UFC 222: Pros react to Cyborg vs. Kunitskaya, Ortega demolishing Edgar
Chaos was abound at UFC 222 — but not in the main event.
Cris Cyborg defended her UFC women’s featherweight title with ease on Saturday night, stopping Octagon newcomer Yana Kunitskaya via first-round TKO to successfully defend her 145-pound title. But the real madness came in the night’s co-main event, where undefeated featherweight Brian Ortega became the first fighter in 13 years to stop Frankie Edgar, knocking Edgar out with a hellacious first-round uppercut to secure a likely title shot against UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway.
Check out reactions to Cyborg and Ortega’s brilliance below, plus much more from a wild night at UFC 222.
CRIS CYBORG DEF. YANA KUNITSKAYA
......
— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) March 4, 2018
She’s AMAZING @criscyborg Parabems!! #UFC222 #CyborgNation
— Jessica Jag Aguilar (@jagatt) March 4, 2018
Congrats @criscyborg you are a fucking beast! really enjoy watching you fight! #ufc222
— Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) March 4, 2018
Yana got punched in the gut then ankle picked her. Put that on @flowrestling “Behind the Dirt.”
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) March 4, 2018
Cyborg destroys yet another opponent. #ufc222 pic.twitter.com/FaXgV1DSau
— The Spartan (@EliasTheodorou) March 4, 2018
Such a big mismatch. I felt wrong just watching that.
Short notice.
Went up a weight class.
Damn bro.#UFC222— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) March 4, 2018
I have to say all them braids are on point #ufc222
— JJ Aldrich (@JJAldrich1) March 4, 2018
BRIAN ORTEGA DEF. FRANKIE EDGAR
Holy shit!!! He uppercut killed Frankie!!! First guy to ever finish Frankie. #ufc222 pic.twitter.com/f7rxHGKp0d
— The Spartan (@EliasTheodorou) March 4, 2018
UPSET city damnnnnn #ufc222
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) March 4, 2018
Ortega just did that. #UFC222
— Matt Schnell (@DANGER_Caged) March 4, 2018
Good shit @BrianTcity
— Platinum Mike Perry (@PlatinumPerry) March 4, 2018
OMG!!! @BrianTcity with the TKO! Congratulations. Huge win! #newblood
— Jimmie Rivera (@JimmieRivera135) March 4, 2018
Wow.... i don’t think anyone picked Ortega by tko! Earned that title shot #UFC222
— Shane Burgos (@HurricaneShaneB) March 4, 2018
Wow!!! What a fight! Both guys are class acts. #ufc222
— Ricardo Lamas (@RicardoLamasMMA) March 4, 2018
Holy shit! @BrianTcity just showed how for real he is. Well done!
— Ian McCall (@Unclecreepymma) March 4, 2018
Wow OMG knew it... @BrianTcity is REAL! #UFC222
— Jessica Jag Aguilar (@jagatt) March 4, 2018
#UFC222 #CyborgnoCombate pic.twitter.com/EMvgIMeqdc
— Erick Silva (@ErickSilvaMMA) March 4, 2018
Frankie’s still the man a real fighter gave up his title shot to save the show
— Belal muhammad (@bullyb170) March 4, 2018
@FrankieEdgar will still always be the man. Def future Hall of Famer. Nothing but respect for Frankie, always! @ufc @ChrisWeidmanUFC
— Chris Camozzi (@ChrisCamozzi) March 4, 2018
Damnnn!!! Ortega just keeps getting better and better each fight!! Crazy talent. Can’t shoot on him anymore and can’t let him push you backwards. Damn I was really looking fwd to seeing Holloway take on Edgar too Congrats “T-City!” #UFC222
— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) March 4, 2018
WOW NOW THAT WAS IMPRESSIVE #BO @ufc
— Manny Gamburyan (@MannyGamburyan) March 4, 2018
Wow! Incredible performance T City
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) March 4, 2018
Knowing how tough Frankie is, I wish the ref would have let it go just a bit more. Gutted for @FrankieEdgar you’ll be back bro. Props to T city #UFC222
— Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) March 4, 2018
— Ray Borg (@tazmexufc) March 4, 2018
@BrianTcity by knockout!!!! Holy moly my brother!!!! @ufc #UFC222
— Max Griffin (@maxPAINmma) March 4, 2018
Nothing short of incredible! I never bet against Frankie, but geez @BrianTcity is the real deal! @ufc #ufc222 pic.twitter.com/OON7XIqJ2N
— Aaron Phillips (@HEADKICKS_MMA) March 4, 2018
Wow!! Wow!! Wow!! @BrianTcity you did it homie! Amazing stuff! Frankie always impressive man!
