A former gentle heavyweight champion has regained the throne once more. Alex Pereira wanted lower than 90 seconds Saturday night time to overwhelm Magomed Ankalaev and take again the belt he misplaced to Ankalaev at UFC 313 in March.
In an equally masterful — albeit far more drawn out — look within the co-main occasion, Merab Dvalishvili once more proved why he’s nicknamed “The Machine.” Dvalishvili earned his third males’s bantamweight title protection in a unanimous resolution victory over Cory Sandhagen. The champion efficiently took down Sandhagen 20 occasions and appeared unfazed by the top of the five-round gauntlet. Is it potential that Dvalishvili is the most effective pound-for-pound fighter on the earth proper now? Brett Okamoto and Jeff Wagenheim give their takeaways from these title fights, in addition to a classic knockout from Jiří Procházka on Khalil Rountree Jr.
“Vengeance is rarely factor,” a stonefaced Pereira mentioned after Saturday’s UFC 320 major occasion, talking via an interpreter with the sunshine heavyweight belt as soon as once more wrapped round his waist. “It’s sort of a poison generally.”
Ankalaev may agree with that sentiment after being shortly and violently dethroned by Pereira in a rematch of their March bout, wherein the Russian had taken away the title. However the roaring followers at T-Cell Enviornment in Las Vegas and, undoubtedly, many watching at house discovered that vengeance to be an awe-inspiring spectacle to look at unfold.
It was heart-pounding. It was scary. It was wildly spectacular. And it’ll dwell on within the reminiscences of all who witnessed it.
Pereira had already secured his place as a star and a legend within the making. This night time’s 80-second demolition added yet another spotlight to his wondrous legacy. What number of extra nice moments can he give the followers?
Pereira is 38 years outdated. He doesn’t have time to waste, and he made that clear from the second the battle started, surging throughout the cage and unleashing an enormous punch simply seconds in. That one didn’t join, however he remained on the offensive and linked with a sledgehammer proper hand lower than a minute into the battle, wobbling Ankalaev, who responded with a desperation takedown try. Pereira defended it, ended up on high and proceeded to drop greater than two dozen unanswered punches and elbows till referee Herb Dean mercifully jumped in.
The electrifying end left considered one of Pereira’s previous conquests, former champion Procházka, so impressed that he was close to tears backstage. One other high 205-pound contender, Carlos Ulberg, gave due respect to Pereira, too. These elite gentle heavyweights couldn’t assist however marvel on the titleholder of their division.
Ultimately, although, it was Pereira who confirmed respect in probably the most heartening approach. Throughout his postfight interview, he paused to ask for a second of silence within the area for the household of Arthur Jones, who died this week. The previous NFL participant is the older brother of the best MMA gentle heavyweight of all, Jon Jones. It speaks volumes about Pereira that, in his second of triumph, he would take time away from his celebration to supply consolation to a fellow combating legend.
The one level Pereira did need the world to listen to earlier than leaving the cage was that the fighter who misplaced to Ankalaev seven months in the past was a compromised model. Pereira had mentioned within the lead-up to the rematch that he was coping with hand and leg accidents within the first battle. “I advised everybody I used to be not in situation final time; no one believed it,” Pereira mentioned. “You noticed it.”
Sure, we did. And it despatched chills. — Wagenheim
Islam Makhachev isn’t going to be pleased with me for this one — and he’ll have a possibility to spin the narrative subsequent month when he strikes up in weight to battle welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 — however proper now, there are two issues for the most effective pound-for-pound fighter on the earth: Ilia Topuria and Dvalishvili. Topuria, the light-weight champion, continues to be No. 1 with me due to his capability to place individuals away, nevertheless it’s exhausting to recollect something like what Dvalishvili is doing.
A number of stats for you from his battle in opposition to Sandhagen: 20 of 37 on takedown makes an attempt, 385 tried strikes and the primary UFC fighter with 100 profession takedowns (117 complete). Sandhagen was so prepared for this chance. He was assured, he believed in his sport plan and his capability to execute — and Dvalishvili ran him out of the world, smiling as he did it. In his fourth title battle in 13 months. All the hyperbole on the earth isn’t sufficient to explain this. It looks like he’s choosing up steam. He’s fully unbothered in these title fights. There was no stress in any of this for him. It’s unimaginable.
Makhachev is a generational fighter and arguably near surpassing the legacy of his retired mentor and teammate, Khabib Nurmagomedov. And right here I’m, claiming there are two fighters higher than him on the earth. The game of MMA is seeing three all-time skills in Topuria, Dvalishvili and Makhachev. Dvalishvili is formally behind Topuria for me for the time being, nevertheless it ain’t by a lot. — Okamoto
There are nonetheless questions on Procházka! Sure, he has misplaced twice to Pereira, and when a fighter loses two title fights to the identical opponent, it could possibly result in an extended path again to a championship battle and, frankly, a lack of religion from the fan base. It didn’t assist that Procházka misplaced these two title fights to Pereira inside seven months.
However right here’s what could be straightforward to neglect: The primary time Procházka misplaced to Pereira, he was getting back from a 17-month layoff and a critical shoulder damage. The second time they fought, that they had agreed to step up and headline UFC 303 on a couple of weeks’ discover after Conor McGregor pulled out with a damaged toe. I’m not saying any of this to remove from Pereira, however each of these losses featured less-than-ideal circumstances for Procházka. These are additionally his solely two losses prior to now 10 years.
Clearly, Procházka can’t declare he’s the most effective gentle heavyweight on the earth as a result of he has misplaced to Pereira twice and he’s by no means fought Ankalaev. However that actually is likely to be the case. And he may nonetheless show it but. — Okamoto
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