Tag: Dominick Cruz
video review : Valentina Shevchenko versus Katlyn Chookagian at UFC 247
Katlyn Chookagian looks good when it comes to her fighting skills; her face looks like a young Jamie Lee Curtis; but Valentina Shevchenko is on a higher level. Watch as the Bullet slices her open with a “nice” elbow in the first round and nearly KOs her with a spinning back kick in the second.
my rating : 4 of 5
2020
video review : Jon Jones versus Dominick Reyes at UFC 247
This is like the first Floyd Mayweather versus Marcos Maidana fight when Maidana (Reyes) bettered Mayweather (Jones) early but got outskilled, or perhaps just tired, as the match progressed. Still it’s a close bout, one in which the decision could’ve went either way.
I think Jon Jones should’ve lost his previous fight with Thiago Santos. It’s tougher to disagree with the judges on this one. Dominick Reyes displays more effective striking in the first three rounds, but the pressure of Jones has him on the backfoot for most of the bout.
my rating : 4 of 5
2020
video review : Jon Jones versus Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 232
Fans of their epic UFC 165 bout; the closest Jon Jones has ever come to losing a fight aside from his fluke DQ to Matt Hamill; will be disappointed by this sequel. Jones seems up for a replay. It’s Gustafsson who comes up short.
Gustafsson doesn’t look bad here. He actually manages to land some notable strikes. It’s just that he’s not able to stay pass the kicking range of his opponent. Jones ends it in Round 3 by taking him down and pummeling him.
my rating : 3 of 5
2018
video review : Corey Anderson versus Johnny Walker at UFC 244
A lot of UFC fans, myself included, were picking Johnny Walker as the biggest threat to Jon Jones in regard to a future title loss. Corey Anderson puts a quick end to that.
An overhand right to the face is all it takes. Walker falls down and struggles back to his feet but never recovers as Anderson goes relentless with follow-up shots.
my rating : 3 of 5
2019
video review : Tyron Woodley versus Kamaru Usman at UFC 235
Dominick Cruz is right. Tyron Woodley doesn’t seem to be awake here. Not in the sense he needs to be to beat a monster like Kamaru Usman, who almost completely dominates him in this fight.
There’s a vicious striking exchange near the end of the fourth Round, but it’s the constant pressure of Usman’s wrestling that ultimately costs Woodley his Welterweight Championship title.
my rating : 4 of 5
2019
video review : Misha Cirkunov versus Johnny Walker at UFC 235
Johnny Walker looks like a peak Anderson Silva in this UFC 235 fight, which isn’t much of a fight. Misha Cirkunov throws a left hook out of range, then a left kick. Walker returns with multiple fakes, then boom; a flying knee to the chin. Fight’s over.
What’s unusual about this bout is what happens immediately after. Walker does a miltary salute, presumably to himself, purposely falls facedown on the floor, attempts to do one of his signature dance moves and injures himself in the process.
my rating : 3 of 5
2019
video review : Nate Diaz versus Anthony Pettis at UFC 241
Despite Jon Anik’s claim that Nate Diaz is “supremely conditioned as usual”, he seems a little rusty to me. Anthony Pettis, who lands some solid head shots in Round 1, looks better on the feet. Still Diaz manages to outfight him, mostly due to his constant pressure.
my rating : 3 of 5
2019
video review : Michelle Waterson versus Karolina Kowalkiewicz at UFC Fight Night
Michelle Waterson is the main attraction here. As well as she does fighting Karolina Kowalkiewicz, who’s simply but not significantly outmatched, it’s her sexy allure that distracts.
Power kicks from the Thai Chun-Li are a sight to behold. She also has beautiful side control. My favorite part though is after Round 1 when she pulls her shorts from the crack of her ass.
my rating : 4 of 5
2019
video review : Khabib Nurmagomedov versus Conor McGregor at UFC 229
The most interesting part of this fight is what happens at the end. After beating Conor McGregor via a Round 4 neck crank submission, Khabib Nurmagomedov hops the Octagon fence and jumps into the crowd to attack Conor’s crew. Joe Rogan calls it stupid and unnecessary. I call it badass.
He could’ve caused a riot; the crowd has McGregor’s back in the figurative sense; but his antics provide this UFC bout with the kind of over the top entertainment you normally get in WWE, full with members of his crew invading The Octagon to attack an already beaten McGregor.
The fight itself, though nearly overshadowed, provides some excitement of its own when the action isn’t being restrained on the mat with Conor, who’s greatly outmatched when it comes to wrestling. Nurmagomedov also scores a surprise knockdown with a punch to the face.
my rating : 4 of 5
2018
video review : Rose Namajunas versus Jéssica Andrade at UFC 237
This fight ends with Rose getting slammed on her head. That’s what she gets for shaving off her beautiful hair. It could’ve cushioned her head and maybe won her the fight. That’s said in jest, of course, but it is unsettling seeing her get dropped like that. She could’ve easily broke her neck.
Cage fighting is a dangerous sport, but Thug Rose was winning until that unfortunate turn of events. Jéssica Andrade is a knockout artist; she sent Karolina Kowalkiewicz on a trip thru the cosmos in her last bout; but Namajunas is faster and more skilled on the feet. On the head? Not so much.
my rating : 4 of 5
2019
video review : Dustin Poirier versus Justin Gaethje at UFC Fight Night
Head punches versus leg kicks; that’s the story here. It’s Justin who almost cripples Dustin while taking repeated, albeit partially blocked, shots to the face. It’s standup action; the fight goes to the ground for just a second; that pauses only when a fighter gets poked in the eye.
Justin Gaethje gets a stern warning from Herb Dean the first time he does it. He gets a point taken away the second time. Dustin Poirier then gets a poke in of his own before going on to win via TKO in what has to be one of the most enthralling fights in each of their careers.
my rating : 4 of 5
2018