UFC 294 ended rapidly with a head kick from Islam Makhachev to Alexander Volkanovski. Previous to that struggle, Kamaru Usman put up a great effort, however could not cease Khamzat Chimaev from incomes the most important win of his profession. Makhachev and Chimaev put their dominance on show on Saturday, as did quite a few rising prospects. Here is what Brett Okamoto and Marc Raimondi are taking away from a dramatic occasion in Abu Dhabi.
There is no longer room for any doubt: Islam Makhachev is the very best pound-for-pound fighter on the earth.
On Saturday at UFC 294, Makhachev did not simply beat Alexander Volkanovski to defend his UFC light-weight title. He stopped Volkanovski, the featherweight champ, with authority — a left kick upside the top that despatched Volkanovski crashing to the canvas. Volkanovski had not been completed for 10 years, going again to his fourth profession struggle.
There’s a caveat right here, after all. Volkanovski got here in on 11 days discover. Makhachev was already making ready to struggle in Abu Dhabi towards Charles Oliveira till Oliveira received a minimize in coaching and was pressured to withdraw. Was this the very best model of Volkanovski? In fact not. However you additionally can not discredit Makhachev, who was coaching to compete towards a totally completely different type. Oliveira is a tall, lanky Brazilian jiu-jitsu fighter who’s harmful together with his Muay Thai. Volkanovski is a brief, stocky all-arounder.
Moreover, Makhachev already beat Volkanovski again in February at UFC 284. With a full camp for each. There is no asterisk on that one. You probably have Makhachev and Volkanovski at Nos. 1 and a pair of pound-for-pound, as many do, Makhachev is now 2-0 in that collection. It is exhausting to not say the fighter from Dagestan is tops on the earth proper now.
The Jon Jones dialog is a unique one, him particularly as the present heavyweight champion. Jones has by no means actually misplaced within the Octagon and his résumé is best than anybody else’s within the historical past of the game. There is no doubt and nobody is basically even shut. However proper now, it is exhausting to say what he is doing is extra spectacular than Makhachev. If Jones goes out and steamrolls Stipe Miocic at UFC 295, we are able to revisit that dialog.
However what concerning the man who helped Makhachev prepare for this struggle? May he surpass the achievements of his pricey good friend and coach Khabib Nurmagomedov? Makhachev has 14 wins within the UFC, which is now yet another than Nurmagomedov had. Additional evaluating, Nurmagomedov had three light-weight title defenses; this was solely Makhachev’s second. After which, after all, there’s the truth that Nurmagomedov by no means misplaced and retired undefeated.
Makhachev tied Nurmagomedov’s 13-fight UFC profitable streak Saturday. That is the third longest mark within the historical past of the promotion. Solely Anderson Silva (16) and Kamaru Usman (15) have had extra. With one other few wins, Makhachev might want to begin being put within the dialog not solely with Nurmagomedov, however among the many biggest of all time.
However proper now? Yeah, he is the very best on the earth. — Raimondi
Who’s subsequent? By Brett Okamoto
Who needs to be subsequent for Islam Makhachev: Charles Oliveira
This can be a robust one. Justin Gaethje is deserving of the shot, and he is performed nothing fallacious. He fought who he wanted to struggle to place him again on this place. He accepted a struggle towards Rafael Fiziev, a man nobody actually wished to struggle. He then knocked out Dustin Poirier in spectacular vogue. He deserves to struggle for the belt, quickly. However the issue is, Oliveira has performed what was requested of him as nicely. He took out Beneil Dariush in July, and though it is possibly his ‘fault’ he could not make Abu Dhabi this month, I hate to see a chance misplaced attributable to an harm.
Oliveira has a win over Gaethje. I imagine you in all probability ought to give the chance again to Oliveira, however this one is basically robust.
Wild card: Justin Gaethje
It is a recent opponent for Makhachev, which I am assuming he’d admire. It is a good one for the followers. UFC cannot go fallacious right here. In the event that they select to go together with Gaethje, it is justified.
Who needs to be subsequent for featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski: Ilia Topuria
This was the plan, earlier than Volkanovski took this struggle on 11 days discover. Nothing adjustments, apart from possibly the date it occurs. However even that in all probability will not change.
Volkanovski desires to be as energetic as potential. If he is able to go in January, the UFC will possible set him up towards Topuria for the primary pay-per-view of the 12 months.
