Contemplating that the cardboard had the texture of an unmitigated catastrophe by the point that the prelims have been wrapped up, it turned out… okay? Kennedy Nzechukwu made a valiant comeback to place a stamp on Ion Cutelaba, Waldo Cortez-Acosta & Chase Sherman scrapped it out, and Muslim Salikhov added to his spotlight reel towards Andre Fialho.
So, is Nzechukwu on his solution to changing into a ranked fighter within the mild heavyweight division? Can Salikhov get a excessive profile bout or two earlier than his profession winds down? And is Jack Della Maddalena Australia’s subsequent star attraction?
To reply these questions—however nothing else—I’ll be utilizing the traditional Silva/Shelby battle reserving methodology from the UFC of years previous. Which means 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!
KENNEDY NZECHUKWU
Ultimately he’ll have to essentially work on shedding his status for sluggish begins, however that received’t be in the present day. Kennedy Nzechukwu received blasted with large proper palms and highly effective takedowns in his opening spherical towards Ion Cutelaba. Even after gaining some momentum on the finish of the primary, followers may very well be forgiven for pondering that the ‘African Savage’ was on his solution to a tough loss. However it was Nzechukwu who began spherical 2 firing laborious punches, forcing the ‘Hulk’ into an apparent shot from approach exterior; the right setup for an enormous bounce knee. That’s two straight knockout wins for the Fortis MMA expertise, who’s wanting increasingly more like a future top-ranked mild heavyweight. And it units him up for both of two apparent fights proper now: Azamat Murzakanov or Khalil Rountree. Each males have the type of violent energy that will make it an actual poor thought to present away an entire spherical looking for the rhythm of the bout, however Nzechukwu’s dimension and toughness would current an actual problem in each circumstances. Given Rountree’s up-and-down UFC profession, it seems like he has extra want of constructing an actual win streak, Nzechukwu vs. Rountree is a good probability for each males to show they’re actually hitting their stride.
WALDO CORTES-ACOSTA
It wasn’t fairly, however Waldo Cortes-Acosta handed precisely the type of check he wanted to, to be able to show himself a UFC prepared heavyweight. Sherman isn’t essentially the most deft or defensively minded man within the division, however he pushes a tempo, and he had his sights lifeless set on Cortes-Acosta’s lack of low-kick protection. ‘Salsa Boy’ battled by means of the early harm to land the a lot sharper strikes all the remainder of the way in which, working behind a heavy jab and a few very nice counter left hooks. After the bout he mentioned he needed to battle once more as quickly as potential. If he’s simply keen to exit and battle anybody at any time, then a bout with Martin Buday looks like simple reserving. A large, tough-as-nails heavyweight with a bent to tug opponents into deep water and sluggish them down. An excellent check for the hard-hitting athlete on the rise. Cortes-Acosta vs. Buday looks like a great way to get extra expertise.
MUSLIM SALIKHOV
A sticky, back-and-forth battle between Muslim Salikhov and Andre Fialho early turned slowly increasingly more towards a showcase for the Dagestani ‘King of Kung Fu’. It’s a protracted standing drawback for Fialho, that he’s simply too static at vary and doesn’t provide sufficient offense as he steps into the pocket. A artful vary striker like Salikhov was at all times going to be an enormous drawback for him. Even on the 38, after the bout, Salikhov used his platform to guarantee followers that he’s higher ready and hungrier than ever. Time isn’t on his facet, so long as he’s successful, the UFC ought to throw him within the hardest fights they will. Bouts with Michel Pereira, Daniel Rodriguez, Randy Brown, or Jake Matthews would all be respectable choices. Of these, the Brown battle pursuits me most. Brown is extremely harmful at Salikhov’s most popular distance, however has lots gaps in his fashion that different opponents have been capable of leverage for the win. Muslim Salikhov vs. Randy Brown looks like a fantastic bout for 2 males who actually may have a quantity subsequent to their names.
