the theme for plenty of the relaxation of the night time was tight selections. on the primary card alone, Claudia gadelha edged beyond angela hill with the aid of split decision, and dan ige did the equal in opposition to Edson Barboza. music yadong won a unanimous choice over Marlon vera, with all three judges scoring the fight 29-28 in his prefer, but that end result changed into similarly tight.
there may be lots to unpack after this ufc combat night time, and ESPN's panel of ariel helwani, brett Okamoto, Marc Raimondi, and jeff Wagenheim are right here to break down the largest questions that Saturday night's movement raised.
what's your biggest takeaway from the primary event?
Helwan: a pair of factors come to thoughts: first of all, my heart breaks for Walt harris and his circle of relatives. he has handled this situation with such grace, so it became tough seeing him on his knees after the fight, especially after he seemed so top within the first spherical. 2nd, I am not equipped to count out Alistair Overeem simply but. if his combat against jairzinho rozenstruik lasts 4 more seconds, he is on an outstanding four-fight winning streak right now. the knock-on Overeem later in his career turned into his chin and, well, that doesn't seem to be a problem in the interim, because he weathered a typhoon early within the combat when it gave the look of harris was at the verge of preventing him. overeem's pass to elevation fight group has proved to be a huge achievement -- what a run that crew has had standard -- and all of a surprise he appears to be a couple of wins faraway from being a player again at heavyweight. never count out the reem, who turned 40 on Sunday.
Okamoto: I do not know if Walt harris is ever going to figure it out. I genuinely hate to say that, because the person is a first-rate human being. I'm certain all of us are privy to the heartbreak he suffered closing yr, and for him to have even fought on Saturday changed into inspiring to look. I additionally hate to mention it because he actually does have a lot of capability. I said this before the combat, as nicely; I actually keep in mind watching harris' ufc debut in las vegas again in 2013, and I'm able to specifically recall telling myself to keep a watch on him again then. and he lost that combat! however, I saw the apparent athleticism and uncooked ability he possessed. and I'm no longer the most effective one. din Thomas, a teacher at American pinnacle team who currently trains ufc heavyweight Greg hardy, told me harris might be the pleasant heavyweight athlete he has ever worked with. if harris should position all of it collectively, he might be a title challenger. but if you study his profession, he has in no way won the massive combat, and in any case these years, he's 7-7 within the ufc.
Raimondi: MMA is the maximum unforgiving recreation within the globe. fairy-tale endings are hard to come via. now not best that, however, the price of the competition and the value of defeat are steep. they arrive with potentially life-altering accidents.
harris came inside one or two extra punches of completing Overeem for what would be the largest win of his career -- and one that could have intended the whole thing to him, given his stepdaughter Hannah Blanchard changed into shot and killed simply seven months ago.
alternatively, the tables grew to become on harris quickly, and in the second round, he became the only getting finished after an Overeem head kick. simply brutal. the victory was some distance from guaranteed. Overeem is a legend and stays a top heavyweight. however, harris got here oh so close in that first round to getting that storybook ending. it did not take place. heartbreaking.
Wagenheim: the principle event was a testament to how much of the fight game revolves around emotion. while harris harm Overeem early but couldn't finish him, you can almost see his gas tank empty out. some of that changed into due to bodily exertion -- he threw 42 moves in the first round, every certainly one of them with complete strength behind it. but it appeared that harris turned into emotionally depleted, as well. completely comprehensible, thinking about the hell he has been through. it changed into intestine-wrenching to see him like that, although heartening later on to look Overeem and referee dan miragliotta offer their respect. it really is while the fighting sport is at its excellent: whilst the horn sounds and hostility morphs into honor.
how did you feel about the selection inside the Padilha-hill combat?
Helwan: I notion angela hill received that combat 29-28. I concept she won rounds 2 and three, and that I think the stats back that up. she outlined Padilha 37-29 in the 2nd and forty three-34 within the 1/3. now, the stats do not always tell the whole tale; I know this, but in this case, they form of doing. you can make a robust case that the judges got the first 4 fundamental card winners incorrect. I bet the only nice to come out of Padilha prevailing is that we'd see her in a rematch with Carla Esparza. there are a few horrific bloods there, and I might be down for that combat.
Okamoto: I had 29-28 for the hill. it became close -- wouldn't name it a complete robbery -- but i did disagree with the outcome. and it's tough because hill loses plenty here. the distinction between this combat taking place as a win or a loss on her file is big, particularly when it comes to her instant future. if she could have gained, she might be searching at 4 victories in 8 months, with the contemporary coming in opposition to a former identify challenger. hill might have been searching at a pinnacle-five opponent in her next bout. compare that to coming off a loss and seeing the momentum of a three-combat win streak disappear. hard tablet to swallow. but if there's any right information, I do think the ufc will supply her a meaningful fight subsequent. it's clear she is an actual contender after this, even if it did bring about a loss.
