A 14-fight UFC 299 in Miami was headlined by a dominant title battle efficiency from Sean O’Malley. Within the co-main occasion, Dustin Poirier reminded the world that he is nonetheless one of many pound-for-pound finest within the sport, and Michael “Venom” Web page placed on a present in his debut within the promotion. However what have been the most important moments from UFC 299 and who needs to be subsequent for the most important standouts on the cardboard? Brett Okamoto, Marc Raimondi and Jeff Wagenheim provide their closing ideas.
MIAMI — There have been a number of questions relating to Sean O’Malley and the way large of a star he’s or could possibly be.
The UFC has pushed him arduous, there is not any doubting that. The promotion pumped out his title-winning knockout of Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292 final August on all its social media channels, the thought being to get as many eyes on it as potential. O’Malley was capable of put on customized pink battle shorts slightly than the normal black and gold. The checklist of the way the UFC has tried to get O’Malley over with the followers, to borrow a professional wrestling time period, is an extended one.
Individuals can travel on that stardom matter till their faces are as blue because the teal in O’Malley’s cornrows Saturday evening. O’Malley won’t be the following Conor McGregor or something even shut. However he is unquestionably a terrific fighter — higher than many individuals give him credit score for.
O’Malley’s efficiency was masterful at UFC 299. He pieced Marlon “Chito” Vera up for 5 rounds, displaying off stunning footwork and timing. “Suga” landed punches and kicks from a number of angles, together with a sniper-like energy jab from a stance change place. O’Malley’s second-round knee up the center cracked Vera arduous and opened up a lower under his proper eye.
If individuals did not understand simply how glorious a fighter O’Malley is after he knocked out Sterling sublimely seven months in the past, it is arduous to disclaim him after this weekend.
There’s all the time this disconnect about ability stage for these fighters who rise in recognition shortly and get the promotional rocket ship strapped to them by the UFC. They get referred to as a hype prepare; critics say they don’t seem to be practically pretty much as good because the UFC needs individuals to consider. It occurred to McGregor himself and to different large stars like Ronda Rousey. Many doubters sprout up, balancing out the followers who’re getting behind the fighters en masse.
Even when McGregor knocked out Jose Aldo in 13 seconds to turn into the UFC featherweight champion, individuals stated it was a fluke. McGregor nonetheless would not get the credit score he deserves for being as nice as he was. It wasn’t till perhaps the efficiency towards Eddie Alvarez that McGregor’s greatest critics needed to acknowledge his high quality.
Saturday wasn’t essentially an Aldo or Alvarez second for O’Malley. However having completed what he did towards an excellent fighter in Vera, mixed with the knockout of Sterling final yr, he has to get his flowers — ideally pink — for being a improbable fighter.
Subsequent large star or not. Subsequent McGregor or not. O’Malley is the actual deal, and folks ought to begin conceding that. — Marc Raimondi
Okamoto: What’s subsequent for high stars after UFC 299?
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Dustin Poirier grabs exhilarating KO victory over Benoit Saint-Denis
Dustin Poirer lands a barrage of robust punches to seize a win through knockout vs. Benoit Saint-Denis.
Sean O’Malley, bantamweight champion
Who needs to be subsequent: Merab Dvalishvili
I admire the callout of Topuria, and if issues proceed to go properly for each, that callout shall be a pleasant piece of content material for the sizzle reel. Nevertheless it’s not taking place subsequent, definitely not. I feel even O’Malley is aware of that, which is why he hedged his guess and talked about Dvalishvili by identify within the Octagon. Even coming off this wonderful efficiency, O’Malley goes to face some doubters when he takes on Dvalishvili, just because Dvalishvili has a buzz noticed of a method that looks like each fighter’s kryptonite, not simply O’Malley’s. However O’Malley has been as much as each activity to this point, so doubt him at your personal danger.
Wild card: Cory Sandhagen
I say this solely as a result of Sandhagen can be the backup weigh-in fighter for an O’Malley vs. Dvalishvili title battle. I feel Sandhagen will find yourself taking up yet another opponent earlier than getting his shot, but when one thing unlucky strikes the O’Malley-Dvalishvili matchup, Sandhagen can be first in line.
Dustin Poirier, light-weight
Who needs to be subsequent: Max Holloway
If Holloway have been to beat Justin Gaethje in subsequent month’s BMF title battle at UFC 300, it will be simple to ask him to remain at that weight, let Ilia Topuria tackle one other challenger at 145 within the meantime, and have Holloway defend the BMF belt towards Poirier. They’ve already fought twice — Poirier has gained each — however these have been a very long time in the past, and certainly one of them was at 145. If Holloway appears to be like good at 155 and upsets Gaethje, the urge for food shall be there to maintain him at light-weight, at which level it is smart to do Poirier vs. Holloway 3.
Wild card: I am undecided
That is the draw back of preventing 30 occasions within the UFC. Ultimately, you begin to run out of opponents. If it isn’t Holloway, perhaps Poirier appears to be like at one thing at welterweight? The one factor left for him is successful the light-weight championship, however it’s a foggy, probably lengthy path to get there. Not when it comes to fights, however simply time. And one thing tells me Poirier is not going to need an prolonged layoff.
