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Editorial Commentary by Peter Parsons
It’s been a profitable previous few weeks for a few of Canada’s high MMA fighters. At UFC 285 on Saturday, Marc-Andre Barriault capped off a 3 week stretch of excellent outcomes for MMA fighters north of the border. Barriault had a fantastic efficiency within the opening ESPN prelim bout as he defeated Julien Marquez by second spherical TKO in an motion packed affair.
The one loss a Canadian has had over the past three weeks in a serious MMA promotion was in a uncommon Canada versus Canada matchup. Under are the small print of fights involving high Canadian fighters within the final three weeks.
Anthony Romero def. Tony Caruso at PFL Challengers Sequence on February 17
Chances are you’ll be conversant in the identify Anthony Romero as a result of he’s the Canadian fighter who many followers have been shocked when he was not given a UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Sequence after his unanimous choice victory on the present in August of 2020.
A number of weeks in the past, Romero had one other alternative to earn a contract in a serious MMA promotion, this time with the PFL. Once more, in all too acquainted style, Romero received a dominant unanimous choice, nevertheless, didn’t earn the PFL contract. Together with the PFL contract would have come the chance to win a million {dollars} within the PFL 2023 season. The Welland, Ontario native received a (30-26 on all three judges scorecards) unanimous choice over his Australian opponent Tony Caruso. The Australian is a One Championship veteran and was 8-1 going into the combat. The 26- year-old Niagara Prime Group fighter Romero is now 12-1 and has gone 4-1 since successful his Contender Sequence Combat.
Jasmine Jasudavicius def. Gabriella Fernandes at UFC Combat Night time: Muniz vs. Allen on February 25
Jasudavicius improved to 8-2 with a unanimous choice victory over her Brazilian opponent Gabriella Fernandes in a flyweight bout. The 34-year-old Niagara Prime Group product obtained takedowns in each spherical and dominated with floor and pound. Jasudavicius is now 2-1 within the Octagon after incomes a UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Sequence in September of 2021.
Mike Malott def. Yohan Lainesse at UFC Combat Night time: Muniz vs. Allen on February 25
Mike Malott joined Niagara Prime Group teammate Jasmine Jasudavisius within the winners circle on February 25 when he defeated countryman Yohan Lainesse within the opening most important card bout of UFC Combat Night time: Muniz vs. Allen. For the Quebec fighter Lainesse, he’s now 9-2 general and 1-2 within the UFC. For Malott, alternatively, he’s now 9-1-1 general and 2-0 within the UFC.
In Malott’s publish combat interview with Michael Bisping contained in the Octagon, he pleaded with the UFC to return again to Canada saying, “UFC, can we please come again to Canada. We’d like it. We’d like UFC in Canada. We have to come again to Toronto…”
Jeremy Kennedy def. Pedro Carvalho at Bellator 291: Amasov vs. Storley on February 25
The Surrey, BC native Jeremy Kennedy defeated his Portuguese opponent Pedro Carvalho within the co-main occasion on one of many highest profile Bellator playing cards of the yr in Dublin, Eire. Not solely is the Dublin crowd one of many loudest on the planet, however the occasion was additionally headlined by Yaroslav Amosov who has a fantastic story, returning after defending his residence county of Ukraine within the ongoing warfare. Amosov, now 27-0, was returning to defend his Bellator welterweight title towards interim champ Logan Storley.
Kennedy took full benefit of his co-main occasion standing on such a high-profile card by successful a unanimous choice over Pedro Carvalho who fights out of Dublin, Eire for the famed SBG staff. Kennedy (19-3) is now ranked No. 2 within the Bellator featherweight rankings and may very well be subsequent in line for a Bellator featherweight title shot.
Marc-Andre Barriault def. Julian Marquez at UFC 285: Jones vs. Gane on March 4
Talking of high-profile occasions, Marc-Andre Barriault was lucky to open up the ESPN prelims in a middleweight combat towards Julian Marquez at UFC 285 this previous Saturday. The return of Jon Jones combating for the heavyweight title introduced numerous eyes on the whole card.
The Gatineau, Quebec native dropped the primary spherical to Marquez. Nonetheless, it was a quick paced first spherical and Barriault is understood for his cardio. “Powerbar” stored a tempo within the second spherical that Marquez couldn’t sustain with. The Canadian unloaded a barrage of unanswered elbows and punches towards the cage that pressured referee Mark Smith to cease the combat within the second spherical. It was an action-packed combat that undoubtedly received Barriault some extra followers.
When will the UFC return to Canada?
Mike Malott spoke for a lot of Canadian MMA followers in his publish combat interview saying that we’d like the UFC again in Canada. For my part it’s time for the UFC to return to Canada within the subsequent few months. Canada has traditionally been one of many high MMA markets and has the fighters to spherical out a excessive stage card. It could be good timing for all of the UFC fighters talked about above to return for his or her subsequent combat of their residence nation. Since Anthony Romero stays unsigned, it could be nice to convey the highest Canadian prospect in to make his UFC debut in his residence province of Ontario. Toronto could be the logical metropolis for the UFC to make it’s Canadian return.
Upcoming Notable MMA Fights that includes Canadians in Main MMA Promotions
Mar 10 – Josh Hill vs. Cass Bell at Bellator 292: Nurmagomedov vs. Henderson
Mar 18 – Malcolm Gordon vs. Jake Hadley at UFC 286: Usman vs. Edwards 3
Mar 24 – Arjan Bhullar vs. Anatoly Malikhin at ONE Combat Night time 8: Bhullar vs. Malykhin
Mar 31 – Randi Discipline vs. Ashley Cummins at Bellator 293: Golm vs. James
Mar 31 – Lance Gibson Jr vs. Vladimir Tokov at Bellator 293: Golm vs. James
Apr 7 – Julia Budd vs. Larissa Pacheco at PFL 2: 2023 Common Season
Apr 14 – Olivier Aubin-Mercier vs. Shane Burgos at PFL 3: 2023 Common Season
Apr 15 – Gillian Robertson vs. Piera Rodriguez at UFC Combat Night time: Holloway vs. Allen
Apr 15 – Tanner Boser vs. Ion Cutelaba at UFC Combat Night time: Holloway vs. Allen
Might 6 – Charles Jourdain vs. Kron Gracie at UFC 288: Sterling vs. Cejudo
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