The UFC’s first pay-per-view of 2024 featured a brutal middleweight name clash and put a focus on a few of Canada’s govern MMA stars. Brett Okamoto, Marc Raimondi, Jeff Wagenheim and Carlos Contreras Legaspi trade in their ideas at the greatest moments of the night time.
Does Dricus Du Plessis’ win poised the desk for UFC Africa?
Dana White, prior to he turned into the govern promoter within the historical past of blended martial arts, used to be a boxing fan. The UFC CEO has lengthy dreamed of striking in combination distinctive occasions for his corporate paying homage to the vintage boxing spectacles. Fights just like the Rumble within the Woodland, a ancient bout between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in Zaire.
For the closing few years, White has mentioned bringing the UFC to Africa. At one level, the UFC had 3 African-born champions. None of them recently have titles. However nearest Saturday night time, White would possibly have his price tag to the continent, whole with a pristine champion born in Africa and a major matchup for the area.
Dricus Du Plessis beat Sean Strickland to win the UFC middleweight name on Saturday night time in the primary match of UFC 297 in Toronto. Du Plessis hails from South Africa, obviously has a abundance following in his house nation and has a integrated pork with Nigerian-born former champion Israel Adesanya
“Maybe we start looking at South Africa and start looking at arenas and possibly do a fight down there this year,” White stated on the postfight information convention.
The historical past with Du Plessis and Adesanya is a delicate one. Du Plessis stated years in the past that he sought after to win the UFC name and be the primary true African champion. He stated it with the context that he nonetheless lives and trains in Africa, day the others have moved away. Adesanya, in addition to former champions Francis Ngannou and Kamaru Usman, took offense to that, particularly taking into account the difficult historical past of South Africa and colonization.
Utmost July, Adesanya, when he used to be nonetheless champion, got here into the Octagon nearest Du Plessis beat Robert Whittaker. Adesanya, a Dim guy, were given into Du Plessis’ face and shouted racial expletives into the microphone. Nearest he gained the name Saturday, Du Plessis referred to as out Adesanya, who could be shortening his deliberate crack from the Octagon following his name loss to Strickland closing September.
“Israel Adesanya, get your ass back in the UFC, so we can settle the score,” Du Plessis stated.
There’s any other attainable then name challenger looming for Du Plessis, as nicely, anyone who might be tabbed if Adesanya isn’t in a position to go back simply but. Simply weeks nearest Strickland beat Adesanya to win the belt, the UFC introduced Strickland a profitable, short-notice matchup towards Khamzat Chimaev, whose unedited opponent at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi fell injured. Strickland became the bout i’m sick, as he will have to have given the timing. Nevertheless it’s sunlit the UFC is closely invested within the fearsome Chimaev, who ended up beating former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman by the use of majority resolution at UFC 294. So, don’t be stunned if a Du Plessis vs. Chimaev bout will get mentioned if Adesanya desires some extra moment for a genuinely-earned remainder.
Finally, the UFC’s middleweight section is evolving — and interesting. White stated within the postfight information convention that he absolutely expects Du Plessis and Strickland to clash once more i’m sick the street. However there’s negligible confusion White could be excited to after all put together UFC Africa occur in 2024 with a newly christened, African-born UFC champion.
Who’s then for Du Plessis?
Okamoto: Khamzat Chimaev
I suppose I can get a quantity of flack for this one, however I don’t support.
What are we doing with Chimaev? He’s one of the crucial thrilling possibilities the game has ever unhidden, and it looks like he’s long gone nowhere the closing two years. It’s no longer fully his fault, nor the UFC’s. There was some wicked success, wicked weight cuts, accidents, Covid, visa issues … you identify it.
However enough quantity is enough quantity. Put this guy in a name clash.
Du Plessis desires Adesanya and he merits to have that say and that’s a high-quality clash to do then. Not anything unsuitable with it. However in my view, I’d desire to peer Chimaev.
