The UFC placed on an incredible World Combat Month finale on Saturday night time. UFC 290 featured finishes galore, and when the fights didn’t result in a end, they have been memorable with continuous motion. From the primary battle at the card to the a success Alexander Volkanovski identify protection, this was once an evening that delivered.
Volkanovski’s victory over Yair Rodriguez was once some other commentary, in spite of the champion pronouncing later on he must have surgical operation because of an arm trauma. Alexandre Pantoja took Brandon Moreno’s gold in a contender for battle of the occasion. Robbie Lawler stated goodbye with a bang and Bo Nickal were given some other end, however this year it sport at the ft.
Brett Okamoto, Marc Raimondi, Jeff Wagenheim, Carlos Contreras Legaspi and Eddie Maisonet react to a standout night time in Las Vegas.
What else can Alexander Volkanovski do?
Wagenheim: The terminating year Volkanovski misplaced a featherweight battle was once … neatly, by no means. In February, he narrowly got here up shorten in a problem of UFC light-weight champion Islam Makhachev. Previous to that, he had received 10 fights in a row at 145 kilos, together with 3 wins over Max Holloway and one over Jose Aldo — each former champs and all-time legends. Volkanovski made his UFC debut in 2016, preventing as soon as as a light-weight ahead of shifting to the section he has since ruled.
However UFC 290 was once an MMA bizarro international, with 4 knockouts in lower than a little, together with the feel-good swan music of Robbie Lawler. And proper ahead of Volkanovski’s leading tournament in opposition to Yair Rodriguez, we’d evident a converting of the safeguard at flyweight, with Alexandre Pantoja dethroning Brandon Moreno. And nearest, after all, there was once the unpredictability of Rodriguez to imagine. His assaults come rapid and wrathful, now and again from essentially the most surprising angles.
None of this would give up Volkanovski from making this his night time. He stalked Rodriguez from the beginning, warding off the challenger’s offense and hanging him at the defensive with takedowns in all 3 rounds. The champ additionally confirmed off his tight, efficient putting offense. It was once an all-around efficiency of a fighter on the govern of his sport, capped via a counter proper hand that wobbled Rodriguez and resulted in the end at 4:19 of Spherical 3.
For Volkanovski, who’s connect with Makhachev atop the ESPN males’s pound-for-pound ratings, this was once his 5th protection of the UFC featherweight identify he received in December 2019 — he’s the battle promotion’s longest-reigning wave champion. Along with his eleventh instantly featherweight victory, Volkanovski now trails most effective Holloway (13) for the longest streak in UFC historical past. The accolades hold piling up. And so do the masterpieces throughout the Octagon.
Who’s nearest at featherweight?
Okamoto: For Volkanovski, it must be Islam Makhachev. It’s a no brainer. 1,000,000 p.c. Ship the commitments now. Signal me up, child.
Volkanovski is the one maximum particular athlete within the sport at the moment. Shifting up and difficult Makhachev is a daft problem. It was once ridiculous when he did it in February, and he just about received. It’ll be ridiculous once more in October, when he does it in Abu Dhabi. But when there’s one guy who’s up for comically tough demanding situations, it’s Volkanovski.
If I’m Makhachev at the moment, I’m taking this warning from Volkanovski very, very severely. There is probably not a light-weight alive at the moment who can beat Makhachev, however there may just simply be a featherweight who’s in a position to it in Volkanovski. The tale is splendid. The battle is splendid. The timing is splendid. That is the straightforward one to accumulation.
For Rodriguez, Ilia Topuria must be up nearest. This night, he didn’t get it executed, and it was once roughly one-way site visitors for the champ, however he did display glimpses of why he was once thought to be this type of bad warning. There’s incorrect humiliation in shedding to Volkanovski at the moment. And even supposing the farmland paintings left a negligible to be desired, Rodriguez didn’t glance totally out of types in opposition to some of the higher grapplers within the section.
Topuria could be very sizzling at the moment and coming off a win, while Rodriguez is clearly coming off a loss, however they every have a up to date win over Josh Emmett and stylistically, it is a stunning battle. Let Volkanovski exit up once more in October to stand Makhachev and accumulation Rodriguez vs. Topuria in both a five-round leading tournament on a UFC Combat Night time or upload it to the numbered tournament on Mexican Sovereignty Occasion in Las Vegas.
The wildcard for Rodriguez: Aljamain Sterling. Listen me out. If Sterling beats Sean O’Malley at UFC 292 in August, I wait for him shifting up in weight to problem for a moment belt. I don’t know if the UFC will rapid observe him instantly to a identify battle in opposition to Volkanovski, particularly if Volkanovski does get a moment effort at light-weight in October. That leaves Sterling ready the place he’ll most likely wish to remove a battle and turn out he merits a shot at a 145-pound belt, and this generally is a very a laugh battle for him to aim to do this.
