2025 October 26
tomaspinall.co.uk
Tag: Jason Herzog
The Weighing In Podcast [ 2025 August 17 ]
2025 August 17
video review : Viviane Araújo versus Tracy Cortez at UFC 317
“Both of these women are dry,” Joe Rogan observes early in Round 1, “They’re not soaked in sweat yet.” By the end, as Tracy Cortez is dominating (“riding”) her opponent on the mat, her back is indeed sweaty and it’s a sexy sight to behold. Not that the fight itself is uneventful. It’s just not particularly competitive. Cortez wins decisively.
my rating : 3 of 5
2025
video review : Anthony Smith versus Zhang Mingyang at UFC Fight Night
Anthony Smith is past his prime and this was promoted as his retirement fight, so it’s no surprise nor shame that he’d lose to a knockout specialist like Zhang Mingyang. It’s the way he loses; giving up in the first round but having the gumption to go after a prodder in the crowd as his family watches on; that’s embarrassing, especially considering he loss in a similar way in his previous bout.
my rating : 3 of 5
2025
Ilia Topuria knocking out Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298
2024 February 17
Luana Santos and Juliana Miller at UFC Fight Night
video review : UFC 300
If we’re including all the Prelims, 300 is indeed the most stacked UFC event ever. It’s the main card that disappointed fans around the world, particularly the main event. It should’ve been Conor McGregor versus Michael Chandler. An Israel Adesanya title bout against Dricus Du Plessis or Alex Pereira would’ve also sufficed. The announcement of Pereira versus Jamahal Hill was, at best, anticlimactic.
It was also odd to include Bo Nickal; a bout that, though more competitive than expected, rather because of it, disappoints even the prospect himself. Still he remains undefeated. It gets better from there as Arman Tsarukyan and Charles Oliveira provide perhaps the best fight of the night. The best moment happens in the next bout as BMF Max Holloway ends Justin Gaethje in spectacular fashion.
The other best moment; Zhang choking Yan earns an honorable mention; is Jamahal Hill getting knocked out. He claimed, in a prefight interview, that Pereira “is not on my level”. He’s right in a sense as the bout ends with Pereira standing and Hill on his ass. The champ further marks his legacy as a future goat. Hopefully the aforementioned Adesanya trilogy (pentalogy) happens eventually.
my rating : 4 of 5
2024
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 : Sean Strickland versus Alex Pereira at UFC 276
Sean Strickland seemed on the verge of finally becoming a star in The UFC after stealing the show at the 276 Press Conference. Full of wisecracks and knowing how close he was to a title shot; Alex Pereira has clearly been put on the fast track to one; he seemed more interested in taunting Israel Adesanya about getting “slept” by Pereira than Pereira.
“Focus on this guy”, Champion Adesanya warned, “Cause, trust me, he will sleep you if not.” Strickland laughed it off. Cut to Pereira landing a left hook and, well, sleeping him “in the very first round”. It’s a shot to the chin, but it’s Strickland’s bonehead that made him think it was a good idea to stand right there in front of one of the best strikers in the division.
my rating : 3 of 5
2022
Sean don’t be careful this will happen but worse Izzy no one to play with
animation : Jamahal Hill knocking out Johnny Walker at UFC Fight Night
2022
ufc.com
video review : Johnny Walker versus Jamahal Hill at UFC Fight Night
Johnny Walker fights usually end with him either knocking someone out or getting knocked out and this bout is no exception. Jamahal Hill finishes him with a punch to the forehead, of all places, which, after being dropped twice by Ryan Spann when they fought, suggests he simply can’t take a punch. Perhaps it’s that same brain defect that makes his body react in cartoonishly amusing ways. Here he goes unconscious after a delayed back flop à la Ric Flair.
my rating : 3 of 5
2022
video review : Li Jingliang versus Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 267
This would be an amazing showcase for Khamzat Chimaev if not for Li Jingliang’s defensive skills. The way Chimaev holds him up in the air like a rebellious toddler and slams him to the ground, all while talking to Dana White, is certainly, as Paul Felder suggests, impressive, but Jingliang is able to survive for a couple of minutes.
Chimaev is a scary prospect. He’s currently the most hyped “phenom” in The UFC. This victory puts him near the ranks of the top lightweight, not to mention welterweight and middleweight, contenders. He says he’s come to “kill everybody” and, considering his ten-fight MMA win streak; all early finishes; he might not be playing.
my rating : 4 of 5
2021