Michael Web page, welterweight
Who needs to be subsequent: Kamaru Usman
I simply do not see a purpose to fiddle with Web page. Let’s discover out what he’s. I do know some have been upset on this debut. I wasn’t. Web page landed some improbable pictures. Plenty of them. Holland’s chin simply held up. Web page’s fashion labored as supposed — it visibly annoyed and confused Holland for 3 rounds. When Web page wanted to counter-wrestle and keep on his ft or get again to his ft, he did it for probably the most half. What do we actually must see him towards within the division apart from the highest? I need not see if Web page can “dangle” within the UFC. I might wish to know if he can dangle with the easiest. And Usman is in a spot the place there aren’t apparent opponents for him. This is able to be an enormous battle and useful for each.
Wild card: Stephen Thompson
This looks like the plain matchup for apparent causes, however the two are pleasant with each other and would like to not battle one another. I feel there are different choices for Web page who curiosity me as a lot as Thompson, and I haven’t got to see this battle subsequent if they do not need it, but when the UFC feels that is the matchup the followers are asking for, historical past suggests they are going to pursue it.
Jack Della Maddalena, welterweight
Who needs to be subsequent: Shavkat Rakhmonov
This is not the primary time Della Maddalena has referred to as out Rakhmonov. He is bought a behavior of it, frankly. And you must respect him for it. It will be an enormous leap within the rankings, however why not? He is the one one calling Rakhmonov out, and Rakhmonov may be ready for a bit if he is making an attempt to take a seat issues out till he will get a title battle. Rakhmonov can be favored, however Della Maddalena has proven a ton of ending energy, and this win over Burns reveals his potential to rise below adversity. If he can escape a possible again take towards a fighter like Burns in a do-or-die scenario, is it so wild to assume he may beat Rakhmonov?
Wild card: Ian Machado Garry
I have been asking for this battle for over a yr, and nothing has occurred to reduce its attraction. At this level, perhaps the UFC will proceed to delay this matchup as a result of reserving them towards one another means you are guaranteeing certainly one of them a loss, however my tackle that has all the time been these two are younger sufficient {that a} loss would not set them again too far. I do not know who wins between Della Maddalena and Machado Garry, and I might like to search out out.
Petr Yan, bantamweight
Who needs to be subsequent: Henry Cejudo
Cejudo has referred to as for Brandon Moreno on Mexican Independence Day, which I like. That is a superb battle for that occasion. However truthfully, it would not make a lot sense for the division. This battle is smart for the division. Yan was a pound-for-pound candidate as a champion earlier than he went on a skid. Identical with Cejudo (retirement and a skid). Each lately misplaced to Merab Dvalishvili, however they do not look completed. Cejudo has talked about retirement, but when he beats Yan, he is nonetheless not that far off from a title battle. A win over Yan means greater than a win over Moreno at 135 kilos. That is the one which makes probably the most sense.
Wild card: Kyler Phillips
This one is on the market. However Yan is coming off a skid, and most of the high of the division are tied up in fights which are already booked or extremely doubtless. There’s not an apparent opponent for him close to the highest, apart from Cejudo. Phillips seemed nice at UFC 299. It will be an entertaining battle, I can promise you that. Does it take advantage of sense when it comes to rankings? Maybe not, however it’s additionally not out of left area. You’ll be able to justify it, and I do not see many different choices that I like higher.
Wagenheim: Rising contenders take their title contender assessments
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Jack Della Maddalena lands enormous knee that results in KO win vs. Gilbert Burns
Jack Della Maddalena lands an enormous knee after which throws a flurry of punches to seize a knockout win over Gilbert Burns.
The primary occasion all the time will get the highlight, however sprinkled on each battle card are undercard bouts that includes these auditioning to be future stars. These fights are the lifeblood of the game, and UFC 299 overflowed with them. There was a run of 4 straight fights, bridging the prelims and the principle card, that every featured a fighter on the rise dealing with a check.
Their success charge was blended. A few fighters made advances into the lofty world of contenders. Others had the gate slammed of their faces. Probably the most stunning success story was Jack Della Maddalena’s. The 27-year-old Australian was on the verge of shedding to Gilbert Burns, who had again management halfway by means of the ultimate spherical and was fishing for a submission. Even when Burns, a onetime welterweight title challenger and a grappling ace, maintained floor management, it gave the impression to be his battle. However Della Maddalena someway escaped to his ft, and as quickly because the fighters got here towards one another, the Aussie landed a knee to the face that led to a end — Della Maddalena’s seventeenth straight win. That is how contenders are made.
Maycee Barber additionally had success, though hers was a bit extra muted. The 25-year-old gained her battle towards onetime ladies’s flyweight challenger Katlyn Ceminara, however she absorbed too many punches and kicks from Cerminara, who shouldn’t be recognized for her energy. Defensive lapses may price Barber as she strikes up the rankings. However at the very least she’s shifting up.
A few others gave the impression to be on the street to success however ended up in a ditch. Jailton Almeida landed 9 takedowns within the first spherical towards top-five heavyweight Curtis Blaydes and managed the elite wrestler on the canvas for practically your complete 5 minutes. Then he got here out for Spherical 2, went for one more takedown — and Blaydes defended by touchdown a hammerfist to the facet of the pinnacle. And one other and one other, till Almeida was turtled up, defenseless, and the referee jumped in.
Tune Yadong additionally had early success, however he was in with a former champion, Petr Yan, and that was an schooling. Yan stored coming at him, opened cuts on Tune’s face, and took over the second half of the battle. Tune, 26, nonetheless has a future, as does Almeida, who’s 32, however as a heavyweight, he’s in a division the place contenders skew older.
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