Tag: Jason Herzog

video review : UFC 300

video review : UFC 300

If we’re including all the Prelims, 300 is indeed the most stacked UFC event ever. It’s the main card that disappointed fans around the world, particularly the main event. It should’ve been Conor McGregor versus Michael Chandler. An Israel Adesanya title bout against Dricus Du Plessis or Alex Pereira would’ve also sufficed. The announcement of Pereira versus Jamahal Hill was, at best, anticlimactic.

It was also odd to include Bo Nickal; a bout that, though more competitive than expected, rather because of it, disappoints even the prospect himself. Still he remains undefeated. It gets better from there as Arman Tsarukyan and Charles Oliveira provide perhaps the best fight of the night. The best moment happens in the next bout as BMF Max Holloway ends Justin Gaethje in spectacular fashion.

The other best moment; Zhang choking Yan earns an honorable mention; is Jamahal Hill getting knocked out. He claimed, in a prefight interview, that Pereira “is not on my level”. He’s right in a sense as the bout ends with Pereira standing and Hill on his ass. The champ further marks his legacy as a future goat. Hopefully the aforementioned Adesanya trilogy (pentalogy) happens eventually.

my rating : 4 of 5

2024

video review : Petr Yan versus Sean O’Malley at UFC 280

video review : Petr Yan versus Sean O'Malley at UFC 280

I could’ve made a lot of money on this fight if I were a gambler. I figured Sean O’Malley; one of the best pound-for-pound punchers (strikers) in the UFC in regard to technique, accuracy and power; would win when it seems most fans were counting him out. The thing is, he doesn’t really win.

The official judges give him a victory, sure, but I disagree with the decision. It’s a relatively close fight and his strikes seem to hurt Petr Yan more than Yan’s hurt him; O’Malley lands a “huge” head kick in round three; but I think Yan edges it with his wrestling, takedowns and control time.

my rating : 4 of 5

2022

video review : Sean Strickland versus Alex Pereira at UFC 276

video review : Sean Strickland versus Alex Pereira at UFC 276

Sean Strickland seemed on the verge of finally becoming a star in The UFC after stealing the show at the 276 Press Conference. Full of wisecracks and knowing how close he was to a title shot; Alex Pereira has clearly been put on the fast track to one; he seemed more interested in taunting Israel Adesanya about getting “slept” by Pereira than Pereira.

“Focus on this guy”, Champion Adesanya warned, “Cause, trust me, he will sleep you if not.” Strickland laughed it off. Cut to Pereira landing a left hook and, well, sleeping him “in the very first round”. It’s a shot to the chin, but it’s Strickland’s bonehead that made him think it was a good idea to stand right there in front of one of the best strikers in the division.

my rating : 3 of 5

2022
 

FIght! Entertainment :

Sean don’t be careful this will happen but worse Izzy no one to play with

video review : Johnny Walker versus Jamahal Hill at UFC Fight Night

video review : Johnny Walker versus Jamahal Hill at UFC Fight Night

Johnny Walker fights usually end with him either knocking someone out or getting knocked out and this bout is no exception. Jamahal Hill finishes him with a punch to the forehead, of all places, which, after being dropped twice by Ryan Spann when they fought, suggests he simply can’t take a punch. Perhaps it’s that same brain defect that makes his body react in cartoonishly amusing ways. Here he goes unconscious after a delayed back flop à la Ric Flair.

my rating : 3 of 5

2022

video review : Li Jingliang versus Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 267

video review : Li Jingliang versus Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 267

This would be an amazing showcase for Khamzat Chimaev if not for Li Jingliang’s defensive skills. The way Chimaev holds him up in the air like a rebellious toddler and slams him to the ground, all while talking to Dana White, is certainly, as Paul Felder suggests, impressive, but Jingliang is able to survive for a couple of minutes.

Chimaev is a scary prospect. He’s currently the most hyped “phenom” in The UFC. This victory puts him near the ranks of the top lightweight, not to mention welterweight and middleweight, contenders. He says he’s come to “kill everybody” and, considering his ten-fight MMA win streak; all early finishes; he might not be playing.

my rating : 4 of 5

2021

video review : Khabib Nurmagomedov versus Justin Gaethje at UFC 254

video review : Khabib Nurmagomedov versus Justin Gaethje at UFC 254

“Number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world”? My reply to such a bombastic claim is probably not; there are a lot of unknown fighters in the world; but it seems Khabib Nurmagomedov is currently the best pound-for-pound fighter in The UFC. He’s also one of the best ever, which makes news of his retirement; he announces it in his post-fight interview after an emotional salute to his father; that much more impactful.

I thought Justin Gaethje’s chances of winning this bout were being overhyped by MMA fans, but he does even worse than I guessed. That’s not so much a criticism of his skills; he does manage to land a few of his “patented” leg kicks, which Nurmagomedov doesn’t have much of an answer for; but how long he lasts. At not even two full rounds, it’s the champion’s quickest victory since pummeling Thiago Tavares back in 2013.

my rating : 4 of 5

2020

video review : Tony Ferguson versus Anthony Pettis at UFC 229

video review : Tony Ferguson versus Anthony Pettis at UFC 229

Pettis is no slouch, but Ferguson’s fighting style is hard to deal with. It’s a barrage of pressure from a guy who doesn’t seem to get tired. He gets rocked in round 2 but recovers and continues to attack.

The ending is, as Jon Anik describes it, somewhat anticlimactic as the bout ends with Duke Roufus throwing in the metaphorical towel for Anthony Pettis. He’s apparently done in by a broken hand.

my rating : 4 of 5

2018