“Hype train derailed”, Billy Goff posts on X, but it’s not a total surprise. The wheels were getting wobbly in Bo Nickal’s last two fights. Cody Brundage and Paul Craig raised questions about a potential undefeated streak. Reinier De Ridder, his toughest opponent yet, answers them here by not only stifling his prestigious wrestling but defeating him “by knockout” via knees to the midsection.
my rating : 3 of 5
2025
2025 January
2024 October 03
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2024
As far as main card schedules go, UFC 299 is better than 300. Both are exceptional, but the Zhang Weili title bout is a weak link and I looked forward to every fight on 299. They mostly deliver. Petr Yan starts it off on the good foot and ends his partly undeserved losing streak; he beat O’Malley; by defeating Song Yadong.
Jack Della Maddalena, though less dominant, comes off even more impressively with a Hail Mary knockout victory over Gilbert Burns. Kevin Holland versus Michael Page; the fight I anticipated the most beside the main event; ends up being a bit of a letdown as Holland loses handily not via knockout but decision.
The biggest winner of the night, aside from Donald Trump; the most popular attendee judging by crowd reaction; is Dustin Poirier. He knocks out tough guy Benoît Saint Denis in a hard-fought battle, proving he’s “still got it”. The biggest loser is Marlon Vera who’s simply outclassed by champion Sean O’Malley.
my rating : 4 of 5
2024
2022
mmafighting.com
2021
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2021
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2018
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