UFC 209: Tyron Woodley vs. Stephen Thompson 2Mar 5, 2017 by Duane Finley
The Good, Bad and Strange From UFC 209
The Good, Bad and Strange From UFC 209
A look at the good, bad and strange from UFC 209.
There are few angles in mixed martial arts better than a score that needs settling. Feuds and grudge matches are high on the list, but when two fighters step inside the cage to determine once and for all who the better competitor is...that’s when things take a special turn.
At UFC 209 on Saturday night, welterweight champion Tyron Woodley and challenger Stephen Thompson took another go at determining the true champion of the 170-pound fold.
Coming into their first meeting at UFC 205 back in November, it was Woodley looking to make his first successful title defense and Thompson determined to keep his hot streak alive. Both had looked damn near unstoppable in recent matchups and the bout at Madison Square Garden seemed to be anyone’s fight for the taking.
Staying true to form it was Woodley’s power that made the difference in solid exchanges as the South Carolina native found himself on wobbly legs at several points during the tilt. Nevertheless, “Wonderboy” lived up to his nickname by weathering the storm and charging back and creating a championship bout for the ages.
When a majority draw was announced as the final decision, a feeling of unfinished business immediately shot out through the MMA community. That said, on Saturday night in Las Vegas, a decisive chapter was going to be written in the rivalry. Or it should have been.
Rather than a repeat of the barnburner of a scrap they put forth at UFC 205, the main event on Saturday night was a dull chess match. While it was no doubt a technical battle and took until the start of the third round before the champion employed any recognizable offense, the bout was still largely a snoozer.
Woodley backed up repeatedly and Thompson danced in front of him waiting to pick his shots. The champion came out with more aggression in the fifth and final round and it won him the fight. End of story.
It was a crazy week leading up to an action-packed night of fights so let’s take a look at the good, bad and strange from UFC 209.
Tyron Woodley retained his welterweight title at UFC 209. It was a very technical fight, but there isn't all that much to say about the performance.
Moving on.
Mar 4, 2017; Las Vegas, NV, USA; David Teymur (blue gloves) and Lando Vannata (red gloves) fight during their bout at UFC 209 at T-Mobile Arena. Teymur won via unanimous decision. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
David Teymur beat Lando Vannata on the judges' scorecards at UFC 209. That's only a technicality because there was truly no loser on Saturday night in Las Vegas.
The two lightweights fought like barn cats trapped in a pillowcase for 15 minutes, with each having their moments of success. Yet, Teymur's volume backed Vannata up and the Swede's takedowns kept the fight in his favor. Vannata landed one of the rare cartwheel kicks thrown in UFC history while Teymur answered with a devastating superman punch of his own. The fight was simply awesome, and both men should leave Las Vegas with an extra $50,000 bones in their pockets.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/TheBMartin/status/838252690182283266" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
Mar 3, 2017; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Daniel Kelly weighs in for his bout against Rashad Evans (not pictured) during weigh ins for UFC 209 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Stand up and give a hand for Dan Kelly.
The Australian judoka with the dad-bod and the bad knees pulled off the biggest win of his career by defeating Rashad Evans at UFC 209. By all measures Kelly shouldn't have stood much of a chance against the former light heavyweight champion, but there is a reason they step in to fight.
Once the action got underway, Kelly pressed forward and put volume on Evans' chin. "Suga" fired back from time to time, but never with more than one or two shots while Kelly poured it on repeatedly. Anytime Evans connected, Kelly came back with a storm of punches to push the Henri Hooft-trained fighter backward. Kelly simply wouldn't quit and that aggression and tenacity led to the most prominent victory of his time as a professional fighter.
With a huge win fresh on his resume, Kelly jumped up to ask for a ranked opponent. And why not? Kelly hadn't been much fun to watch before his fight on Saturday night, but his will to win will certainly earn the Australian madman an event bigger showcase.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/bokamotoESPN/status/838247973838450688" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
Mar 3, 2017; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Alistair Overeem weighs in for his bout against Mark Hunt (not pictured) during weigh ins for UFC 209 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
When you have heavy hitters like Mark Hunt and Alistair Overeem stepping into the Octagon there is a guarantee for goodness on deck. And the two powerhouses didn't disappoint.
