Sports

Australia’s Whittaker gets split decision at UFC, Tuivasa skols a shoey after undercard win

Australia's UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker has survived a furious late onslaught from Cuban Yoel Romero to score a split decision win at Chicago's United Center.

Whittaker's title wasn't at stake, as Romero failed to make the weight.

Just like in their first fight 11 months ago, Whittaker had to overcome an injury, saying he broke his hand in the first round.

Whittaker controlled the first two rounds and shaded the fourth, but was clearly hurt in both the third and fifth.

Two judges scored the fight 48-47 to the Australian and their colleague had Romero winning by the same total.

Whittaker was the early aggressor, landing frequently with hand and foot, in the first, while Romero struggled to find his range.

Romero's right eye was closing in the second round and he was finding it hard to tag the nimble Australian, who displayed outstanding footwork and continued to push the pace.

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Renowned for producing explosive moments after being seemingly passive, Romero did just that in the third to change the momentum of the fight.

He floored Whittaker with a massive right-hand shot.

Romero landed several other strikes, but Whittaker survived and landed a few of his own in an epic round.

Whittaker reasserted himself in the fourth, landing regularly with hand and foot, against an opponent who seemed to be tiring, but the Australian got caught a couple of times late in the round.

Whittaker started the final round well, but Romero again floored him and dominated the last three minutes of the fight, finally enjoying some success with his ground game and scoring some takedowns.

Absorbing some heavy shots in the final, the New Zealand-born Whittaker held on.

Tuivasa celebrates with shoey after undercard win

Australian heavyweight Tai Tuivasa took a leaf from the Daniel Ricciardo's celebration playbook after claiming the biggest scalp of his burgeoning career at UFC 225 in Chicago.

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Tuivasa was taken the distance for the first time but toughed out a unanimous points win over former heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski on Saturday night, extending his MMA record to 10-0 and his UFC log to 3-0.

The big Sydneysider celebrated with a Ricciardo-style "shoey", drawing a mixed reaction of amusement, cheers and disgust as he borrowed a shoe and drank beer from it on his victory walk out of the octagon.

He had never been taken beyond the first round before and didn't have things all his own way despite landing several strong right-hand blows and a few more total strikes than Arlovski.

Tai Tuivasa kicks Andrei Arlovski at UFC 225

Tuivasa was marked on his face in the first round and blood streamed from his nose in the third as Arlovski also landed some good strikes.

All three judges scored the fight 29-28 to the Australian.

"I'm pretty happy with that performance," Tuivasa said.

"Obviously I was coming out for the knockout but sometimes it doesn't happen, especially against a tough opponent like that."

Tuivasa's countrywoman Megan Anderson did not fare so well, suffering a loss in her UFC debut against former bantamweight world champion Holly Holm.

Holly Holm kicks out at Megan Anderson

The more experienced Holm dictated terms for most of the bout against the taller and bigger-bodied Anderson.

Each woman landed a strong kick to the head in the first round, which featured a lot of close quarter work from both fighters.

Holm dominated the second round, landing numerous strikes after taking Anderson to the ground.

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Anderson snapped Holm's head back and sent her backwards with a strong straight right in the opening seconds of the third, but wasn't able to capitalise.

Holm quickly regained control, again taking Anderson to the ground and pounding her with numerous blows.

Two judges gave Holm the fight 30-26 and their colleague scored it 30-27.

AAP

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ABC .net

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