Pantoja month starts with some other stellar flyweight battle
Raimondi: Has any section had extra of a gleam up within the historical past of the UFC than flyweight? The 4 fights between Brandon Moreno and Deiveson Figueiredo have been all exceptional. And Saturday night time, Moreno and Alexandre Pantoja placed on simply one of the best fights in UFC history. An absolute vintage with each bleeding, throwing obese pictures and suffering for each and every place. Pantoja dropped Moreno within the first around. Moreno got here roaring again. Pantoja rallied then that. The battle went all over the place and the generation they i’m ready was once incredible. The lovers have been enraptured via all of the factor. Certain, this was once a partisan people for Moreno in Las Vegas, a closely Mexican-American department lower than 3 hours from the border. However this battle would have introduced the people to its ft in any department on the earth. It was once that exceptional.
Moreno helped exchange the recognition of the flyweight section. He’s by no means in a sinister battle. This can be a a ways yell from the times when a flyweight identify headliner would purpose lovers to shed the world ahead of it even started. This isn’t a shot at Demetrious Johnson, who was once an elegant champion, an all-time splendid and a credit score to MMA itself, however he was once dominant, virtually difference so. And it felt like his obese fights weren’t compelling because of that. The UFC was once at the verge of abolishing all of the section only some years in the past. It seems like that was once eons in the past now then a fibre of unforgettable flyweight identify fights.
The Pantoja month begins now and he’s been, for years, one of the crucial thrilling warring parties within the section. So, don’t be expecting this run of finest identify fights to finish with him preserving gold. There are alternative motion warring parties ready within the wings, too, like Brandon Royval and Manel Kape. Royval weighed in Friday because the spare fighter for the Moreno vs. Pantoja battle. But in addition, don’t rely out Moreno. Sure, he has now misplaced 3 times to Pantoja (together with an exhibition on The Closing Fighter). However this co-main tournament at UFC 290 was once extremely near and will have long past both means. A scorecard for Moreno on Saturday should not have been a sinister one. He’ll be again.
And if it’s a fourth battle between Pantoja and Moreno — more or less just like the 4 fights between Moreno and Figueiredo — nobody could be too dissatisfied.
What’s nearest at flyweight?
Okamoto: Will have to the UFC run Pantoja, Moreno again … once more? I assumption it’s a nutritious condition to have, proper? Those flyweight identify matchups — first it was once Moreno/Figueiredo, now it’s Moreno/Pantoja — were so impressive, so humorous, so aggressive, there’s a direct want to easily run them again one then some other. However at what level does that more or less repetition really feel a negligible … repetitive? In my opinion, I say simply run it proper again between Moreno and Pantoja, and a inadequency of alternative splendid choices is a obese reason why for that.
If the UFC doesn’t accumulation a 3rd assembly between those two in an instant (fourth assembly, unofficially, when you rely Pantoja’s win over Moreno on The Closing Fighter), I guess the nearest most suitable option is Amir Albazi. Albazi is a a laugh flyweight with a batch of ability and a batch of completing skill, however maximum eyewitnesses don’t suppose he even received his terminating battle in opposition to Kai Kara-France. And even though you overlook that sentiment, Albazi hasn’t executed plethora to actually excite any individual a couple of identify shot. He’s deserving and a matchup between him and Pantoja could be plethora engaging, however there could be nearest to 0 warmth hooked up to it.
I believe the UFC could be perfect served to accumulation a order of high-profile flyweight fights at the identical card in conjunction with a trilogy bout between Pantoja and Moreno. In reality give the flyweights a show off and i’m ready the level for unutilized matchups shifting ahead. As a result of this section does want unutilized matchups on the govern. That a lot is undebatable. However I don’t suppose now’s the year for them. For now, repetition is the best way to walk
The Heartless goodbye Robbie Lawler deserved
Wagenheim: Thru 47 skilled fights over the generation 22 years, Robbie Lawler has at all times been a fan favourite. In fact, he has some corporate at the UFC roster in that regard. The place “Ruthless Robbie” distinguishes himself from the people is in being a fighter’s fighter.
All the way through the leadup to UFC 290, most of the athletes at the card have been requested for his or her ideas at the departing Lawler, and each and every unmarried certainly one of them confirmed deep appreciate, even miracle. Alexander Volkanovski mirrored again on Lawler’s 2015 battle with Rory MacDonald, which on Thursday was once inducted into the UFC Corridor of Status, and known as it an inspiration for his personal occupation. Brandon Moreno stated of Lawler, “He’s a warrior.” Robert Whittaker stated, “He’s an absolute legend.”
So there is going “Ruthless Robbie” turning UFC champions into fanboys.