The Dutch striking juggernaut worked a rangy game while the scrappy Kiwi did his signature big shots. While Overeem controlled the distance throughout the first two rounds, Hunt landed brutal elbows over the top that put "The Reem" on shaky legs in several exchanges. Nevertheless, anytime Hunt is inside the cage, victory is only ever one punch away.
That would not be the case at UFC 209 though. With solid success through the first 10 minutes, Overeem stuck to his gameplan and face-planted Hunt with a series of knee strikes in the final frame. Hunt looked well on his way to enduring the swarm, until a perfectly planted K-1 style right knee to the chin clipped the New Zealand native's power source.
With the win, Overeem has now found success in five of his past six showings inside the Octagon. More importantly, the Jackson/Winkeljohn fighter puts himself back into the title mix in the heavyweight fold.
Mar 4, 2017; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Cynthia Calvillo (blue gloves) reacts after submitting Amanda Cooper (red gloves) during their bout at UFC 209 at T-Mobile Arena. Calvillo won via first round submission. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Welcome to the UFC Cynthia Calvillo.
The Team Alpha Male fighter looked absolutely impressive as she took down and submitted Amanda Cooper. Calvillo worked to get an anaconda choke then transitioned to a fight-ending rear-naked choke early in the opening round. While Calvillo's late start would seemingly put her at a disadvantage in the youthful ranks of the women's strawweight division, but the 31-year-old's impressive ground skills will make her a threat against a large majority of the 115-pound weight class.
Mar 4, 2017; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Darren Elkins (blue gloves) reacts after submitting Mirsad Bektic (not pictured) during their bout at UFC 209 at T-Mobile Arena. Elkins won via third round TKO. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Between the blue hair and the poor chest tattoo, there was a lot of bad going into the fight between Mirsad Bektic and Darren Elkins. That said, the Bosnian transplant beat the proverbial brakes off the Indiana native for two solid rounds.
The American Top Team product took Elkins down early in the opening round and hammered "The Damage" with elbows and big shots from the top position. The veteran fighter proved his toughness once again by coming out of the break and starting the second round, but it was right back to more of the same from Bektic as the undefeated prospect commenced to batter Elkins into a bloody mess. Elkins took far less damage (no pun) in the second frame, and even managed to latch onto two submission attempts, and survived another round.
The writing appeared to be on the wall and Bektic would roll on after UFC 209 undefeated, but the Team Alpha Male fighter refused to lose. Elkins continued to battle and turned the tides with a huge right hand, right kick that folded Bektic ass over head against the cage.
It was a remarkable comeback and further proof how the biggest underdog on the card is always in play when you're name is Darren Elkins. My goodness!
Mar 4, 2017; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Iuri Alcantara (red gloves) celebrates after defeating Luke Sanders (not pictured) in their bout at UFC 209 at T-Mobile Arena. Alcantara won via second round submission. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Iuri Alcantara became the comeback kid before another stunning comeback at UFC 209.
After being on the receiving end of a serious beating, and an illegal knee, handed out by Luke Sanders in the opening frame, the Brazilian grappler proved his resilience deep into the second round. The MMA Lab product continued to pour on the punishment, but Sanders over-committed and left his right leg out for the taking.
And in those situations, even a wobbled Alcantara doesn't miss. The Jackson/Winkeljohn transplant grabbed onto a kneebar and Sanders tapped shortly after.
With the victory, Alcantara has now won back-to-back showings inside the Octagon as he handed Sanders the first loss of his professional career.
Mar 3, 2017; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Rashad Evans (left) and Daniel Kelly face off during weigh ins for UFC 209 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
It's been a far fall from grace for Rashad Evans.
The former light heavyweight champion and perennial standout has been injury ridden and on the sidelines for much of the past four years, with his last victory coming against Chael Sonnen in 2013. Nevertheless, "Suga" came into UFC 209 on Saturday night looking to spark a resurgence with his official middleweight debut, and that just didn't happen.
