UFC 177: Dillashaw vs. Soto | Event Profile, Full Results & Legacy
- Dana Black
- 4 days ago
- 5 min read
Introduction
UFC 177: Dillashaw vs. Soto. August 30, 2014. Sleep Train Arena, Sacramento, California. T.J. Dillashaw retained the UFC Bantamweight Championship with a fifth-round knockout of Joe Soto at 2:20 of round five. Dillashaw was scheduled to fight Renan Barão in a rematch. Barão collapsed during his weight cut the day before the event, fainted in a bathtub and hit his head; he was hospitalised and pulled from the fight.
Joe Soto, who was scheduled to fight Anthony Birchak on the preliminary card, was given one day’s notice to fight Dillashaw for the belt. Both men had to adjust their preparations at 24 hours’ notice. Soto went the distance and gave Dillashaw a genuine challenge before a head kick ended the fight in round five. Joe Rogan described UFC 177 on air as the ‘haunted UFC card’ in reference to the cascade of injuries and last-minute changes. UFC 176 — originally scheduled for August 2 at Staples Center in Los Angeles — had been cancelled after Jose Aldo’s neck injury, the second numbered UFC event ever cancelled.
Contents
1. Introduction
2. Quick Stats
3. The Build-Up
4. Main Event
5. Co-Main Event
6. Full Results
7. Bonuses & Awards
8. Records & Milestones
9. Legacy & Impact
10. FAQ
11. References
Quick Stats
Date: August 30, 2014
Venue: Sleep Train Arena, Sacramento, California, USA (Dillashaw’s home region; Team Alpha Male in Sacramento)
Main Event: T.J. Dillashaw (c) vs. Joe Soto — UFC BW Championship (ORIGINAL: Barão-Dillashaw 2; Barão collapsed day before)
Result: Dillashaw def. Soto — KO (Head Kick + Punch) — R5, 2:20; Soto was prelim fighter given ONE DAY’S NOTICE; Dillashaw 40-36 on all scorecards before KO
Notable: Barão fainted in bathtub making weight; UFC 176 had already been cancelled (Aldo injury); Joe Rogan: ‘haunted UFC card’; Ferguson def. Castillo; $50k bonuses
The Build-Up
Barão vs. Dillashaw 2 had been booked as an immediate rematch since UFC 173. The pair had not been able to fight due to injuries and rescheduling. By the Friday before UFC 177, Barão was attempting to cut weight in his hotel room. He fainted in a bathtub, hit his head, and was taken to hospital. The UFC announced approximately one hour before weigh-ins that Barão was out. Soto, who had been listed on the prelims against Birchak, agreed to step up to the title fight on one day’s notice.'),
Main Event
T.J. Dillashaw (c) vs. Joe Soto — UFC BW Championship
Soto started aggressively and showed no signs of the irregular preparation. He landed right hands in the opening round and was competitive throughout. Dillashaw’s volume and angles gave Soto consistent problems but Soto’s power kept the fight interesting. In round five, Dillashaw landed a right head kick that dropped Soto. Follow-up punches ended the fight at 2:20. Dillashaw had been winning 40-36 on all three scorecards before the stoppage. He chose to finish rather than coast through the final round.'),
Co-Main Event
Tony Ferguson vs. Danny Castillo — Lightweight
Ferguson controlled the fight with grappling and clinch work. Castillo showed toughness but had no effective counters to Ferguson’s wrestling. Judges scored 30-27 x3 for Ferguson. The win continued his LW winning streak.'),
Full Results
Preliminary Card
Derek Brunson def. Lorenz Larkin — Decision — R3 — MW
Chris Wade def. Cain Carrizosa — Decision — R3 — LW
Anthony Hamilton def. Ruan Potts — Decision — R3 — HW
Main Card
Yancy Medeiros def. Damon Jackson — Decision — R3 — LW; POTN ($50k)
Carlos Diego Ferreira def. Ramsey Nijem — Decision — R3 — LW; POTN ($50k)
Bethe Correia def. Shayna Baszler — TKO — R3 — WBW; Correia on the rise
Tony Ferguson def. Danny Castillo — Decision (Unanimous) — R3, 5:00 (30-27 x3) — LW; Co-Main
UFC BW Championship (5 rounds) — Main Event
T.J. Dillashaw def. Joe Soto — KO (Head Kick + Punch) — R5, 2:20 — BW Championship; first defence; Soto given ONE DAY’S notice; Dillashaw 40-36 before KO; POTN ($50k)
Bonuses & Awards
Performance Night: T.J. Dillashaw — $50,000.
Performance Night: Yancy Medeiros and Carlos Diego Ferreira — $50,000 each.
Records & Milestones
Joe Soto — UFC debut as a last-minute title challenger; given one day’s notice to fight for the BW championship; Soto’s performance gave the event its only real narrative.'),
UFC 176 context — UFC 177 was also the second post-cancellation numbered event; UFC 176 had been cancelled on July 8 when Jose Aldo withdrew with a neck injury from his Staples Center fight with Chad Mendes. It was the second numbered UFC event ever cancelled, after UFC 151.'),
Legacy & Impact
UFC 177’s story was Barão’s collapse more than Dillashaw’s performance. The champion had prepared for a specific opponent and adapted in 24 hours to a different fighter. The result was the same: a fifth-round finish. Barão’s weight cutting methods came under scrutiny after the hospitalisation; the image of him fainting in a bathtub became one of the year’s most cited arguments for hydration rules in MMA.'),
FAQ
Why didn't Barao fight Dillashaw at UFC 177?
Barao collapsed during his weight cut the day before the event, fainting in a bathtub and hitting his head. He was hospitalised and pulled from the fight approximately one hour before the weigh-ins.
Who was Joe Soto and how did he get the title fight?
Soto was scheduled to fight Anthony Birchak in a preliminary card bout at UFC 177 for his UFC debut. When Barao withdrew, Soto was offered the title fight one day before the event. He accepted on one day's notice.
Was UFC 177 close?
Yes. Dillashaw was winning on all three scorecards 40-36 before the fifth-round finish, but Soto gave him genuine difficulty throughout. Soto landed heavy right hands and pushed Dillashaw to five rounds.
What was UFC 176 and why was it cancelled?
UFC 176 was scheduled for August 2, 2014, at Staples Center in Los Angeles, headlined by Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes 2 for the FW title. Aldo withdrew with a neck/shoulder injury on July 2. The UFC cancelled the entire event on July 8, unable to find a replacement main event with less than a month until fight night. It was the second numbered UFC event ever cancelled, after UFC 151.
Why did Joe Rogan call UFC 177 the 'haunted UFC card'?
Multiple fights and opponents fell through in the weeks and days leading up to the event. Barao's collapse on the day of weigh-ins was the final and most dramatic disruption of a card that had already lost several originally planned bouts.
References
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