Final Up to date on 27 Mar 2022 6:03 am (UK Time)
Curtis Blaydes is referred to as one of the most best possible grappling heavyweights at the UFC’s roster. This night, in opposition to Chris Daukaus, he made a planned try to ship a message to the remainder of the heavyweight department: he needs a name shot and he’ll do the rest it takes to get there. By way of status on his toes and forcing himself to turn out to be a striker, Blaydes despatched a subliminal message to UFC CEO, Dana White, that he is aware of how one can entertain a crowd and is able for “the large time.” From begin to end, this night’s version of UFC Battle Evening was once full of opponents jockeying for place within the group. There’s so much to unpack right here. With out additional ado, let’s get into it!
Blaydes vs. Daukaus
After dropping to Derrick Lewis in December of remaining yr, Chris Daukaus concept it could be awhile sooner than he was once given every other alternative to combat a ranked heavyweight. Alternatively, the group confirmed religion in him and gave him every other shot via matching him up in opposition to the extremely ranked Curtis Blaydes. Throughout the accumulation to the combat, each opponents have been in most cases respectful of each other. Alternatively, Blaydes did query the caliber of the combatants Daukaus confronted previous to Lewis. His educate of concept was once that Daukaus’ defeat in opposition to Lewis was once reflective of what occurs when a fighter climbs the scores too quickly and is given a top-notch opponent sooner than they’re able.
Within the first spherical, Blaydes stunned everybody in attendance via failing to aim a unmarried takedown. He’s a former collegiate wrestler; we all know he has elite grappling talents. Alternatively, he appeared content material to face in the course of the octagon and alternate punches with Daukaus. On the finish of spherical one, Daukaus had a reduce beneath his left eye however was once now not badly harm. Alternatively, originally of spherical two, Blaydes landed a vicious overhand proper that despatched his opponent crashing to the mat. He then pounced on him and hit him with a barrage of punches that pressured referee Herb Dean to forestall the combat.
Within the post-fight interview, Blaydes mentioned that he want to combat Ciryl Gane for the meantime heavyweight championship. That will be an improbable combat between two extremely professional, very massive males. Time will inform if a deal will get performed to make that combat a truth, however I’m hoping to peer that matchup sooner or later this calendar yr.
Wooden vs. Grasso
Girls’s flyweight challenger Alexa Grasso performed her sport plan to perfection in opposition to Joanne Woods this night. She scored an early takedown and gave the impression to be in regulate of the combat, however discovered she was once now not causing a lot harm on her opponent. She determined to let Woods again as much as her toes. After exchanging a couple of placing blows, Grasso then scored a 2nd takedown of the spherical. This time she secured a rear bare chokehold and compelled Wooden to faucet out. It was once a brief night time of labor for Grasso, however she regarded very spectacular. She is bound to transport up within the scores when the new department standings are launched in a couple of days.
Brown vs. Barberena
Welterweight warriors Matt Brown and Bryan Barberena let all of it hang around this night. Even if each and every of those males is slightly completed within the octagon, it’s greater than obtrusive that they’ve been of their justifiable share of barroom brawls and again alley mayhem. The 41-year-old Brown got here out swinging in spherical one and landed extra vital moves than his opponent. Alternatively, in spherical two the momentum started to swing in prefer of Barberena. He started to land with extra regularity and he obviously had higher cardiovascular conditioning than his opponent.
With the combat even at one spherical apiece, it was once obtrusive that spherical 3 was once going to be the figuring out issue. Barberena and Brown engaged in a seesaw combat all spherical lengthy, on the other hand, Barberena ended the spherical with a flurry of punches that harm Brown. The 41-year-old was once fortunate to live to tell the tale with out being knocked out. For his efforts, Barberena was once given the good thing about the doubt by means of a break up resolution. Greater than the rest, it was once his sturdy appearing in spherical 3 that secured the victory for the ascending prospect.
Askarov vs. Kara-France
Flyweight potentialities Askar Askarov and Kai Kara-France traded the momentum backward and forward over the direction of 3 rounds. In spherical one, Askarov scored a large takedown and in an instant tried an anaconda chokehold. Even if Kara-France was once in a position to combat again to his toes, spherical one for sure went to Askarov; his floor regulate time was once an excessive amount of to forget about.
In spherical two, Kara-France temporarily confirmed that he was once now not discouraged via the one-sided nature of the primary spherical. He peppered Askarov with gentle pictures and outpointed him for the primary 3 mins. Alternatively, within the remaining two mins of the spherical, Kara-France started to inflict critical harm and left Askarov obviously harm. Spherical 3 was once tricky to attain; each males knew the combat was once even after the primary two. They placed on a display for the lovers that introduced the group to their toes with a status ovation. Kara-France received a unanimous resolution; he performed to the group in between each spherical and it’s conceivable the judges have been swayed via that. This resolution was once now not a theft however I believed one of the most judges would facet with Askarov.
Magny vs. Griffin
Welterweight prospect Max Griffin stole the momentum of the combat early within the first spherical. He landed a pleasant overhand proper that shocked Neil Magny. He didn’t prevent there; on the 2:30 mark of the spherical, he landed the very same strike once more, this time with sufficient power to ship Magny crashing to the mat. It seemed this could be Griffin’s night time to make a commentary however Neil Magny is a wily veteran who isn’t simply discouraged.
In spherical two, Magny tried an early takedown, a gutsy transfer for a fighter who obviously misplaced the former spherical. With about 3 mins left, each opponents threw warning to the wind and started throwing punches as though they have been in a boxing fit. It was once at this second that Magny stole the momentum of the combat. He landed with extra frequency than Griffin and his punches obviously inflicted probably the most harm. Every other takedown early in spherical 3, adopted via a knee to Griffin’s face close to the tip of the spherical solidified Magny’s comeback.
For his efforts, Neil Magny was once awarded the unanimous resolution victory. He’s now tied with Georges St.-Pierre for probably the most welterweight victories in UFC historical past. Congratulations to him on a big accomplishment.
Diakiese vs. Borshchev
Light-weight prospect Marc Diakiese is referred to as a striker. He stunned everybody within the UFC this night via dominating along with his wrestling. For his phase, Slava Borshchev should return to the strategy planning stage and paintings on his takedown protection. Diakiese performed the similar technique for 3 consecutive rounds and Borshchev by no means made an adjustment. He received the combat with floor regulate however by no means introduced any pleasure. His unanimous resolution victory was once met with a refrain of boos from the group.
Primary Takeaways
Curtis Blaydes put the arena on understand that he’s an elite heavyweight who will have to be taken severely. Blaydes as opposed to Gane is a combat that the UFC must make a concern. That combat is compelling sufficient to be the primary tournament of the night time at a pay-per-view tournament. After his efficiency this night, he has as just right an issue as someone else within the department to get the following shot at Gane.
What’s subsequent
The UFC returns on April ninth with a pay-per-view tournament that includes featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski in opposition to The Korean Zombie. Volkanovski is regarded as one of the most best possible pound-for-pound opponents on this planet. In the meantime, The Zombie has had a cult like following since neatly sooner than he joined the UFC. This can be an tournament combat lovers is not going to need to omit! As at all times, we’ll have all of the newest updates in regards to the results of the fights, in addition to extensive research to be had proper right here at International in Recreation.
Till subsequent time, handle yourselves, and each and every different.
