Final evening (Sat., Oct. 7, 2023), Final Preventing Championship (UFC) remained contained in the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, for UFC Vegas 80. After a uncommon week off, UFC returned with an fascinating card crammed with knockout artists. Sadly, one such match was canned on the final second, as Philipe Lins was unable to make the cage opposite Ion Cutelaba. Thankfully, the highest fights of the cardboard remained intact, together with the pivotal Light-weight conflict between Grant Dawson and Bobby Inexperienced.
Let’s check out UFC Vegas 80’s standout performances and strategies:
Lengthy Stay The King
I’m tremendous completely happy for Bobby Inexperienced, and I feel you need to be too.
I root for just about any fighter who comes from nothing, fights practically 50 occasions, and efficiently carves out a dwelling for himself in an unforgiving sport. Inexperienced has all the time walked his personal path and fought his personal manner, and consequently, he’s been underrated and expert for a very very long time.
The Jorge Masvidal comparisons are too simple. Late in his 30s, a profession artful veteran who flirted with competition at one level however misplaced too many cut up choices out of the blue scores the very best win of his profession by way of fast knockout. It’s a possible recipe for a star! Individuals already like Bobby Inexperienced, however his recognition goes to pop within the subsequent couple days.
It doesn’t matter that Inexperienced is unlikely to ever win the UFC title. Put him within the cage with Paddy Pimblett, and that’s a BANGER that sells! Hell, put him within the cage with a genuinely elite title contender like Mateusz Gamrot, and it’s nonetheless in all probability an awesome combat, even when he’s a substantial underdog.
It’s, nonetheless, a tragic flip of occasions for Dawson. I’ve been openly critical of Dawson’s kickboxing and striking defense, however … he obtained knocked out by the primary punch of the combat, and his seven-year unbeaten streak disappeared. There are enhancements to be made, actually, however Dawson can be a greater fighter than he confirmed right here.
Pyfer Has IT
I’m not impressed by most Contenders Sequence merchandise. Nearly all of them come, keep for three-to-five fights, after which are again on the regional scene earlier than their financial institution accounts have any extra zeroes — that’s the unlucky actuality.
Joe Pyfer isn’t typical.
He’s demonstrated his punching energy and mixture boxing ability in earlier fights, already proving himself adequate to last more than most. These expertise separate him from the Middleweight pack a bit, however alone, they don’t equal a contender. Final evening’s bout towards Abdul Razak Alhassan confirmed a lot extra of his sport, and it was actually spectacular!
Pyfer can wrestle. He bodily overpowered a person whose greatest elements are his bodily items, and he did it repeatedly. Defeating Gerald Meerschaert in a grappling match was a strong signal that his jiu-jitsu was high quality, however really choking an opponent unconscious within the UFC Octagon was much more definitive.
The perfect half? Pyfer needed to work for his win. Alhassan gave him some bother with calf kicks and had him limping. A lesser fighter would’ve fallen aside, however Pyfer threw him on his head and choked him out as an alternative.
I’d anticipate him to be ranked before later.
The Finest Buckley But
Joaquin Buckley put in work at Alex Morono’s expense final evening. He’s so hilariously athletic. At occasions, Buckley would simply resolve to do a double leg and clear Morono off his toes with surprising pace and energy. He’s capable of explode like few others, and that explosion made itself obvious in his heavy combos.
Early on, the combat was aggressive, as Morono is a talented veteran who has been preventing very effectively within the final couple years. He stored Buckley trustworthy together with his counter pictures. Over time, nonetheless, Buckley’s physique work and continued energy punches slowly broke Morono down, leaving him pretty hapless by the third.
He simply regarded battered, and Buckley deserves recognition for the very best efficiency of his profession, end or not.
Dober Ain’t Carried out
Drew Dober is famously sturdy. A high-volume fighter with real knockout energy, Dober has by no means been afraid to stroll via fireplace to be able to land heavy pictures. Traditionally, that’s how he’s picked up a few of his greatest wins, gutting out troublesome conditions and paying again his opponent in sort.
As such, his surprising knockout loss by the hands of Matt Frevola was slightly regarding. We by no means understand how a fighter will reply after getting stopped, not to mention a 34-year-old veteran who’s not been afraid to depend on his chin.
Dober simply dismissed any of these questions and considerations by steamrolling Rick Glenn. Dober walked proper via Glenn’s vary, into the pocket, and unloaded with quick, highly effective combos. Glenn was harm rapidly, and Dober stayed on him, by no means giving him an inch of house en path to the first-round knockout.
Glenn, one other traditionally sturdy and scrappy veteran, has now misplaced two in a row by way of stoppage. Dober, in the meantime, units the UFC Light-weight file for knockout wins, and he appears to have rather a lot left within the tank.
Pulling Backside Place For Heel Hooks? In 2023?!?
Some issues don’t get previous. I can hearken to The Beatles’ Rubber Soul for the thirtieth time or totally get pleasure from re-runs of Seinfeld and The Workplace. Watching fighters danger life-and-limb in pursuit of leg locks solely to get pummeled? Equally timeless.
Mateus Mendonca had about 10 alternatives to cease attempting to find the heel hook. He may have bailed off the leg and defended his face on many events. As a substitute, he doggedly hunted for the heel and kneebar, ignoring absolutely the hammers Nate Maness dropped into his cranium.
Whereas it’s true {that a} profitable heel hook overrules any quantity of punches, every a type of punches makes the submission much less seemingly! Mendonca’s eyes rolled again into his head a number of occasions earlier than the end materialized, however he simply tried more durable to chase the leg in response.
It wasn’t a very good choice. This lesson may have been discovered from any variety of fighters who suffered an identical destiny within the final decade, but somebody new appears to be painfully taught at the least a pair occasions per yr.
For full UFC Vegas 80: “Dawson vs. Inexperienced” outcomes and play-by-play, click on HERE!