UFC 186: Johnson vs. Horiguchi | Event Profile, Full Results & Legacy
- Conor McBragger
- 4 days ago
- 5 min read
Introduction
UFC 186: Johnson vs. Horiguchi. April 25, 2015. Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Demetrious Johnson submitted Kyoji Horiguchi with an armbar at 4:59 of round five — with one second remaining in the championship fight. It was the latest submission finish in UFC history and Johnson’s sixth consecutive FW title defence. No one has broken the record.
The event was originally planned to be headlined by a BW Championship rematch between TJ Dillashaw and Renan Barao. Dillashaw withdrew with a broken rib on March 24, and the Johnson vs. Horiguchi bout — originally the co-main — was elevated to headline.
Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson won the co-main event over Fabio Maldonado. Michael Bisping defeated CB Dollaway by UD. Montreal’s seventh UFC event drew a strong Canadian crowd that made the Bell Centre loud throughout.
Contents
Quick Stats
Date: April 25, 2015
Venue: Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (7th UFC in Montreal)
Original Main Event: TJ Dillashaw vs. Renan Barao 2 (BW Championship) — Dillashaw withdrew with broken rib
Main Event: Demetrious Johnson (c) vs. Kyoji Horiguchi — UFC FW Championship
Result: Johnson def. Horiguchi — Sub (Armbar) R5, 4:59 — LATEST SUBMISSION IN UFC HISTORY (1 second remaining); 6th consecutive FW defence
Co-Main: Quinton Jackson def. Fabio Maldonado — UD — LHW; Rampage’s return to UFC
Bonuses: FOTN: Laprise/Barberena ($50k each); POTN: Johnson + Thomas Almeida ($50k each)
The Build-Up
TJ Dillashaw had shocked the MMA world at UFC 173 by defeating Renan Barao for the BW title. The rematch at UFC 186 had been anticipated as one of the year’s best matchups — a former champion with two-year momentum against a challenger who had been comprehensively dismantled. Dillashaw’s rib injury on March 24 cancelled the headline. The card was reorganised with Johnson promoted to headline.
Johnson at this point was beginning to be discussed as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. Five consecutive title defences, all complete dominations, had established him as the measuring stick of FW excellence. Horiguchi was 15-0 and had won four consecutive UFC fights, but he was stepping into the cage with an entity of a different magnitude.
Main Event
Demetrious Johnson (c) vs. Kyoji Horiguchi — UFC FW Championship
Horiguchi had brief moments of success in round one — his unorthodox rhythm gave Johnson unusual problems, and he landed a hard knee and a takedown in round two. But from round three onwards Johnson systematically took the challenger apart: constant pressure, repeated takedowns, and knees to the body eroded Horiguchi’s gas tank and composure. By round five, the fight was completely Johnson’s to close out.
With approximately 30 seconds remaining in round five, Johnson achieved crucifix position, transitioned to full mount, and secured an armbar in roughly five seconds. Horiguchi tapped at 4:59 of round five — one second from the final buzzer. It was the latest submission finish in UFC history. No fighter has finished a fight with less time remaining in a championship bout.
Co-Main Event
Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson vs. Fabio Maldonado — Light Heavyweight
Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson had left the UFC for Bellator in 2013 after a three-fight losing streak. After going 3-0 in Bellator — with one loss later added — he returned to the UFC for this card. Montreal gave him a strong reception. Jackson won by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27) after avoiding an all-out brawl with Maldonado and outworking him with more disciplined Muay Thai striking. It was his first UFC win since 2011.
Full Results
Preliminary Card
Randa Markos def. Aisling Daly — Decision — R3 — WSW
Valérie Létourneau def. Jessica Rakoczy — Sub — R? — WSW; Létourneau future WSW title challenger
Nordine Taleb def. Chris Clements — Decision — R3 — WW
Olivier Aubin-Mercier def. David Michaud — Sub — R? — LW; Canadian fighter
Chad Laprise def. Bryan Barberena — Decision — R3 — WW; Fight of Night ($50k each)
Alexis Davis def. Sarah Kaufman — Decision — R3 — WBW
Patrick Cote def. Joe Riggs — Decision — R3 — WW
Main Card
Thomas Almeida def. Yves Jabouin — TKO — R? — BW; POTN ($50k); Almeida future prospect, 19-0
John Makdessi def. Shane Campbell — TKO — R1 — LW; Canadian fighter; home crowd
Michael Bisping def. CB Dollaway — Decision (Unanimous) — R3 (29-28 x3) — MW
Quinton Jackson def. Fabio Maldonado — Decision (Unanimous) — R3 (29-28, 30-27, 30-27) — LHW; Co-Main; Rampage first UFC win since 2011
UFC FW Championship — Main Event
Demetrious Johnson def. Kyoji Horiguchi — Sub (Armbar) — R5, 4:59 — FW Championship; LATEST SUBMISSION IN UFC HISTORY (1 sec remaining); 6th consecutive defence; POTN ($50k)
Bonuses & Awards
Fight of the Night: Chad Laprise vs. Bryan Barberena — $50,000 to each fighter.
Performance of the Night: Demetrious Johnson + Thomas Almeida — $50,000 each.
Records & Milestones
Demetrious Johnson — 6th consecutive FW title defence; latest submission in UFC history at 4:59 of round 5 (1 second remaining). The second time Johnson had finished a title fight with an armbar in R5 (first: vs. John Moraga, July 2013). The record has never been broken.
Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson — first UFC win since defeating Lyoto Machida at UFC 123 in November 2010. He had been cut, gone to Bellator, and returned to the UFC for this Montreal card.
Michael Bisping — won in Montreal, the city of two of the most prominent MW title bouts in UFC history. His own journey to the MW title would culminate at UFC 199 in June 2016.
Legacy & Impact
The 4:59 armbar will be Demetrious Johnson’s UFC 186 legacy. Five rounds of patient, systematic dominance concluded with a transition so fast and precise that it happened with one second on the clock. Johnson spent six championships rounds working toward a finish he didn’t need for the win, and delivered it at the last possible moment. It was the single most representative image of his championship reign.
The event also demonstrated the depth of the division problem the UFC faced at flyweight: with the original main event (Dillashaw vs. Barao2) cancelled, it was Johnson who saved the card. That he did so with a record-breaking finish made the point emphatic.
FAQ
What made Johnson’s submission at UFC 186 a record?
Johnson submitted Kyoji Horiguchi by armbar at 4:59 of round five — with one second remaining. It was the latest submission finish in UFC history. The record has never been broken.
Why was the original UFC 186 main event cancelled?
TJ Dillashaw was scheduled to defend the BW title against Renan Barao in a rematch. Dillashaw withdrew on March 24 with a broken rib. The Johnson vs. Horiguchi flyweight title fight, originally the co-main, was elevated to headline.
Was Rampage Jackson’s return significant at UFC 186?
Yes. Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson had left the UFC for Bellator in 2013 after three consecutive losses. He went 3-0 in Bellator and returned for UFC 186. His win over Maldonado was his first UFC victory since November 2010 at UFC 123.
Who was Kyoji Horiguchi before fighting Johnson?
Horiguchi was 15-0 and had won four consecutive UFC fights, including a loss-then-win run that had established him as the top flyweight contender. He lost his first UFC championship fight to Johnson. Horiguchi later became RIZIN FW Champion and Bellator BW Champion.
Where does Johnson’s UFC 186 performance rank in his title reign?
Johnson won nine consecutive FW title defences in total, the most in the weight class’s history. His UFC 186 submission of Horiguchi at 4:59 of round 5 is widely cited as the single most technically impressive finish of his championship run.
References
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