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What mattered most at UFC on ESPN 59 in Denver? Listed below are a number of post-fight musings …
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5
Luana Santos a prospect on the rise
24-year-old Luana Santos seemed like a seasoned veteran in simply dismantling and submitting Mariya Agapova of their preliminary-card matchup.
Santos (8-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) had little bother taking Agapova to the mat and threatening with a number of submissions earlier than locking in a rear-naked choke to seal the deal in lower than 4 minutes. It was spectacular work, and precisely what somebody who’s seeking to make a mark within the girls’s flyweight division ought to’ve accomplished.
That’s no disrespect to Agapova, however she was getting back from a big knee harm and a career-long layoff and hadn’t gained since 2021. Santos successful the way in which she did makes us begin to take her critically, and if she will be able to do this with somebody who’s a degree up from Agapova, she’s going to be trending towards contender standing.
4
Montel Jackson makes his assertion
Montel Jackson produced the highlight-reel end that might soar him into the highest 15 of the bantamweight division, which is arguably the hardest to crack of any within the UFC.
Jackson (14-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC) stormed out of the gates towards Da’Mon Blackshear and delivered an 18-second knockout that prolonged his successful streak to 5 and gave him the all-time report for many knockdowns landed in divisional historical past, amongst different achievements.
Regardless of all these accolades, Jackson has flown beneath the radar for a while. You may see why given his reluctance to name out particular names in his post-fight interview with Paul Felder, however this efficiency specifically did the speaking for him.
Jackson deserves a giant alternative coming off of this knockout, as a result of at 32, this must be the place he begins to make his run towards the highest, if it’s ever going to occur.
3
Time to regulate expectations for Charles Johnson
Charles Johnson delivered one other stunning second within the flyweight division when he derailed the rise of extremely touted prospect Joshua Van with a superb third-round knockout.
Many individuals, myself included, designated Johnson (16-6 MMA, 5-4 UFC) as a really powerful man with middling expertise when he went by means of a three-fight dropping skid early in his UFC tenure. He’s since rebounded with three consecutive victories, nonetheless, in two of which he was a sizeable betting underdog.
Johnson was aggressive by means of two rounds with Van then got here out and bought the end to start out out the ultimate body in what felt like a definitive turning level for his profession.
It stays to be seen how far Johnson’s grit and dedication can take him within the 125-pound rankings. He’s nonetheless by no means been completed, and now he’s confirmed himself a number of instances over.
2
Drew Dober’s reduce overshadows Jean Silva’s achievement
You’ve virtually definitely seen Drew Dober’s reduce by now, and in case you hadn’t earlier than scrolling right here – nicely, apologies.
I’ve seen the within of his head sufficient to final a lifetime at this level, and there’s little doubt it was some of the ugly gashes lately.
The gore is understandably engaging to many, however it all got here courtesy of the person who actually deserves our consideration: Jean Silva.
Silva (13-2 MMA, 3-0 UFC) was sensible within the lead-up to the battle being stopped by the physician within the third spherical. He was piecing Dober up and in a movement state along with his hanging. He dished out flying knees, spinning elbows and extra to batter and rock his Dober all through the battle, and it was a powerful method to beat some of the tenured fighters within the light-weight division.
However that’s not even the half that deserves probably the most reward for Silva. He did all of it on a two-week turnaround from his UFC 303 end of Charles Jourdain, and at a weight class the place he beforehand hadn’t competed within the octagon (although he missed weight towards Jourdain).
Add in the truth that Silva is arguably probably the most uncommon character on the UFC roster at current, and we appear to have one thing right here with this man.
1
Rose Namajunas exhibits she’s nonetheless bought it
Rose Namajunas isn’t used to being the grizzled veteran going through the surging contender when she steps into the octagon. That’s what made her essential occasion with Tracy Cortez intriguing.
The battle itself wasn’t all that intriguing, nonetheless, as a result of Namajunas fairly effortlessly dealt with Cortez over the course of 5 rounds to what felt like a lopsided choice, though choose Eric Colon by some means discovered two rounds to attain in favor of Cortez.
However, this was a proving level with Namajunas within the girls’s flyweight division. The previous two-time UFC strawweight champ is right here to remain on this new division, and he or she’s not going to be a simple battle for anyone going ahead.
Namajunas’ historical past on this sport goes to maintain her in shut proximity to the title, however she’s nonetheless bought some work to do. Now we have to see the trilogy between Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko, whether or not it occurs at Noche UFC in September or not. Then Manon Fiorot, who beat Namajunas in her lone divisional defeat, has subsequent dibs on the title shot.
Sadly for Namajunas, that type of leaves her again the place she began, and that’s a battle with Maycee Barber. She was initially presupposed to face Barber on this headliner earlier than well being points led to Cortez stepping in. It’s unknown what Barber’s availability goes to appear to be transferring ahead, so it’s arduous to know if that’s subsequent.
It must be if the UFC could make it, although, and for Namajunas it is going to be an much more snug place after heading off one other hungry rising identify.
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