UFC fight night takeaways: Rob Font makes an announcement; give Carla Esparza a title shot

Posted by McIntyre Ayala on June 6th, 2021

If Rob Font turned into underrated heading into Saturday's UFC battle nighttime leading experience towards Cody Garbrandt, he took a big step towards setting up his presence in the bantamweight division with a unanimous choice win. The co-main adventure in Las Vegas changed into considered by means of some to be a No. 1 contender battle. Carla Esparza became ranked No. 4 amongst strawweights by the UFC heading into motion, whereas Yan Xiaonan was No. three. Esparza may have needed more than only a backyard-variety win to land a title shot, and he or she delivered a second-circular TKO. changed into it enough to at ease a title shot in opposition t Rose Namajunas? All fights from UFC battle nighttime: Font vs. Garbrandt could be purchasable 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• courtroom 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 complete card on ESPN+ meanwhile, Edmen Shahbazyan is studying how steep the researching curve is within the UFC. After struggling his first loss to Derek Brunson last August, Shahbazyan, who become considered a precise prospect not long in the past, was thrown in with former title contender Jack Hermansson on Saturday. The veteran used his journey decisively. outdoor of the Octagon, Paul Felder made information from the commentators' desk when he introduced he changed into retiring as a fighter. Felder spoke of he didn't need to wait too lengthy on his choice as a result of he failed to wish to decelerate the light-weight division. ESPN's Brett Okamoto, Ariel Helwani, Marc Raimondi and Jeff Wagenheim spoil down the biggest UFC stories coming out of Las Vegas. Okamoto: Font makes observation with win over Garbrandt Rob Font, left, may be mountain climbing up the bantamweight rankings after a convincing win over Cody Garbrandt. Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC What a efficiency by using Rob Font. Masterful. I even have long believed Font turned into underrated within the bantamweight division, but did I envision him taking five of five rounds from a former champion in Cody Garbrandt? actually, I did not. Font is technical and neatly coached -- and that confirmed on Saturday. he's huge for the division, long lasting. Cardio become not an issue in any respect in his first 5-circular battle. This man is a true difficulty. Garbrandt didn't go away effectively during this one. Garbrandt looked to kick early, then he looked to struggle. He took Font's most efficient shots, and he tried to attract him into unhealthy exchanges late when he knew he became down on the scorecards. Font dealt with all of it fantastically. 2 related This division is a little bit held up in the meanwhile due to the fact Aljamain Sterling gained the title through disqualification on March 6 when he was struck via an illegal knee via Petr Yan. Sterling had a procedure carried out on his neck in April and noted he may still be able to guard his title against Yan with the aid of October or early November. it's unfortunate, as a result of there are lots of decent contenders at a hundred thirty five kilos who appear competent for a title shot now. I accept as true with Font will surely combat the winner of a July 24 bout between Cory Sandhagen and TJ Dillashaw. And as for Garbrandt, i am now not able to give up fully on him reclaiming a title. He hasn't been very lively during the past two years as a result of health concerns, some involving COVID-19, and you do wonder if those issues had been nevertheless affecting him on Saturday. My bet is Garbrandt will take the time after which drop to flyweight for his next bout. and admittedly, I believe he'd need to win only 1 battle there to get a title shot. Kai Kara-France would be an exciting choice, 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 surroundings the stage for a future title fight in opposition t strawweight champion Rose Namajunas. Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC There will also be no denying Carla Esparza anymore. She is the No. 1 contender at one hundred fifteen kilos. She needs to be next for Rose Namajunas. Had Esparza received a boring decision over Yan Xiaonan, i might have said the identical. i am bound, though, that there would were some pushback as a result of she is rarely the flashiest fighter and he or she is never the greatest trash talker. however Esparza squashed all of that speak on Saturday night by using mauling Xiaonan, who was undefeated in the UFC. She beat her up and stopped her via 2d-circular TKO while within the crucifix position. Supreme dominance by means of the "Cookie Monster." It turned into the form of win a fighter essential to show some extent, to cement her vicinity as the excellent