2024
espn.com | ufc.com
Tag: Jon Anik
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
MMA Junkie Radio : Arianny Celeste talking about retiring as a ring girl
2024
usatoday.com
E60 : Chris Weidman [ The Return ]
2023
espn.com
the UFC 296 Press Conference : Leon Edwards throwing a mic at Colby Covington for insulting his father
2023
espn.com
the UFC 296 Press Conference
2023
ufc.com
video review : Jéssica Andrade versus Mackenzie Dern at UFC 295
I don’t know about some of these stoppages. Mackenzie Dern was still in this bout when the referee decided to call it. Granted she’d been knocked down four times and was probably on her way to unconsciousness, but she should’ve been given the chance to go out on her shield. Both fighters are going thru divorce; I’d like to think I’m the reason for Dern’s; but, based on her fists of fury, Andrade is more scorn.
my rating : 4 of 5
2023
video review : Alexa Grasso versus Valentina Shevchenko at UFC Fight Night
This is a close fight that results in a draw. Valentina Shevchenko suggests she would’ve won if not for the judges feeling pressured not to make Alexa Grasso lose her Championship title on Mexican Independence Day. A “10-8” Round 5 score for Grasso, which even the commentators imply is ridiculous, suggests she’s probably right.
Grasso wins in cuteness, even when bloody and bruised, but not much else as Shevchenko is generally the better fighter. It’s no blowout though by any means. Grasso fights like a champion, ending the bout with an impressively snappy submission attempt, and seems to think she actually (literally) won during her post-fight interview.
my rating : 4 of 5
2023
UFC 290 : Jesús Aguilar knocking out Shannon Ross
2023
ufc.com | espn.com
video review : UFC 290
Without even factoring in Robbie Lawler’s “perfect” career-ending victory over Niko Price or any of the other impressive knockouts from the Prelims, UFC 290 stands as one of their better events. Newcomer Bo Nickal actually matches Lawler by taking out his opponent in the same amount of time. A revamped Dan Hooker also impresses with a split decision victory over Jalin Turner.
The biggest surprise of the night, other than Dana White arriving with President Trump, is Robert Whittaker’s second-round TKO loss to Dricus Du Plessis, though it’s no surprise to Du Plessis. He predicted he’d do exactly what he did. Still it’s odd seeing Whittaker lose to someone other than Israel Adesanya, who promotes his upcoming bout with Du Plessis with a post-fight encounter.
What ends up being perhaps the best fight is the one I cared the least about; Flyweight Champion Brandon Moreno putting his belt on the line against Alexandre Pantoja. Pantoja beat him twice before and does it again here, but they’re well matched. The main event goes about as I expected with Alexander Volkanovski retaining his (Featherweight) title relatively easily against Yair Rodríguez.
my rating : 4 of 5
2023
video review : Jon Jones versus Ciryl Gane at UFC 285
He said he believed he would “make this fight look surprisingly easy” and that’s exactly what he did. If you didn’t think Jon Jones was the (UFC) “goat” before, you better think again. He’s also my second favorite fighter after Anderson Silva; Jones’ second favorite fighter after himself.
I was doubtful about his chances in this Heavyweight debut; Israel Adesanya and Alexander Volkanovski lost their win streaks after going up a weight class; especially when I saw him looking pudgy after taking off his shirt outside the Octagon, but he makes short work of Ciryl Gane.
my rating : 3 of 5
2023
video review : Pedro Munhoz versus Cody Garbrandt at UFC 235
“What a crazy decision,” Joe Rogan exclaims in response to Cody Garbrandt suddenly going from pro MMA fighter to sloppy street brawler near the end of Round 1, but what he probably wanted to say was “stupid”.
It was apparently an emotional (angry) reaction to an inadvertent headbutt that made Garbrandt go wild; trading punches hard and fast with little to no defense; which results in his third knockout loss in a row.
my rating : 3 of 5
2019