By the point Alex Pereira put the ending touches on Israel Adesanya within the fifth spherical of their middleweight title battle, it was clear that UFC 281 had been a fairly particular card for the world’s largest MMA promotion. Two titles modified palms, Dustin Porier and Michael Chandler went to battle, and Ryan Spann introduced himself as a lightweight heavyweight contender.
So, is there any motive the UFC shouldn’t run Pereira vs. Adesanya again instantly? How briskly does Rose Namajunas get again into the strawweight title hunt now that Zhang Weili is champ? And is Erin Blanchfield a future contender for the ladies’s flyweight belt?
To reply these questions—and a complete lot extra—I’ll be utilizing the basic Silva/Shelby battle reserving methodology from the UFC of years previous. Meaning pitting winners towards winners, losers towards losers, and equally tenured expertise up towards each other. Hopefully, by following that mannequin, a couple of of those bout concepts will truly make it off the web page and into the Octagon. Now, let’s get to the fights!
ALEX PEREIRA
An unbelievable third battle between Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya ends with historical past repeating itself, seemingly in each approach attainable. The ‘Final Stylebender’ discovered nice success within the early phases of the bout, and even had Pereira harm badly sufficient that—had there been even only a few extra seconds in spherical 1—he in all probability would have completed the Brazilian then and there. Heading into the fifth, Adesanya was up 3-to-1 on all playing cards. So long as he made it to the ultimate bell standing, he would stroll away with the belt nonetheless round his waist. However Pereira is an insanely harmful man, and located an additional rush of aggression proper when he wanted it.
Fortuitously for the now-former champ, nevertheless, whereas the Metropolis Kickboxing star was undoubtedly in peril within the battle’s ultimate moments, there’s some controversy as to simply how harm he truly was. Given, as nicely, Adesanya’s prolonged and extremely profitable reign as UFC title holder—and the insane quantity of historical past between the 2 males—Pereira and the UFC could be fairly silly to disregard an on the spot rematch. Adesanya vs. Pereira II (IV???) looks like the battle the UFC has to make, particularly with Robert Whittaker already booked.
ZHANG WEILI
This was the form of battle that Rose Namajunas ought to have trusted herself to have with Esparza and didn’t. Zhang Weili was completely fearless towards the ‘Cookie Monster’, pushing ahead with aggression, firing kicks from vary with abandon, and being completely completely able to go wherever Esparza wished to take the battle—and to out-work her as soon as they obtained there. Esparza obtained in on takedowns and obtained Zhang to the mat, however discovered somebody able to scramble and beat her to positions each time she did. The result’s a second spherical submission for ‘Magnum’ and her second stint with the belt.
After all, now that she has gold once more, the elephant within the room is her two losses to Rose Namajunas. However along with her horrible loss to Esparza earlier this yr, ‘Thug Rose’ isn’t precisely primed to be the highest contender simply in the mean time. As an alternative, Amanda Lemos looks like essentially the most enjoyable battle to make. A real power-punching Brazilian who can problem Zhang’s tendency towards aggression with enormous counters. Let Namajunas go get one other win, then she’ll be proper again on the peak of the mountain. However Lemos vs. Zhang is the appropriate title battle of the second.
CARLA ESPARZA
This type of battle was at all times going to be proper there ready for Carla Esparza as soon as she turned champion once more. She’s obtained the work ethic and the technical wrestling talent of a really elite fighter, however she’s simply not a giant nor a strong athlete. And wrestling is the form of talent that actually performs greatest when a fighter is larger and stronger than the folks they’re working to out-wrestle. Esparza obtained her alternatives to take Zhang down a number of occasions, however her opponent by no means let her maintain place, and the top outcome was a sequence of scrambles that slowly went increasingly towards her.
I used to be going to say that Esparza ought to rematch Marina Rodriguez, give the Brazilian an opportunity to win a controversial loss again. However then I checked and noticed that Esparza has by no means fought Tecia Torres. They’ve been in the identical division without end, they’re each pint-sized, even at 115. Looks like a pure reserving. Torres vs. Esparza is a battle that ought to have occurred years in the past.
DUSTIN POIRIER
One other prime tier win for Dustin Poirier. It doesn’t seemingly put him in line for a light-weight title shot, however it definitely retains him proper there within the dialog. Poirier obtained rocked early, obtained swarmed with wrestling and prime management in spherical two, after which appeared like he was in bother with one other takedown in spherical 3, proper till he rolled via to wind up on prime and located a technique to Chandler’s again within the scramble. That win traces Poirier up for both of two fights: Beneil Dariush or Rafael Fiziev. Dariush has stated that he’ll battle any and everybody on his quest for UFC gold, Poirier is most undoubtedly one of many males in his approach proper now. Dustin Poirier vs. Beneil Dariush could be one other superior battle. Let’s make it occur.
MICHAEL CHANDLER
One other implausible battle for Michael Chandler, however one other shedding effort to go along with it. Honest play to him, he took the ‘should you ain’t cheatin’ you ain’t tryin’’ mantra to the acute this time round with a number of again of the pinnacle pictures, a pair brutal fishhooks, and possibly even a glove seize. However dropped now right down to 2-3 within the Octagon it’s onerous to not think about that he’s getting determined to seek out these title goals he’s been holding on to. With losses to Poirier, Gaethje, and Oliveira, that looks like it places Chandler in a fairly tough spot to get again to contender standing. Mateusz Gamrot is on the market hanging round although, coming off that brutal loss to Beneil Dariush. If the alternatives are both that or a battle with RDA, then I’ve gotta decide Gamrot vs. Chandler. He might additionally go winner loser with Rafael Fiziev, however that simply looks like it’d be higher with each males coming off a win. Gamrot vs. Chandler looks like the step again the previous Bellator king wants.
