UFC Vegas 87 is within the books, which suggests it’s on to the largest fight sports activities weekend of the 12 months! On Friday, Francis Ngannou faces off in opposition to Anthony Joshua in a boxing match in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. After which on Saturday, UFC 299 takes place, a struggle card that has some questioning if it’s even higher than UFC 300. It’s an enormous weekend developing and a few essential stuff simply occurred, so let’s speak about it.
Jairzinho Rozenstruik, King of the APEX
Was Gamziev’s L a matter of an excessive amount of too quickly (primary occasion in second look)? Or did Bigi Boy show that there are ranges to the sport? Or was there one more reason?
— Zak Kitzler (@KitzlerZak) March 4, 2024
I’ll be trustworthy, given how lackluster the principle occasion was this previous weekend, and the truth that it actually didn’t imply a lot to the heavyweight division, I didn’t anticipate getting any questions on Rozenstruik vs. Shamil Gaziev. However that is straightforward so let’s knock it out.
The lengthy and in need of Saturday night time is that Gaziev will not be superb. That’s harsh, however it’s what it’s. Sure, he had a 12-0 file and scored a bunch of finishes, however the high quality of competitors was actually dangerous previous to the UFC, and even Marin Buday will not be precisely a world beater. After I did a breakdown of the newest season of Contender Sequence, I put Gaziev within the “Simply One other Man” class and I stand by it. He’s an enormous dude who can hit exhausting and grapple some, however he’s 34 and has three minutes of cardio. He’s the identical as Martin Buday and Augusto Sakai and Blagoy Ivanov and principally each different nondescript heavyweight.
For his many faults, Jairzinho Rozenstruik is an achieved fighter with some means. No, he’ll by no means be a champion, however he’s been constantly competing in opposition to high quality competitors and he solely loses to the great fighters. He’s an ideal gatekeeper to the highest 10, and on Saturday, he held the gate closed.
The Flyweight Title image
Who’s getting the following Flyweight title shot? Albazi may not be prepared for 301 and he ought to be subsequent. But when he cannot, who’s subsequent?
And is Pantoja vs ??? Adequate to primary occasion 301, particularly since a bunch of excessive profile Brazilians are already booked.
— Dillon Armoogam (@DOGYEE) March 3, 2024
Final week I used to be requested this query and my reply was easy: Brandon Royval may get it, however I feel Muhammad Mokaev will get the following crack at Alexandre Pantoja if he wins at UFC Vegas 87. Welp, Mokaev gained, however I don’t assume he’s getting the title shot.
Full credit score to Mokaev, he’s 23 years outdated and already among the finest fighters on this planet in his weight class. And Alex Perez is a troublesome out to make sure. However that’s not the kind of efficiency that makes Dana White get up and declare you subsequent. So what does that imply for Pantoja? There are three potential outcomes.
Royval will get the title shot. I hate this final result rather a lot and I hope it doesn’t occur, but it surely is perhaps the almost definitely. He simply obtained a win in the principle occasion of an enormous card. So what if he obtained rinsed by Pantoja two months in the past? This sport has the reminiscence of a goldfish.
I’m simply going to imagine Amir Albazi can’t compete at UFC 301 given a neck harm pressured him from UFC Mexico Metropolis and that appears tough. However Manel Kape can. Would it not be ridiculous to provide Kape a title shot after blowing weight and never even preventing his most up-to-date reserving? Positive. However would it not be higher than Royval getting one other shot so quickly? I kinda assume so. And once you add in that Kape is from Portugal and would have each single Brazilian wanting him to die, I truthfully assume it is a viable final result.
Rumors have been swirling for months that Kyoji Horiguchi might be returning to the UFC. Try this. If I’m Dana White, Kyoji is getting a name at the moment upping our provide and telling him he’s obtained an instantaneous shot at Pantoja in Rio. The one draw back is that that is the perfect and coolest possibility, which suggests it most likely gained’t occur.
As for Pantoja headlining Brazil? No likelihood. Flyweights aren’t even allowed to headline most Struggle Evening playing cards. No shot the UFC makes its return to Brazil with Pants as the principle. Pantoja vs. X would be the co-main occasion, and I’d guess some huge cash that the UFC is hoping past hope that Jailton Almeida beats Curtis Blaydes so the principle occasion will be Almeida vs. Tom Aspinall for the interim heavyweight title.
Steve Erceg
Did Erceg do sufficient to leapfrog a sluggish Mokaev efficiency?
— Laxmiddy34 (@laxmiddy34) March 3, 2024
First, (Mike) Heck of a knockout from Erceg. That’s precisely what you needed to see from him. He shook issues up along with his debut by instantly cracking the highest 15 at flyweight, and now in his third UFC struggle he put up a spotlight. “Astroboy” is legit and there’s a world the place a variety of us really feel silly for leaving him off our “Rookie of the Yr” lists.
Second, one nice efficiency doesn’t surpass a bunch of them. Positive, Mokaev underwhelmed in context, however Alex Perez can be a a lot harder take a look at than Matt Schnell. Mokaev has not fairly lived as much as a few of the lofty expectations positioned upon him, and I’ve professional considerations about his long-term potential when he appears averse to really damaging opponents, however the man has six UFC fights and 4 submissions. Erceg continues to be behind him.
Francis Ngannou, heavyweight boxer
How a lot does Francis’s inventory drop if he will get KO’d or styled on by Joshua?
— ⚡️ (@nutshoteyepoke) March 3, 2024
I doubt it drops in any respect, truthfully.
