video review : Marina Rodriguez versus Amanda Ribas at UFC 257

video review : Marina Rodriguez versus Amanda Ribas at UFC 257

This bout gets rather interesting about two minutes in, at least for us perverts, as Amanda Ribas mounts her opponent in what looks like a creative lesbian sex position and dominates her for the rest of the round. It’s Marina Rodriguez’s turn in Round 2 as she collapses Ribas with a punch to the jaw.

What happens next is quite odd. Herb Dean rushes in while Rodriguez continues to punch Ribas as if he’s about to stop the fight. Rodriguez apparently thinks he does as she starts her victory walk before realizing it’s not over. Cue comical exclamations from the commentators as Ribas gets hit twice more.

my rating : 4 of 5

2021

video review : Aljamain Sterling versus TJ Dillashaw at UFC 280

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

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 : Mackenzie Dern versus Tecia Torres at UFC 273

video review : Mackenzie Dern versus Tecia Torres at UFC 273

The most entertaining round of this fight for me is the second, which jumps off when, just as Joe Rogan is about to suggest it, Mackenzie Dern pulls guard against the cage and goes for a standing Kimura. She eventually brings Tecia Torres down to the ground; commentator Paul Felder makes a funny “weight” joke here; which results in a sexy tangle that lasts to the horn.

my rating : 4 of 5

2022

video review : Gilbert Burns versus Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 273

video review : Gilbert Burns versus Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 273

The betting odds for this bout were so ridiculously in favor of Khamzat Chimaev; it seems most fans thought he’d “smash” Gilbert Burns in the very first round; that even given a hard-fought victory, his hype train takes a massive hit. It’s actually the loser (Burns) whose stock goes up as he makes what seemed like an unbeatable enigma look human.

Of course Chimaev deserves a lot of credit for proving himself against a top contender. Burns is number two under champion Kamaru Usman and, though this is a damn close fight, the winner of which could’ve went either way, Chimaev beats him by unanimous decision. That’s quite a feat for someone who’s relatively new to the world of UFC.

my rating : 4 of 5

2022

video review : Johnny Walker versus Jamahal Hill at UFC Fight Night

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

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

video review : Jan Błachowicz versus Glover Teixeira at UFC 267

video review : Jan Błachowicz versus Glover Teixeira at UFC 267

After his last five fights, including surprising wins over Dominick Reyes and middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, I thought Jan Błachowicz would beat Glover Teixeira relatively easily. What happens is the opposite. Błachowicz predicted a second-round finish and he was right. This makes Teixeira, at 42, the oldest-ever UFC champion after Randy Couture.

my rating : 3 of 5

2021

video review : Dan Hooker versus Michael Chandler at UFC 257

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 : Israel Adesanya versus Paulo Costa at UFC 253

video review : Israel Adesanya versus Paulo Costa at UFC 253

It seems Israel Adesanya is fulfilling his own prophecy by becoming one of the greatest UFC champions of all time. He has to acquire a lot more wins to reach the level of Anderson Silva and Jon Jones; two fighters his style comes across as a combination of, also my two favorite fighters; but he’s on his way.

“I wanna make him my bitch,” The Last Stylebender said of Paulo Costa in a promo interview and that’s exactly what he does. He bruises his body with vicious leg kicks, bruises his ego with a second round knockout and simulates prison rape via dry humps right there in the center of The Octagon.

my rating : 4 of 5

2020

video review : Dominick Reyes versus Jan Błachowicz at UFC 253

video review : Dominick Reyes versus Jan Błachowicz at UFC 253

It doesn’t really make sense that Jan Błachowicz calls out Jon Jones after this fight, which is a title bout only because Jones decided to vacate the Light Heavyweight belt to compete in the Heavyweight division, but his victory is damn impressive. He’s able to do to Dominick Reyes what the former champion couldn’t, knocking him down and out in just the second round. “Polish power” indeed.

my rating : 4 of 5

2020