After per week away, the UFC returned with UFC Vegas 56 to kick off 12 straight weeks of occasions. It wasn’t a nasty approach to return to motion, although the dearth of identify worth to the cardboard means it’s more likely to fade into the background in brief order. It doesn’t assist that the primary occasion between Alexander Volkov and Jairzinho Rozenstruik doesn’t have a major impression on the hierarchy of the heavyweight division. It does assist that the competition delivered the motion, Volkov delivering a spirited efficiency versus the flat appearances main as much as this contest. Rozenstruik didn’t roll over and die for his half – he appeared to have Volkov on the ropes at one level – however he finally went down a bit over two minutes into the competition. Rozenstruik wasn’t proud of the stoppage as he was nonetheless shifting, however he was additionally falling to his knee when Herb Dean made the transfer to finish the motion. Given the big quantity of rivals combating for his or her employment, there aren’t lots of awards listed on this version, however lets delve into my Unofficial Awards….
For a unique perspective of the occasion, click on here. For an audio recap, click on here.
Greatest Bounce in Inventory: It’s one factor if you beat a confirmed opponent whom your anticipated to beat. It’s one other if you utterly dominate that opponent. There have been already loads of individuals who anticipated Movsar Evloev to compete for the title sometime. I feel there are fairly a number of extra individuals who really feel that method after Evloev utterly dominated Dan Ige. Whereas it’s firmly established that Ige isn’t an elite fighter, he wasn’t dominated by different elite fighters in the identical method Evloev dominated him. It was in each facet of the struggle, not simply the wrestling as everybody anticipated. Evloev got here nearer to placing Ige away than anybody else when he landed a flying knee that wobbled the Hawaiian. The added menace on the toes may be the factor that can finally push him excessive.
Greatest Fall in Inventory: I thought of not together with this spot given nobody who’s more likely to keep on the roster is more likely to take too huge of successful of their inventory. Ige could be candidate, however he was too huge of an underdog for me to really feel his inventory wasn’t already down. Thus, I’ll go along with Rozenstruik, although there have been indicators that he has improved. The issue for Rozenstruik is he has frequently fallen quick when matched up with the elite of the division. Given Volkov isn’t elite, this was a must-win in a way for Rozenstruik if he needed to be greater than a gatekeeper for the highest ten. Rozenstruik is younger sufficient that he may ultimately claw his approach to the highest, however the probability of that seems low.
Finest Newcomer: Many would argue Rinat Fakhretdinov is extra deserving given he was in charge of his contest for practically the whole time – and he most likely has the upper ceiling – or Lucas Almeida however I’m going with Karine Silva for a pair causes. First, she might not have been the underdog, however Silva’s contest was rather more of a toss-up heading into the occasion than Fakhretdinov’s and secured a stoppage inside the first spherical. Second, whereas I nonetheless stand by the thought Fakhretdinov has the upper ceiling, that doesn’t imply he has a higher likelihood of constructing noise. Welterweight, the place Fakhretdinov ply’s his commerce, is a deep division. So is featherweight, Almeida’s stomping grounds. Ladies’s flyweight, Silva’s house, is way extra huge open, providing Silva way more alternative. I perceive issues can change in the middle of a number of years when each would probably have the perfect likelihood of being gamers, however that’s the place I stand for now.
Begin Typing a Resume: Off the bat, it must be mentioned I’m unsure Mike Trizano is being handed strolling papers. On paper, it’s not solely his second consecutive loss, however his third in 4 fights, two of these coming by way of stoppage. Plus, the previous TUF winner has but to safe a stoppage victory of his personal, nor does he have a lot of a ceiling. Nevertheless, Trizano doesn’t again down and this loss to Lucas Almeida was simply probably the most entertaining scrap he’s been in. That might be sufficient for the UFC to carry him again, however I say that with minimal confidence.
There was a pleasant swathe of followers and writers who preferred the longer term prospects of Poliana Botelho when she debuted again in 2017. I’ve been unsuitable MANY instances, however I really feel like I had the correct learn on Botelho. Little question she had bodily instruments to work with, however she was all the time lacking one thing in transitioning from one section of combating to a different, plus a questionable fuel tank. She regarded like she had been engaged on that – I preferred what I used to be seeing previous to being dropped by Silva – nevertheless it comes too late. She’s now misplaced three in a row, 4 of her final 5. I’m positive the UFC is shifting on.
Whereas I wouldn’t be against the UFC bringing Zarrukah Adashev again for one more likelihood to proper his ship, his 1-3 file signifies that isn’t more likely to occur. Two of these losses got here on account of fast KO’s, together with Ode Osbourne doing the honors at this occasion. Adashev does have room to develop, however I don’t assume there’s sufficient of a ceiling for the UFC to justify bringing him again.
It must be famous Felice Herrig opted to retire versus her probably being lower, however there was likelihood she would have been given a pink slip anyway. Regardless, Herrig informed herself she would retire if she wasn’t feeling it and it was clear she wasn’t trying like her previous self. She’s been competing for a very long time. It looks like the correct transfer for her. Right here’s hoping solely the perfect for her as she strikes on to various things in her life.
