Former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman served as the UFC 230 co-main event in front of a partisan crowd at Madison Square Garden against short notice replacement Jacare Souza. With title implications at stake, Jacare won a stand-up war and scored a vicious knockout win over Weidman in the third and final round. For Weidman, it’s his fourth loss in five, while Jacare bounces back from a split decision loss to Kelvin Gastelum.
Jacare was on the front foot looking to pressure Weidman early. Weidman tried establishing the jab as Souza sought the powerful overhand right. A big right hand by Weidman instead stunned Jacare, who then landed one of his own. Souza fired off a couple of hooks to the body. There wasn’t a hint of a takedown attempt from either man in the opening round, as both men were content to kickbox. Jacare was bleeding out of his nose, most likely due to the stinging Weidman jabs. They seemingly rocked each other in a wild exchange, and Jacare was connecting well on body shots.
Souza came out firing a leg kick to begin round two, and Weidman returned the favor. The Brazilian started making it more of a fast-paced brawl and he had Weidman backing up after some good power shots and hard kicks. A two-punch combo to the head had jacked the jaw of Weidman, and a knee landed as well. A sharp right hand had Jacare hurt, as Weidman seemingly weathered that storm. Jacare came back and tagged Weidman with his own overhand right. Souza attacked with short uppercuts to the body and head. Jacare’s nose appeared to be busted up and he was breathing out of his mouth. Weidman took Jacare down late in the round, then Jacare rolled him over and back to his feet in a back-and-forth frame.
The glorified kickboxing war continued into the final round, as Jacare punished Weidman with kicks and counters, but Weidman would not go away. A knee up the middle snapped Jacare’s head back. An uppercut and elbow backed Souza up, as Chris sensed an opportunity to go after the Brazilian. A quick flurry had Weidman hurt, and a massive right hand floored Weidman and he was out. For some reason, Dan Miragliotta just stood over a barely conscious Weidman and let him take some hammerfists while going for a single leg... then he stopped the fight. What a ridiculously awful stoppage by Dan, but take nothing away from Jacare.
Official result: Jacare Souza def. Chris Weidman by TKO (punches) at 2:46 of round 3