Not each UFC champion has the highlight on them from the start of their UFC run. In truth, it not often occurs. Even when they occur to be a hyped prospect, there’s normally a maturation course of earlier than they’ve their second that lastly will get everybody’s discover. As an illustration, Johny Hendricks was thought of an also-ran by many earlier than he blasted Jon Fitch away in 2011 when Fitch gave the impression to be the everlasting #1 contender at that time. A newer instance is Alexander Volkanovski bringing an finish to Chad Mendes’ UFC profession. Erin Blanchfield had that second when she disposed of Jessica Andrade in a way far simpler than even her most ardent supporters anticipated.
There wasn’t a side through which Blanchfield acquired the higher of Andrade. It wasn’t a shock Blanchfield proved to be a more proficient grappler. However getting the higher of Andrade within the hanging? That was a shock. Solely 23, Blanchfield has all the pieces set as much as probably be essentially the most dominant ladies’s fighter in MMA historical past. That’s a lofty objective, however you’d higher consider Blanchfield is aiming for that. I’m not going to go as far as to foretell that fairly but – she hasn’t even received a title but — however I positive as hell received’t remove that as a chance.
For a unique perspective of the occasion, click on here.
Greatest Soar in Inventory: It’s apparent Blanchfield takes this spot. There hasn’t been a girl on the roster who opted to commerce with Andrade within the pocket and acquired the higher finish of issues over an prolonged time period. Valentina Shevchenko opted to take her to the mat. Rose Namajunas and Joanna Jedrzejczyk fought on the skin. Weili Zhang disposed of her rapidly, however an argument could possibly be made Andrade simply acquired caught. Blanchfield spent over a spherical largely hanging within the pocket with the previous strawweight champion and successful extra exchanges. Primarily based on that, she could have a case as essentially the most badass girl on the roster. She referred to as out the winner of Shevchenko and Alexa Grasso. It’s exhausting to consider she received’t get it.
Greatest Fall in Inventory: The plain alternative can be William Knight given his completely atrocious efficiency, however I desire not placing the reduce checklist candidates right here. Then once more, nobody who I’d count on to stay on the roster goes to take a critical tumble. Not even Andrade. Be mindful, strawweight is her greatest division, not flyweight. So… who to choose if I’m not going to choose somebody I count on to be reduce? Effectively, I assume it must be Andrade. It must be famous it isn’t a lot of a drop given all that we found is she isn’t indestructible within the pocket. Maybe it’ll make Andrade extra liable to make a single weight class her dwelling. It doesn’t assist her trigger to problem Weili for the title if she’s shedding fights, even at a unique weight class.
Greatest Newcomer: Three debutants walked out of the occasion with their hand-held excessive, however solely one among them secured a victory freed from any kind of controversy. Clayton Carpenter dismantled Juancamillo Ronderos with little effort, subbing the native of Colombia inside the opening spherical. Carpenter is a prospect many have had their eye on for some time. If this efficiency is any indication, they’ve had nice purpose to be watching him. It could possibly be argued he had the best degree of competitors as in comparison with Nazim Sadykhov and Jamal Pogues — the opposite two debutants who secured wins – however I additionally consider he has the very best ceiling.
Saved their Job(s): I’m not so positive Marcin Prachnio saved his job a lot as Knight did all the pieces in his energy to make sure Prachnio saved his job. I don’t wish to take something away from Pachnio as he did what he’s alleged to do to safe a call over Knight, but it surely actually was an all-time stinker of a efficiency from Knight. I’ll get to {that a} bit additional down the street.
Luckily for AJ Fletcher, the UFC acknowledged Fletcher had a pair of powerful opponents in his first two fights within the group. Fletcher did the group a stable by stepping up on quick discover to face newcomer Themba Gorimbo. He then did himself a stable by securing a guillotine within the second spherical. Fletcher will at all times be restricted by his measurement – regardless of what he says – however he appears to be like like he has the skillset to be round for a very long time. In spite of everything, he’s solely 26.
Jamall Emmers additionally saved his job, however I’ll tackle his efficiency additional down.
Begin Typing a Resume: Jordan Wright could also be maturing in his performances – he has proven persistence in his final couple of appearances – however he’s getting worse as a fighter. He’s not an incredible athlete, however he can unload a flurry of offense in a rush and overwhelm his opponents. Sadly, Wright couldn’t pull the set off, permitting Zac Pauga to regulate him in opposition to the cage for lengthy stretches. Wright confirmed a good gasoline tank for the primary time, no coincidence given he moved as much as 205. Nonetheless, it appears to be like just like the transfer it coming too late for him.
Knight turned in an all-time stinker of a efficiency. He gave no indication he wished to combat, permitting Prachnio to piece him up with kicks. Knight by no means bothered to no less than try a bull rush or something resembling an lively offense. Given his freak athleticism, it’s not exhausting to see why the UFC has been intrigued by his potential. Nonetheless, his combat IQ seems to be regressing. Time to chop the losses and let him proceed his bodybuilding profession.
I figured the UFC would give Lina Lansberg her strolling papers after her final loss. It was her third loss in a row and he or she is already 40. However, the UFC introduced her again as soon as extra and he or she dropped a lopsided contest to Mayra Bueno Silva. I suppose the UFC wants our bodies at ladies’s bantamweight and there’s a scarcity of them. However Lansberg not appears able to delivering a good combat to anybody aside from the underside feeders of the division. If I’m them, I’d relatively fish for youthful our bodies who could turn into one thing higher down the street.
