UFC 177 T.J. Dillashaw def. Joe Soto knockout (head kick) – Round 5

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- T.J. Dillashaw knew something about Joe Soto that the general public refused to believe: This his short-notice challenger was one tough hombre who was better than the fact he had never fought in the UFC would seem to indicate. Soto, of Santa Rosa, Calif., has trained with Dillashaw at Sacramento's Team Alpha Male, and Dillashaw knew he was in for a tough fight when Soto took the UFC bantamweight title shot made available when Renan Barao had to drop out of the fight on Friday after weight-cutting issues. So while Dilliashaw went on to victory at UFC 177 on Saturday night, Soto made him work for it. Soto hung with the champ for the better part of four and a half rounds before Dillashaw finally finished him in the fifth with a head kick, sending the local fans at Sleep Train Arena home happy. The stoppage came at 2:20. "You guys don't know him, but he's a tough guy and a tough opponent," said Dillashaw (11-2). "He gave me everything he had."Dillashaw stayed mobile early on in the bout, looking for angles to deliver power punches. Soto, meanwhile, seemed hesitant to engage, and when he tried to put the champion on his back with a leg-sweep, it backfired, allowing Dillashaw to scramble and take his back. A brief choke threat was defended, and Soto landed a stiff right hand just past the midway point of the round. Dillashaw repaid him with a body shot, and in the final seconds, they went toe-to-toe with both landing clean shots. Soto’s right hand opened the second frame with authority as he cracked Dillashaw with a series of looping shots. Dillashaw fired back, forcing Soto to cover up as combinations arrived at a quick clip. A lead uppercut found its mark for the champ, but Soto’s jab was strong. Dillashaw chased Soto down and winged more quick combinations as Soto tried to evade and counter. Soto dove for a takedown and came up short, and after a spirited exchange in close, Dillashaw easily took the fight to the mat. It was a merely a show of dominance, however, as he got back to his feet and peppered Soto with combinations, ducking in an out.Dillashaw misses with a head kick on a fleeing Soto and circles back out. Dillashaw switching stances and drives a hard inside leg kick. Soto moving forward, but Dillashaw's defense is better and he's staying out of range for the most part. Outside leg kick for Dillashaw finds the mark. Both fighters trade short punches on the inside. Dillashaw manages to score with another double. Soto attempts some rubber guard work, but lets it go. Soto's able to get to his feet in a scramble.Soto attempts a single and is stuffed. Meanwhile Dillashaw scores with a head kick and aggressive punching combination with Soto's back against the fence. Dillashaw circling out and light on his feet. The champion digs to the body, which backs Soto up and then walks into a crushing head kick. Soto is almost out and collapses. The referee stops it there.