Cross-promotion in MMA is like fantasy sports activities or a online game coming to life. This previous weekend, we skilled a little bit of it when the perfect of the PFL met the perfect of Bellator. Earlier than Saturday’s throwdown of champions in Saudi Arabia, any comparability of Renan Ferreira and Ryan Bader existed in solely a hypothetical world. However then Ferreira, the PFL heavyweight champion, knocked out the Bellator belt-holder in simply 21 seconds, leaving no room for argument.
There nonetheless is room to fantasize about world MMA supremacy for those who additionally issue within the champions of the UFC — which your dialogue ought to embrace, in fact, as a result of that is the most important promotion within the sport. However when the UFC is a part of the dialogue, it is solely discuss. Nobody within the UFC will get to stroll the stroll towards the perfect that different combat corporations have to supply. The UFC doesn’t cross-promote.
That is as a result of whereas cross-promotion excites many, it is unsettling to the UFC. A giant a part of that could be a enterprise determination. The UFC is probably the most distinguished promotion within the sport, so why highlight corporations competing with it? And talking of competitors, that is one other facet of the UFC’s reluctance to take part. The aversion goes again a long time to the night time in 2003 when Chuck Liddell, one of many UFC’s brightest stars and an in depth good friend of Dana White, repped the combat promotion at an occasion placed on in Tokyo by the most important rival firm, the Delight Preventing Championships. Liddell arrived in Japan with a lot hype behind him however left because the recipient of a brutal knockout, courtesy of a Delight star of the time, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson.
The UFC has not engaged in an MMA cross-promotion ever since.
However what if it did? What if the UFC’s champs confronted the champs of the opposite high promotions? Not each UFC weight class has a counterpart within the PFL, Bellator or different combat corporations, however listed below are some fantasy-sports-like assessments from Brett Okamoto, Marc Raimondi and Jeff Wagenheim on what would possibly occur in weight divisions the place there are potential matchups.
Heavyweight: UFC’s Jon Jones vs. PFL’s Renan Ferreira
Okamoto: Is it simple or arduous to handicap Jon Jones now?
On one hand, it is Jon Jones, the best of all time, and naturally he would beat Renan Ferreira as a result of he beats everybody. However, Jones is 36 years outdated, and he has fought solely as soon as previously 4 years. And we noticed him for under two minutes in that combat. Is there a decline coming? Has it already occurred, and we simply have not seen it but? Sooner or later, there can be a decline. Taking a lot break day is nice in a way, as a result of it has saved Jones comparatively wholesome, though he’s coming off a fairly extreme damage from final yr. This quantity of inactivity, although, most likely is not nice for competing on the highest stage.
Ferreira has been energetic, and his timing and bodily capability have by no means seemed higher. If Jones and Ferreira fought, Ferreira could be the higher athlete, which perhaps hasn’t been the case in a single combat in Jones’ profession. If Ferreira caught him and knocked him out, it could be stunning as a result of it is Jon Jones, however given the circumstances, it would not be that stunning.
Nonetheless, I have to go along with Jones’ total abilities, plus his capability to at all times present up on combat night time.
Prediction: Jones by determination
Gentle heavyweight: UFC’s Alex Pereira vs. PFL’s Impa Kasanganay
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Alex Pereira shocks Jiří Procházka to win mild heavyweight title
Alex Pereira survives an early battle and stuns Jiří Procházka with a second-round knockout to win the UFC mild heavyweight championship.
Raimondi: Kasanganay afforded himself effectively Saturday towards Bellator middleweight champion Johnny Eblen on the PFL vs. Bellator card. There is not any doubt about that. Many believed Eblen would run over Kasanganay along with his wrestling and tempo. That was not the case. Kasanganay confirmed off some slick hanging and tactical changes to keep away from these issues at instances. Eblen received by way of cut up determination, however Kasanganay did probably the most harm within the bout.
The issue for Kasanganay is that Pereira is a horrible matchup for him. Kasanganay is an efficient striker with slick combos and a few pop in his palms, however Pereira is dominant on the ft and was just lately inducted into the Glory Kickboxing Corridor of Fame. He is an elite standup artist with among the finest energy in all of MMA. Kasanganay can grapple and has had some submission wins in his profession, however Pereira is a tricky man to get off his ft, and he’ll be greater than Kasanganay. It most likely wouldn’t be a enjoyable night for the PFL mild heavyweight champion.
