2022 CHANGING OF THE GUARDS
CARLA ESPARZA DEFEATS
ROSE NAMAJUNAS AT UFC 274
Rose was coming off a two fight streak against Zhang Weili in which she won the belt from her and then successfully defended it. Carla came in already holding a submission victory over Rose in the inaugural Strawweight title bout. Rose had been champ for over a year on her second run as title holder when the two met for a second time.
In what turned out to be one of the least popular Bouts of the year Carla won a controversial decision to make it 2-0 against Rose. The bout featured one of the lowest strike output in title bout history.
JIRI PROCHAZKA DEFEATS
GLOVER TEIXEIRA AT UFC 275
The light heavyweight title has been a hot potato since Jon Jones vacated the belt. Jan Blachowicz managed 2 defenses unitl he was submitted by Glover Teixeira. Teixeira then met Jiri Prochazka in the main event of UFC 275 in what would become a fight of the year contender. The bout was back and forth action w/ both men having finishing sequences multiple times a round.
The finish came in under a minute to go in the fifth round where Teixeira was forced to tap to a rear naked choke.