One other PPV come and gone, one other night time chuck full of untamed takes and concepts. UFC 273 isn’t more likely to make the ultimate minimize on anybody’s Occasion of the 12 months record, however that hardly means it wasn’t a certified success. Alexander Volkanovski impressed into the minds of everybody simply how dominant he’s by dismantling the Korean Zombie, Chan Sung Jung, in a violent method. Aljamain Sterling shocked the world by upending Petr Yan, extending their unorthodox feud when many anticipated it to return to a definitive conclusion. And naturally, Khamzat Chimaev lived as much as the immense hype he had constructed up for himself, surviving the back-and-forth instant classic placed on by himself and a dogged Gilbert Burns. There’s little question the success of the cardboard was prime heavy, however there have been another moments on the cardboard value mentioning. Lets get into them with my Unofficial Awards….
For a unique perspective of the occasion, click on here. For an audio recap, click on here.
Largest Bounce in Inventory: I felt reluctant to place Chimaev on this spot, however I can’t deny what having his mettle examined did for his popularity. There have been questions on how his cardio would maintain up. It wasn’t impenetrable, nevertheless it held up nicely sufficient for him to safe a choice. There have been questions on how he can take a punch. He bought rocked, however was capable of maintain up. New questions have opened up about his hanging protection and whether or not his wrestling is as dominant as marketed, however many are fast to forgive if an entertaining brawl might be delivered. Chimaev did simply that, elevating his inventory in a major means. I doubt he fights for the title subsequent because the UFC seems decided to lastly give Leon Edwards his lengthy overdue shot on the belt, however It’s laborious to consider Chimaev gained’t be the primary individual they name if one thing occurs to Edwards.
Largest Fall in Inventory: I can see many making a case for Aspen Ladd right here, however I consider her inventory was already low heading into her combat with Raquel Pennington. On the flip aspect, Yan entered the night as top-of-the-line P4P fighters on the planet. Hell, I heard some affordable voices say he was the P4P finest. And whereas I fully perceive the argument that he deserved the win, it will possibly’t be denied that he didn’t carry out at his finest. There was no signal of the composed killer he was in his first combat with Sterling. As a substitute, Yan gave the impression to be pushed by emotion, seeking to punish Sterling versus notching a victory over him. It led to Yan speeding a few of his strikes, trying panicked at different factors. Whoever it was that was combating Sterling, it wasn’t the Petr Yan that ascended to the title over Jose Aldo. I consider he might be discovered once more, however this model of Yan additionally lends much less credence to the concept the unlawful knee he landed on Sterling of their first contest was solitary miscue.
Finest Newcomer: No disrespect meant in the direction of Piera Rodriguez, however the selection must be Mike Malott. The Canadian had a back-and-forth spherical with Mickey Gall earlier than touchdown a strong left hook that floored the historically sturdy Gall. There have been sufficient scary moments for Malott that it’s protected to say he hasn’t answered all of the questions that have been hanging on the market earlier than his combat, however he did show he belongs within the group. Plus, it was a hell of an entertaining spherical. I get the sensation Malott’s ceiling is restricted
Begin Typing a Resume: We might have seen an finish to the Mickey Gall experiment. Six years into his UFC run and it seems the most effective win on his report is George Sullivan. Now, not solely did Gall endure consecutive losses for the primary time in his profession, however he was completed for the primary time as nicely. Gall didn’t look horrible, however there doesn’t look like way more room for him to develop. The UFC might discover his wage is best spent on youthful and extra promising expertise.
Loads of credit score must go to Jared Vanderaa for his willingness to step up on brief discover, however he’s now sitting at 1-4 in his UFC run after falling to the 44-year-old Aleksei Oleinik. Except for being prepared to take fights on little discover, the one different saving grace for Vanderaa is that his losses have come towards opponents who’ve put up profitable data throughout the group. Nonetheless, falling to somebody at Oleinik’s age is a nasty signal, particularly when Oleinik had been on a three-fight shedding streak. Vanderaa simply doesn’t appear like he’s UFC materials.
It pains me to say this given her potential, however Kay Hansen can be finest served getting a bit extra seasoning on the regional scene. Her weight miss on her return to 115 indicated she needs to be combating at 125. Some might say her lack of ability to push Piera Rodriguez off of herself was an indication she needs to be combating at strawweight, however I feel it’s a sign of her dehydrating herself an excessive amount of. If Hansen have been to have the time to fill in her body at flyweight on the regional scene, it will be extraordinarily useful for her.
