Brett Okamoto and Marc Raimondi react to the most important moments at Saturday’s UFC 291 in Salt Pond Town and trade in ideas on what may well be forward for the standouts. Jeff Wagenheim provides his viewpoint at the Bellator and Rizin co-branded match.
“The Highlight” has choices: Makhachev or McGregor?
Raimondi: Justin Gaethje is now the UFC’s BMF champion. And his win over Dustin Poirier by the use of a vicious second-round head kick at UFC 291 may have unfolded extra doorways for him than we concept.
Proper upcoming Gaethje gained, he mentioned the revealed — that he sought after a shot on the UFC light-weight identify nearest. Islam Makhachev will shield the belt nearest in opposition to Charles Oliveira at UFC 294 on Oct. 21. Gaethje, with out a lot of a debate, will have to get the winner upcoming a decisive victory over Poirier. However within the aftermath of Gaethje’s triumph, Conor McGregor took to social media and mentioned, in disagree unsure phrases, that if Gaethje needs to position up the BMF belt in opposition to him, it’s Gaethje’s struggle. McGregor added “f— Chandler,” referencing the deliberate struggle for him in opposition to Michael Chandler, which was once arrange in this season of “The Ultimate Fighter” fact display. McGregor and Chandler are training in opposition to one any other.
There was once a era when Gaethje sought after the McGregor struggle greater than the rest. In January 2020, McGregor fought Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone. Gaethje additionally was once an possibility on the era, and he was once calling for it. However McGregor has misplaced back-to-back fights in opposition to Poirier and is coming off a damaged leg, and his go back week continues to be up within the breeze. McGregor isn’t even in america Anti-Doping Company drug-testing pond. Gaethje mentioned latter past to MMA Preventing that if McGregor is on steroids, he’ll struggle him if he additionally is permitted to importance steroids.
It’s in doubt if Gaethje can be taken with that struggle at this time. He has made it sunlit that he needs one latter run on the UFC light-weight identify, and he’s within the driving force’s seat at this level. However he’ll have to offer a protracted have a look at the potential of a McGregor struggle. Poirier was once in a position to manufacture life-changing cash through beating McGregor, who’s the most important superstar within the historical past of the UFC. Gaethje gained’t be capable to bag that more or less money in opposition to Makhachev or Oliveira. And let’s say Gaethje does struggle McGregor nearest and wins. A identify shot would nonetheless be there for him, simply love it was once for Poirier upcoming he gained his trilogy with “The Notorious.”
The alternative query here’s, what about Chandler? He was once promised the McGregor struggle and went thru “The Ultimate Fighter” season with him beneath the affect that it was once his struggle. McGregor has more or less left him placing. No person is bound when McGregor is coming again. UFC president Dana White mentioned previous this generation {that a} McGregor go back is just too untimely to speak about. That may’t be a superior signal for Chandler, who has been an organization guy for the UFC since coming over from Bellator. Now, McGregor is obviously calling for a struggle in opposition to any other opponent.
Any other imaginable opponent who, through the way in which, most likely doesn’t even need to struggle McGregor.
McGregor, in his tweet, mentioned he shouts the pictures. Nevertheless it feels just like the ball — and the BMF belt — is in Gaethje’s court docket.
The UFC will have to prevent “El Cucuy”
Okamoto: It’s now not an unpopular rush. Neither is it a untouched rush. However we’ve reached that time.
It’s been a negligible since any person felt in reality excellent about Tony Ferguson proceeding his occupation. He has misplaced a step. That was once obvious Saturday in his loss through submission to Bobby Green in what was once Ferguson’s 6th immediately defeat (upcoming successful 12 in a row). It’s OK to manufacture that statement and put it available in the market. In reality, it’s remarkable to manufacture that statement and put it available in the market. Ferguson’s occupation has stuck as much as him, because it does for each and every fighter to position at the gloves. Ferguson is the type of man to learn this and rush it as a non-public assault. He’s like that. It’s what has made him so widespread. Not anything is unattainable for him. He believes in himself in any and each and every condition, and I do disagree hesitancy that Ferguson nonetheless believes he has plethora of years left on this game and is absolutely able to attaining the manage of the mountain.
This is the reason any person should inform this man to prevent, and I believe it’s going to must be the UFC. Think it’s his community. Stunning. Or his control. That’s excellent too. But when neither of the ones occur, I believe the UFC must come to a decision that it gained’t run Ferguson available in the market with manage ability and keep an eye on him get harm. If the UFC severs his guarantee and any other promoter selections him up, the duty for his condition and what the ones fights appear to be will fall on that alternative promotion.