And in his ultimate battle, at generation 41, Lawler grew to become in a antique efficiency. Nearest strolling out to a status ovation from the lovers, nearest pausing at the apron of the Octagon to go searching packed T-Cell Enviornment and soak within the hour, Lawler went proper to paintings, like he at all times has. With the people chanting “Robbie! Robbie!” proper from the beginning, Lawler virtually straight away locked Niko Price in a clinch on the middle of the cage and landed a left hook. Next some other. Next a left uppercut. Next some other left hook, which despatched Value collapsing to the canvas.
Lawler simply raised his fingers triumphantly and left the scene, nearest took a knee to bury his face in his arms and remove a couple of seconds to really feel the feelings of the 38-second knockout and all the violently elegant occupation moments that got here ahead of.
MMA is a recreation that ceaselessly sends its legends out the advance door with heartless, unhappy ultimate acts. Now not Lawler. He walks away on his phrases, identical to he at all times fought.
Who’s nearest for Bo Nickal?
Okamoto: I’m leaning Punahele Soriano.
The Tresean Gore matchup actually was once very best for Nickal. Gore doesn’t have a lot revel in, however he’s proven some agreement, which is why he’s within the UFC initially. It’s a battle that made a ton of sense. With Gore injured regardless that, and Nickal popping out unscathed as soon as once more, I’m taking a look at alternative choices and my seek landed on Soriano.
Soriano is 9-3 and has been competing in MMA since 2015 going again to his newbie occupation. So, he has an important revel in merit on Nickal. However Nickal has been competing his whole date at a lofty degree of wrestling, and we’re at some degree we would possibly wish to see how a lot that have interprets.
Soriano has a a laugh preventing taste and he’s a knockout warning. If Nickal have been to overcome him, truthfully it will let us know one thing. That will be notable. Soriano is a sound UFC middleweight.
Julian Marquez is the wild card right here. Any other middleweight who would have an important revel in merit on Nickal, however person who hasn’t ever proven the kind of ceiling Nickal possesses (that’s now not supposed to be a dig, only a few possibilities have ever proven as lofty a ceiling as Nickal). This is able to be a major check and, like Soriano, there’s an actual risk issue with Marquez. All 9 of his wins have come by means of end. This is able to let us know one thing about Nickal, with out being too lunatic of a step up.
Probably the most stunning dissatisfied of the night time
Contreras Legaspi: Anything else can occur in MMA and Denise Gomes treated the largest making a bet dissatisfied of the night time with a bulky proper hand to some of the greatest possibilities within the straweight section.
Yazmin Jauregui had a obese hype accurate within the splendid boxing she confirmed in Combate World and either one of her fights within the UFC. Because it took place to Alexa Grasso, the wave flyweight champion, this early loss can do nutritious for her occupation and remove drive of her again. Many see her as a age contender, however at 24 and simply 11 professional fights, she nonetheless has a batch to be informed.
All the way through this presen she was once satisfied of her enhancements since her terminating look and he or she must flip the web page rapid, as a result of she will also be some of the greatest additions to the Mexican Sovereignty Occasion card in September which might handover her with a super surrounding to get again not off course.
At the alternative facet, Gomes merits a batch of credit score. She has now six knockouts in 8 wins and the terminating two took place in opposition to two of the most efficient strikers that experience arrived within the section within the terminating occasion, Jauregui and Bruna Brasil, who had some of the perfect KO’s of terminating years Contender Order.
Jamal Murray, Rey Mysterio amongst celebrities in attendance for UFC 290
Rey Mysterio is rocking with the Mexican champs at #UFC290 🇲🇽 pic.twitter.com/abdRF5aIzH
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 9, 2023
Maisonet: The celebrities are out in Las Vegas because the convergence of World Combat Month and NBA Summer season League makes for a a laugh night time on The Strip.
On Friday, a offered out Thomas & Mack Enviornment hosted the extremely expected debut of international prospect and San Antonio Spurs’ forward Victor Wembanyama. Rapper J. Cole and NBA legends like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Jerry West have been in attendance to observer Wembanyama’s year in Vegas.
On Saturday, with two identify fights at the card, extra obese names have been out to observer the drama at T-Cell Enviornment. NBA champion Jamal Murray of the Denver Nuggets and Boston Celtics head professor Joe Mazzulla made the transfer from courtside to Octagon-side. Oklahoma Town Thunder safeguard Josh Giddey was once within the construction to help fellow Aussie Alexander Volkanovski then supporting his Thunder teammates at Thomas & Mack. All the way through Volkanovski’s go into the world, following in the back of him was once Murray — champions will have to have a factor about striking with every alternative.
Former United States president Donald Trump made his fourth look at a UFC tournament on Saturday. Others within the people incorporated actors Miles Teller and Mark Wahlberg, WWE Corridor of Famer Rey Mysterio and superstar chef Man Fieri.
Should you’re keen on basketball and blended martial arts, being in Las Vegas on the second one weekend of July could be the most efficient park to be on earth. Thanks Adam Silver and Dana White.