By nearly any definition, Ngannou is enjoying with home cash right here. He obtained his struggle with Tyson Fury and 95 % of individuals assumed that will be it. One huge payday after which he’s again to MMA. However he knocked Fury down and arguably gained the struggle (he didn’t, however folks wish to grade on curves), and now he has many extra probabilities at boxing purses. And on the similar time, no person expects him to do it once more, as a result of it’s not cheap to assume so. Anthony Joshua is an elite heavyweight boxer. Francis is a rookie. If Joshua comes out and types on him, then that’s simply assembly everybody’s expectations.
I’d be fairly stunned if Joshua styled although. Don’t get me mistaken, I anticipate Joshua to win cleanly, however I doubt he’s going to look all that flashy doing it. Ngannou is gigantic, insanely sturdy, and packs the type of energy that calls for respect, particularly from a man like Joshua who isn’t precisely bulletproof. I strongly suspect this struggle finally ends up wanting like a variety of veteran vs. up-and-comer fights the place Joshua soundly out-boxes Ngannou for 10 rounds. A ton of jabs, strain, and exercise, all whereas prioritizing his personal security. Ngannou has a puncher’s likelihood; Joshua goes to take that away and win a workmanlike determination.
And whereas I’d be stunned if Joshua styled on Francis, I’ll be downright shocked if he sleeps him. One factor Ngannou doesn’t get almost sufficient credit score for is his otherworldly chin. When have we seen him remotely damage? Go watch the primary Stipe Miocic struggle once more. Ngannou is totally gassed out after 4 minutes, and for the following 21, Miocic — famend heavyweight puncher that he’s — barely places a mark on his face. In case you’re useless drained and Stipe can’t put you out, I actually don’t assume anybody goes to do it in 12-ounce gloves.
Joshua by unanimous determination.
UFC 299 vs. UFC 300
What playing cards’ High-5 fights do you discover extra attention-grabbing/intriguing?
UFC 299:1. Sean O’Malley / Marlon Vera2. Dustin Poirier / BSD3. Holland / Michael Page4. Gilbert Burns / JDM5. Petr Yan / Track Yadong ORUFC 300: 1. Pereira / Hill2. Weili / Xiaonan3. Geathje / Halloway…
— MMA Pet (@mmapuppy) March 3, 2024
There’s been a rising quantity of help that UFC 299 is best than UFC 300, and to these folks I’ve however one query for you: Who’s your supplier? As a result of I want his quantity.
UFC 299 is a sick card. It’s a legitimately unbelievable pay-per-view and the type of stacked card you want the UFC would do extra usually. However it’s not in the identical ballpark as UFC 300. There’s been a pushback on 300 for the reason that primary occasion was removed from the “knock your socks off madness” that was promised, but it surely’s nonetheless a rattling good struggle. So let’s examine the 2 playing cards face to face.
Sean O’Malley-Chito Vera 2 vs. Alex Pereira-Jamahal Hill
Even. If you wish to give an edge to O’Malley-Vera 2 on the premise of star energy, positive. However it’s a rematch and Chito doesn’t actually deserve this shot. Plus, Alex Pereira rocks.
Dustin Poirier-Benoit Saint Denis vs. Justin Gaethje-Max Holloway
I shifted the 300 bout order as a result of that is rattling close to the identical struggle. These two bouts are 1A and 1B in preseason Struggle of the Yr voting, and the A and B will be both facet. No benefit both method.
Kevin Holland-Michael ‘Venom’ Web page vs. Weili Zhang-Yan Xaionan
Holland vs. Web page will most likely be a enjoyable struggle due to who they’re, however any reply right here different and the strawweight title struggle is lunacy. Weili is among the most fun ladies in MMA and Yan is coming off her career-best efficiency. Clear benefit 300 and it’s solely getting greater from right here on out.
Gilbert Burns-Jack Della Maddalena vs. Charles Oliveira-Arman Tsarukyan
All of us love Burns and JDM, however be for actual. Oliveira-Tsarukyan is perhaps for a title struggle and it’s No. 2 within the preseason Struggle of the Yr voting. 300 is constructing a lead.
Petr Yan-Track Yadong vs. Jiri Prochazka-Aleksandar Rakic
Bantamweight is a lot better than mild heavweight, so possibly 299 claws a bit of bit again right here relying on who you’re, however I’m undecided in case you folks have seen Jiri Prochazka struggle. He’s all the time probably the most thrilling dude on a struggle card. Even.
Curtis Blaydes-Jailton Almeida vs. Calvin Kattar-Aljamain Sterling
Kattar-Sterling is definitely a sixth primary card struggle for UFC 300 which supplies it a little bit of a lift, however even with out it, it’s nonetheless a stroll. Blaydes-Almeida has a excessive likelihood of being boring. Calvin Kattar doesn’t know what that phrase means however he’s fairly positive he hates it. 300 separating now.
Katlyn Cerminara (nee Chookagian)-Maycee Barber vs. Deiveson Figueiredo-Cody Garbrandt
HAHAHAHAHAHA. Cease the rattling match! Seventh Spherical TKO victory for UFC 300.
Once more, 299 is a unbelievable card, and the highest finish is really wonderful. However top-to-bottom, UFC 300 is unparalleled. If we had gotten into the early prelims, guys like Josh Parisian are going had-to-head in opposition to Bobby Inexperienced and Jim Miller. It’s merely not a good struggle.
On paper, UFC 300 is the perfect struggle card assembled in 20 years, if not ever.
Thanks for studying, and thanks for everybody who despatched in Tweets (Xs?)! Do you’ve gotten any burning questions on issues not less than considerably associated to fight sports activities? You then’re in luck, as a result of you possibly can ship your Tweets to me, @JedKMeshew, and I’ll reply my favourite ones! Doesn’t matter in the event that they’re topical or insane, simply as long as they’re good. Thanks once more and see y’all subsequent week.