UFC 214
UFC 214: Cormier vs. Jones 2 was a mixed martial arts (MMA) event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) that took place on July 29, 2017, at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.[1] The event was headlined by a light heavyweight championship rematch between reigning champion Daniel Cormier and former champion Jon Jones, marking their second encounter after Jones' victory in their 2015 bout at UFC 182.[1] In the co-main event, welterweight champion Tyron Woodley defended his title against top contender Demian Maia, while the card also featured the inaugural UFC Women's Featherweight Championship bout between Cris Cyborg and Tonya Evinger.[2] Additional main card matchups included a welterweight clash between former champion Robbie Lawler and Donald Cerrone, as well as a light heavyweight fight pitting Volkan Oezdemir against Jimi Manuwa.[2] The event's preliminary card comprised seven bouts across various weight classes, broadcast on UFC Fight Pass, with early prelims airing on FXX.[1] In the main event, Jones defeated Cormier by technical knockout (head kick and punches) at 3:01 of the third round, regaining the light heavyweight title, though the result was later overturned to a no contest following Jones' positive test for the anabolic steroid Turinabol from an in-competition sample collected on July 28, 2017.[2][3] Woodley retained his welterweight championship via unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 49-46) after successfully defending against 24 takedown attempts by Maia, while Cyborg claimed the women's featherweight title with a third-round TKO (punches) at 1:56.[2] Lawler won a unanimous decision (29-28 x3) over Cerrone in a competitive welterweight bout, and Oezdemir secured a first-round TKO (punches) victory over Manuwa at 0:42.[2] The card attracted a sold-out attendance of 16,610 fans and generated a live gate of $2,448,870, with pay-per-view buys estimated at 860,000.[4]Event Details
Date and Venue
UFC 214: Cormier vs. Jones 2 was a mixed martial arts pay-per-view event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).[1] The event occurred on July 29, 2017, at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, United States.[1][5] The Honda Center, a multi-purpose arena with a capacity of over 18,000 for UFC events, served as the host venue for this numbered pay-per-view, marking the UFC's return to Anaheim following previous high-profile cards.[5] The main event pitted UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Daniel Cormier against former champion Jon Jones in a title rematch.[6]Attendance and Gate
UFC 214 attracted an official attendance of 16,610 spectators to the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, representing a complete sellout for the venue.[4] This figure underscored the event's strong appeal, driven by its high-profile matchups, and generated a total live gate revenue of $2,448,870 from ticket sales.[7][8] The attendance marked a UFC record for the Honda Center, eclipsing the previous benchmark of 15,525 set by UFC 157 in 2013.[4][9] Prior UFC events at the arena, such as UFC 121 in 2010 with 14,856 attendees, had also drawn substantial crowds but fell short of this milestone, highlighting the escalating popularity of mixed martial arts promotions in the region.[10] The Honda Center's configuration for UFC events typically accommodates around 18,000 patrons, positioning UFC 214's turnout as a near-maximum utilization that reflected the card's commercial draw.[11] This financial and attendance success emphasized the event's scale within the UFC's portfolio at the venue, where it established a new standard for live event engagement until later surpassed by subsequent cards like UFC 270 in 2022.[12] The high-profile main event rematch between champions Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier played a key role in boosting ticket demand and revenue.[4]Background
Announcement and Scheduling
UFC 214 was initially announced as part of the Ultimate Fighting Championship's broader 2017 event calendar, which featured 41 total events including 13 pay-per-view cards, with the full slate revealed progressively starting in November 2016 and updated through December 2016 and February 2017.[13][14][15] The Anaheim pay-per-view slot, later designated as UFC 214, was originally slated for January 21, 2017, at the Honda Center, marking the promotion's return to Southern California early in the year.[16] Due to logistical adjustments in the packed 2017 schedule, including conflicts with other high-profile pay-per-views and the need to optimize event spacing around International Fight Week in July, the Anaheim card was rescheduled first to August 5 and then advanced to July 29.[16][17] This shift was influenced by ongoing challenges in securing confirmed headliners, as potential main event bouts faced delays from fighter injuries and availability issues, delaying the official light heavyweight title rematch announcement until May 12, 2017.[18][19] These timing changes also affected title defense timelines in the light heavyweight division, pushing the anticipated championship clash into the latter half of the year.Promotional Storylines
The primary promotional storyline for UFC 214 centered on the light heavyweight title rematch between champion Daniel Cormier and former champion Jon Jones, reigniting one of MMA's most intense rivalries that originated from their controversial 2015 encounter at UFC 182, where Jones defeated Cormier by unanimous decision.[20][21] The buildup emphasized their personal animosity, with Jones returning after a two-year suspension for a failed drug test that led to him being stripped of the title, positioning the fight as a high-stakes opportunity for Jones to reclaim his legacy while Cormier aimed to solidify his reign against his most formidable adversary.[22][23] Media narratives highlighted the pair's history of verbal sparring and physical altercations during promotions, framing the bout as a defining grudge match in the division.