Going back into UFC 293 the main card did not perform as expected with four first round finish and one no contest, including the main event that finish on first round, if they were all show stopper endings I would not say anything and would be calling it probably best event of the year for the UFC but sadly it was no the case, with all this fights ending so soon one may get the impression that they were all bad matches but to a certain degree they were not its just a combination of bad luck and some bad performance from fighters.
For the first fight we got Urmagomedov vs Gafurov, by the way Russians are killing it lately in the UFC or is it probably that bunch of them are finally getting proper attention from the industry; anyways this was the first bummer for the night ending at minute 1.52 of the first round, there were a few good exchanges specially Urmagomedov using that side/front kick, that's like a fast slap to the face potentially could head you in the temple and knock you out or at least sit your ass down.
Problem with this fight is that for some reason Gafurov throw himself to Urmagomedov legs, probably going for a take down but I don't know if they didn't study their opponent and did not notice he has a few fights end by neck guillotine, as the savage great fighter Urmagomedov the moment he saw the opportunity went for it, not something that works all the time but when Gafurov didn't catch his legs he started to trip on and fall directly unto his opponent guillotine shocking him out and force him to tap out. It was first fight of the main card so you might think its all ok we got plenty to go.
Aliskerdov vs Alves was the second fight of the main card, I have seen only twice on UFC 283 and one Fight Night I dont remember but they guy is not the best, I look up his record after the fight and he is 15-7-0 after UFC 294, I thought this would be better than the first fight and to a certain point it was because Aliskerdov put up a great show with that flying knee, after a jab that sit down Alves he took the time to setup an awesome kind of double knee that seal the deal to his victory, none the less another short fight that ends on the first round.
Comes the third fight of the night, I'm like ok I haven't finish my snack even with half glass of coke and we already into the third fight, over all so far the event was more ads than fighting but oh boy was I wrong when I thought it could not get worst. I have seen Johnny Walker in the past performing on UFC 279 and 283, like the fighter, big guy, fast, throws his hands, always laughing and they were throwing hands, Walker has this kinda front stance that in my opinion allow Ankalaev his opponent to get him on the face a few good times and a body shot, actually a couple of those and once you start feeling the impact on your last ribs I can only imagine the pain.
As you are reading might think well the event turn around, I thought the same, we were close to end first round until Ankalaev decides to throw a knee to Walker's face, problem with it is that it's illegal if your opponent has both feet on the ground, they stop the fight to let Walker take a break as the rules indicate try to see if he is hurt and can recover, I don't know how well Walker talks English but when the Doctor got into the octagon to inspect him he asks Walker "Do you know in what country you are? Do you know in what round?" and Walker did not answer, this made the Doctor declare he is no shape to continue and the referee call it, ends the fight.
At least they gave us a show because after the referee call the fight he got push by Walker, then he told Ankalaev a few things that piss him off, they try to fight over the dozen of guys trying to keep them apart and Dana White had to jump into the octagon to keep them apart, end the fight properly before it gets out of control, Walker wanted to fight, the crowd wanted to see them fight, come on Simon this was three fights ending on the first round and now a NO CONTEST?? it was shit show, Walker decides to stand down, I don't think he was going to be that crazy to push Dana when first he is the UFC CEO and second the guy who put you on the fight is trying to sort things out.
Main fight of the night ends on the first round too, Makhachev vs Volkanovski and only the co main event "saved" and I say saved because it was not the most exciting fight after the first round, was kind of the opposite to the rest of the night a very exciting first round between Usman vs Chimaev but very slow fight the next two five minute rounds, I don't necessarily feel it was a bad event but a disappointing one where viewers were expecting more of it, if I had to explain it comparing UFC 294 it was similar to Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix where drivers were constantly going out of the track getting stuck on the gravel, a couple of safety cars and two restarts with a few laps to end the race, it was a complete shit show.
Next UFC 295 where we are going to see a very promising fight, Jones Bone Jones vs Stipe Miocic, some say Jones is part of the past and he is no longer relevant but he is still kicking ass, for sure going into the UFC hall of fame one day, one of my favorite fighters back in the day when I started watching UFC a hundred and change UFC events ago, I will make another post dedicated to UFC 295 and post a few free fights of some of this fighters if I can find any on Youtube.
Makhachev vs Volkanovski - FREE FIGHT so soon?
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