For Ovince Saint Preux, it isn’t a lot that he misplaced to Philipe Lins. It’s how he misplaced. Lins isn’t the heaviest hitter, however OSP was harm from the primary clear punch Lins landed. OSP by no means recovered as Lins properly laid on the punishment thick after that. OSP’s sturdiness has lengthy been one among his hallmarks. His sturdiness is clearly fading at this level and he has struggled along with his output within the final couple of fights. Given his prolonged service, I might see the UFC giving him another alternative. Nonetheless, given the unceremonious means through which they dumped Demian Maia – one other longtime soldier who was extra completed than OSP – I anticipate the UFC would relatively get the soar on OSP.
I’m of the opinion the UFC can be doing Juancamilo Ronderos a favor by reducing him unfastened given he solely has six fights underneath his belt, together with two within the UFC. I admit he has some uncooked expertise that could possibly be developed, however it might be higher for him to take action exterior of the intense UFC lights. Flip him unfastened, let him get three or 4 extra fights underneath his belt and see the place he’s at that time. Nonetheless, I admit there’s no assure Ronderos will get a pink slip, however I feel that may be the best choice for him.
Greatest WOW Second: Despite the fact that the principle card actually dragged down all of the vitality of the cardboard, there have been some enjoyable spots on the prelims. Evan Elder’s reduce was fairly rattling gnarly. Fletcher’s membership and sub was candy. Even Phillipe Lins’ blitz of OSP was value mentioning. There’s part of me that feels unhealthy about this given the thought of the article is to spotlight the components of the cardboard that don’t have as brilliant of a light-weight on them… and I maintain having to return again to Blanchfield. However given the circumstances, I can’t deny Blanchfield subbing Andrade with the benefit through which she did was the second within the card that actually made me say WOW! Nonetheless, at that second, lots of people acknowledged that Blanchfield could possibly be on the street to changing into an all-time nice. That’s a second effectively deserving of a wow.
Most Improved Struggle IQ: I by no means had any doubt Jamall Emmers had the expertise to beat the debuting Khusein Askhabov. Regardless of that, I picked in opposition to him as his combat IQ has usually been left missing. Regardless of being a considerably higher athlete than Pat Sabatini, he opts to get right into a leglock battle with the submission specialist? It was a winnable combat for Emmers and he gave Sabatini the combat he wished. Because of this, it’s exhausting for me to consider he would be capable to reverse that stigma after getting a decade into his profession. Effectively, a single combat is hardly sufficient to remove a status, however he has to start out someplace. Emmers expertly used his size to choose aside Askhabov from the skin whereas being able to combat off the Russian’s takedown makes an attempt. It wasn’t a flawless efficiency, but it surely was fairly rattling shut. It’s too unhealthy it’s coming when Emmers is nearing the tip of the street as he’s 33.
Potential Profession Turning Level: Alexander Hernandez made everybody conscious of his expertise in his UFC debut. The checklist of fighter who’ve hung an L on Beneil Dariush is brief, however he’s one among them. Given the paths every have taken since that time, everybody has come to consider it was a fluke. Hernandez has confirmed to be a front-runner since that time. If he can’t soar forward of his opponent, he’s incapable of swinging the momentum into his favor. In opposition to Jim Miller, Hernandez fell behind early. For the primary time, he didn’t wilt. Hernandez continued to press ahead to swing the momentum into his favor because the weathered Miller started to fade. Nonetheless, Miller caught a second wind and located a option to get Hernandez’s again within the remaining minute, coming thisnear discovering a RNC. Hernandez fought out of it to hold on for the win, proving he’s able to rising to the event when the going will get powerful. Given I at all times wish to see one of the best from each fighter, right here’s hoping this proves to be a fulcrum versus a profession spotlight.
Greatest Efficiency in a Loss: For the report, Miller might match right here too. Nonetheless, this wasn’t a profession defining efficiency for Miller in the identical means it was for Evan Elder. All Elder needed to do was maintain on for a spherical and victory was virtually assured. In his sophomore UFC look – and his first at his pure weight class of light-weight – Elder exceeded the expectations most had for him. It was anticipated he’d wilt underneath the wrestling and energy of Sadykhov. As an alternative, Elder stayed in his face and outvolumed the extra hyped newcomer. All three judges gave Elder the primary two rounds. Elder didn’t faucet. He didn’t get his lights turned out both. What occurred was Sadykhov sliced open a reduce simply above the eyelid of Elder. It was troublesome to see when it first occurred, however nobody questioned the stoppage once they acquired a great take a look at it.
Bonus Numbers: To nobody’s shock, Blanchfield picked up one of many $50K Efficiency Bonuses. One could be a shock is it was her first one after 5 appearances. The opposite Bonuses had been picked up by Bueno Silva (her third) and Elder and Sadykhov every securing their first within the FOTN. Some thought Miller and Hernandez would have been a more sensible choice for FOTN, which might have added to the 13 Bonuses Miller already has, simply essentially the most on the cardboard. By way of droughts, Lansberg prolonged her streak to 11 UFC contests with no Bonus, which works again to her debut in September 2016.
