UFC 294 results: Sooo ... About last night | Makhachev vs. Volkanovski 2

Final night time (Sat., Oct. 21, 2023), Final Preventing Championship (UFC) ventured forth to the Etihad Enviornment in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Even after struggling a pair of huge last-second accidents, the cardboard remained some of the intriguing occasions of the 12 months. Thrilling and necessary bouts crammed the cardboard, and the undercard had an excellent amount of gifted prospects too. Sadly, the entire affair turned out to be underwhelming as a complete, largely resulting from unhealthy officiating.

Let’s check out UFC 294’s standout performances and strategies:

The Southpaw Basic

Islam Makhachev simply received a UFC title struggle with out touchdown a single takedown.

Straight away, Makhachev carried out his vary benefit in opposition to the shorter man. He punished Volkanovski with laborious left kicks to the interior thigh and liver, and when the 2 did tie up within the clinch, he made Volkanovski’s life hell with the double-collar tie. Volkanovski was instantly put in an unattainable place: he needed to outlast an even bigger, stronger fighter, however he had to take action with non-existent preparation. Earlier than he had any likelihood to tug off the unattainable, Makhachev took his left kick upstairs and throughout the temple. The Australian’s knees buckled, and Makhachev swarmed him to drive the end.

It’s unlucky that this rivalry resulted in such weird circumstance, however not less than Makhachev ended it with an exclamation level!

Middleweight Khamzat Has A Lot To Show

I don’t assume I’m alone in being underwhelmed by Khamzat Chimaev’s efficiency.

The primary spherical was the Chechen wrecking ball that all of us anticipate. He bowled Kamaru Usman over with an early takedown, and Usman simply couldn’t shake him off. He dominated the primary body, holding Usman’s again your entire spherical and scoring some decently laborious chipping photographs within the course of.

A justified 10-8 in my ebook.

Instantly afterward, the tempo slowed considerably. That’s regarding, as a result of he had precisely the spherical that he needed! He didn’t rating the end, however in any other case, Chimaev did all the pieces he needed and nonetheless severely fatigued within the course of. Consequently, Usman was capable of finding success on his toes within the second and third, in addition to deny a great variety of takedowns.

This wasn’t Usman on the peak of his energy. He stepped up a weight class on 10 days discover! If Chimaev is struggling together with his gasoline tank holding Usman down, then I’d be involved at his capability to comprise Paulo Costa — a a lot, a lot greater man — with out considerably slowing down.

Khamzat is clearly nonetheless a vastly spectacular athlete with unbelievable potential, however some cracks confirmed final night time.

Extra Bizarre S—t For Magomed

A couple of days previous to UFC 294, I wrote my usual preview for Magomed Ankalaev vs. Johnny Walker, noting that Ankalaev most likely needs to be champion by now, however he retains getting waylaid by unusual happenings. That sample continued final night time, as a genuinely attention-grabbing contest was disrupted by a blatantly unlawful knee.

This time, Ankalaev has nobody accountable however himself. Walker was within the strategy of standing up alongside the fence, however his knee was clearly down. This wasn’t an Elliott vs. Mokaev gaming-the-system situation. Ankalaev blasted Walker’s chin with an unlawful knee, and the physician declared Walker unfit to proceed.

The next chaos within the cage bought a bit ugly, however I’d anticipate this one to be rebooked within the close to future … delaying Magomedov farther from the title image!

One other Fight Sambo Champion …

Ikram Aliskerov would possibly simply be an issue.

He scored his second UFC win by way of knockout final night time, and it began with a jab! Warlley Alves was doing respectable work on the surface together with his rangy kicks, however nearly 90 seconds into the primary spherical, a jab wobbled his knees badly. Aliskerov adopted up with an excellent flurry that includes a bounce knee and large mixture, flooring the Brazilian for good.

The Middleweight is now 14-1, and his sole loss got here to Khamzat on the regional scene. He’s stopped most opponents by way of submission or knockout, and the 30 12 months outdated undoubtedly seems to be prepared for a ranked opponent subsequent.

Bantamweight’s Greatest Guillotine

Stated Nurmagomedov did it once more.

Muin Gafurov tried to press and wrestle him early, and Nurmagomedov went straight to the guillotine, which has actually turn into his signature method. He fished the choke arm deep straight away, and Gafurov made a essential mistake in failing to deal with the strangle instantly. His solely likelihood was to utterly abandon the takedown and struggle arms, however as an alternative, he dropped deeper into his shot.

Nurmagomedov accomplished the rear bare choke grip to wrap up the ninja choke as soon as and for all. As soon as that grip is locked, it’s OVER, and Gafurov was asleep in seconds.

F—king Ouch

As everybody anticipated, Victor Henry vs. Javid Basharat was proving to be a extremely aggressive and technical contest till a low kick destroyed Henry’s genitals and rendered him unable to struggle. Extra particularly, the low blow rendered him unable to face, crawling round on the ground in apparent agony.

A small handful of morons on the web are satisfied that the 30-fight skilled who was doing simply advantageous was faking it — get your head and your ears examined, that’s what a cup examine appears like.

Cheaters Do Win!

Muhammad Naimov vs. Nathaniel Wooden was a extremely enjoyable struggle that pissed lots of people off.

The 2 traded knockdowns and high place all through three rounds, and in the end, Naimov was awarded the shut resolution win. Alongside the best way, nevertheless, he racked up a formidable array of fouls. Naimov landed a pair laborious photographs to the cup, grabbed the fence, and helped stop a late end from Wooden by clinging to his glove like a canine to a bone. Subsequently, Wooden’s glorious Featherweight win streak involves an finish — unlucky.

A pair fights later, Sedriques Dumas managed to win a detailed resolution regardless of having his hair very clearly pulled a half-dozen instances by Abu Azaitar. No factors have been taken! Guidelines are a suggestion or maybe an phantasm!

Extra Ideas

Muhammad Mokaev defeats Tim Elliott by way of third-round arm triangle choke (HIGHLIGHTS): Mokaev is basically good. It’s laborious to disclaim. His wrestling is simply spectacular, as evidenced by his massive slams and excellent duck-out final night time. On the similar time, I didn’t stroll away from this efficiency overly impressed. He nonetheless doesn’t throw many strikes — on the toes or in high management — and any time Elliott pressed ahead, his response was to take a desperation shot. Elliott’s finest offense of the night time have been his knees from the entrance headlock, and people have been of difficult-to-determine legality. At 23, Mokaev is clearly a superb blue chip prospect nonetheless, however except he develops his kickboxing and placing consolation quickly, somebody within the Prime 10 goes to harm him.
Mike Breedan defeats Anshul Jubli by way of third-round knockout: This was an odd little “Prelims” kickboxing battle. For probably the most half, Jubli beat his opponent’s butt, seemingly en path to handing him his fourth straight UFC defeat. In a really unusual second, Breedan began yelling and barking between the second and third spherical to hype himself up, and … it appeared to demoralize Jubli? He stopped throwing offense, let Breedan again into the struggle, and bought knocked out!

For full UFC 294: “Makhachev vs. Volkanovski 2” outcomes and play-by-play, click on HERE!

Source link