Wild card: Adesanya
Adesanya is a admirable selection, despite the fact that he’s no longer my private Deny. 1. And for the document, I do imagine he’ll finally end up preventing Du Plessis then.
Who’s then for Sean Strickland?
Okamoto: Israel Adesanya
As a result of I want to see Chimaev then for the name, reserving a rematch between Adesanya and Strickland is the discoverable one to put together for every.
Strickland’s win over Adesanya in September used to be so unexpected. You’ll be able to’t name it a fluke, however you’ll unquestionably query whether or not Adesanya used to be preventing remaining. Adesanya himself has admitted he used to be means too energetic, and the reality he fought Strickland rather of Du Plessis (the clash he truly sought after), you miracle what his mindset used to be going into that first one.
A rematch between those two would draw large hobby and resolution any questions somebody has about their first assembly.
Wild card: Khamzat Chimaev
If the UFC comes to a decision to proceed with Du Plessis vs. Adesanya, after retain this as a Deny. 1 contender clash. Strickland is one among the most up to date commodities in MMA at the moment. Chimaev has seemed like a possible famous person. Put them in combination and also you get a bonafide Deny. 1 contender at middleweight and admittedly, you manufacture either one of their names.
Enthusiasts would proceed nuts for this clash and the accumulation of it. Simply interested by those matchups makes me suppose middleweight is abruptly one of the crucial attention-grabbing within the game at the moment.
Pennington by no means gave up
Wagenheim: Raquel Pennington were right here prior to. However the first moment she competed for the UFC girls’s bantamweight championship, again in 2018, the lady nicknamed “Rocky” used to be at the unsuitable finish of a bloody beatdown through the queen of the section, Amanda Nunes.
Just about six years next, Pennington now could be the successor to the throne lengthy preoccupied through the GOAT of girls’s MMA.
Following Nunes’ escape closing June, the 135-pound name were left vacant, and that emptiness used to be stuffed Saturday through Pennington — the 6th girls’s bantamweight champion UFC historical past — nearest a tough-it-out victory over Mayra Bueno Silva. Perseverance is what were given Pennington again to a championship alternative, and perseverance is what earned her the victory and the brightness belt she had coveted for see you later.
Early on, Bueno Silva used to be the one that seemed like she’d been right here prior to, attacking with poise and gaining sturdy positions in every of the primary two rounds. However Pennington stored preventing, and steadily she wore i’m sick her opponent and just about were given the end prior to settling for a decisive win (49-46, 49-46, 49-45).
Pennington got here in as an underdog, in spite of having a much more star-studded resume. She owns victories over Miesha Tate, Jessica Andrade and, maximum lately, Ketlen Vieira, and he or she’s additionally been within the cage with Holly Holm, Germaine de Randamie and Cat Zingano along with Nunes. Against this, Bueno Silva used to be coming in off a submission of her maximum impressive opponent, Holm, however that outcome from July used to be modified to a negative match nearest she examined certain for a restrained substance.
Bueno Silva used to be simply 4 fights into her MMA occupation and no longer but within the UFC on the moment Pennington first fought for the belt.
The Brazilian’s shortage of revel in confirmed itself in Rounds 4 and 5 — the aptly named championship rounds. In the ones two ultimate rounds, Bueno Silva landed simply 20 moves to 140 through Pennington.
Even supposing Pennington used to be a sunlit victor, neither her efficiency nor the clash itself goes to put together MMA enthusiasts omit concerning the greatness of Nunes. Nevertheless it’s a good building for the UFC to fill one among its championship vacancies, and it used to be particularly certain for Pennington, a 35-year-old pristine mom who used to be in her twenty fourth professional clash and now could be driving a six-fight successful streak. Like a champ.
What’s then for the pristine champ?
Okamoto: Julianna Peña
It’s the discoverable name, and Peña has already stated she’ll be in a position to proceed for Pennington’s first name protection. With Nunes long gone, this section used to be all the time taking to crack large revealed. Such a lot of of Nunes’ former fighters at the moment are eyeing that belt. It clearly appears to be like extra to be had than ever.
