was about fundamentals, which Edgar has in spades and Rodriguez doesn’t. This was a brutal mauling, one of the beatdowns of the year, and it should be back to the drawing board for Rodriguez. For Edgar, he’s still one of the best featherweights on the planet, and deserves another elite opponent. Perhaps Edgar summed it up best: “Yair is going to be a superstar. Just not yet.”
Round 1: Edgar comes out looking to press Rodriguez back toward the fence, and the first time Rodriguez lets his hands go, Edgar is there with a sweet counterpunch combination. It’s obvious who the more skilled boxer is, and he’s just relentless with his pressure here. When they tie up, though, Rodriguez’s size advantage comes into play. Edgar gets him down with a big slam against the fence. Rodriguez is trying to work off his back here, but with his hips pinned in place by the cage, that’s a foolish waste of energy. Edgar is landing sharp, potent strikes from the top here. None of Rodriguez’s activity is going anywhere and he’s soundly losing this round while getting beat up. Edgar is really pouring it on here with combinations of punches and elbows, and Rodriguez has made no real attempt to get back to his feet. The younger man’s face is a bloody, bruised mess, and he may have a broken orbital on the left side. 10-8 to Edgar.
Round 2: Rodriguez tries to get aggressive and eats a combination for his trouble. His footwork is nowhere near technically sound enough to deal with Edgar, and that deficiency allows Edgar close enough to work through a chain of takedowns, get a big slam, and work through a leg lock to get on top. The commentators are excited about this kneebar attempt, but it’s going nowhere, and Edgar is blasting Rodriguez with shots from top position. This is an absolute mauling. Rodriguez’s left eye is completely closed now and it’s not getting any better. Rodriguez is throwing up submission attempts and to say they’re going nowhere is charitable. 10-8 to Edgar and a 20-16 edge after two.
Oh, look at that! the champion (at least for now) is here.
David Branch defeats Krzysztof Jotko by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

Kryzsztof Jotko, left, fights David Branch on Saturday. Branch won via decision. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
After an exciting prelims, this was not the best way to kick off what’s been touted as the best UFC pay-per-view of the year… It was a meaningful win for Branch in his return to the UFC, but it confirmed all the worst impressions of his run in World Series of Fighting: a talented, skilled fighter, but not one who’s going to inspire much interest from fans. As for Jotko, he’s young and can rebound from the loss, but the Pole didn’t show anything like the urgency he’ll need to compete against the upper end of the middleweight division. Anyway, here’s what went down, round-by-round.
Round 1: Jotko comes out a bit more aggressive than he has in recent fights, popping straight punches to keep Branch on the end of his substantial reach. Jotko’s footwork and movement are excellent, but the first time he slips up and gets too close, Branch ducks under and finishes a takedown. Branch stays patient inside the guard, landing short punches and elbows, and keeps his weight down on the adroit Pole. Jotko eventually gets his back to the fence and uses it to stand up. They clinch against the cage, where Branch’s size and commitment to the grind are in play. Jotko surprises Branch with a takedown of his own in return and lands a hard knee on the way up. It’s a mistake for Jotko to stay in the clinch as long as he has, though, because he’s losing these grinding exchanges and eating knees to the body. 10-9 Branch.
Round 2: Jotko comes out aggressive again, but hasn’t translated it into offensive output or damage. He overshoots on a combination and ends up in the clinch, but doesn’t make the mistake he did in the first round and exits quickly. Jotko isn’t getting much done at range, but neither is Branch. This is a pretty slow-paced and uneventful affair, which has the crowd booing at times — at least until Jotko lands a pair of left hands and a sharp knee to the body. Another well-timed takedown from Branch gets Jotko to the canvas, but the Pole immediately stands up and gets back to work. He’s finding the timing on his left hand now, especially as a counter, and he’s sneaking it in on the exits when Branch gets into the clinch. Jotko’s getting flashy now, trying a wheel kick, and briefly concedes another takedown before standing back up. 10-9 Jotko in a slightly more eventful round and 19-19 overall.
Round 3: Jotko’s kicking game, a major piece of his arsenal, has been basically nonexistent tonight, potentially out of fear of the takedown. His pressure should make up for that, but the Pole isn’t pulling the trigger and he let his hands go when he does get Branch backed up. They exchange a few shots at range and clinch again, but to call this a slow fight is an understatement — there’s basically nothing happening here for minutes at a time. Finally, Branch secures another takedown around the two-minute mark, but he can’t hold Jotko down. Foolishly, Jotko tries for a takedown of his own, but winds up in the clinch with his back to the cage again. A punch-knee combination lands for Jotko, but he can’t sustain any momentum. The best strike of the fight lands with a right uppercut for Jotko in the closing moments. 10-9 Branch in the third and 29-28 to him overall, but it could be 30-27 either way and I doubt few in the arena or at home will care regardless of the outcome. (For more excitement, scroll down to read the prelims recap.)
Meanwhile, Dallas Cowboys stars Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott came to check out the action.
Prelims recap
UFC 211 got underway with an excellent slate of preliminary fights that looked good on paper beforehand and delivered in practice. Four of the seven fights ended inside the distance, with highlight-reel finishes from rising star Jason Knight and Texas native James Vick, and the two decisions were entertaining.
The early-card headliner between former lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez and Dustin Poirier on FX was unfortunate, but only because an illegal knee from Alvarez ended proceedings early after two rounds of exceptional action.
Full prelims results
Eddie Alvarez vs. Dustin Poirier declared no contest due to illegal knees
Jason Knight def. Chas Skelly via TKO (punches), Round 3, 0:39
Chase Sherman def. Rashad Coulter via TKO (elbow), Round 2, 3:36
James Vick def. Marco Polo Reyes via TKO (punches), Round 1, 2:39
Cortney Casey def. Jessica Aguilar via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Enrique Barzola def. Gabriel Benitez via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Gadzhimurad Antigulov def. Joachim Christensen via submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1, 2:21