Ex-wrestlers Cejudo, Dillashaw winners at UFC 227

At UFC 227 at Staples Center in Los Angeles Saturday, former wrestlers came out on top in two top-of-the-card title bouts, as 2008 Olympic freestyle gold medalist Henry Cejudo took the UFC flyweight (125-pound) championship from Demetrious Johnson ... while T.J. Dillashaw held on to his UFC bantamweight (135-pound) belt by scoring a first-round TKO of former champ Cody Garbrandt.

Cejudo: Good as gold, again

Cejudo, who entered the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado while still in high school in pursuit of eventual gold at the 2008 Beijing Games, claimed the flyweight title with a split decision over the defending champ known as "Mighty Mouse" who was a two-time state placer in high school in Washington State. The judges scored the five-round title bout 48-47, 47-48, and 48-47 for Cejudo.

It was a rematch for the two flyweights. Back in April 2016, Johnson had held onto the title at UFC 197 with a first-round TKO over Cejudo ... a title that "Mighty Mouse" had successfully defended 11 times, until Saturday night.

"Henry Cejudo did the unthinkable Saturday night in the co-featured bout as he dethroned Demetrious Johnson," Sherdog.com reported. "Cejudo fought tooth and nail with his rival from start to finish and wound up winning the battle via split decision."

The Los Angeles Times said that Cejudo -- a 5-1 underdog -- ''relied on the wrestling skill he developed as a more massive Olympic longshot who become a 21-year-old gold medalist at the 2008 Games in Beijing."

"Cejudo scored takedowns in each of the final four rounds and relied on his larger frame to shrug off Johnson punches and knees to cap a stirring rise he couldn't help but pause and appreciate."

"I was born in South Central L.A. in a two-bedroom apartment 10 miles from here and I came back from being knocked out in the first round" two years ago in a loss to Johnson, Cejudo said.

After surrendering the title he had held since 2011, Johnson said, "I kept kicking his legs, but he's a big dude," Johnson said. "I knew he'd bring his 'A' game. He's big and strong."

With the win, the 31-year-old Cejudo now has the UFC flyweight title, and a record of 13 wins and 2 losses in his five-year pro MMA career ... while Johnson, also 31, is 27-3-1 in a career that spans 11 years.


Dillashaw stops Garbrandt in first round

The current UFC bantamweight champ T.J. Dillashaw, a former Cal State Fullerton wrestler, again stopped the former champ Cody Garbrandt (himself a 2005 Ohio high school state mat champ), this time with a first-round technical knockout -- a quicker conclusion than their last meeting last November -- in a bout slated for five rounds.

In what the L.A. Times described as a "toe-to-toe battle," Dillashaw "found openings to wobble and knock down Garbrandt."

"Dillashaw continued to apply patient pressure, looking to land a kill shot methodically," according to MMAmania.com. "Any time Dillashaw got close, Garbrandt fired wildly, but Dillashaw continued to find a home for the counter right hook ..."

"A hard power punch to the nose staggered Garbrandt again and Dillashaw held the challenger with his left arm while delivering nine unanswered punches," the Times continued. "A kick then set up a finishing combination of punches as referee Herb Dean stopped the fight."

After the bout, Dillashaw said of his rival, "I expected him to counter my kicks. So I waited with my right hand. And that's what happened."

"I am the best bantamweight of all time," Dillashaw continued. When UFC host Joe Rogan informed him that Cejudo wants to fight next, Dillashaw answered, "Bring it baby, let's do this."

With the win, Dillashaw not only holds onto his UFC crown, but improves his record to 16-3, while Garbrandt drops to 11-2.