I’d like to look the UFC manufacture some announcement that recognizes the mythical occupation Ferguson has had within the Octagon and possibly paintings with him on a solution to finish his occupation and to find one thing else. This isn’t a amusing matter to discuss. It by no means is, particularly with an athlete as proud as Ferguson. However this dialog must occur.
Holland will have to keep heading in the right direction at welterweight — the place he simply may well be a identify contender
Raimondi: Kevin Holland had one in all his absolute best occupation victories, filing Michael Chiesa, a grassland specialist, with a d’arce choke within the first around.
Holland’s greatest condition were his wrestling, and he was once in a position to prevent a takedown from Chiesa, who got here in with the best takedown accuracy proportion in UFC welterweight category historical past (77.8%).
Holland has proven actual expansion in his recreation since shifting to 170 kilos latter past. Next, inexplicably, Holland mentioned he was once making an allowance for a advance again as much as middleweight. Optimistically, he was once joking — as he has been identified to do — or he’ll rethink. In all probability he will also struggle in each categories.
The Texas resident is on a two-fight successful streak at welterweight and appears to be an actual warning within the weight magnificence on the best reaches of the category. Middleweight can have larger foes who could possibly impose their will within the wrestling recreation. There are excellent wrestlers at welterweight too, nevertheless it seems like Holland has been figuring it out in that facet of the category.
In spite of everything, Holland is must-see TV. He fights as frequently as imaginable. Jake Matthews mentioned Saturday upcoming his win at UFC 291 that Holland challenged him at Friday’s weigh-ins to a struggle for 2 weeks from now. That more or less job makes Holland a fan favourite in any category. And when he fights, it virtually at all times is going to a end. Holland has but to proceed to a choice in 8 immediately fights — win or lose. His latter resolution win was once 11 fights in the past.
Holland is rapid motion, and including him to the cardboard promises fireworks. But when he’s going to be a identify contender, it’s most definitely much more likely to occur at welterweight.
Okamoto’s what’s nearest for manage stars upcoming UFC 291?
Justin Gaethje, light-weight
What will have to be nearest: winner of Islam Makhachev vs. Charles Oliveira on Oct. 21
BMF titles are cool, needless to say, however this was once the true prize.
A light-weight identify shot. Gaethje has had two tries on the light-weight belt, and he has arise snip on each. The newest one, a loss to Oliveira in his house situation of Arizona, gutted him. Gaethje didn’t really feel like he were given out of first equipment. Now, he’s prepared for one ultimate shot. And both opponent might be a immense problem.
Wild card: Conor McGregor
In fact, if McGregor begins tweeting about short of to struggle you, you should consider it. However I’d be shocked if this one were given any wheels. McGregor isn’t even on a timeline for the struggle he was once meant to have in opposition to Michael Chandler; and now we’re taking to throw away that up and provides McGregor a untouched one? Gaethje’s focal point will stay at the identify.
Alex Pereira, brightness heavyweight
What will have to be nearest: Jiri Prochazka
It wasn’t nice-looking, however on the finish of the future, Pereira were given it finished in opposition to a former brightness heavyweight champ. It was once an subtle matchup since you knew getting in Jan Blachowicz would check Pereira at the flooring. And even supposing he didn’t cross that check easily, Pereira handed it smartly enough quantity to get the win and end up he’s very a lot proper on the manage of this untouched weight magnificence. Blachowicz was once recreation, and Pereira discovered a solution to win. Pereira is probably the most deserving of a identify shot now in opposition to Prochazka, who was once compelled to leave the belt because of shock latter past. Timing is the entirety, after all, and we’ll have to look when those two are in a position to proceed, however they appear to be on rather related timelines.
Wild card: Magomed Ankalaev
If Prochazka isn’t in a position, you advance directly to Ankalaev. The UFC may no. White wasn’t delighted with Anakalev’s latter efficiency, a fracture draw in opposition to Blachowicz. Ankalaev has but to struggle in 2023, and there hasn’t been a lot information from his camp. I assumed he did enough quantity to overcome Blachowicz in December, regardless that, and I nonetheless to find Ankalaev deserving of a identify shot. However all indicators level to Pereira vs. Prochazka.
Kevin Holland, welterweight
Who will have to be nearest? Michel Pereira
Holland needs to proceed again to middleweight, as a result of path he does. Who needs to snip weight? Chopping weight isn’t amusing. In the meantime, Pereira neglected weight for a bout in opposition to Stephen Thompson at UFC 291. What if those two fought at 185 kilos, within the nearest a number of weeks?
Holland made fast paintings of Chiesa. And Holland likes widespread paydays. Pereira simply installed a complete camp, and he’s wholesome, regardless of lacking weight. Pereira isn’t going attempt to snip weight once more in a presen — or any era quickly — so simply conserve this one at 185.
