Maybe I’d be taking issues too far if I stated UFC San Antonio proved to be a disappointment, however I believe a stable case will be made. The principle occasion between Marlon Vera and Cory Sandhagen proved to be anticlimactic as Sandhagen did no matter he needed to Vera. One of many extra anticipated fights on the cardboard, a flyweight contest between Manel Kape and Alex Perez, was cancelled whereas the occasion was already underway. That was on prime of two different contests that had been cancelled inside 48 hours of the occasion.
Nonetheless, apart from that, issues went fairly easy. The Texas crowd noticed a giant chunk of their house favorites emerge victorious. Even those who weren’t from Texas that proved to be crowd favorites (i.e. Holly Holm) managed to ship the products for the stay viewers. Plus, there have been a number of fights that went backwards and forwards, offering the swings of momentum that may hold the followers on the sting of their seat.
In the long run, the Sandhagen victory clears up the title image. Vera, already proudly owning a win over Sean O’Malley, would in all probability have declared himself to be extra deserving than O’Malley to face the winner of Aljamain Sterling and Henry Cejudo. Slightly than attempt to insert himself with O’Malley, Sandhagen known as out Merab Dvalishvili, who has already declared he received’t combat his teammate, Sterling. In any other case, it’s arduous to argue that Dvalishvili isn’t deserving above everybody else of preventing for bantamweight gold. This manner, we a minimum of have a transparent course.
Regardless, lets get all the way down to the true winners and losers of UFC San Antonio.
Winners
Cory Sandhagen: Some nonetheless weren’t too hip on Sandhagen’s possibilities of solidifying his standing as an elite bantamweight following his losses towards Aljamain Sterling, TJ Dillashaw, and Petr Yan. That was even after his victory over Music Yadong. I believe these doubters are reconsidering that standing in the event that they haven’t already flipped on it. Even in case you attribute Vera’s poor efficiency extra to him not displaying up than Sandhagen’s offense simply overwhelming him, it needs to be acknowledged that Sandhagen did his half. Vera didn’t harm Sandhagen significantly at any level, one thing Vera was doing a minimum of as soon as a spherical in his final two contests towards Dominick Cruz and Rob Font. Maybe extra spectacular, Sandhagen was the callout of Dvalishvili after the Georgian native decimated Yan simply two weeks in the past. Make no mistake, Sandhagen has the expertise and confidence wanted to place a halt to Dvalishvili’s spectacular momentum.
Holly Holm: The primary half of the opening spherical had some individuals nervous as Holm struggled to create separation from a urgent Yana Santos. There was no want for Holm’s followers to fret as the previous champion turned on the jets from that time, handing over a dominant efficiency. Holm overpowered Santos, wrestling her to the bottom on a number of events and displaying some spectacular grappling abilities, trapping Santos in a crucifix at one level. Maybe she will stave off the consequences of age a bit longer by persevering with to study some new tips.
Nate Landwehr: I can’t say all the things Landwehr says in his post-fight interviews is sensible, however I can’t deny that it isn’t entertaining both. It was additionally essentially the most mature efficiency we’ve seen from Landwehr. Many have a tendency to consider Landwehr as a crazed madman within the cage, however he was measured within the opening spherical. He allowed Lingo to throw his heavy artillery and gasoline himself some earlier than Landwehr turned up the quantity. If Landwehr can proceed to indicate that sort of combat IQ, nobody shall be stunned to see him enter the official UFC rankings, no small accomplishment at featherweight.
Maycee Barber: Barber’s youthful vanity turned off a number of MMA followers when she first hit the UFC scene. After a few arduous classes, it’s arduous to not be impressed by the teenager. Gone is the vanity, changed by a willpower that she’s going to outwork her opponent to make sure that she emerges victorious. That’s precisely how she was in a position to emerge victorious forward of Andrea Lee. Lee landed fairly a number of extra takedowns than Barber and appeared to get the higher of the clinch conditions. Plus, Lee’s strikes appeared to land cleaner… after they landed. Barber threw much more quantity, together with from off her again within the opening spherical when she trapped Lee’s arm in a way that I’ve by no means seen earlier than. There are nonetheless some who’re bitter about Barber, however I believe they need to re-analyze the progress Barber has made. She’s a far cry from what she was as a teenager.
Daniel Pineda: I’m cautious Pineda will find yourself popping for having a complete pharmacy in his system, however he deserves to be on this column till the drug assessments are available in. The OG began a bit gradual, however began discovering his rhythm about midway by the opening spherical. He put Tucker Lutz on his butt round that time and attacked each opening he may discover. He ultimately discovered a guillotine choke, securing one other end. This man has by no means received a combat by way of determination, even counting the wins that had been erased when he pissed scorching. Even with the shady historical past with PED’s, it’s arduous to respect that accomplishment.
Lucas Alexander: Most didn’t know who Alexander was coming into the occasion. His UFC debut noticed him get disposed of in simply over two minutes and there wasn’t a number of hype round his signing. He placed on a grasp class efficiency, staying on the surface and choosing aside the scrappy Steven Peterson for almost all of the competition. When Peterson was in a position to shut the gap, Alexander displayed maturity and persistence in working his approach out of unhealthy conditions. I wouldn’t say he’s a prime prospect at this level, however he’s one to regulate. A darkish horse so to talk….
Steven Peterson: Certain, Peterson was totally outclassed by a youthful Lucas Alexander. It wasn’t even shut. However he went down in traditional Steven Peterson vogue: swinging till the top. Afterwards, he introduced his retirement in the course of the cage in his house state of Texas. Peterson was by no means a star – not even shut – however he was very revered within the MMA neighborhood for his ridiculous coronary heart and toughness. 15 years within the sport and Peterson was solely completed one time. Whereas it might have been higher for him to have gone out on a win, he didn’t finish his profession trying on the lights. He went out together with his head held excessive.
