Namajunas, Talbott and the Bite of the Night

Essentially the most blatant incident of biting in UFC historical past occurred on the prelims when Igor Severino took a chomp at Andre Lima’s bicep within the second spherical of their flyweight bout.

Though the commentary sales space initially known as for a mere level deduction, biting ought to be handled with zero tolerance, and it was on this scenario, with Severino being rightfully disqualified for the disgraceful motion.

It was laughable that Severino (8-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) tried to disclaim the foul within the aftermath of his DQ. The chunk marks on Lima’s (8-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) arm had been about as gross because it will get with out taking a bit out of the pores and skin, and there’s no place for this. I’ll be very curious to see what Severino says to justify what he did, but it surely was a nasty transfer for a prospect with some critical potential.

He ended his UFC profession by doing this, too, with UFC CEO Dana White rapidly chopping him from the roster. He’s younger sufficient to work his approach again sooner or later, possibly, however possibly not. Severino has executed irreparable hurt to his popularity, and can at all times been often known as the biter going ahead.

Payton Talbott placed on a putting masterclass towards a helpless Cameron Saaiman en path to an early second-round TKO.

This bantamweight prospect is grabbing consideration from all instructions with some sensational putting and a clean manner. Talbott (8-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) is little question on the rise, and it might be an excellent time to speculate your inventory into the 25-year-old.

How excessive can Talbott fly? It’s powerful to foretell. He appears to be like to have all of the instruments to be one thing particular, however there’s arguably no extra treacherous climb to the highest of a division than what he’s dealing with at bantamweight.

If Talbott can keep the course, he’s going to have numerous enjoyable fights and be part of the dialog at 135 kilos for years to come back.

Amanda Ribas put up a valiant effort towards Rose Namajunas in her first most important occasion, but it surely wasn’t sufficient to get the job executed.

Now I’ll preface what I’m about to say in noting that I don’t assume the scale, energy or endurance of Ribas (12-5 MMA, 7-4 UFC) performed a really vital position in her loss. It was extra about struggle IQ. However I proceed to not be a fan of the Brazilian competing at flyweight.

The numbers say all of it. Ribas is now 2-3 within the octagon at 125 kilos. She’s 5-1 at strawweight, in the meantime, and seems to be a much more efficient fighter in that division. If she will be able to’t bodily make the load anymore in a protected trend and must construct her profession within the larger division, then so be it. However Ribas simply gained a Efficiency of the Evening bonus in a strawweight bout in November, so it’s time to go all-in on that division.

Since we’re on the subject of weight divisions, I can’t fairly put my finger on what stage Rose Namajunas is absolutely at preventing at flyweight.

The previous two-time strawweight titleholder misplaced her divisional debut to Manon Fiorot in September, however is now 1-1 at 125 kilos after a strong unanimous choice win over Ribas.

We simply went over the inconsistencies of Ribas on this division, so what does this actually imply? If it occurred at strawweight, many individuals could be saying Namajunas has badly fallen off from her championship kind. However on this scenario, her sturdy however not excellent efficiency may very well be justified by the have to be protected to keep away from a three-fight shedding skid, nonetheless adjusting herself to the brand new weight, and extra.

Even within the loss to Fiorot, the place Namajunas wasn’t fully dominated by any means, she sustained a hand damage early within the struggle. That is all to say it’s arduous to evaluate how good Namajunas nonetheless is, and what her ceiling proper now appears to be like like.

Regardless, the ladies’s flyweight division is quickly gaining intrigue with Namajunas’ presence being part of that. Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko will determine their trilogy for the title later this 12 months. A possible title eliminator between Fiorot and Erin Blanchfield headlines Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 54 card in Atlantic Metropolis, N.J., and Namajunas proposed matchup with Maycee Barber subsequent is compelling.

I’m right here for all of it.

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