Being matched up against a slower, less agile Daniel Kelly would seem to create the perfect setting for Evans to tee off with speed and volume, but that wasn't the case. The Australian poured forward pressure and straight combinations that found a home on Evans throughout the tilt that left The Ultimate Fighter Season 2 winner looking sluggish and stagnant. It was a close fight throughout the 15-minute affair.
Evans would eventually go on to take the split decision on the judges' scorecards, but the loss was already evident throughout the bout in regard to Evans. The biggest element lacking in his performance was the confidence that was once so apparent in his game. Evans once had more swagger than most fans could handle inside the cage, but the man who fought on Saturday night in Las Vegas was a man far removed.
Where a fighter like Cub Swanson, who is fueled by self-confidence, but relies on experience to get him through on off nights, Evans simply no longer has the self-belief to carry forward at the highest level of mixed martial arts. Sucks to say because Evans gave us so much, but the best of what he once had to give will remain gone unless some confidence can be found.
Apr 16, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Khabib Nurmagomedov (red gloves) reacts after defeating Darrell Horcher (blue gloves) in the catchweight bout (bout 9) during UFC Fight Night at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
I’m starting to wonder if “The Eagle” is ever going to soar to the heights he can potentially reach in mixed martial arts.
In five years under the UFC banner, Khabib Nurmagomedov has cemented his place as one of the elite lightweight fighters on the planet. The Dagestan native’s wrestling and forward pressure has baffled one opponent after the next, and has made Nurmagomedov the one fighter no one wants to see inside the Octagon.
That said, being marred by injuries that have only allowed him to notch eight fights during his span on the sport’s biggest stage, many believe Nurmagomedov simply cannot and will not stay healthy enough to ever make a serious run at the lightweight crown.
And those criticisms will only multiply following the disastrous weight cut that forced him out of his highly anticipated interim title fight against Tony Ferguson at UFC 209.
While Nurmagomedov picked up serious momentum with his drubbing of Michael Johnson at UFC 205 back in November, all that buzz will once again be hushed following his removal from his tilt with Ferguson in Las Vegas. Nurmagomedov was taken to the hospital on Thursday night, several hours before he could officially hit the scale, and was forced to scratch for serious medical issues.
Make no mistake about it: fighter safety is and will always be the top priority in MMA, but this was a turn Nurmagomedov simply couldn’t afford.
The Russian powerhouse’s removal from the card marks the second time he’s failed to reach fight night against Tony Ferguson, and adds to a growing list of notable cancellations against his fellow elite in the lightweight ranks. Following his win over Johnson in New York, there was considerable push for a tilt with Irish superstar Conor McGregor, but when asked about the matchup the “Notorious” one deemed Nurmagomedov to be a “pull out agent.”
And while Mystic Mac appears to have uncovered the truth yet again with his Irish voodoo, the full story on Nurmagomedov has yet to be written.
Nov 12, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Khabib Nurmagomedov (red gloves) fights Michael Johnson (blue gloves) during UFC 205 at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Although injuries and shoddy weight cuts have certainly put dings in his armor, what the 28-year-old force has been able to accomplish inside the cage bears recognition.
In this day and age of inches separating the best from the rest in the UFC hierarchy, outside of McGregor’s run to the multiple crowns, Nurmagomedov’s dominance is simply unheard of. Save for a close fight with Gleison Tibau, the AKA representative has steamrolled his opposition.
The perennial contender’s wrestling and dogged tenacity to the grind make him the perfect foil for the Dublin-based King, but so far Nurmagomedov has failed to live up to his end of the bargain.
Furthermore, seeing him pass a test the likes of what Ferguson will certainly offer would go a very long ways to telling the tale of just how great Nurmagomedov truly is. If Ferguson was to best him at UFC 209, then perhaps the hype behind Nurmagomedov was a bit premature. On the other hand, if Nurmagomedov went out there on Saturday night and crushed the always game “T-Ferg” like the other 24 men he’s faced in competition, then the future matchup with McGregor was all but set in stone.
But this is MMA and we just cannot have nice things.
As a fighter first fan of the sport, I wish nothing but good health and happy days for the bear-wrestling, face smashing, caller of “Number One bullsh*t” currently competing in the upper tier of this great sport. But with this huge strike notched onto a resume littered with smaller infractions, the clock is ticking down on how great Nurmagomedov can truly be.