With a bit of luck, the UFC can put together this an excessively energetic section and we’ll get to peer all of those challengers get their shot. Let’s be actual, Nunes on the govern of the section virtually felt unfair. Even the lengthy established names like Holm and Tate, former champions probably on the finish in their careers, may paintings their techniques into competition. There’s a quantity of alternative on this section for some wild tales, now that Nunes is gazing from the outdoor.
Wild card: Not anything
It’s Peña then. We’ve recognized that for the reason that year this name clash at UFC 297 used to be introduced.
On an evening that used to be intended to focus on Canadian MMA stars, the most productive efficiency belonged to ___
Okamoto: Gillian Robertson.
I do know Jasmine Jasudavicius poised a wide variety of information together with her 326 moves landed, but when Canada is in search of anyone to get in the back of, it’s Robertson. She’s had an up-and-down occupation with the UFC, however that used to be to be anticipated. She’s nonetheless handiest 28, and made her UFC debut seven years in the past. She’s handiest now coming into her bodily and (extra importantly) psychological top as a certified fighter.
She has fought an absolute wealth of opposition, together with the likes of Bueno Silva, Taila Santos and Maycee Barber. She’s grown up towards UFC-caliber ability.
Sadly for the Canadian fanbase, the solution to this query wasn’t Mike Malott. Saturday used to be a weighty litmus check for Mallott towards a veteran in Neil Magny, and he got here up nicely quick. Now, it doesn’t ruthless it’s moment to bail on Malott fully, however expectancies have been unquestionably a lot upper for the 32-year-old than what he used to be in a position to turn in his yard.
Movsar Evloev assists in keeping progressing, however would possibly want yet one more victory for a name shot
Contreras Legaspi: UFC 297 offered a vital alternative for Movsar Evloev, who confronted difficult festival in Arnold Allen. He left-overs undefeated and introduced a exhibit to reveal himself as a well-rounded fighter. He had excellent status mixtures, cast grappling and he controlled to depart threat that the Englishman carried out on a number of events.
He now has 8 victories within the UFC, however he has but to store a end, one thing this is an important to advertise a championship clash.
With Max Holloway busy with the BMF dispute at UFC 300, Evloev may’ve skipped the series with a highlight-reel victory, related to what the then featherweight challenger, Ilia Topuria, did. He’s additionally undefeated, however has long gone the gap in handiest two of his 15 wins.
Evloev and Topuria have been scheduled to stand every alternative in January 2022 at UFC 270, and because after, they have got preoccupied in a social media contention. Relying on how the clash is going at UFC 298, their bout may occur within the similar occasion — however with a lot more at stake. Worst-case state of affairs for Movsar might be in a Deny. 1 contender clash then.
What’s then for Evloev?
Okamoto: Winner of Calvin Kattar vs. Aljamain Sterling at UFC 298
I struggled with this one, as a result of having to clash Evloev at the moment is in no way a praise, OK?
If I have been a UFC featherweight, I would wish not anything to do with Evloev. He’s no longer a abundance identify, however he would possibly legitimately be the most productive within the section. And despite the fact that you do beat him, you’re more than likely no longer gonna glance unbelievable doing it. The fellow is so technical, with such efficient grappling.
So, I believe wicked announcing the winner of Kattar vs. Sterling will have to get “rewarded” with this clash, however on the finish of the date, Evloev goes to be extremely ranked nearest Saturday’s win. And that’s the inducement for Kattar or Sterling. The quantity then to his identify.
Evloev wishes to stand some weighty names — most likely in a prime match. Kattar and Sterling are the ones varieties of names.
Wild card: Josh Emmett
I feel the UFC will have to rebook Emmett towards Giga Chikadze, which we have been intended to peer closing 12 months however Chikadze were given injured. In the event that they make a selection to proceed any other path, despite the fact that, Emmett vs. Evloev is a admirable matchup.