I’m not pleased to place Alex da Silva right here as I believed he was very clearly deserving of a draw with Solecki, however a pair of judges disagreed in a method that I wrestle to grasp. That isn’t to say da Silva doesn’t anybody guilty aside from himself given he may have taken a draw if he hadn’t had some extent deducted – extra on that additional down – however he’s now sitting at 1-3 in his UFC run. The unlucky factor about that’s that file isn’t indicative of the expertise he has proven in his tenure, however your file is what your file is.
Whereas I used to be very involved in regards to the power ranges of Niklas Stolze dropping all the way down to 155, it was finally his means to cease takedowns that disappeared as a substitute. No one was ever predicting Stolze would emerge as a particular expertise, he regarded like somebody who may choose up a win or two earlier than occurring his method on the energy of his exterior hanging and fantastically timed knees. Whereas the knee virtually labored out of the gate, it finally wasn’t sufficient, probably sending him on his method winless after three appearances.
Whereas it was a detailed sufficient contest that I didn’t see a single cry of theft from MMA Twitter, most thought Zhalgas Zhumagulov did sufficient to take the W over Jeff Molina. Hell, Molina himself thought he misplaced when he heard a card of 30-27, storming off in frustration earlier than he heard his identify introduced because the victor. It’s an actual disgrace as this was simply probably the most full efficiency from Zhumagulov in his UFC run, mixing takedowns, management, and the occasional energy shot to power respect from Molina. Sadly for him, the judges disagreed and it dropped him to 1-4 in his UFC run.
It’s been a bizarre experience for Andreas Michailidis. Preventing in three completely different weight divisions over his tenure, he additionally appeared like he was being fed to hyped prospects each trip. Not that anybody ever felt Michailidis was going to be a world beater at any level, however he regarded like he might be a serviceable gatekeeper. Then once more, the UFC isn’t on the lookout for gatekeepers. Regardless, whereas Michailidis’ drop to 170 didn’t appear to deplete him to the purpose many anticipated, he got here up far in need of what was wanted for a win.
Saved Their Job(s): I used to be shocked the UFC introduced Karolina Kowalkiewicz again within the first place given she entered her struggle with Herrig on a five-fight dropping streak, however I can’t assist however really feel they let her know in no unsure phrases this was her final likelihood. She made probably the most of it, implementing main modifications in her coaching and coming into the struggle with a degree of confidence that had been lacking for a number of years. She didn’t seem like the fighter who beat Rose Namajunas to earn a title shot all these years in the past, however she regarded adequate to safe her first UFC finish. Fascinating to see if this proves to be her peak or if she will be able to construct off this momentum.
Usually, I wouldn’t embody somebody like Benoit Saint-Denis right here after two losses. Nevertheless, the UFC has been faster to tug the set off as of late, the releases of the likes of Bruno Silva and Kris Moutinho being prime examples. Saint-Denis regarded like a very completely different fighter, the lower to 155 doing wonders for his means to muscle round his opponents. In fact, nobody is mistaking Stolze as a definitive take a look at to show Saint-Denis is a UFC caliber fighter, however it’s a take a look at Saint-Denis did emphatically cross.
Greatest WOW Second: There was no scarcity of stoppages on the cardboard, 9 to be precise. None of them really feel like they’ll make the Baba O’Reilly reel, so it’s exhausting to pinpoint which one precisely stands out probably the most. Maybe probably the most aesthetically pleasing was Almeida’s knock down of Trizano. Nevertheless, I’ll go along with Tony Gravely placing down Johnny Munoz. When it occurred in actual time, I used to be confused about what occurred. Munoz shot in for a takedown earlier than slumping to the mat, from what was tough to see. The commentators speculated it was a knee, however that didn’t appear proper. Replay confirmed Gravely someway generated sufficient energy regardless of having simply inches of space to generate the ability to place Munoz down along with his hybrid uppercut/shovel punch. At first look, the KO was an enigma. Upon additional inspection, it was extremely spectacular.
Finest Referee Name: One of the crucial constant gripes amongst MMA observers is the fixed lack of ability of referees to punish fighters for blatant rule infractions. Maybe a part of the problem just isn’t desirous to disturb the movement of the struggle, significantly if the rule-abiding competitor is in management. That gave the impression to be the case with Solecki and da Silva. Whereas Solecki rode the again of da Silva for practically the whole lot of the spherical, da Silva frequently used his toes within the fence to enhance his defensive place within the second spherical of the their struggle. I’m completely superb with individuals criticizing referee Chris Tognoni for a way lengthy it took him to lastly deduct some extent, however he did do it and he did with out interrupting the motion. Thus, the momentum of the struggle wasn’t interrupted and Solecki was in a position to keep his benefit. Hopefully, referees can take this strategy with higher frequency going ahead.
Theme of the Occasion: An argument might be made the chopping block was the theme of the occasion given what number of combatants have been combating for his or her employment life. Hell, I wouldn’t put up a struggle if somebody needed to go that course. Nevertheless, I’ll go along with questionable judging. Regardless of the big quantity of finishes, two of the choices gave the impression to be so questionable, they have been receiving way more consideration on the Twitterverse than another contest. A strong case might be made for Molina having gotten the job carried out, however the 30-27 awarded to him set off a good quantity of observers. The da Silva loss was extra egregious in my eyes, however I seem like within the minority with that opinion.