Mar 4, 2017; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Mark Hunt leaves the octagon after being knocked out by Alistair Overeem (not pictured) fight during their bout at UFC 209 at T-Mobile Arena. Overeem won via third round KO. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Mark Hunt's time with the UFC is officially in limbo.
The hard-hitting knockout artist has been one of the prominent forces in the heavyweight ranks over the past several years, but with his relationship worn to the bone over the past year, it's anyone's guess where Hunt will stand with the promotion following his loss to Alistair Overeem at UFC 209.
In the days leading up to the bout, Hunt sounded off on the UFC forcing him into the bout with the Dutchman. Furthermore, the 42-year-old New Zealand native turned the knife further by pointing out past matchmaking against fighters who went on to fail drug tests. In the current environment of free agency and fighters testing their value, Hunt speaking out for a trend he sees to be problematic shouldn't be held against him, but when you consider the civil lawsuit he has rolling against the UFC over the Brock Lesnar fiasco, a picture is painted where it seems Hunt will get his walking papers following his loss on Saturday night.
And if you're "The Super Samoan" that's quite alright.
The heavyweight slugger has more than cemented his place as one of the most exciting fighters in the heavyweight division, and he'll have no problem peddling his wares on another stage around the globe.
Mar 4, 2017; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Luis Henrique (blue gloves and Marcin Tybura (red gloves) fight during their bout at UFC 209 at T-Mobile Arena. Tybura won via third round TKO. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
There was a lot of shakeup heading into UFC 209 and it created a fair amount of strange scenarios. Having Marcin Tybura vs. Luis Henrique as the final bout heading into the pay-per-view was certainly one of them.
In all fairness, the heavyweight tilt ended up being an entertaining dust-up as Tybura and Henrique went back-and-forth over the course of the 15 minute affair. That said, the potential first-round finish capabilities up against the slow burn that happens when two heavyweights fail to get the job done in timely fashion is a big risk in the coveted slot heading into the main card portion of the event.
The Polish heavyweight proved to be the more versatile of the two and outlasted the Brazilian en route to scoring a TKO finish late in the final frame. It wasn't a bad fight by any means, but certainly a curious choice for that placement on the ticket.
At UFC 209 on Saturday night, welterweight champion Tyron Woodley and challenger Stephen Thompson took another go at determining the true champion of the 170-pound fold.
Coming into their first meeting at UFC 205 back in November, it was Woodley looking to make his first successful title defense and Thompson determined to keep his hot streak alive. Both had looked damn near unstoppable in recent matchups and the bout at Madison Square Garden seemed to be anyone’s fight for the taking.
Staying true to form it was Woodley’s power that made the difference in solid exchanges as the South Carolina native found himself on wobbly legs at several points during the tilt. Nevertheless, “Wonderboy” lived up to his nickname by weathering the storm and charging back and creating a championship bout for the ages.
When a majority draw was announced as the final decision, a feeling of unfinished business immediately shot out through the MMA community. That said, on Saturday night in Las Vegas, a decisive chapter was going to be written in the rivalry. Or it should have been.
Rather than a repeat of the barnburner of a scrap they put forth at UFC 205, the main event on Saturday night was a dull chess match. While it was no doubt a technical battle and took until the start of the third round before the champion employed any recognizable offense, the bout was still largely a snoozer.
Woodley backed up repeatedly and Thompson danced in front of him waiting to pick his shots. The champion came out with more aggression in the fifth and final round and it won him the fight. End of story.
It was a crazy week leading up to an action-packed night of fights so let’s take a look at the good, bad and strange from UFC 209.
The Good
Tyron Woodley retained his welterweight title at UFC 209. It was a very technical fight, but there isn't all that much to say about the performance.
Moving on.
Mar 4, 2017; Las Vegas, NV, USA; David Teymur (blue gloves) and Lando Vannata (red gloves) fight during their bout at UFC 209 at T-Mobile Arena. Teymur won via unanimous decision. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
David Teymur beat Lando Vannata on the judges' scorecards at UFC 209. That's only a technicality because there was truly no loser on Saturday night in Las Vegas.