Raimondi: I idea hill won, but it became a close fight. Padilha truly gained the primary spherical, and hill dropped gadelha and gained the second one. the 1/3 changed into tight. looking it in real-time, I felt hill did extra harm than Padilha did in the third. two of the three judges, Chris lee and dave Pirelli, honestly thought in any other case. each is proper judges. lee is one of the maximum prolific and strong judges inside the world. neither is Florida officials, so the area or fee cannot be blamed. it turned into close combat, and matters can look distinct cage-side than at domestic. to cite the wise logician gus johnson, "these things take place in MMA."
Wagenheim: the judges got that one incorrect, which seems like the subject matter of the night time. (and in reality, the selection that elicited the maximum on-line outrage, track yadong vs. Marlon vera, I concept they got proper when you consider that I saw song winning rounds 1 and a couple of, as did the judges. however, I digress.) inside the co-main occasion, Padilha actually gained spherical 1 along with her takedown and manipulate at the canvas, and hill sewed up spherical 2 with a knockdown and by getting the higher of standup exchanges. but how within the world did two judges rating spherical 3 for Padilha? she landed just 34 of the 92 vast moves she threw in that spherical, a paltry 36% accuracy. hill related to forty three-of-seventy eight, for 55% accuracy. it was a clear example of an elite standup fighter -- hill as soon as became a sixteen-0 kickboxer -- controlling around on each offense and protection. Padilha merits recognition for displaying competencies past her jiu-jitsu black belt, however, that decision should not have long gone her manner.
what does Edson Barboza's destiny look like within the featherweight division?
Helwan: no matter the loss, I'd like to see Barboza stick around at one hundred forty-five pounds. first off, I concept he gained the combat 29-28. I was worried the load reduces might dissipate him and sluggish him down, however, that didn't seem to be the case at all. I assume if he can cut the weight in a safe and healthful manner, he could have a first-rate length gain in opposition to a variety of featherweights. generally, I do not love it when a vet movement down to put a clean coat of paint on his profession, however, I was inspired together with his debut, so I think he needs to stick with the featherweights for at the least one extra fight and notice how that goes. I realize Jose Aldo moved all the way down to 135, however, how a whole lot amusing might Barboza vs. Aldo be at a hundred forty-five?
Okamoto: pretty much like what it gave the look of a lightweight, for my part. Barboza may be very, very good. his skills on the feet are nothing quick of sublime. that knee he landed to Paige's body in the 2d spherical changed into a factor of beauty and nearly received him the fight. however, Barboza became in no way an identity contender at lightweight. and to think he is going to be one at featherweight ... I simply do not see what the large change is that might lead to that. featherweight is just as stacked as light-weight for the time being. there are nevertheless a few terrible matchups Barboza could have to overcome to make a serious run at the title. I suppose he's a completely, very a laugh addition to this weight elegance, and he is going to win his truthful percentage, similar to he did at lightweight. he goes to be entertaining. however, i would not are expect more than that.
Raimondi: Barboza's beyond fights are very hard to analyze. in both -- on Saturday in opposition to age and at ufc 242 in September towards paul Felder -- Barboza did sufficient to win. each ended up being split selection losses. we could be speaking approximately Barboza being on a triumphing streak right now. instead, he misplaced his featherweight debut, and he has dropped 5 of six contests. I don't assume there may be any doubt that he's going to be one of the maximum risky guys in the featherweight department. he regarded superb Saturday night, and ige is the actual deal. but till Barboza starts figuring out a way to win those close fights -- and maybe it is no longer totally his fault -- it is difficult to check him being extra than a gatekeeper at 145 pounds.
Wagenheim: Barboza looked excellent at a hundred forty-five kilos, in no way depleted or weakened. I thought the judges got the decision incorrect (and that wasn't the most effective time I felt that manner in this night). however a loss is a loss, and this one turned into his 1/3 in a row and the fifth in his past six fights. it's not the form of run that lets in you to sit most of the contenders in any weight magnificence. so Barboza ought to be sincere with himself and determine whether or not he believes sticking around at featherweight will breathe lifestyles lower back into a career that becomes sagging at light-weight. Barboza becomes in with a quick, robust one hundred forty five-pounder and seldom appeared to be overwhelmed to the punch. he turned into the one who dealt out greater damage. even though this one is going on the record as an l, it is something to build on.
which probably disregarded fighter inspired you the most?
Helwan: that is a sincerely hard one. you can make a strong case for each unmarried winner at the prelims -- it's how correct the performances were. in the long run, I'll go together with Kevin Holland, who had the fastest finish at the undercard while he defeated Anthony Hernandez via TKO at 1:39 in spherical 1. that elbow to knee sequence turned into vicious. I recognize holland is a ufc veteran at this factor with six fights underneath his belt, but I assume we have but to look his exceptional inside the octagon. 2nd place is going to Cortney Casey, who scored an excellent armbar in protect position off her back. you do not see that frequently. right here's hoping she sticks around at one hundred twenty-five pounds for a touch bit.