Prediction: Pereira by KO
Middleweight: UFC’s Dricus du Plessis vs. Bellator’s Johnny Eblen
Wagenheim: The narrative heading into Saturday’s matchups of PFL and Bellator champs was that solely a type of titleholders might make a powerful case for being the perfect fighter on the planet at his weight, no matter promotion. That champ was Bellator middleweight Johnny Eblen. Then, the PFL’s Impa Kasanganay shortly put him in survival mode. A lot for Eblen’s declare on world supremacy, proper? Not so quick.
Eblen did win his combat, and in having to stage a gritty comeback, he confirmed a resilience that had not beforehand been known as upon. Du Plessis, who’s aggressive and all-around strong, would certainly check that resilience.
Now that we all know that Eblen has what it takes to combat again towards adversity, we should ask ourselves if that might be sufficient for him to get the nod over Du Plessis. Powerful name. The Bellator champ is unbeaten, however the UFC champ has misplaced solely as soon as previously decade and has proven himself to be extra of a finisher towards the next stage of opposition. I am not saying Eblen could not win this, however I might lean towards Du Plessis by wear-him-down determination.
Prediction: Du Plessis by determination
Welterweight: UFC’s Leon Edwards vs. PFL’s Magomed Magomedkerimov
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Magomedkerimov clinches playoff spot behind vicious haymaker
Magomed Magomedkerimov drops David Zawada with an enormous proper hand, then finishes him off to earn the highest seed within the PFL playoffs.
Okamoto: Edwards has established himself as a bona fide pound-for-pound candidate, which implies he is primarily matchup proof. It doesn’t suggest he cannot lose, clearly, nevertheless it does imply that one explicit fashion is not going to present him suits.
That mentioned, as arduous as it’s to wager towards Edwards’ greatness, it is practically as arduous to wager towards Magomedkerimov’s high sport and knockout potential. Magomedkerimov trains with Khabib Nurmagomedov’s staff out of Russia, and Magomedkerimov’s solely loss within the PFL got here when Ray Cooper III clipped him in 2021. Edwards is so sharp, effectively conditioned and effectively rounded proper now. He ought to be capable to win the small print that determine this type of combat, however it could be harmful for him.
Prediction: Edwards by determination
Light-weight: UFC’s Islam Makhachev vs. Bellator’s Usman Nurmagomedov
Raimondi: It is a enjoyable matchup to contemplate, nevertheless it’ll by no means occur in actuality. Makhachev and Nurmagomedov have skilled collectively primarily their entire lives, together with as children below Nurmagomedov’s uncle Abdulmanap, the daddy of UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov. Some folks understand how this goes, although — the coaching companions and coaches who’ve labored with them over time and seen them spar. They’re unlikely to weigh in on this debate, as a result of wars contained in the gymnasium in MMA are supposed to keep contained in the gymnasium.
Javier Mendez, who coaches each males at American Kickboxing Academy, has mentioned that Usman Nurmagomedov is probably the most purely gifted fighter within the room. He is likely to be the perfect pure striker among the many Dagestani crew, with a well-rounded sport on the ft and a few sturdy wrestling and grappling. Makhachev, nonetheless, could be the larger, stronger, extra skilled fighter in a potential combat. He has confronted a lot more durable competitors over time. However, Usman is 25 years outdated (Makhachev is 32) and solely getting higher. This debate might proceed for years to come back.
Prediction: Makhachev by determination
Featherweight: UFC’s Ilia Topuria vs. Bellator’s Patricio ‘Pitbull’ Freire
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UFC Champion Topuria: I have been a famous person since day one
Ilia Topuria shares his ideas after knocking out Alexander Volkanovski to win UFC’s featherweight title.
Wagenheim: Topuria’s opponent right here might simply as effectively be PFL champion Jesus Pinedo, who was scheduled to tackle Pitbull at Saturday’s occasion in Saudi Arabia however withdrew shortly earlier than combat night time. Both method, whether or not going through Bellator’s champ or the PFL’s, I am snug saying Topuria would come out on high and achieve this in an eye-opening fashion.