The two lightweights fought like barn cats trapped in a pillowcase for 15 minutes, with each having their moments of success. Yet, Teymur's volume backed Vannata up and the Swede's takedowns kept the fight in his favor. Vannata landed one of the rare cartwheel kicks thrown in UFC history while Teymur answered with a devastating superman punch of his own. The fight was simply awesome, and both men should leave Las Vegas with an extra $50,000 bones in their pockets.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/TheBMartin/status/838252690182283266" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
Mar 3, 2017; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Daniel Kelly weighs in for his bout against Rashad Evans (not pictured) during weigh ins for UFC 209 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Stand up and give a hand for Dan Kelly.
The Australian judoka with the dad-bod and the bad knees pulled off the biggest win of his career by defeating Rashad Evans at UFC 209. By all measures Kelly shouldn't have stood much of a chance against the former light heavyweight champion, but there is a reason they step in to fight.
Once the action got underway, Kelly pressed forward and put volume on Evans' chin. "Suga" fired back from time to time, but never with more than one or two shots while Kelly poured it on repeatedly. Anytime Evans connected, Kelly came back with a storm of punches to push the Henri Hooft-trained fighter backward. Kelly simply wouldn't quit and that aggression and tenacity led to the most prominent victory of his time as a professional fighter.
With a huge win fresh on his resume, Kelly jumped up to ask for a ranked opponent. And why not? Kelly hadn't been much fun to watch before his fight on Saturday night, but his will to win will certainly earn the Australian madman an event bigger showcase.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/bokamotoESPN/status/838247973838450688" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
Mar 3, 2017; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Alistair Overeem weighs in for his bout against Mark Hunt (not pictured) during weigh ins for UFC 209 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
When you have heavy hitters like Mark Hunt and Alistair Overeem stepping into the Octagon there is a guarantee for goodness on deck. And the two powerhouses didn't disappoint.
The Dutch striking juggernaut worked a rangy game while the scrappy Kiwi did his signature big shots. While Overeem controlled the distance throughout the first two rounds, Hunt landed brutal elbows over the top that put "The Reem" on shaky legs in several exchanges. Nevertheless, anytime Hunt is inside the cage, victory is only ever one punch away.
That would not be the case at UFC 209 though. With solid success through the first 10 minutes, Overeem stuck to his gameplan and face-planted Hunt with a series of knee strikes in the final frame. Hunt looked well on his way to enduring the swarm, until a perfectly planted K-1 style right knee to the chin clipped the New Zealand native's power source.
With the win, Overeem has now found success in five of his past six showings inside the Octagon. More importantly, the Jackson/Winkeljohn fighter puts himself back into the title mix in the heavyweight fold.
Mar 4, 2017; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Cynthia Calvillo (blue gloves) reacts after submitting Amanda Cooper (red gloves) during their bout at UFC 209 at T-Mobile Arena. Calvillo won via first round submission. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Welcome to the UFC Cynthia Calvillo.
The Team Alpha Male fighter looked absolutely impressive as she took down and submitted Amanda Cooper. Calvillo worked to get an anaconda choke then transitioned to a fight-ending rear-naked choke early in the opening round. While Calvillo's late start would seemingly put her at a disadvantage in the youthful ranks of the women's strawweight division, but the 31-year-old's impressive ground skills will make her a threat against a large majority of the 115-pound weight class.
Mar 4, 2017; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Darren Elkins (blue gloves) reacts after submitting Mirsad Bektic (not pictured) during their bout at UFC 209 at T-Mobile Arena. Elkins won via third round TKO. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Between the blue hair and the poor chest tattoo, there was a lot of bad going into the fight between Mirsad Bektic and Darren Elkins. That said, the Bosnian transplant beat the proverbial brakes off the Indiana native for two solid rounds.
The American Top Team product took Elkins down early in the opening round and hammered "The Damage" with elbows and big shots from the top position. The veteran fighter proved his toughness once again by coming out of the break and starting the second round, but it was right back to more of the same from Bektic as the undefeated prospect commenced to batter Elkins into a bloody mess. Elkins took far less damage (no pun) in the second frame, and even managed to latch onto two submission attempts, and survived another round.