dog in her weight type. The form of win that punches your ticket to a title shot. and that is 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 battle. I imply, what's more suitable than this? Namajunas gets a chance to show how plenty she has greater in view that then and Esparza receives a chance to win lower back the belt that she helped put on the map many moons ago. like it. it really is now five wins in a row for Esparza, but it's her lone finish all over that streak. What's stronger is it's her first conclude in the UFC on account that her win over Namajunas basically seven years in the past. She has won seven times since then, and it felt like she simply desired it more Saturday nighttime. She proved a point. She cemented her vicinity. carry on the rematch. Raimondi: Shahbazyan takes one other step again, however ability is still Jack Hermansson managed the action in opposition t Edmen Shahbazyan by retaining the fight on the floor. Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC Sink or swim. it truly is really what the UFC tells even the most efficient possibilities on the earth. last yr, ESPN had Edmen Shahbazyan ranked because the second-most reliable MMA fighter on the earth below 25 years historic. No be counted. After Shahbazyan was completely dominated through Derek Brunson last August within the toughest look at various of his career to that aspect, the UFC did not pick out a tuneup fight. simply the opposite. Shahbazyan turned into thrown in with Jack Hermansson, a good-notch grappler who figured to give Shahbazyan the identical kinds of difficulties on the floor that Brunson did. In boxing or even in different MMA promotions, a potential famous person isn't more likely to be verified like that. however there are no gimmes within the UFC, particularly due to the fact how Shahbazyan dispatched previous opponents by the use of knockout corresponding to long lasting veteran Brad Tavares. however what took place Saturday nighttime become relatively predictable. Shahbazyan looked colossal on the feet in the first round, however when Hermansson got him to the ground in the 2nd, it became a sluggish burn. in the third, Hermansson almost complete him on the ground, bloodying Shahbazyan near both eyes with elbows and punches. or not it's probably time for Shahbazyan to take a step returned and face an unranked opponent. ESPN had Hermansson at No. 9 in the world at middleweight. Shahbazyan is just 23 years historical and has a whole lot of time to battle his way back. He seemingly will -- he is too knowledgeable not to. but this category of matchmaking is what many individuals laud the UFC for, since the outcome of only a few fights are essentially decided when they're made, which is what occurs in boxing. Wagenheim: Felder will be neglected in the cage, however analyst function remains play 3:27 On the UFC fight evening broadcast, Paul Felder officially publicizes his retirement from the UFC. i am going to pass over Paul Felder. Yeah, i know, we're no longer definitely going to miss him, as a result of he is nevertheless going to be in shut proximity to the Octagon, just outside it at the broadcast table. And he is definitely decent in that role. Felder's sensible battle evaluation and his easygoing persona don't precisely make him a rarity among the many athletes in this sport. a few of those that are the most violent internal the cage are thoughtful and cordial and fascinating outside it. Felder all the time offered us with a reminder that being neatly rounded changed into not effortlessly about martial arts knowledge. It changed into quite an evening on the broadcast for retired warring parties. prior in the evening, Alan Jouban sat on the analyst desk, emotionally talking about his fresh announcement that he turned into hanging up the gloves. Jouban has labored as a model, Felder as an actor. talk about neatly rounded. each are solid analysts, however as opponents, Felder reached larger ground. Felder not ever made it to the proper 5 at light-weight. however he got here so shut. Had last year's cut up decision loss to Dan Hooker gone the wrong way, Felder's upward thrust might have persevered. actually, four of his final 5 fights came right down to split decisions (he was 1-3). however what i'll most bear in mind are his finishes, exceptionally his spinning backfist KO of Danny Castillo in his second UFC fight in 2015. Then there was a 2017 TKO of a fellow named Charles Oliveira, who has not lost in 9 fights seeing that then and now wears the UFC title belt. no longer a bad method for Felder to leave his mark on the division. 메이저사이트

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McIntyre Ayala

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McIntyre Ayala
Joined: June 6th, 2021
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