By and huge, UFC 306 was f—king superior.
Not even a pair of 25-minute wrestling matches atop the cardboard can dim my enthusiasm for the night time as an entire. A lot of the fights completely delivered in back-and-forth motion, and the complete ambiance was unbelievable. From the spectacular graphics to the assorted intricate ring card lady outfits, the occasion was a grand show of what UFC can obtain if it really tries.
I’m tempted to simply recap the occasion in these phrases, the optimistic expertise of the Sphere and superb reveals of the normal Mexican combating spirit. There was loads of each on show! Sadly, it’s laborious to miss what I contemplate to be the larger narrative right here: it was a brutal night time for Mexico-born athletes.
All instructed, athletes born in Mexico — which is to say, not Diego Lopes or Raul Rosas Jr. regardless of their affiliations and recognition with the nation — ended up going an unlucky 1-6 throughout the complete card. The bitter cherry on high is that Alexa Grasso, the ultimate remaining champion representing Mexico, coughed up her undisputed gold to Valentina Shevchenko within the (probably) closing battle of their rivalry.
From start-to-finish, it was a tough night time for Mexican athletes. Jazmin Yauregui was a five-to-one favourite over Ketlen Souza, however a left hook floored her within the opening couple minutes and noticed her submitted instantly. Manuel Torres, Irene Aldana, and Edgar Chairez all introduced the battle to their opponents, however every ended up within the loser’s column too on the “Prelims” portion of the cardboard.
The 2 opening bouts of the principle card had been as entertaining a pair of back-to-back fights as I can bear in mind. “Lazy Boy” Ronaldo Rodriguez can stand proud as the only victor from Mexico, as he recovered from practically being knocked chilly to in the end win a controversial determination over Ode Osbourne in a wild brawl. I hate to label Daniel Zellhuber a loser after exhibiting insane coronary heart and guts within the third spherical of his scrap with Argentina’s Esteban Ribovic, however he ended up on the incorrect facet of a split-decision.
Given the circumstances, I’ve to think about the stress to carry out and symbolize her nation was weighing closely on Grasso. Maybe that’s the explanation she fought poorly? Of the three matches between Shevchenko and Grasso, this was the one bout the place Grasso was capable of accomplish nothing offensive. She tried a number of submissions, however tried actually is the important thing phrase.
Not like the primary match, none of these would-be strangles turned Shevchenko’s face beet purple. Grasso by no means managed to land any strikes of observe on the ft, wanting pretty baffled by Shevchenko’s counter mixtures. Her sprawl and normal takedown protection to pictures was nonexistent. On the entire, she appeared unprepared for the same old array of “Bullet” offense regardless of already having shared the cage along with her for greater than 40 minutes.
I don’t know if it was stress, an damage, or simply an off night time, nevertheless it was a disappointing efficiency from the previous champion. Considered alongside the genuinely transferring love letter to Mexican fight sports activities tradition that was Noche UFC within the Sphere, watching all these defeats middle stage felt each ironic and unhappy.
Nonetheless, if the video sequence demonstrated something, it’s that the Mexican combating spirit burns shiny even whereas enduring adversity. The subsequent Noche UFC is 12 months away, and I’m absolutely anticipating that very same ferocity to create higher outcomes for its athletes.
For full UFC 306 outcomes and play-by-play, click on HERE,
