Final night time (Sat., April 15, 2023), Final Combating Championship (UFC) traveled to T-Cellular Middle in Kansas Metropolis, Mo., for UFC Kansas Metropolis. In the principle occasion, Arnold Allen put his 10-fight win streak on the road in opposition to consensus No. 2-ranked Featherweight on the earth, Max Holloway. There have been clear title implications on the road, which was additionally true for the undercard Flyweight conflict between Brandon Royval and Matheus Nicolau. The cardboard as an entire was crammed with fairly well-known names, making for a enjoyable night time contained in the Octagon.
Let’s check out UFC Kansas Metropolis’s standout performances and methods:
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Holloway Will get It Completed
Who mentioned Max Holloway was slowing down? He certain didn’t look it in opposition to a well-prepared and really sport Arnold Allen. The Hawaiian is fast and sturdy as ever, and his distance administration has by no means appeared higher. In rounds three and 4 particularly, Holloway was peppering Allen with jabs, pulling to keep away from most of his pictures, and ripping up his physique with heavy kicks.
It was classic Holloway, who managed to place up massive quantity numbers in opposition to a really sound defensive fighter. Holloway will get criticism for his protection, however he actually made Allen swing at air very often right here, and “Almighty” is traditionally a really correct and environment friendly striker.
Regardless of the loss, Allen represented himself effectively. He arguably received two of the 5 rounds, and when he turned up his aggression, he tended to land exhausting. It’s simpler mentioned than completed to keep up that degree of depth for 5 full rounds, however Allen undoubtedly proved he’s prone to stay a fixture of the Featherweight title image for a while to return.
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Barboza Ain’t Completed But
Edson Barboza is 37 years of age. He’s fought for a very long time, and he’s spent dozens of rounds contained in the Octagon reverse elite opposition. He’s received some and misplaced some all through his unimaginable profession, however in some unspecified time in the future, Barboza has to fall out of the rankings.
That day shouldn’t be at this time! Billy Quarantillo introduced the right sport plan to the cage with him, however that doesn’t imply it’s simple to implement reverse the Brazilian. Quarantillo couldn’t actually get his wrestling going, so he was pressured to punch his manner ahead. Barboza noticed alternative in his aggression, ripping low and liver kicks, in addition to taking highly effective punches to the liver and cranium.
Then, he picked up the timing on Quarantillo’s takedown makes an attempt. Very like he did reverse Beneil Dariush six years in the past, Barboza timed a beautiful knee and immediately despatched his opponent right into a deep sleep.
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Cutelaba Lastly Connects
Kindly disregard all of my future Ion Cutelaba X-Issue predictions, as a result of they’re by no means appropriate.
“The Hulk” is an enigma. On occasion, he fights with a little bit of composure, and his mixture of brutal punching energy and top-shelf wrestling makes you surprise why he isn’t a ranked Mild Heavyweight — it’s not just like the division is that deep! Then, he’ll go and exhaust himself instantly, or simply make baffling choices that go away his chin on a silver platter.
Final night time was one of many good nights. He confirmed Tanner Boser a large overhand swing, then adopted it up with a 1-1-2, and that cross was straight down the pipe. It stung Boser, and Cutelaba adopted it up with a takedown and flurry of floor strikes to complete. It’ll take a couple of knockout win for me to consider in “The Hulk” once more, however the UFC roster is extra enjoyable with Cutelaba as a member.
As for Boser, it has to harm to lastly get in nice form, make the load minimize, after which get stopped. His jab appeared sharp early, and he was managing distance effectively till the best hand ruined his night. It’s a giant adjustment in velocity to make dropping from Heavyweight, particularly in opposition to a smaller 205er in Cutelaba. Hopefully, Boser is given one other shot, becaue he’s acquired an fascinating and enjoyable fashion.
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Uncooked Canine Rises
Brandon Royval is understood for chaos and aggression, however that’s not what occurred final night time. As a substitute, he was patiently pressuring Matheus Nicolau, and simply when the battle was warming up, Royval smashed his knee immediately into the Brazilian’s jaw. Nicolau hit the ground, and Royval adopted up with a nasty salvo of elbows that gave him zero likelihood to get well.
It’s a hell of an announcement from “Uncooked Canine,” who simply fired his title into the speedy title combine. Maybe Manel Kape can outshine him with a knockout win over Deiveson Figueiredo, however in any other case, he’s clearly next-in-line for the winner of Brandon Moreno vs. Alexandre Pantoja.
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Brief Fuse Sendoff
Ed Herman went out as any good OG MMA fighter ought to — violently. In the meantime, Zak Cummings placed on for his house crowd, dropping Herman a half-dozen instances with left arms and low kicks. He beat the hell out of “Brief Fuse,” lastly stopping him within the ultimate minute of the third spherical. Herman’s nook ought to’ve stopped it earlier than the third, however I perceive why they let him exit on his defend for his final battle.
Each males retired after the bout. Herman left the cage because the longest tenured UFC fighter on the roster, an Final Fighter (TUF) veteran from season three! If anybody want to relive an amazing Herman second, the heel hook he scored from his again in opposition to Kyle Noke was one of many slickest grappling sequences I’ve ever seen within the largest weight divisions.
It’s value watching once more.
As for Cummings, he’s been a troublesome and underrated out at no matter weight class he’s chosen to compete since his signing in 2013. Technical in every single place, Cummings walks away with 17 finishes in 24 wins, and he’s by no means been knocked out.
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Extra Ideas
Invoice Algeo defeats TJ Brown through second spherical rear bare choke: This was a banger! Each males got here to throw down however did so in several methods. Brown was boxing rather well, slipping punches and firing again in mixtures, which actually bloodied up Algeo. Ever the opportunist, Algeo’s low hand place allowed him to sneak artful counters via the guard, and he shocked Brown a pair instances along with his personal punches. By the second, each males had been sporting the harm when Algeo landed a artful elbow as a counter to the left hook, and he jumped on the again immediately. Earlier than Brown may regain his bearings, the choke was locked in, returning Algeo to the win column.
Gillian Robertson defeats Piera Rodriguez through second spherical armbar (HIGHLIGHTS): It’s satisfying to look at fighters who perceive how they win fights. Robertson is a superb grappler, so when the early takedown didn’t emerge, she was prepared to drag guard to make some scrambles occur. That’s not sometimes an amazing technique, however when the hole in ability on the ground is so giant, why not? Robertson rapidly wrestled up right into a single leg off her again, and the battle was principally a wrap. Rodriguez had no protection to supply from her again, so Robertson dominated place, landed some good pictures, then wrapped up the arm. Rodriguez protested the end, however she tapped no less than as soon as, and that armbar was locked in tight anyway. Extra importantly, Robertson appeared wholesome in her Strawweight debut, and he or she’s an fascinating addition to the division.
Denise Gomes defeats Bruna Brasil through second spherical knockout: This was a reasonably sloppy battle total, however Gomes did present some potential. The Brazilian expertise remains to be tough across the edges, however there’s a nastiness to her offense that was on full show. Every time Brasil put herself in dangerous place — which was typically — Gomes punished her with imply kicks and aggressive swings. Ultimately, a proper hand related clear, rocking Brasil and initiating the ending sequence.
For full UFC Kansas Metropolis: “Holloway vs. Allen” outcomes and play-by-play, click on HERE.