CJ Vergara: He got here near dropping in entrance of his house crowd, however the grizzled vet pulled it out ultimately. At 31 with restricted athleticism, Vergara has a restricted ceiling. Regardless of that, he’s confirmed in his 4 UFC contests that he’s the kind of fighter the UFC wants within the flyweight division to check their prospects. Plus, Vergara received’t be in a boring combat if he has something to say about it.
Victor Altamirano: There’s motive to be cautious about Altamirano’s future regardless of profitable his final two contests. As an example, his two wins come towards opponents who’ve but to safe a win in 5 appearances. Regardless, Altamirano is thrashing who’s positioned in entrance of him and doing so in an clever method. I perceive if doubts stay, however he’s doing his half to beat these doubts away.
Losers
Marlon Vera: Backside line is Vera didn’t present up. He didn’t say so in these actual phrases in his post-fight interview, however he acknowledged as a lot. Slightly than the killer intuition in his eye that was indicative of his vicious nature, he had the look of a deer within the headlights. It’s not like he hadn’t been peppered with fixed offense earlier than; Rob Font greater than doubled up on the quantity of serious strikes Sandhagen landed and Vera nonetheless discovered a approach to win that combat. Vera simply crapped the mattress.
Yana Santos: Given how heavy of an underdog she was, I in all probability would have stated Santos ought to belong within the neither class had it not been such a one-sided loss for the Russian native. Santos supplied no efficient offense after the midway level of the primary spherical, showing to have her spirit damaged after Holm proved tough to manage. Given the shallow nature of the division, Santos continues to be throughout the higher half of the division. Regardless of that, Santos doesn’t appear to be she’s going to interrupt into the highest 5 of the division.
Andrea Lee: I don’t wish to be too important of Lee. Relying in your perspective, she placed on a profitable efficiency towards Barber. Sadly, the judges didn’t agree with that and it was an in depth sufficient combat that nobody ought to cry a couple of theft. Within the course of, Lee has now misplaced 5 of her final seven fights. To be honest to Lee, three of these losses had been cut up selections – together with the loss to Barber – and got here towards opponents who populated the rankings on the time. Regardless, she must be profitable if she needs to keep up her personal spot within the rankings and he or she hasn’t been doing that. I’m positive Lee shall be getting a step down in her subsequent contest. It’s going to be a make-or-break combat for the longtime skilled fighter.
Chidi Njokuani: It’s secure to say it’s end or bust for Njokuani. Many thought the previous kickboxer had solved his points with quantity by eliminating the additional 15 kilos he would lower to make weight at welterweight.
Tucker Lutz: At one level, Lutz was the largest favourite on the cardboard. How may he not find yourself being a loser? The UFC gave Lutz each alternative for him to reverse the concept he’s a boring fighter too, pitting him towards perennial motion fighter, Pineda. As an alternative, Lutz crapped the mattress and will very properly be on the chopping block.
Preston Parsons: Parsons had the deck stacked towards him, taking over a local Texan in Texas. That very properly might have been what did him in on the scorecards. To not say it was a theft – the third spherical may have gone both approach – but it surely’s arduous to imagine the group didn’t sway the judges in direction of Giles ultimately.
Vinicius Salvador: Anybody else get the sensation Salvador may have received if he had lower down on the showboating within the opening spherical? It was an in depth spherical and there was some extent when he turned his again to Altamirano and marched to the fence and parked himself in entrance of it ala Anderson Silva in his prime. No good got here of it and Altamirano ultimately emerged victorious. I’ll admit, Salvador confirmed energy and coronary heart, however his combat IQ was severely missing.
Manel Kape: It is likely to be awhile earlier than Kape will get to combat once more. For the third time within the house of a 12 months, Kape had a combat cancelled inside a number of days of the occasion. This time, Perez withdrew on combat day for an undisclosed sickness. Making too fast of a turnaround may show unwise for Kape too given he’s a giant flyweight and a weight lower may show an excessive amount of, too quickly. Kape has all the things it takes to be a star. He must be preventing on the common for that to occur.
Neither
Austin Lingo: Lingo was dealt a rotten hand. Initially scheduled to combat Ricardo Ramos a few weeks in the past, Lingo made weight, just for the competition to be canceled when Ramos missed weight by eight kilos. Credit score Lingo for eager to get again within the cage in a rush, however a heavy hitter like him was a drawback needing to chop weight a second time in two weeks. His fade occurred within the first spherical and acquired progressively worse earlier than the top got here. When the deck was stacked towards Lingo the best way it was, I don’t wish to throw him beneath the bus. Thus, he’s neither a winner or a loser.
Albert Duraev: Am I presupposed to be impressed together with his win? Granted, Duraev ragdolled Njokuani for chunk of the opening spherical, displaying the fighter that had so many excited for him following his dominant DWCS displaying. After that, Duraev engaged in an uninspired kickboxing contest that solely noticed him emerge forward of the scorecards attributable to Njokuani refusing to let his palms go. Given Duraev’s opening spherical, I can’t name him a loser. However I additionally don’t imagine I can name him a winner.
Daniel Lacerda da Silva: I get the Brazilian is winless in 4 appearances. I can’t consider a fighter who has acquired a fifth alternative after opening with 4 losses with out having to go to the regional scene and win some fights there. However da Silva got here thisnear choosing up the win, hurting the iron-headed Vergara and placing on one hell of a present within the course of. Da Silva might have exhausted his gasoline tank, however he solely started draining it after he had Vergara on the ropes. Name me loopy, however I do imagine da Silva has managed to develop right into a UFC-caliber fighter.
Reserve your consumer identify for the brand new Bloody Elbow earlier than April 1, 2023. Go right here for extra particulars (link).