His undefeated report bought a lot shinier somewhat over every week in the past along with his title-winning knockout victory over Alexander Volkanovski, who entered their UFC 298 bout because the promotion’s longest-reigning champ. Topuria smoked him with a deadly mixture of pace, energy and confidence. And if Topuria might try this to a top-three pound-for-pound star, think about what Topuria would do towards an much more aged opponent, 36-year-old Freire, or a comparatively inexperienced one, Pinedo. I might not anticipate the cageside judges to be wanted for this one.
Prediction: Topuria by KO
Bantamweight: UFC’s Sean O’Malley vs. Bellator’s Patchy Combine
Okamoto: This may be a implausible matchup. Each O’Malley combat breakdown begins along with his pace, footwork and skill to maneuver across the cage and freeze opponents with feints. Combine is extra easy, strolling opponents down with regular strain and energy pictures, after which he’ll search for what he actually needs — an entry into your hips for the takedown.
We’re nonetheless ready for an entire check of O’Malley’s grappling abilities. He and his staff proceed to say it is there, however we’ve not absolutely seen it, primarily as a result of O’Malley hasn’t allowed anybody to get him down. Combine is intelligent in his entries. He is additionally a finisher as soon as he will get you down.
O’Malley will get the sting as a result of each spherical begins on the ft, however Combine would most likely check that floor sport in methods even Aljamain Sterling could not.
Prediction: O’Malley by determination
Males’s flyweight: UFC’s Alexandre Pantoja vs. Rizin’s Kyoji Horiguchi
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Pantoja retains belt in extensive determination over Royval
Alexandre Pantoja retains the flyweight title with a dominant determination win vs. Brandon Royval.
Raimondi: Horiguchi left the UFC as a free agent in 2017 on a three-fight profitable streak at flyweight. The one man within the UFC he misplaced to at 125 kilos was longtime champion and all-time nice Demetrious Johnson. Horiguchi departed the UFC for his house nation of Japan and the Rizin promotion and Bellator, the place he moved as much as bantamweight solely — till his previous three fights. Horiguchi is 2-0 (1 NC) since transferring again all the way down to flyweight and beat Makoto “Shinryu” Takahashi to win the Rizin flyweight title on New Yr’s Eve.
Pantoja vs. Horiguchi could be an exceptional combat that might be arduous to foretell. Pantoja has confronted the more durable competitors of late within the UFC and has seemed glorious throughout his five-fight profitable streak. Each of those males might combat anyplace. Pantoja might need a slight edge in each hanging and grappling, however Horiguchi arguably has extra energy in his palms, particularly at 125. And he is no slouch on the bottom, both. It is a marquee combat, among the best skill-for-skill matchup on this listing.
Prediction: Horiguchi by determination
Ladies’s flyweight: UFC’s Alexa Grasso vs. Bellator’s Liz Carmouche
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Alexa Grasso retains flyweight belt after cut up draw
Alexa Grasso retains her flyweight title after a cut up draw with former flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko.
Raimondi: Carmouche is hard as nails and has received seven in a row since being launched by the UFC following a title-fight loss to Valentina Shevchenko. She’s a girls’s MMA pioneer, having been within the first UFC girls’s combat towards Ronda Rousey. Carmouche began her professional profession in 2010, three years earlier than the UFC debuted girls rivals. This yr, she’ll enter the PFL’s inaugural girls’s flyweight season and be one of many favorites.
Carmouche is 40 years outdated, although. Grasso is 10 years her junior, and final yr, she defeated Shevchenko, the lady who beat Carmouche in one-sided vogue in 2019. MMA math like that doesn’t at all times work. However Grasso is the a lot slicker striker on this equation, with energy in her palms. She has additionally improved her takedown protection exponentially over time. Carmouche could be trying to take the combat to the mat, the place she might use her energy and grappling capability. Grasso ought to be capable to maintain issues on the ft and land large punches en path to a call victory. Carmouche hasn’t been completed since Rousey submitted her 11 years in the past. She has by no means been knocked out.
Prediction: Grasso by determination
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