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) March 4, 2018
Can I be the mayor of t-city?! Jesus congrats Brian Ortega. #ufc222
— Chase Sherman (@ChaseShermanUFC) March 4, 2018
— Katlyn Chookagian (@blondefighter) March 4, 2018
Wow! Ortega os simply AMAZING!!! #UFC222
— Marion Reneau (@BelizeanBruiser) March 4, 2018
Frankie was rocked, he was wise enough not to shoot in on his legs while he was rocked but ultimately paid the price. T-City has a VERY dangerous set of skills. Impressive stuff.
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) March 4, 2018
@BrianTcity gets the first ever KO of @FrankieEdgar didnt see that coming, Edgar is a warrior.
— Jake Matthews (@JakeMatthewsUFC) March 4, 2018
Ortega using the mic to promote charitable concerns rather than call out Holloway. I like him even more #ufc222
— John Gooden (@JohnGoodenUK) March 4, 2018
Frankie's career deserved for that to be against me tonight.
Respect Frankie.
Love and respect always!
A true fighters fighter ❤— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) March 4, 2018
SEAN O’MALLEY DEF. ANDRE SOUKHAMTHATH
LET HIM UPPPPXBZHJABXHSJSZJJS
— Alexander Jay (@ALIAQUINTA) March 4, 2018
If Souk had just stood back up and made O'Malley get back up on that foot, they would have stopped the fight. Horrible fight IQ by Souk. #ufc222
— The Spartan (@EliasTheodorou) March 4, 2018
Listen to your corner maybe!!
Ufc222— Alex Volkanovski (@alexvolkanovski) March 4, 2018
You blew it soukamtoghhhdbshbssj
— Alexander Jay (@ALIAQUINTA) March 4, 2018
That guy is the dumbest fighter I’ve ever seen, he actually thought he won
— Alexander Jay (@ALIAQUINTA) March 4, 2018
This post fight interview is so extra #ufc222 #omalley
— Katlyn Chookagian (@blondefighter) March 4, 2018
You can’t fuck with that Montana crazy. Congrats @SugaSeanMMA #ufc222
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) March 4, 2018
We got your back bro @AndreSoukMMA
— GILBERT BURNS (@GilbertDurinho) March 4, 2018
That was the WORST decision making in a fight I have ever seen!! He took down a LIMPING AND INJURED OPPONENT who couldn’t stand up
— Jimmy Smith (@jimmysmithmma) March 4, 2018
Suga is toughhh
— Alexander Jay (@ALIAQUINTA) March 4, 2018
Man. Andre Souka had himself a lucky “break” and blew it. I’m not sure if his coaches were screaming to let his opponent up or not, but man, not the best decision there at all. TF! #UFC222
— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) March 4, 2018
Hope O'Malley's friend helps him with the recovery. #snoopcare #UFC222 pic.twitter.com/trIQAV2PQ4
— The Spartan (@EliasTheodorou) March 4, 2018
How u win if u can't walk out the cage ? Smh
— Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) March 4, 2018
ANDREI ARLOVSKI DEF. STEFAN STRUVE
Looks like Struve got attacked by a 50 ft squid (yes I know it’s cupping) #UFC222
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) March 4, 2018
Man I can’t wait to fight and bring some real excitement to HW division again
— Junior Dos Santos (@junior_cigano) March 4, 2018
Stefan Struve looks like a create a player #ufc222
— AlexSpartanNicholson (@spartanlife32) March 4, 2018
Will Struve ever learn to fight long? Use a jab? Push kick? Anything??? #ufc222
— The Spartan (@EliasTheodorou) March 4, 2018
KETLEN VIEIRA DEF. CAT ZINGANO
What a wildcat... #ufc222
— Zachary Makovsky (@ZachFunSize) March 4, 2018
Cat came to scrap! #UFC222
— Frankie Saenz (@FrankieSaenz) March 4, 2018
Looking at the clock? Hmmm #UFC222
— Marion Reneau (@BelizeanBruiser) March 4, 2018
Can’t take anything away from @CatZingano fought till the end and went for it!
— Brian Camozzi (@BrianCamozzi) March 4, 2018
Split !?!? How #ufc222
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) March 4, 2018
These judges gotta be playing Clash of Clans while watching the fights or something. Split? Really bro? Heeally? #UFC222
— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) March 4, 2018
Split decision my ass! #ufc222 pic.twitter.com/Eocl9aohr0
— The Spartan (@EliasTheodorou) March 4, 2018
These judges are crayyyy #ufc222
— Katlyn Chookagian (@blondefighter) March 4, 2018
All these Split decisions are BS shows the poor consistency in judging!!!
— Miesha Tate (@MieshaTate) March 4, 2018
Tough fight against a tough opponent but we’re always in your corner. On to the next one @CatZingano #UFC222
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) March 4, 2018
That's the cool thing about this sport, shows you exactly where you're at. Happy to be cracking again @ufc
— Alpha Cat Zingano (@CatZingano) March 4, 2018
