UFC fight evening takeaways: Rob Font makes an announcement; provide Carla Esparza the title shotPosted by McLaughlin Kline on June 4th, 2021 
If Rob Font become underrated heading into Saturday's UFC battle night main event towards Cody Garbrandt, he took a large step towards organising his presence in the bantamweight division with a unanimous resolution win. The co-main adventure in Las Vegas changed into considered by way of some to be a No. 1 contender combat. Carla Esparza become ranked No. four among strawweights by using the UFC heading into motion, whereas Yan Xiaonan become No. 3. Esparza could have needed more than only a garden-variety win to land a title shot, and she or he delivered a 2nd-round TKO. turned into it ample to secure a title shot against Rose Namajunas? All fights from UFC fight nighttime: Font vs. Garbrandt can be obtainable to watch on ESPN+. • Rob Font vs. Cody Garbrandt• Yan Xiaonan vs. Carla Esparza• Justin Tafa vs. Jared Vanderaa• Felicia Spencer vs. Norma Dumont• Ricardo Ramos vs. bill Algeo• Jack Hermansson vs. Edmen Shahbazyan• Ben Rothwell vs. Chris Barnett• court docket McGee vs. Claudio Silva• Bruno Silva vs. Victor Rodriguez• Josh Culibao vs. Nuerdanbieke Shayilan• David Dvorak vs. Juancamilo Ronderos• Rafael Alves vs. Damir Ismagulov Watch the finished card on ESPN+ meanwhile, Edmen Shahbazyan is learning how steep the gaining knowledge of curve is within the UFC. After struggling his first loss to Derek Brunson remaining August, Shahbazyan, who become regarded a accurate prospect not lengthy in the past, became thrown in with former title contender Jack Hermansson on Saturday. The veteran used his experience decisively. outdoor of the Octagon, Paul Felder made information from the commentators' desk when he announced he changed into retiring as a fighter. Felder mentioned he failed to are looking to wait too long on his determination because he did not wish to decelerate the lightweight division. ESPN's Brett Okamoto, Ariel Helwani, Marc Raimondi and Jeff Wagenheim break down the greatest UFC stories popping out of Las Vegas. Okamoto: Font makes commentary with win over Garbrandt Rob Font, left, should be hiking up the bantamweight rankings after a convincing win over Cody Garbrandt. Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC What a efficiency through Rob Font. Masterful. I actually have lengthy believed Font was underrated within the bantamweight division, but did I envision him taking 5 of five rounds from a former champion in Cody Garbrandt? honestly, I didn't. Font is technical and well coached -- and that showed on Saturday. he is big for the division, long lasting. Cardio become no longer an issue at all in his first 5-round fight. This guy is a true problem. Garbrandt failed to go away with no trouble during this one. Garbrandt seemed to kick early, then he seemed to struggle. He took Font's most excellent photographs, and he tried to draw him into dangerous exchanges late when he knew he was down on the scorecards. Font handled all of it superbly. 2 related This division is somewhat held up in the intervening time because of the fact Aljamain Sterling won the title by means of disqualification on March 6 when he become struck with the aid of an unlawful knee by using Petr Yan. Sterling had a process performed on his neck in April and noted he should still be able to shield his title towards Yan by way of October or early November. it's unlucky, because there are lots of good contenders at a hundred thirty five pounds who appear capable for a title shot now. I agree with Font will certainly combat the winner of a July 24 bout between Cory Sandhagen and TJ Dillashaw. And as for Garbrandt, i'm no longer able to give up fully on him reclaiming a title. He hasn't been very lively in the past two years because of health issues, some concerning COVID-19, and also you do ask yourself if these concerns have been nevertheless affecting him on Saturday. My wager is Garbrandt will take the time after which drop to flyweight for his subsequent bout. and albeit, I feel he'd need to win just one battle there to get a title shot. Kai Kara-France can be an exciting option, or Alexandre Pantoja. Helwani: Esparza proves she deserves a title shot Carla Esparza, left, defeated Yan Xiaonan and notched her fifth consecutive victory in the UFC -- probably atmosphere the stage for a future title battle towards strawweight champion Rose Namajunas. Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC There may also be no denying Carla Esparza anymore. She is the No. 1 contender at 115 pounds. She needs to be subsequent for Rose Namajunas. Had Esparza won a run of the mill choice over Yan Xiaonan, i'd have said the identical. i am sure, though, that there would had been some pushback as a result of she is rarely the flashiest fighter and she is rarely the greatest trash talker. but Esparza squashed all of that speak on Saturday nighttime by means of mauling Xiaonan, who changed into undefeated within the UFC. She beat her up and stopped her via 2d-round TKO whereas in the crucifix place. Supreme dominance by the "Cookie Monster." It became the variety of win a fighter vital to show some extent, to cement her vicinity because the accurate dog in her weight classification. The form of win that punches your ticket to a title shot. and that's the reason now not all Esparza has going for her: bear in mind, she holds a win over Namajunas. She beat Namajunas by the use of rear-bare choke in 2014 to win the inaugural UFC strawweight title fight. I imply, what's superior than this? Namajunas gets a chance to show how plenty she has better seeing that then and Esparza receives an opportunity to win returned the belt that she helped placed on the map many moons in the past. find it irresistible. it is now five wins in a row for Esparza, however it's her lone conclude throughout that streak. What's more advantageous is or not it's her first conclude in the UFC seeing that her win over Namajunas well-nigh seven years ago. She has received seven instances seeing that then, and it felt like she just wanted it more Saturday evening. She proved some extent. She cemented her place. deliver on the rematch. Raimondi: Shahbazyan takes one other step again, but skill continues to be Jack Hermansson managed the action against Edmen Shahbazyan with the aid of holding the fight on the ground. Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC Sink or swim. this is truly what the UFC tells even the most efficient prospects on this planet. closing yr, ESPN had Edmen Shahbazyan ranked as the second-best MMA fighter on the planet beneath 25 years ancient. No matter. After Shahbazyan was fully dominated with the aid of Derek Brunson final August in the hardest look at various of his profession to that element, the UFC did not pick out a tuneup combat. just the contrary. Shahbazyan became thrown in with Jack Hermansson, a good-notch grappler who figured to give Shahbazyan the same kinds of difficulties on the ground that Brunson did. In boxing and even in other MMA promotions, a potential superstar isn't likely to be demonstrated like that. however there are not any gimmes in the UFC, specially considering that how Shahbazyan dispatched old opponents by way of knockout corresponding to durable veteran Brad Tavares. however what took place Saturday evening changed into pretty predictable. Shahbazyan regarded tremendous on the toes within the first circular, however when Hermansson got him to the ground within the 2d, it was a sluggish burn. within the third, Hermansson almost entire him on the ground, bloodying Shahbazyan close both eyes with elbows and punches. it's probably time for Shahbazyan to take a step back and face an unranked opponent. ESPN had Hermansson at No. 9 on the earth at middleweight. Shahbazyan is only 23 years old and has quite a lot of time to combat his means back. He possible will -- he's too skilled now not to. but this category of matchmaking is what many people laud the UFC for, because the effect of only a few fights are essentially decided when they are made, which is what occurs in boxing. Wagenheim: Felder could be missed within the cage, however analyst function remains play 3:27 On the UFC fight evening broadcast, Paul Felder officially announces his retirement from the UFC. i am going to omit Paul Felder. Yeah, i do know, we're now not in reality going to miss him, as a result of he's nevertheless going to be in shut proximity to the Octagon, simply backyard it on the broadcast table. And he is actually first rate in that role. Felder's sensible battle analysis and his easygoing persona don't exactly make him a rarity among the many athletes during this sport. some of people that are probably the most violent inner the cage are thoughtful and cordial and engaging backyard it. Felder at all times supplied us with a reminder that being smartly rounded changed into now not comfortably about martial arts expertise. It was rather a night on the broadcast for retired opponents. earlier within the night, Alan Jouban sat on the analyst desk, emotionally speaking about his recent announcement that he become placing up the gloves. Jouban has worked as a mannequin, Felder as an actor. focus on well rounded. both are strong analysts, however as combatants, Felder reached bigger ground. Felder on no account made it to the suitable 5 at light-weight. but he got here so shut. Had final 12 months's break up resolution loss to Dan Hooker long past the other way, Felder's upward thrust could have persisted. really, four of his closing 5 fights got here all the way down to split selections (he was 1-three). however what i could most be aware are his finishes, specially his spinning backfist KO of Danny Castillo in his second UFC fight in 2015. Then there changed into a 2017 TKO of a fellow named Charles Oliveira, who has not misplaced in 9 fights seeing that then and now wears the UFC title belt. not a bad way for Felder to depart his mark on the division.
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