Okamoto: I want to cheat and go together with: track yadong and Marlon vera, who fought every different in a totally close featherweight affair. if I'm able to only pick one, I think I'll go along with the winner, yadong (despite the fact that I scored the bout for vera). and look, there had been surprising performances up and down the card. the prelims have been pretty strong on Saturday. however, the purpose I used to be maximumly impressed with each of those combatants, who typically compete at a hundred thirty-five pounds, is this was totally excessive-level combat. the bantamweight department is a very exciting one proper now. you've got new but set up, blood in guys including Petr yan, aljamain sterling, and cory sand haven. you have got some of the vets including themselves to the mix, inclusive of Jose Aldo and Frankie Edgar. this isn't always an easy division to make a run in. but watching these two young bantamweights (vera is 27, and yadong is 22), I used to be very
impressed with wherein they are at, and I consider both certainly one of them could make a destiny run on this department.
Raimondi: out of every fighter on the prelims, the one I most look forward to seeing again is Nate Landwehr, who scored an extremely a laugh win in a unanimous selection over Darren Elkins. now not most effective was Landwehr wildly interesting together with his preventing fashion, bloodying Elkins up with fearless putting, however, while he could land massive photographs -- like a second-round elbow -- Landwehr would yell out, "dana!" to ufc president dana white cageside. Landwehr, a Tennessee local who made his bones in MMA combating in Russia, is truly particular. and Elkins is no smooth out for absolutely everyone at featherweight. that was a very good victory and a sturdy performance as a whole for Landwehr, including a zany postfight speech.
Wagenheim: Kevin holland had the early evening's maximum jaw-dropping overall performance along with his 39-2nd TKO of middleweight Anthony Hernandez. however, what continually impresses me maximum at the same time as watching fights is while a person perseveres through adversity. so I am going to move as a substitute with Miguel Baeza, who withstood the first-spherical onslaught by using one of the most violent forces in MMA, matt brown. after surviving brown's succession of elbows, Baeza grew to become their welterweight combat around dramatically, losing "the immortal" with a fabulous left hook for a ko 18 seconds into spherical 2. that the win stored the 27-12 months-antique Baeza unbeaten turned into icing at the cake.
what turned into the biggest marvel of the night time?
Helwan: Marlon vera becomes an underdog going into his combat against music yadong, so him dropping is not a marvel on paper, especially thinking about how accurate song has regarded in the ufc. however, i concept vera won the combat 29-28, in order that very last result changed into a bit unexpected to me. the judging has been a bit wacky all week long in Jacksonville, so maybe I should not be all that surprised. what has been surprising, although? how lots I enjoy those fights with no fans in attendance. no worrying "woo" chants, no booing, no disrespecting fighters who win a near choice; and most significantly, I really like hearing the corners and the strikes so actually. I failed to assume I'd thoughts the crowd fewer fights so much, but I also failed to assume I would revel in it so much. the product hasn't suffered one bit.
Okamoto: the judging in widespread. these have been all near fights, so I'm no longer going to make an excessive amount of of a fuss about it, however, simply for my part, I had Marlon vera, Edson Barboza and angela hill prevailing their respective bouts -- and all three are going domestic with an l. again, they have been near fights, however, if you're asking me whilst I used to be maximumly surprised on Saturday, it was while the judges' scores have been being read.
Raimondi: Miguel Baeza stopping matt brown. that combat was to start with booked for brown's hometown of Columbus, Ohio before the coronavirus pandemic dramatically altered the ufc's time table. on paper, it appeared to be one to get brown, and exciting fan preferred for many years, a win towards an inexperienced opponent. Baeza simply didn't deal with it that way. the dana white's contender series alum weathered an early brown hurricane, harm brown at the top of the first spherical, and then knocked him out with a left hook and pictures at the floor inside the second. that changed into honestly extraordinary. the general public didn't recognize who Baeza was getting into this combat. they recognize now.
Wagenheim: nothing surprised me in a big way, surely. I was a touch nonplussed to look song yadong perhaps achieving his ceiling or at least a plateau. he received his fight with Marlon vera, and that is no small feat. however track has been surging as one of the AFC's younger possibilities, and I used to be expecting to see him roll past vera with the form of announcement victory a growing contender frequently authors. as a substitute, this fight ended up being the second in a row wherein music escaped through the skin of his tooth. in December, tune stored his unbeaten run alive with a majority draw in opposition to Cody stamina. and Saturday's selection over vera changed into as slender as selections get. that is no disgrace. vera is tough and professional. but I expect exquisite things out of combatants I view as special, together with the track.
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