CHRIS GUTIERREZ
After knocking out Frankie Edgar with an image excellent step knee early in spherical one, Gutierrez appeared extra distraught than the previous light-weight champion. That seemingly gained’t final lengthy, nevertheless, as he’s had a protracted gradual street to changing into a prime tier fighter and a serious KO over a former star on PPV needs to be nearly as good a launching pad as he might hope to ask for to start out getting prime tier bookings. Bouts with Pedro Munhoz, Adrian Yanez, Track Yadong, or Jonathan Martinez all appear to be they’d be respectable choices for ‘El Guapo’ subsequent time he enters the Octagon. I don’t know why, however the thought of Gutierrez vs. Munhoz actually appeals. Munhoz has hit some powerful losses currently, however he’s assured motion. A bout with Gutierrez looks like the form of step again he wants and the form of step up the Edgar win ought to prime Gutierrez for. Gutierrez vs. Munhoz looks like the appropriate battle for Gutierrez to try to proceed his run to the highest.
DAN HOOKER & RENATO MOICANO
As a rule I strive to not match fighters from the identical card. It’s lazy. however there’s simply an excessive amount of parity right here for me to disregard. Each males are former featherweights, each males have gone via some critical beatings of their profession, and each males appeared to seek out renewed confidence and power on Saturday evening. As soon as a prime tier featherweight prospect, Moicano has been looking out onerous for a brand new id within the light-weight division after again to again KOs from Jose Aldo and Chan Sung Jung despatched him packing at 145. It hasn’t come simply, however the man who confirmed up towards Brad Riddell at UFC 281 regarded calm and managed—sniping the previous kickboxer with lethal accuraccy, solely to wrap him up like a backpack for the RNC victory.
Equally, Dan Hooker’s troubles took him again to featherweight—if just for a second—and straight into the ready palms of Arnold Allen, who pummeled him relentlessly for 2 minutes and 33 seconds again in March. That marked the fourth loss in 5 fights for the ‘Hangman’, a development he turned proper round towards Claudio Puelles. Puelles began robust with an Imanari roll right into a leg-lock entanglement, and had Hooker in every kind of bother early. However, as soon as the New Zealander fought his approach free from hazard he put a significantly one-sided beating on the ‘Prince of Peru’. The tip result’s two males regaining previous momentum, hanging out on the edges of the light-weight elite. Moicano vs. Hooker is the right take a look at to see which man can hold his sudden success on observe.
RYAN SPANN
Ryan Spann completely destroyed Dominick Reyes on the market. Reyes tried to exit and get a quick begin behind his jab and low kicks, however each single time he stepped into the pocket he walked proper onto a heavy Spann counter. A number of of these was all it took for ‘Superman’ to get the primary spherical knockout. After the battle, Spann primarily stated that he was searching for a title shot, however with Blachowciz vs. Ankalaev booked as nicely, it stays to be seen if he’s going to be the person greatest positioned to get an opportunity at gold.
I might argue for Spann vs. Krylov or for a rematch towards Anthony Smith (if Smith goes to return again any time quickly). By way of decisive, high-caliber finishers that may present thrilling fights, although, it looks like there’s a way more apparent possibility hanging proper on the market ready. Jamahal Hill has been on a tear of his personal currently, with three straight KO victories. Hill vs. Spann could be an electrical battle and it would simply let the winner soar the queue over different, less-thrilling veteran contenders.
ERIN BLANCHFIELD
This was at all times going to be a tough battle for Molly McCann, however Erin Blanchfield made it appear to be a reserving that shouldn’t even have occurred in any respect. ‘Chilly Blooded’ completely trounced the Scouser on her technique to a primary spherical submission that, on every other evening, would have carried a efficiency bonus with it. After the win, Blanchfield known as out Andrea Lee. It’s a superb battle, could be enjoyable, feels very winnable for the 23-year-old. However, in a division with so many choices, I don’t see a variety of motive to go winner-loser right here. Principally, actually, that’s simply because Maycee Barber is hanging out with no battle booked. Barber is on three straight wins, her newest a fairly respectable exhibiting over Jessica Eye. Two younger prospects with a number of momentum? Looks like a extra fascinating reserving within the second. Barber vs. Blanchfield has to occur eventually, may as nicely make it now.
OTHER BOUTS: Claudio Puelles vs. Mark Madsen, Brad Riddell vs. Rafael Alves, Dominick Reyes vs. Dustin Jacoby, Molly McCann vs. Montana De La Rosa, Andre Petroski vs. Caio Borralho, Wellington Turman vs. Makhmud Muradov, Matt Frevola vs. Fares Ziam, Ottman Azaitar vs. Viacheslav Borshchev, Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs. Polyana Viana, Silvana Gomez Juarez vs. Diana Belbita, Michael Trizano vs. Shayilan Neurdanbieke, Choi Seung-woo vs. Daniel Pineda, Montel Jackson vs. Raoni Barcelos, Julio Arce vs. Casey Kenney, Carlos Ulberg vs. Alonzo Menifield, Nicolae Negumereanu vs. the Jung/Clark loser
