UFC Fight Night 124 went down tonight (Sunday, January 14, 2018) from the Scottrade Center as the octagon came to St. Louis, MO for the first time. The evening was headlined by a featherweight clash between longtime UFC vet Jeremy Stephens and exciting up-and-comer Doo Ho Choi.
A simmering first round gave way to a break-neck second. Leg kicks, jabs, and occasional punching combinations flew from both men, with “The Korean Superboy” likely edging out the first frame. He opened the second with a front kick to Stephens’ face, and that set off a borderline brawl. Stephens eventually settled into pressuring Choi backward, getting his jab going effectively. A winging right hand clipped and dropped Choi, spelling the beginning of the end. Stephens closed the show with vicious, crushing ground and pound punches and elbows, some standing, some diving. In the third main event spot of his career, Stephens finally got a W, the biggest of his career.
After the original co-feature between Uriah Hall and Vitor Belfort fell out the day of the weigh-ins, flyweights Paige VanZant and Jessica-Rose Clark were promoted to co-headliner duty. Clark got the job done, turning away the kick-happy VanZant with takedowns and top control in the first two rounds. She did not press the wrestling in the final round, though, and paid for it as “12 Guage” Paige teed off with kicks to the body and jumping knees and kicks, some coming perilously close to landing flush. This despite VanZant apparently suffering a broken right arm, seemingly from a spinning back-fist she landed in the second. Clark survived to see the final bell and had done enough work in the first ten minutes to take a unanimous decision.
See how Twitter reacted to these exciting bouts below:
The Korean Superzombie 'bout to fuck shit up.
— Seán Sheehan (@SeanSheehanBA) January 15, 2018
Unlike Vikings, this Doo Ho Choi kid is for real.
— Suzanne Davis (@SoozieCuzie) January 15, 2018
Yasssss
https://t.co/pr3hEgIyb7
— Yellow Power Ranger (@Sugarhigh5me) January 15, 2018
FUCKING YAAAH https://t.co/3Bw1jR4QYv
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) January 15, 2018
All together now. …. pic.twitter.com/lNkGIGr17U
— Seán Sheehan (@SeanSheehanBA) January 15, 2018
Here we go!#UFCSTL pic.twitter.com/nfhVfIPnfT
— UFC (@ufc) January 15, 2018
LETS GOOOO LIL HEATHEN!!!! #UFCSTL
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) January 15, 2018
Dooho Choi v Whoda Fuk
— Coach Kavanagh (@John_Kavanagh) January 15, 2018
When your homework is due in a few hours but you have to quench the blood thirst for N'Gotvht the Betrayer. pic.twitter.com/4w1LarqUKz
— Suzanne Davis (@SoozieCuzie) January 15, 2018
I really could see this going either way. Both have the potential to be each others Kryptonite. But if I have to call it…I’d say Choi will catch Stephens with a straight right while Jeremy throws a wild lead left hook #UFCSTL
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) January 15, 2018
Choi seems to have figured out Stephens movements.
— Optimus Primetown (@JayPrimetown) January 15, 2018
10-9 Choi. He just looks faster and more technical and crisp offensively… but we all know how his defense is, so this is faaaar from over.
— Anton Tabuena (@antontabuena) January 15, 2018
Tell the truck to go ahead and take the 5 off the rounds display. It ain’t going that long #UFCSTL
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) January 15, 2018
Welp. Jeremy Stephens is an animal. Choi was getting clobbered at the end.
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) January 15, 2018
was fire as long as it lasted
— Jolassanda (@Jolassanda) January 15, 2018
Jeremy Stephens with a HUGE KO against Dooho Choi in the main event. Talk about a punch from hell to finish that on the ground#UFCStLouis
— Damon Martin (@DamonMartin) January 15, 2018
Heard a bunch of jobbers saying Jeremy Stephens KO power is a "myth."
— Best Fight Picks (@BestFightPicks) January 15, 2018
Jeremy Stephens can thump, son.
