On Saturday, the blended martial arts chief returned for its newest occasion, UFC Combat Evening: Rafael Fiziev vs. Mateusz Gamrot.
After a run of enviornment reveals with packed crowds in Boston, Singapore, France, Australia, and Las Vegas, the game’s premier promotion was again at residence base this previous week for one more occasion on the Apex.
Within the headliner, ranked lightweights took heart stage as high 10 contenders Fiziev and Gamrot clashed in pursuit of a spot within the championship dialog at 155 kilos. There was additionally loads of consideration on the co-main occasion, which noticed featherweight fan favourite Bryce Mitchell return after having his skilled file tarnished for the primary time by Ilia Topuria final December. “Thug Nasty” was tasked with defending his spot on the ladder and ending Dan Ige’s 2023 profitable run.
With notable strawweights Marina Rodriguez and Michelle Waterson-Gomez working it again, in addition to the likes of TUF winners Bryan Battle and Mohammed Usman, the at all times entertaining Charles Jourdain, and welterweight veteran Tim Means making the stroll, Saturday’s lineup wasn’t quick on intrigue.
However did that lead to a memorable card? Let’s discover out with the positives and negatives from UFC Combat Evening: Fiziev vs. Gamrot.
Get load of tonight's FULL #UFCVegas79 lineup 🔥[ B2YB @CryptoCom ] pic.twitter.com/6Ma1KvLnqi
— UFC (@ufc) September 23, 2023
Damaging – Screw Protocol
On the Affiliation of Boxing Commissions’ annual assembly final month, quite a lot of revisions have been put in place to learn fighters who’re the victims of fouls contained in the cage.
That included for eye pokes, with athletes being supplied extra restoration time previous to the arrival of a physician. The change, which set between one minute and 90 seconds because the time at which a ringside doctor ought to enter, is designed to make sure bouts aren’t prematurely stopped and supply fighters with sufficient time to recuperate.
In the course of the preliminary card combat between Mohammed Usman and Jake Collier, process went out the window.
Early within the second spherical, “The Prototype” suffered a nasty eye poke — the type that left you instantly proclaiming that the combat is over. Properly, a minimum of Collier had 90 seconds to see if issues cleared up earlier than strain from the physician, proper? No, how about 30.
That was the purpose at which referee Dan Miragliotta referred to as for the ringside doctor and, effectively earlier than he was meant to be, Collier was rapidly answering questions on his imaginative and prescient.
Credit score to the commentary crew, who have been readily available to level out the varied officers’ incorrect dealing with of the foul’s aftermath. It begs the query, why can Michael Bisping keep in mind the rule change however a number of folks concerned with implementing it will possibly’t?
Good work broadcast crew! #UFCVegas79
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) September 23, 2023
Negatives – Foulville
What higher technique to comply with up a combat that featured a foul as its foremost speaking level than a combat that was truly ended by one…
Jacob Malkoun vs. Cody Brundage marked one of many extra intriguing prelims owing to the stylistic battle it offered. Sadly, it did not get to play out owing to the Australian’s lack of self-discipline from high place.
Malkoun repeatedly appeared to strike Brundage to the again of the top earlier than culminating a slew of fouls with about as clear an unlawful shot as you will see, connecting his forearm to the again of his American counterpart’s head whereas launching an elbow.
Referee Mark Smith finally waved off proceedings when Brundage could not proceed and disqualified Malkoun (thank goodness).
Far too typically blatant unlawful blows have led to no contests. On this event, the responsible occasion was accurately punished after failing to manage his weaponry. However whereas that was a constructive, the truth that a combat ended early as a result of a foul is totally not one.
Unlucky DQ win for Brundage. Malkoun was dominating your entire combat. #UFCVegas79 pic.twitter.com/71UEsFtiIy
— MMANews (@mmanews_com) September 23, 2023
Constructive – Imply From Imply Means
I imply…
Throughout what was a lackluster and underwhelming set of prelims, in fact we may depend on a person who at all times delivers entertaining fights to… effectively, ship an entertaining combat.
Tim Means entered the Octagon for the twenty eighth time on Saturday, sharing it with André Fialho. And for the primary time shortly, “The Soiled Hen” did so along with his again considerably up in opposition to the wall, having misplaced his earlier three outings.
However regardless of falling quick in opposition to Kevin Holland, Max Griffin, and Alex Morono, Means has continued his all-action methods all the way in which to the age of 39. And in opposition to Fialho, he did so as soon as once more en path to a bounce-back win.
From the superbly timed knee he crashed into his Portuguese rival’s face in spherical one to the entrance kicks and punches he repeatedly rocked him with throughout the combat’s period, Means was merely at his violent greatest.
What was left to cap off a classic efficiency? A brutal end. Get “The Soiled Hen” at UFC 300.
Heavy hits from Tim Means for the end 💥 #UFCVegas79 pic.twitter.com/nDUpBCpeaA
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) September 23, 2023
Constructive – Air To Floor
Whereas Charles Jourdain gained his popularity as an at all times entertaining fighter owing to his exploits on the toes — who may overlook his Spartan kick versus Andre Ewell? — he is rising a résumé of memorable finishes on the bottom, too.