The writing appeared to be on the wall and Bektic would roll on after UFC 209 undefeated, but the Team Alpha Male fighter refused to lose. Elkins continued to battle and turned the tides with a huge right hand, right kick that folded Bektic ass over head against the cage.
It was a remarkable comeback and further proof how the biggest underdog on the card is always in play when you're name is Darren Elkins. My goodness!
Mar 4, 2017; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Iuri Alcantara (red gloves) celebrates after defeating Luke Sanders (not pictured) in their bout at UFC 209 at T-Mobile Arena. Alcantara won via second round submission. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Iuri Alcantara became the comeback kid before another stunning comeback at UFC 209.
After being on the receiving end of a serious beating, and an illegal knee, handed out by Luke Sanders in the opening frame, the Brazilian grappler proved his resilience deep into the second round. The MMA Lab product continued to pour on the punishment, but Sanders over-committed and left his right leg out for the taking.
And in those situations, even a wobbled Alcantara doesn't miss. The Jackson/Winkeljohn transplant grabbed onto a kneebar and Sanders tapped shortly after.
With the victory, Alcantara has now won back-to-back showings inside the Octagon as he handed Sanders the first loss of his professional career.
The Bad
Mar 3, 2017; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Rashad Evans (left) and Daniel Kelly face off during weigh ins for UFC 209 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
It's been a far fall from grace for Rashad Evans.
The former light heavyweight champion and perennial standout has been injury ridden and on the sidelines for much of the past four years, with his last victory coming against Chael Sonnen in 2013. Nevertheless, "Suga" came into UFC 209 on Saturday night looking to spark a resurgence with his official middleweight debut, and that just didn't happen.
Being matched up against a slower, less agile Daniel Kelly would seem to create the perfect setting for Evans to tee off with speed and volume, but that wasn't the case. The Australian poured forward pressure and straight combinations that found a home on Evans throughout the tilt that left The Ultimate Fighter Season 2 winner looking sluggish and stagnant. It was a close fight throughout the 15-minute affair.
Evans would eventually go on to take the split decision on the judges' scorecards, but the loss was already evident throughout the bout in regard to Evans. The biggest element lacking in his performance was the confidence that was once so apparent in his game. Evans once had more swagger than most fans could handle inside the cage, but the man who fought on Saturday night in Las Vegas was a man far removed.
Where a fighter like Cub Swanson, who is fueled by self-confidence, but relies on experience to get him through on off nights, Evans simply no longer has the self-belief to carry forward at the highest level of mixed martial arts. Sucks to say because Evans gave us so much, but the best of what he once had to give will remain gone unless some confidence can be found.
Apr 16, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Khabib Nurmagomedov (red gloves) reacts after defeating Darrell Horcher (blue gloves) in the catchweight bout (bout 9) during UFC Fight Night at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
I’m starting to wonder if “The Eagle” is ever going to soar to the heights he can potentially reach in mixed martial arts.
In five years under the UFC banner, Khabib Nurmagomedov has cemented his place as one of the elite lightweight fighters on the planet. The Dagestan native’s wrestling and forward pressure has baffled one opponent after the next, and has made Nurmagomedov the one fighter no one wants to see inside the Octagon.
That said, being marred by injuries that have only allowed him to notch eight fights during his span on the sport’s biggest stage, many believe Nurmagomedov simply cannot and will not stay healthy enough to ever make a serious run at the lightweight crown.
And those criticisms will only multiply following the disastrous weight cut that forced him out of his highly anticipated interim title fight against Tony Ferguson at UFC 209.
While Nurmagomedov picked up serious momentum with his drubbing of Michael Johnson at UFC 205 back in November, all that buzz will once again be hushed following his removal from his tilt with Ferguson in Las Vegas. Nurmagomedov was taken to the hospital on Thursday night, several hours before he could officially hit the scale, and was forced to scratch for serious medical issues.
Make no mistake about it: fighter safety is and will always be the top priority in MMA, but this was a turn Nurmagomedov simply couldn’t afford.