— Luke Thomas (@lthomasnews) January 15, 2018
You just CANNOT rely on your chin against @LiLHeathenMMA. He will just flat out steal your consciousness from your body. You can't give him that opening. #UFCSTL
— Iain Kidd (@iainkidd) January 15, 2018
Jeremy Stephens murks the Superboy… #UFCSTL
— MiddleEasy (@MiddleEasy) January 15, 2018
No shocker there. Give even a middling power puncher like Stephens enough free hooks and you'll get KO'd eventually. Stop matching Choi against guys who can hit.
— The Naked Gambler (@NakedGambling) January 15, 2018
That knockout was so violent, the censors just decided to let Jeremy Stephens say "fuck" on TV. #UFCSTL
— White Roy Nelson (@BoxingBusch) January 15, 2018
Damn Jeremy with the MONSTER ground & pound!
#UFCSTL
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) January 15, 2018
That's the best performance of Jeremy Stephens' career even if he had to overcome a few of his own tough guy freakouts. Pressure and leg kicks remain the catalyst for his best successes.
— Jordan Breen (@jordanbreen) January 15, 2018
Damn they did bec dirty with the replays. #UFCSTL
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) January 15, 2018
PVZ would beat Mayweather…. in boxing
— Zombie Prophet (@ZPGIFs) January 15, 2018
They literally just keep playing the same one highlight for PVZ. #UFCSTL
— Amy Kaplan (@PhotoAmy33) January 15, 2018
Me: You love Paige Vanza….
My wife: NO I DON’T!#UFCSTL
— Jason Nawara (@JasonNawara) January 15, 2018
Weak card tonight. Ladies and main event need to save the day. #UFCFightNight
— Freddie Prinze Jr (@RealFPJr) January 15, 2018
#UFCSTL pic.twitter.com/uPCGl3Ji22
— MMA GIFS (@mma_gifs_) January 15, 2018
So.. are ref separations banned in Missouri?
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) January 15, 2018
Rose-Clark: I came here to kick ass and dance with the stars… and I don't see any stars in here
— smoogy (@smoogymma) January 15, 2018
ref has not even said "work" lol
— SLC_Runner (@SLC_Runner) January 15, 2018
I wouldn't mind a little referee intervention here to press the action.
— Luke Thomas (@lthomasnews) January 15, 2018
Now that I see who's reffing I get why it wasn't stood up. #thisguy
— Will Brooks (@ILLxWillBrooks) January 15, 2018
I’m surprised Yamasucki didn’t stop it, the triangle was almost sunk. #UFCSTL
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) January 15, 2018
Clear 10-9 for Clark, who is showing that size matters. #UFCSTL
— Dan Tom (@DanTomMMA) January 15, 2018
When your fighter breaks their arm though, why would you let her continue? Your corner is supposed to protect their fighters.
— Tim B (@TB_Money) January 15, 2018
We need to find her cat's murderers. https://t.co/eFUYFLzG1p
— esther lin (@allelbows) January 15, 2018
They killed her cat???
#ufcstl
I hope they find the burglars— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) January 15, 2018
Huge congrats, and respect, to @missjessyjess for overcoming adversity and her performance tonight. #UFCSTL https://t.co/i2kcVAYbt3
— The Spartan (@EliasTheodorou) January 15, 2018
Paige just earned a title shot at 135 pounds #ufcstl @MMARoasted
— DanaUnleashed (@DanaUnleashed) January 15, 2018
Congrats @missjessyjess You are one terrific lady!!! pic.twitter.com/2KNT2gO66O
— MMA Roasted (@MMARoasted) January 15, 2018
Two fights in the UFC for Jessica Rose-Clark. Two wins in the UFC for Jessica Rose-Clark.#UFCSTL pic.twitter.com/AD9Sa713rT
— UFC India (@UFCIndia) January 15, 2018
Let's be real, Paige VanZant has absolutely no shot of ever beating… *googles 'women's flyweight champion'*… Nicco uh… Montano…
— The Naked Gambler (@NakedGambling) January 15, 2018
If you want to play the kind of stick-and-move outside kicking game VanZant seems to have settled on, you need skills – footwork, variety, defense, timing – she doesn't possess. #UFCSTL
— Patrick Wyman (@Patrick_Wyman) January 15, 2018
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