Previous to a pair of setbacks in opposition to Shane Burgos and Nathaniel Wooden, the Canadian standout pressured veteran Lando Vannata to faucet with a guillotine choke within the very first spherical at UFC Combat Evening: Andrade vs. Lemos.
On Saturday, “Air” repeated the feat — however this time much more impressively.
In Jourdain’s approach of a return to a win streak was Ricardo Ramos, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt who was on the ascendency early into the UFC Combat Evening: Fiziev vs. Gamrot foremost card opener.
However when the Brazilian’s try to catch a leglock led to a scramble, Jourdain’s lengthy pursuit of his neck lastly proved fruitful, with a guillotine choke resulting in a well-known first-round submission for “Air.”
With that, the Montreal native has been left with one other spotlight for the reel. The published crew did, nonetheless, declare that Jourdain is the “most skilled” Canadian on the UFC roster. Some rattling respect for John Makdessi, please.
Let's take a more in-depth have a look at that guillotine 🔍👀@JourdainAir | #UFCVegas79 pic.twitter.com/A6QoFX6VJT
— UFC (@ufc) September 23, 2023
Constructive – Battle Battles By way of Adversity
I do not assume I am alone in saying that little pursuits me much less in blended martial arts than The Final Fighter. I am unsure whether or not it is the format, the variety of different entry-level reveals that now exist, or the standard, however the present simply does not boast the gripping nature it as soon as did.
That, nonetheless, is not to say it now not sees gifted and entertaining fighters come by means of. Enter one, Bryan Battle.
Since rising victorious in season 29, “Pooh Bear” has gone 5-1 contained in the Octagon, with two wins at middleweight adopted by a 3-1 run at 170 kilos. That sole defeat got here in opposition to stiff competitors within the type of Rinat Fakhretdinov, whom he went the gap in opposition to.
After bouncing again with a brutal 14-second knockout of Gabe Inexperienced in Charlotte this previous Could, Battle returned to the Apex on Saturday in pursuit of one other win streak. He discovered simply that, but it surely did not come simple.
Late in spherical one, the TUF alum was dropped by AJ Fletcher. However in a mighty show of pushing by means of and overcoming adversity, Battle rallied to safe a fight-ending rear-naked choke with lower than 30 seconds of the second body remaining.
For many, Battle has most likely been marked as somebody whose fights are to not be missed. In the event you’re not ‘most’, it is time to be part of that bracket.
Bryan Battle battles by means of adversity to choose up a second spherical comeback win! #UFCVegas79 pic.twitter.com/Du886vuXsF
— MMANews (@mmanews_com) September 23, 2023
Damaging – Pointless Rematch, Pointless Beating
Previous to Saturday’s occasion, myself and lots of others have been questioning why a rematch between Marina Rodriguez and Michelle Waterson-Gomez was happening. In spite of everything, the previous had comfortably outpointed “The Karate Hottie” throughout 5 rounds again in 2021.
Put up-fight, the identical question now applies to the brutal beating suffered by the 37-year-old former Invicta FC champion.
Issues began effectively for Waterson-Gomez, who landed a fast takedown and tried to inflict injury from high place. However when Rodriguez made her approach again to the toes, the Brazilian channeled her inside Rodtang Jitmuangnon with a relentless show of elbows and knees.
These pictures beat Waterson-Gomez to a bloody pulp. Referee Kerry Hatley, nonetheless, was within the temper for homicide, letting issues transcend a transparent lack of clever protection. She was even turning away from engagement for goodness sake.
The powerful Colorado native smiled by means of the blood, however surviving the spherical and being despatched again out for a second body led to solely extra hard-to-watch offense from Rodriguez, who lastly completed issues with some elbows from mount.
The Brazilian’s efficiency was mightily spectacular. The speaking level right here, nonetheless, was undoubtedly the substantial injury that Waterson-Gomez suffered, which was removed from gratifying viewing.
And why did somebody have to say that her little one was crying within the viewers? Nothing makes watching a beating worse like understanding their child is viewing it from cageside.
Picture: ESPN
Damaging – No, No, No!
Why MMA gods, WHY?!
The one saving grace as we exited a run of enviornment occasions and commenced a interval of a playing cards on the venue the place time stands nonetheless was the light-weight foremost occasion that headlined on Saturday evening.
Whereas some matchups fail to ship the fireworks they appeared destined to supply, Rafael Fiziev and Mateusz Gamrot did not look prone to fall into that bracket by means of one spherical, with the pair exchanging heavy leather-based and fascinating in entertaining floor exchanges.
Then, catastrophe struck.
After a throwing a kick that related to Gamrot’s arm, Fiziev went down in ache after placing weight again on his proper leg. Subsequent replays appeared to indicate some kind of ligament tear within the Azerbaijani’s knee.
No one desires to see any combat finish in harm, however a extremely anticipated foremost occasion between two high-ranked contenders that was simply getting going? How’s your luck.
An unlucky finish to #UFCVegas79, however @Gamer_MMA is strolling away with the win tonight. pic.twitter.com/JqOAXpdfB7
— UFC (@ufc) September 24, 2023
Learn Additionally: UFC Combat Evening Outcomes & Highlights: Mateusz Gamrot Defeats Rafael Fiziev Through Damage-Stoppage TKO
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