Petr Yan reminds us all he’s nonetheless a title menace

Simply as most viewers in North America have been in all probability nodding off, Ming Shi awakened everybody with one of the vital devastating knockouts in UFC strawweight historical past.

Shi (17-5 MMA, 1-0 UFC) claimed the “Highway to UFC” match crown with a fully vicious head kick knockout on Xiaocan Feng within the third spherical of their bout. Feng was taken out of the octagon on a stretcher in a scary scene, however in the end appeared responsive, which allowed Shi to rejoice her win.

Though the end was savage, Shi’s post-fight was nothing wanting pleasant. It was famous on the printed a number of instances that her dad and mom – whom she described in a separate post-fight interview as conventional conservative Chinese language dad and mom – don’t know she competes on this type of MMA and he or she retains it a secret whereas working a full-time job as a physician. Then she spoke with Michael Bisping about how “savage” she is and mentioned “good luck to my subsequent opponent.”

It was a extremely fulfilling couple of minutes barring the well being issues round Feng, and Shi goes to be an intriguing new addition to the roster.

The event of Carlos Ulberg since shedding his UFC debut in March 2021 has been fairly spectacular, and his signature win over former title challenger Volkan Oezdemir was the top of his profession thus far.

Ulberg (10-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) noticed his profitable streak within the mild heavyweight division hit seven consecutive fights with a unanimous choice triumph over Oezdemir, and given the step up in competitors, he confirmed a variety of poise all through the competition and proved he has layers to his placing recreation.

Oezdemir at no level made it straightforward for Ulberg, however the New Zealander did what it took to make it by means of the combat and get his hand raised, and now he’s arduous to disclaim as a possible title challenger within the non-too-distant future.

If champion Alex Pereira continues to roll by means of the load class the way in which he has been (and that’s an enormous if ought to he face Magomed Ankalaev subsequent), then Ulberg represents a contemporary title and compelling model matchup. Add within the reality the Metropolis Kickboxing product would seemingly have Pereira’s rival Israel Adesanya both in his nook or cageside for the combat, and there’s a lot upside for Ulberg popping out of this end result.

Gabriella Fernandes was seen as cannon fodder for Wang Cong’s second UFC look after she’d constructed hype on the again of her kickboxing win over Valentina Shevchenko in 2015, and undefeated begin in MMA.

Actuality set in for Cong in gorgeous trend, nonetheless, as a result of she was upset as a 12-1 betting favourite courtesy of a wild efficiency from Fernandes (10-3 MMA, 2-2 UFC), who landed some gorgeous strikes on the ft then completed the job with a rear-naked choke for the fourth-biggest underdog upset in UFC historical past.

How a lot upside does Fernandes have after a 2-2 run within the UFC to date? It’s arduous to say. In the end, this end result felt extra so like a large roadblock for Cong, who had what was some respectable hype and intrigue crushed in devastating trend. However all credit score to Fernandes for as soon as once more reminding the world that something can occur when that cage door locks.

When you had forgotten that Petr Yan is likely one of the most gifted fighters within the sport to look at work his craft, then his principal occasion thriller over Deiveson Figueiredo was a beneficiant reminder.

Yan (18-5 MMA, 10-4 UFC) placed on a masterclass of placing and creativity en path to a unanimous choice win. He would have completed most individuals on this evening with a number of the ridiculous photographs he landed, however Figueiredo is absurdly powerful and hung in for all 5 rounds with out ever giving up.

Though Figueiredo had a couple of moments, it was largely one-way site visitors for Yan, who’s now on a profitable streak within the octagon for the primary time since 2020 throughout his run to turn into bantamweight champion. He’s had some bizarre moments within the UFC, little doubt, but when that is the type of Yan we’re going to get going ahead, then everybody must be nervous.

Individuals will level to Yan’s loss towards present champion Merab Dvalishvili in March 2023 as a purpose why he received’t be capable of reclaim that belt. His recreation was stifled by the absurd 49 takedown makes an attempt Dvalishvili shot in that combat, however given his combat IQ, there’s little doubt he would come ready with one thing totally different in a rematch.

Is he going to get that rematch subsequent? Each he and Dvalishvili expressed the need for it within the aftermath of the occasion, nevertheless it’s arduous to think about Umar Nurmagomedov being tossed to the wayside for that sequel between them.

It’s seemingly Yan should tackle yet one more fellow contender earlier than he’s granted a championship alternative, but when he involves that one as locked in as he was towards Figueiredo, there may not be anybody who can beat him.