2022
fullreptile.co.uk
Tag: The United Arab Emirates
video review : Aljamain Sterling versus TJ Dillashaw at UFC 280
Aljamain Sterling earned himself a lot of detractors after faking a concussion and winning the Bantamweight belt via DQ. The stupid dance he does here after another questionable victory; we eventually learn TJ Dillashaw took this fight with a shoulder injury; does him no favors.
Not that Dillashaw isn’t to blame. “I completely blew my shoulder out at the end of April”, he reveals in his post fight interview, “It probably dislocated a good twenty times in training camp”. Why he wouldn’t simply postpone the bout till he has a better chance at a victory is beyond me.
my rating : 3 of 5
2022
video review : Petr Yan versus Sean O’Malley at UFC 280
I could’ve made a lot of money on this fight if I were a gambler. I figured Sean O’Malley; one of the best pound-for-pound punchers (strikers) in the UFC in regard to technique, accuracy and power; would win when it seems most fans were counting him out. The thing is, he doesn’t really win.
The official judges give him a victory, sure, but I disagree with the decision. It’s a relatively close fight and his strikes seem to hurt Petr Yan more than Yan’s hurt him; O’Malley lands a “huge” head kick in round three; but I think Yan edges it with his wrestling, takedowns and control time.
my rating : 4 of 5
2022
video review : Anderson Silva versus Bruno Machado at The Showcase In The Skies Of Dubai
The entertainment level of this exhibition boxing match, which is mostly middling, peaks at the end of Round 5 when Anderson Silva floors Bruno Machado with a “huge” right hook; an instant addition to his already lengthy fight highlight reel.
What’s frustrating as a fan is how he coasts the following round instead of trying to finish his opponent off à la Round 4 of his MMA fight with Michael Bisping, though here it’s more forgivable as he easily outboxes Bruno over the course of the bout.
my rating : 3 of 5
2022
Dana White on The Bill Simmons Podcast
2021
theringer.com
promo : Ghada Lamghari
video review : Dan Hooker versus Michael Chandler at UFC 257
I’d say Bellator fighter Michael Chandler couldn’t have hoped for a better UFC debut, but perhaps it wasn’t a matter of hope. He seemed confident in not only getting an impressive victory here but going on to become UFC Champ and he’s already accomplished the first goal.
All it takes is a fake right followed by a sneaky left (punch) to the face to drop The Hangman just halfway into the very first round. The only solid strike a backfooted Dan Hooker, who hints at retirement by throwing his gloves down after the bout, manages is a low calf kick.
my rating : 3 of 5
2021
video review : Anderson Silva versus Demian Maia at UFC 112
Demian Maia is simply outclassed here. His one technical advantage would be his jiu-jitsu on the ground, but, as much as he tries, he can’t manage to get Anderson Silva down. That should mean another quick KO for the champion and the fight looks like it’s going that way for the first couple of rounds as Silva entertains the crowd with his “confidence-crushing clowning”, but he stops mid-bout.
With that, the fourth round becomes a dance-off as the two fighters move around The Octagon basically doing a lot of nothing. Round 5 isn’t much better, though a one-eyed Maia does commit to an early flurry of strikes near the beginning. The crowd, the commentators, the ref and even Silva himself seem to blame Silva for the weird and lackluster bout, but I’d also put some of that blame on his opponent.
my rating : 2 of 5
2010
video review : Khabib Nurmagomedov versus Justin Gaethje at UFC 254
“Number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world”? My reply to such a bombastic claim is probably not; there are a lot of unknown fighters in the world; but it seems Khabib Nurmagomedov is currently the best pound-for-pound fighter in The UFC. He’s also one of the best ever, which makes news of his retirement; he announces it in his post-fight interview after an emotional salute to his father; that much more impactful.
I thought Justin Gaethje’s chances of winning this bout were being overhyped by MMA fans, but he does even worse than I guessed. That’s not so much a criticism of his skills; he does manage to land a few of his “patented” leg kicks, which Nurmagomedov doesn’t have much of an answer for; but how long he lasts. At not even two full rounds, it’s the champion’s quickest victory since pummeling Thiago Tavares back in 2013.
my rating : 4 of 5
2020
Michael Chandler talking about fighting in The UFC
2020
bt.com
UFC 253 Embedded
2020
ufc.com
Jan Błachowicz talking about his bout with Dominick Reyes at UFC 253
2020
usatoday.com