[24] The co-main event featured welterweight champion Tyron Woodley defending his title against submission specialist Demian Maia, promoting a clash between Woodley's knockout power and defensive wrestling—hallmarks of his dominant reign since capturing the belt in 2016—and Maia's elite Brazilian jiu-jitsu credentials, including his status as one of the promotion's top grapplers with multiple submission victories.[25][26] This matchup was billed as a stylistic contrast that could test Woodley's undefeated streak in title defenses against Maia's persistent ground game, with promotional materials underscoring Woodley's confidence in his prime amid growing calls for more exciting fights during his championship run.[21] In the women's featherweight division, the vacant title fight between Cris "Cyborg" Justino and Tonya Evinger was hyped as a battle of dominance, pitting Cyborg's storied history of finishes and past weight management challenges against Evinger's undefeated streak in Invicta FC, where she had held the belt and earned recognition as a resilient veteran.[27][28][29] Adding to the card's appeal, the welterweight bout between Robbie Lawler and Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone was promoted as a fan-favorite showdown between two action-oriented veterans, contrasting Lawler's precise, power-based striking with Cerrone's versatile finishing ability across knockouts and submissions, promising an entertaining striker-versus-finisher dynamic.[30][21] This fight was positioned as a potential "fight of the night" contender, drawing on both fighters' reputations for delivering high-volume, crowd-pleasing exchanges in recent outings.[22] UFC's promotional campaign amplified these narratives through a series of embedded episodes that provided behind-the-scenes access, showcasing fighters' training camps, weigh-ins, and personal motivations, particularly the escalating tension between Jones and Cormier.[31] Press conferences, including the official event on July 26, 2017, featured heated exchanges and staredowns that underscored the bad blood, with Jones and Cormier trading barbs alongside other headliners like Woodley and Cyborg to generate widespread media buzz.[32] Overall, coverage from outlets like ESPN and UFC's official channels focused on the event's triple-title-fight lineup as a marquee pay-per-view opportunity, emphasizing rivalries and stylistic matchups to heighten anticipation.[20][21]Fight Card and Results
Main Card
The main card of UFC 214 featured five high-stakes bouts, headlined by a light heavyweight title rematch and including two other championship fights.[1] Light Heavyweight: Volkan Oezdemir vs. Jimi ManuwaThe main card opened with a light heavyweight clash between knockout artists Volkan Oezdemir and Jimi Manuwa. The fight was explosive from the start, with both fighters exchanging heavy punches in the center of the Octagon. Oezdemir landed a clean right hand early, staggering Manuwa, and followed with a flurry of strikes against the cage that dropped his opponent at 0:22 of the first round, securing a knockout victory. The quick finish highlighted Oezdemir's power and precision, as he absorbed minimal damage while delivering the decisive blows. Oezdemir improved to 15-1 with the win. Welterweight: Robbie Lawler vs. Donald Cerrone
In a welterweight matchup between former champion Robbie Lawler and fan-favorite Donald Cerrone, the action was fast-paced and competitive over three rounds. Lawler started strong in the first round, landing crisp combinations and a takedown to control the grappling exchanges. Cerrone rallied in the second, using his reach for leg kicks and a guillotine attempt that forced Lawler to defend. The third round saw Lawler regain momentum with sharp counterstrikes and ground control, edging out the decision. Judges scored it 29-28 across the board for Lawler, who won by unanimous decision and snapped a two-fight skid. The bout showcased both fighters' durability, with Lawler outlanding Cerrone in significant strikes 72-64.[6] Women's Featherweight Championship: Cris Cyborg vs. Tonya Evinger
Cris Cyborg captured the vacant women's featherweight title in her UFC debut against Invicta FC champion Tonya Evinger. Cyborg dominated the standup from the opening bell, using her superior striking to batter Evinger with punches and knees while stuffing takedown attempts. Evinger, primarily a grappler, struggled to close the distance and absorbed heavy damage, including body shots that slowed her in the later rounds. In the third round, Cyborg trapped Evinger against the fence and unleashed a series of knees to the body, forcing a referee stoppage at 1:56 via TKO. Cyborg landed 74 of 143 significant strikes (51% accuracy), and remained undefeated at 18-1.[33] Welterweight Championship: Tyron Woodley vs. Demian Maia
Welterweight champion Tyron Woodley defended his title against grappling specialist Demian Maia in a tactical, low-output affair. Woodley neutralized Maia's signature takedown game, stuffing all 24 attempts and keeping the fight standing where he could utilize his wrestling and power punches. Maia pressed forward but landed few significant strikes, with the bout featuring long clinches and sparse action. Woodley controlled the pace, outstriking Maia 45-23 in significant strikes over five rounds. The judges awarded a unanimous decision to Woodley (50-45, 49-46, 49-46), marking his sixth title defense.[6] Light Heavyweight Championship: Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier
The main event saw light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier defend against former champion Jon Jones in their highly anticipated rematch. The first round was competitive, with Cormier landing pressure combinations and a takedown, while Jones countered with oblique kicks and straight punches to take a slight edge. In the second, Jones reversed an early takedown by Cormier and dominated with ground-and-pound, cutting Cormier and outlanding him 45-32 in significant strikes. The third round began evenly, but Jones targeted the body with knees and punches, softening Cormier before delivering a perfectly timed head kick that dropped him at 3:01, followed by ground strikes for the knockout (later overturned to a no contest). Jones initially reclaimed the title, improving to 23-1. The fight drew approximately 860,000 pay-per-view buys, underscoring its rivalry-driven hype.[34][35][33]