Tag: Jon Anik

video review : Conor McGregor versus Max Holloway at UFC 329

video review : Conor McGregor versus Max Holloway at UFC 329

This is quite literally no contest, but MMA rules insist Conor McGregor limp away with another TKO loss. A self-inflicted knee injury does it at just over a minute into the first round, but perhaps the fans were spared. I rooted for him myself; I like Conor and never liked Max; but expected a beating. At least he leaves with his dignity intact.

He should definitely retire, but if he doesn’t, he should ditch the trilogy nonsense; Holloway does a cringy promotion for it in his post-fight interview; and go back to fighting Michael Chandler. It’ll be like his tune-up bout with Donald Cerrone; a chance to showcase himself against someone he actually has a good chance of defeating.

my rating : 2 of 5

2026

video review : UFC Freedom 250

video review : UFC Freedom 250

They should’ve called this UFC Freedom or UFC 329 to avoid people confusing it with UFC 250, but that’s its only fault. It was promoted as the biggest UFC event ever and lives up to the hype. It’s not the best, despite every bout ending in a knockout; the first five fights were a little too predictable; but the main event is an epic.

Underdog Justin Gaethje winning the championship from Ilia Topuria on an event celebrating America; props to President Trump for making this happen; couldn’t have been scripted much better. El Matador gets gored; his corner stops the fight after a doctor stoppage is overruled by Marc Goddard; as Gaethje shocks the world.

my rating : 4 of 5

2026

video review : Jiří Procházka versus Carlos Ulberg at UFC 327

video review : Jiří Procházka versus Carlos Ulberg at UFC 327

“You gotta watch the check left hook of Ulberg because Jiří has the tendency to run in”, Din Thomas advises and that’s exactly how this bout ends. That’s despite Carlos enduring a crippling leg injury that should’ve sealed his fate. All Procházka had to do was be careful, which goes against his reckless samurai fighting style thus costing him another chance at the title.

my rating : 4 of 5

2026

video review : Jiří Procházka versus Khalil Rountree Jr at UFC 320

video review : Jiří Procházka versus Khalil Rountree Jr at UFC 320

“There’s no one like him,” Joe Rogan says of Jiří Procházka after this bout, “The guy thrives on chaos like no one else I think I’ve seen.” Indeed after clearly losing two rounds in what is mostly a technical striking match, he demonstrates just that in the third by dropping the formalities and initiating an all-out brawl. The “very very intelligent” Khalil Rountree tries to oblige and gets knocked senseless.

my rating : 4 of 5

2025

video review : UFC 319

video review : UFC 319

If not for MVP being controlled on the ground in the final round of his bout with Jared Cannonier; a flashy KO seemed near after knocking him down in the first two; every UFC 319 win would be a noteworthy one. Tim Elliott gets a surprise victory over Kai Asakura. Carlos Prates and Lerone Murphy deliver stunning back-to-back first-round spinning-back-elbow knockouts. Khamzat Chimaev dominates Dricus Du Plessis.

That last bit is somewhat of a head-scratcher; not because Chimaev starts the fight with his relentless wrestling as expected but that Dricus Du Plessis has no answer for it over the course of five rounds. I thought he’d find a way to win; he said he would and there is indeed a brief Silva/Sonnen-like moment near the end; but it’s as if, as Daniel Cormier suggests, his gameplan was to exhaust Chimaev, which never happens.

my rating : 4 of 5

2025

video review : Viviane Araújo versus Tracy Cortez at UFC 317

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