I do know the UFC doesn’t love reserving fights for guys outdoor in their weight magnificence, however it is a case the place it could manufacture sense and it’d be amusing.
Wild card: winner of Geoff Neal vs. Ian Machado Garry on Aug. 19
I used to be a negligible shocked the UFC booked Neal vs. Garry, as it’s a large step up for Garry. The winner of this struggle will have to have some critical momentum, regardless that. It’s a amusing, ranked struggle on a large card at UFC 292 in Boston.
Holland might be ranked upcoming this win over Chiesa, most likely even within the manage 10. Holland as opposed to the winner of that bout can be a great, high-profile struggle for the category.
Bobby Green, light-weight
What will have to be nearest: Paddy Pimblett
Oh, let’s proceed.
Some will see this recommendation and assume, disagree manner. Completely now not. It’s extra for Pimblett.
However I don’t know. As a result of such a lot of felt he misplaced his latter struggle to Jared Gordon, it’s virtually like family are taking it too some distance, main to accusations of being overvalued. Pimblett continues to be a probability on this category with plethora of superstar energy. And the prefight buildup between those two can be remarkable. If Inexperienced did end up to be extra, OK. What’s the hurt in that? Inexperienced merits a struggle that family need to keep an eye on. And if Pimblett have been to overcome him, it could legitimize Pimblett in some way he wishes on the age. This is usually a quantity of amusing.
Wild card: Uros Medic
Medic fought at UFC 291, as smartly, and collected a vital win over Matthew Semelsberger. It was once an noteceable victory for Medic, who has been the recipient of a few love all through his UFC occupation however has simply had a sun-baked era staying wholesome and lively. If he’s in a position to proceed, this one is sensible, with each guys choosing up a end on Saturday.
The experimentation of ‘interleague play games’ in MMA continues with Bellator x Rizin
Wagenheim: Co-promotion is refreshing, possibly as a result of this can be a dearth in MMA. It has the texture of interleague baseball again when the majors first attempted out the concept that within the Nineteen Nineties.
Saturday’s Bellator x Rizin match on the vaunted MMA palace Saitama Tremendous Enviornment outdoor Tokyo was once the 2 corporations’ moment era operating in combination. The primary collaboration, latter Untouched Presen’s Eve additionally at Saitama, featured a primary card on which all 5 bouts pitted a Bellator fighter in opposition to one from Rizin, the main MMA promotion in Japan. Bellator went 5-0.
This era there was once a lot much less interleague play games. The Bellator major match was once amongst only a handful of examples, and that one took place most effective as a result of Rizin light-weight champ Roberto de Souza was once known as upon throughout struggle presen to interchange injured AJ McKee in opposition to former Bellator light-weight titlist Patricky “Pitbull” Freire in a quarterfinal of the Bellator Light-weight International Lavish Prix. Freire gained through second-round TKO to progress.
Then that bout, the motion switched from the Bellator cage to a Rizin ring, which in itself was once a amusing twist on a normal match evening. And throughout the Rizin portion of the cardboard, Bellator’s Juan Archuleta was once to stand Rizin’s Hiromasa Ougikubo for the vacant Rizin bantamweight championship. And in a late-notice bout introduced throughout struggle presen, Bellator featherweight champ Patricio “Pitbull” Freire, brother of Patricky, was once to tackle Rizin’s Chihiro Suzuki. Those bouts have been to rush park in the course of the evening, U.S. era, which continues to be any other leaving from the norm for enthusiasts in this aspect of the puddle.
All of this made Bellator x Rizin 2 really feel particular. In fact, co-promotion comes with dangers, which Rizin skilled when sight de Souza, its 155-pound champ, get ruled.
The chance is most likely why the industry-leading UFC steers sunlit. 20 years in the past, Chuck Liddell was once appearing off the ferocity that will manufacture him a brightness heavyweight Octagon legend, successful 10 bouts in a row. Then his streak led to a knockout loss to Randy Couture, “The Iceman” was once despatched to Japan to regain his mojo, representing the UFC in a Delight Middleweight Lavish Prix. Liddell made it to the match’s moment around sooner than being smoked through Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. Any pretense of UFC lead was once shattered — no less than briefly.
Since upcoming, the UFC has now not concerned itself in a co-promotion, alternative than Conor McGregor’s profitable foray into boxing in a 2017 bout in opposition to two-years-retired Floyd Mayweather.
Bellator, in the meantime, has now finished two co-promotions with Rizin. The PFL has attempted to enlist Bellator’s cooperation to position Cris Cyborg and Kayla Harrison in a cage in combination, to this point with out luck. But when this shuffling of the deck continues, I’m all in.