Saved Their Job(s): This can be a brief record as Oleinik is the one one who I’d say was at risk of being on the chopping block. The 44-year-old is close to the top of the road, however as a result of his skillset on the mat is extremely distinctive, he can nonetheless shock on occasion. He proved it towards by securing a shawl maintain submission. Who else in excessive degree MMA is able to securing a scarf hold for the win? The record is extremely brief.
Largest WOW Second: It’s laborious to single out a particular second from the back-and-forth battle between Chimaev and Burns. Their combat was hearth from the phrase go and stayed sizzling till the top. Regardless, I figured I’d be derelict in my duties if I left it there, so I’ll go together with the second when Burns timed the upkick to the physique that despatched Chimaev sprawling backwards. The sequence was considerably emblematic of their contest as an entire; the intimidating specter of Chimaev looming over Burns, just for the Brazilian to unexpectedly discover success. Burns didn’t win the combat, however there’s little question his inventory went up within the loss. I can’t recall that being the case when a prime 5 fighter misplaced to a man exterior the highest ten….
Finest/Worst Referee Name: We will sit right here and debate all day about whether or not the principle occasion fell considerably flat as a result of Volkanovski is simply that damned good or if Jung had an off night time. Hell, I’m prepared to take heed to arguments Jung is simply pale. What I don’t consider might be debated is whether or not Herb Dean made the precise name to cease the combat when he did. Jung was nonetheless standing and able to hold combating after Volkanovski landed his final laborious proper, however Dean acknowledged no person was dwelling even because the lights have been on and stopped the combat. Jung’s physique language afterward solely proved the actual fact because it was an effort for Jung to even stand. Dean vacillates like no different on the nice/dangerous scale, however he was most positively on the nice aspect in that combat.
Most Underwhelming Efficiency: Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man popularized the road “With nice energy comes nice accountability.” Within the case of Ian Garry, with nice hype comes nice expectations. If he didn’t have all of the hype round him, his win over Darian Weeks wouldn’t have appeared just like the letdown many interpreted it to be. Garry arguably took each spherical, however didn’t achieve this with the consolation many believed he ought to have. Given he’s nonetheless younger in his profession, critics ought to deal with him topping one other credible younger expertise versus being unable to type on him.
Below-the-Radar Contender: Following her loss to Holly Holm originally of 2020, it was affordable to consider we’d seen the final of Raquel Pennington towards the most effective fighters within the division. After 4 consecutive wins after being assigned a gatekeeping position, together with her win over the previous inheritor obvious in Ladd, it’s time to say Pennington needs to be considered a contender. She feels the identical means, calling for a title eliminator combat with Sara McMann. I doubt the UFC sees it that means, however the combat could possibly be put collectively with out that stipulation. If Amanda Nunes is to regain the bantamweight title from Juliana Pena, it’s laborious to see Pennington getting one other title alternative, however the door is as vast open for her as it’s anybody else ought to Pena retain. Regardless, a transparent win over Ladd needs to be a sign to everybody that Pennington is a serious drive to be reckoned with.
Finest Heel Flip: To be truthful, the method of Sterling going heel has been occurring for fairly some time, however the flip was accomplished after the choice of his victory over Yan was learn. The ironic factor about it’s that it took place fully organically with out Sterling actually altering his persona. MMA followers have been so annoyed with how he obtained the belt within the first place that they turned on him. Sterling’s flip was accomplished when followers booed the choice and Sterling reciprocated the sensation together with his feedback in his post-fight interview. It took Jon Jones a very long time to determine he was higher off embracing the position of heel. Sterling figured that out in a rush.
Cardio as a Weapon: A standard dialog within the MMA group is which fighters do the most effective job of weaponizing cardio. Whereas I don’t wish to get in that dialog proper now, I do consider Anthony Hernandez offered an exemplary efficiency of how to try this. Whereas I don’t consider a shallow gasoline tank is historically an issue for Josh Fremd, the Manufacturing unit X product is likely one of the largest middleweights on the roster and was taking the combat on brief discover. It’s laborious to consider he wasn’t considerably compromised reducing right down to the middleweight restrict. Hernandez pushed an insane tempo from bell to bell, Fremd exhibiting the results of Hernandez’s technique by the top of the combat.
Finest Kinds Conflict: No, no person pulled of the ending transfer of famed WWE star, AJ Kinds. What I’m getting at is the distinction within the approaches of Julio Arce and newcomer Daniel Santos. After a quick begin from the flashy Santos, the basic strategy of Arce started to take over. Arce touched up Santos with easy jabs and punches whereas Santos continued to search for spinning and leaping assaults with minimal success. If fighters want an illustration why coaches emphasize fundamentals a lot, this combat offers an important visible of why that’s as Arce cruised to a straightforward victory.