The Russian powerhouse’s removal from the card marks the second time he’s failed to reach fight night against Tony Ferguson, and adds to a growing list of notable cancellations against his fellow elite in the lightweight ranks. Following his win over Johnson in New York, there was considerable push for a tilt with Irish superstar Conor McGregor, but when asked about the matchup the “Notorious” one deemed Nurmagomedov to be a “pull out agent.”
And while Mystic Mac appears to have uncovered the truth yet again with his Irish voodoo, the full story on Nurmagomedov has yet to be written.
Nov 12, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Khabib Nurmagomedov (red gloves) fights Michael Johnson (blue gloves) during UFC 205 at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Although injuries and shoddy weight cuts have certainly put dings in his armor, what the 28-year-old force has been able to accomplish inside the cage bears recognition.
In this day and age of inches separating the best from the rest in the UFC hierarchy, outside of McGregor’s run to the multiple crowns, Nurmagomedov’s dominance is simply unheard of. Save for a close fight with Gleison Tibau, the AKA representative has steamrolled his opposition.
The perennial contender’s wrestling and dogged tenacity to the grind make him the perfect foil for the Dublin-based King, but so far Nurmagomedov has failed to live up to his end of the bargain.
Furthermore, seeing him pass a test the likes of what Ferguson will certainly offer would go a very long ways to telling the tale of just how great Nurmagomedov truly is. If Ferguson was to best him at UFC 209, then perhaps the hype behind Nurmagomedov was a bit premature. On the other hand, if Nurmagomedov went out there on Saturday night and crushed the always game “T-Ferg” like the other 24 men he’s faced in competition, then the future matchup with McGregor was all but set in stone.
But this is MMA and we just cannot have nice things.
As a fighter first fan of the sport, I wish nothing but good health and happy days for the bear-wrestling, face smashing, caller of “Number One bullsh*t” currently competing in the upper tier of this great sport. But with this huge strike notched onto a resume littered with smaller infractions, the clock is ticking down on how great Nurmagomedov can truly be.
The Strange
Mar 4, 2017; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Mark Hunt leaves the octagon after being knocked out by Alistair Overeem (not pictured) fight during their bout at UFC 209 at T-Mobile Arena. Overeem won via third round KO. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Mark Hunt's time with the UFC is officially in limbo.
The hard-hitting knockout artist has been one of the prominent forces in the heavyweight ranks over the past several years, but with his relationship worn to the bone over the past year, it's anyone's guess where Hunt will stand with the promotion following his loss to Alistair Overeem at UFC 209.
In the days leading up to the bout, Hunt sounded off on the UFC forcing him into the bout with the Dutchman. Furthermore, the 42-year-old New Zealand native turned the knife further by pointing out past matchmaking against fighters who went on to fail drug tests. In the current environment of free agency and fighters testing their value, Hunt speaking out for a trend he sees to be problematic shouldn't be held against him, but when you consider the civil lawsuit he has rolling against the UFC over the Brock Lesnar fiasco, a picture is painted where it seems Hunt will get his walking papers following his loss on Saturday night.
And if you're "The Super Samoan" that's quite alright.
The heavyweight slugger has more than cemented his place as one of the most exciting fighters in the heavyweight division, and he'll have no problem peddling his wares on another stage around the globe.
Mar 4, 2017; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Luis Henrique (blue gloves and Marcin Tybura (red gloves) fight during their bout at UFC 209 at T-Mobile Arena. Tybura won via third round TKO. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
There was a lot of shakeup heading into UFC 209 and it created a fair amount of strange scenarios. Having Marcin Tybura vs. Luis Henrique as the final bout heading into the pay-per-view was certainly one of them.
In all fairness, the heavyweight tilt ended up being an entertaining dust-up as Tybura and Henrique went back-and-forth over the course of the 15 minute affair. That said, the potential first-round finish capabilities up against the slow burn that happens when two heavyweights fail to get the job done in timely fashion is a big risk in the coveted slot heading into the main card portion of the event.
The Polish heavyweight proved to be the more versatile of the two and outlasted the Brazilian en route to scoring a TKO finish late in the final frame. It wasn't a bad fight by any means, but certainly a curious choice for that placement on the ticket.
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