JACK DELLA MADDALENA
As anticipated, a punishing first spherical knockout from Jack Della Maddalena. His strain and energy caught Roberts off his guard quite a few occasions early within the battle and it wasn’t lengthy earlier than ‘Scorching Chocolate’ was simply too overwhelmed to reply. After the battle, Della Maddalena made it clear that he doesn’t care who he fights, so long as he will get an opportunity to battle at UFC 284 in Perth in February. Appears seemingly the UFC will make that reserving occur. Fights with Jeremiah Wells and Brian Battle would each be respectable choices, Khaos Williams or Matthew Semelsberger would work too. On condition that he doesn’t thoughts who he faces, I’ll say e book him towards Jeremiah Wells. Two large punching welterweights throwing down Down Below. Looks like a surefire KO. Jack Della Maddalena vs. Jeremiah Wells can be a ton of enjoyable.
JENNIFER MAIA
Its a superb factor for Maia that her feedback about seeing Maryna Moroz as a superb bounce again alternative didn’t come again to chew her. With one other laborious fought victory she’s going to be hanging round proper again within the prime ten of the flyweight division. That would imply a matchup with the loser of Lauren Murphy vs. Jessica Andrade or with a younger rising expertise like Maycee Barber. However with Alexa Grasso and Viviane Araujo each hanging round and not using a reserving it looks like certainly one of them can be the higher solution to go. Grasso’s the one coming off a win, and she or he must put collectively extra spectacular showings to get a title shot. Grasso vs. Maia is an effective solution to check if Grasso can separate herself from the pack at 125.
MILES JOHNS
Not precisely an exhilarating battle from the bantamweight wrestle boxer, however coming off USADA troubles and a stoppage loss, simply getting the win seemingly needed to be at the start within the 28-year-old’s thoughts. That units him up for fights with Heili Alateng, Taylor Lapilus, Mana Martinez, or Javid Bashrat. The Alateng battle seems like the most suitable choice amongst these. One other veteran who has largely discovered wins within the Octagon with out seeming to separate himself a lot from the remainder of the pack. For Johns, it’s a harmful puncher and powerful athlete who can seemingly make takedowns troublesome. For Alateng, these two takedowns he gave up in his draw towards Gustavo Lopez signify the one actual wrestling menace he’s confronted. Johns can provide the Struggle Prepared expertise an opportunity to show his floor recreation isn’t a legal responsibility. Johns vs. Alateng is a strong bout between two males struggling to seek out recognition for his or her success.
NATALIA SILVA
I nonetheless had a couple of doubts about Natalia Silva after her spectacular UFC debut, however it’s clear now that she’s a giant minimize above the common prospect at girls’s flyweight. She’s now taken on two of the division’s largest athletes and regarded completely comfortable coping with their physicality each occasions. An awesome factor to see going ahead for her prospects towards the elite. And that spinning again kick was depraved cool. Fights with Priscila Cachoeira, Melissa Gatto, or Gillian Robertson would all be respectable subsequent battle choices. I particularly like the concept of the Robertson battle, because it looks like a determined step up, particularly with the specter of an excellent artful, aggressive grappler. Silva vs. Robertson looks like a great way to begin quick monitoring the Brazilian to the highest 15.
OTHER BOUTS: Ion Cutelaba vs. Nick Negumereanu, Chase Sherman vs. Lukasz Brzeski, Andre Fialho vs. Gabriel Inexperienced, Danny Roberts vs. Courtroom McGee, Charles Johnson vs. Jake Hadley, Maryna Moroz vs. J.J. Aldrich, Vince Morales vs. Brandon Davis, Ricky Turcios vs. Mana Martinez, Kevin Natividad vs. Liudvik Sholinian, Vanessa Demopoulos vs. Lupita Godinez, Maria Oliveira vs. Denise Gomes, Brady Hiestand vs. Christian Rodriguez, Fernie Garcia vs. Garrett Armfield, Tereza Bleda vs. Hannah Goldy
