Topuria’s Fighter of Yr? Chimaev subsequent for DDP?

Shara Magomedov continues to be one of many extra compelling rising names within the middleweight division after he took out Armen Petrosyan with the first double spinning backfist knockout end in UFC historical past.

Magomedov (15-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) has captivated the viewers together with his distinctive look and the very fact he competes with only one eye. He stated previous to the occasion that Michael Bisping was his inspiration to turn into UFC champion, and if he retains delivering performances like this, he may be nicely on his manner.

The problem is how the UFC can use Shara “Bullet” going ahead. Will there be any Stateside commissions who will probably be prepared to license him for a struggle? In that case, it’s going to develop his choices in a big manner. But when he’s restricted to solely being on playing cards within the Center East or different areas the place the UFC self-regulates, then it’d stunt his final potential.

Nonetheless, this was an amazing second for Magomedov. Was it a prime three knockout in firm historical past as UFC CEO Dana White recommend post-fight? Nah. However it’s going to stay on the UFC spotlight reels for years to return.

There’s not way more so as to add than the headline of this part. It’s 13 fights unbeaten now for Magomed Ankalaev within the gentle heavyweight division after his unanimous choice win over Aleksandar Rakic, and though it wasn’t probably the most thrilling contest, it wasn’t for a scarcity of making an attempt for the Russian.

It will be an excessive injustice if Ankalaev (20-1-1 MMA, 11-1-1 UFC) received handed over for the subsequent struggle with Alex Pereira, and the official finish of meritocracy within the UFC. You can also make an argument that point ended way back, but it surely’s the fitting struggle to make, and an truly compelling affair for Pereira.

Hopefully the UFC does the fitting factor right here, and White advised it could once I requested him about it on the post-fight press convention.

Khamzat Chimaev delivered the top efficiency of his profession when he completely ran by way of Robert Whittaker by first-round submission to go away little doubt about his price for a title shot.

Chimaev (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) confirmed what occurs when he takes care of himself and will get into the cage when he handed Whittaker his first submission defeat since October 2011. It’s going to be a lot to the dismay of Sean Strickland, however I feel at this level it’s a must to give him the subsequent title shot in opposition to champion Dricus Du Plessis.

That struggle could be nothing wanting attention-grabbing to look at. How would Chimaev’s brute pressure stack up in opposition to the powerhouse nature of Du Plessis? There’s just one strategy to discover out, and I actually hope the UFC makes it occur.

Though Strickland had been beforehand assured a title rematch with Du Plessis, the help for him simply doesn’t appear to be there from the MMA group at this very second.

Chimaev needs Du Plessis. The champ made has made it clear he needs Chimaev. And from the UFC’s perspective? Chimaev would possible promote extra pay-per-view items at this time limit, and that’s in all probability going to sway the subsequent reserving in his favor.

I don’t know if there’s a fighter in MMA that I’ve attended extra fights for than Max Holloway. From a begin within the firm as a baby-faced 19-year-old to his title coronation in opposition to Jose Aldo to his BMF title knockout of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 to this chance to reclaim the belt and make historical past in opposition to Ilia Topuria on Saturday, the complete journey is one thing that I’ve seen from up shut.

So given all that, I used to be at shocked as anybody to see Holloway’s iron chin lastly break by the hands of Topuria, who put the Hawaiian down for the primary time in his profession with strikes courtesy of a third-round knockout. It was loopy to witness, however one other reminder that nothing is unattainable on this loopy MMA recreation.

Holloway (26-8 MMA, 22-8 UFC), to the shock of nobody, was pure class within the wake of his defeat. And he admitted that is in all probability the ultimate chapter in his historic tenure as a featherweight. He’s nonetheless proprietor of the BMF belt (regardless of Topuria claiming in any other case), and stated he likes the thought of a everlasting transfer to light-weight going ahead.

I feel that’s the fitting name for Holloway. He by no means appears nice when reducing right down to 145 kilos, and as he will get older that’s solely going to trigger him extra bother. It will be good to see him absolutely decide to the bodily transformation up a division, and there’s no scarcity of enjoyable, thrilling and vital matchups for him up there.

Holloway made positive to inform everybody “this isn’t a funeral” after his loss, and as unhappy because it made many individuals to see him go down that manner, it’s additionally onerous to not be uplifted by his constructive spirit.

There have been some aggressive races for the Fighter of the Yr award inside the previous decade, however nothing has come near the head-to-head between Ilia Topuria and Alex Pereira in 2024.

Just some weeks in the past many individuals, myself included, argued Pereira (12-2 MMA, 9-1 UFC) had an ironclad case for the excellence after he accomplished a record-setting third consecutive UFC title protection in a 175-day span together with his TKO of Khalil Rountree at UFC 307. It’s been a masterful 12 months for “Poatan,” however boy did Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) ever make this a difficult dialogue together with his sick knockout of Holloway.

If it was another consequence for Topuria in a profitable style, be it a submission, choice or extra of an underwhelming TKO end, then Pereira would little doubt be the man. However he received the perfect consequence when he flatlined Holloway within the third spherical, placing a bow on a 2024 marketing campaign that noticed him turn into the first to complete Alexander Volkanovski at featherweight to say the belt at UFC 298 in February, then do what he did to Holloway in his first protection.

The cowardly manner out of this is able to be to present them a co-award, however there can solely be one for my part. The a part of my thoughts that claims to not be a prisoner of the second nonetheless thinks it needs to be Pereira given his unprecedented run of title defenses, all of which have been on quick discover and completed by knockout. However Topuria’s work is unprecedented as nicely, and in opposition to superior competitors.

Fortunately, we’ve got two months to proceed to mull over this debate, and I feel a solution will crystallize as we transfer additional away from the immediacy of the outcomes.

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