Wild card: No one
There’s not one, actually. Topuria is the apparent and solely title challenger to go together with right here. If one thing have been to occur to Topuria they may even select to only wait, relying on how lengthy any delay can be. Volkanovski has been so good, he would not have a ton of challenges left. Topuria is subsequent, just about below any and all circumstances.
Who needs to be subsequent for Khamzat Chimaev: Sean Strickland, for the UFC middleweight title
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Khamzat Chimaev wins by resolution over Kamaru Usman
Khamzat Chimaev wins a well-fought struggle through majority resolution towards Kamaru Usman.
Let’s be actual, Chimaev was able to struggle for a UFC championship three years in the past. Has he had some rising pains sometimes? Sure. However we’re probably the most imposing fighters on the earth, and he is able to beating anybody.
He’ll be a major betting favourite towards Strickland — and another middleweight. If he can minimize to welterweight ever once more, he’d be a favourite to beat Leon Edwards as nicely. He is talked about being a champion in three weight courses, and proper now, nobody can confidently say he isn’t ready to try this. Middleweight would be the one he goes for first.
Wild card: Paulo Costa
If for some cause a title shot did not occur, I’d think about the UFC would rebook Chimaev’s unique struggle towards Costa. However I anticipate the title struggle to occur.
What needs to be subsequent for Kamaru Usman: Wait
We have to see what occurs between Leon Edwards and Colby Covington in December.
If Covington wins, which is definitely potential, Usman holds two wins towards him and simply scored one thing of an ethical victory towards Chimaev. To compete like he did on 10 days discover towards a monster like that, nobody can say Usman would not have a lot left if he desires to maintain going.
What matchups make sense for him although? There aren’t a ton, if we’re being sincere. So, wait. And hope Covington beats Edwards. As a result of if Covington is holding the belt, Usman won’t even want one other win to get a title shot. And that is a shock, contemplating he is now misplaced three in a row.
Who’s subsequent for Stated Nurmagomedov?: Chris Gutierrez
Nurmagomedov has been a bit up and down so far within the UFC. When he is been good, his ceiling seems to be off the charts. When he is struggled, it has been exhausting to position him within the bantamweight division rankings. On the floor, he holds all of the intangibles one would search for in a future champ, however he is misplaced as a betting favourite twice, and had a really aggressive struggle towards the nice (however comparatively unknown) Saidyokub Kakhramonov.
His most up-to-date loss got here towards Martinez, who’s a teammate of Gutierrez. I like this struggle stylistically fairly a bit, and it will be an opportunity for Nurmagomedov to considerably avenge a loss towards Gutierrez’s Manufacturing unit X gymnasium in Colorado.
Wild card: Kyler Phillips
There are many good matchups on the market for Nurmagomedov, as bantamweight is stacked on the high and has loads of depth ready even past the highest 15. Phillips is 5-1 within the UFC, and the promotion truly booked this struggle earlier this 12 months in August and Nurmagomedov was pressured to withdraw.
It made sense then and it is smart now. Two of the very best 135-pounders within the division who’re at the moment not ranked inside the highest 15.
Did Muhammad Mokaev will get his breakthrough second?
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Muhammad Mokaev submits Tim Elliott to stay undefeated
Muhammad Mokaev will get Tim Elliott to faucet, grabbing the win to stay undefeated within the UFC.
If Tim Elliott was thought of a gatekeeper on this equation, then think about the gate open for Muhammad Mokaev.
The 23-year-old has proven an unimaginable quantity of promise thus far within the UFC. His wrestling is dominant and he is been capable of survive some very shut submissions in his previous few fights. The third-round submission (arm-triangle choke) end of Elliott represents the most important second of his younger profession. The one factor subsequent for him is a contender struggle.
Mokaev known as out high contender Kai Kara-France throughout his post-fight interview, then mentioned he’d simply take a title struggle outright. However let’s not get forward of ourselves. There are some excellent fighters on the high of the flyweight division and all have performed extra at this stage than Mokaev.
However the Dagestani-born Brit has earned a authentic 125-pound fighter subsequent, somebody like Amir Albazi or a Matheus Nicolau. Finally, Mokaev will run into somebody he can not fully bully together with his wrestling. That day was not Saturday, but it surely will not get any simpler from right here. We’ll see if he can rise to the event.
Shara Magomedov impresses in UFC debut
It was solely his UFC debut, however Shara Magomedov already appears to be like like a singular matchup for many middleweights within the promotion. He has a bevy of unorthodox kicks from completely different angles and did plenty of injury towards Bruno Silva with a left kick from the orthodox stance to the skin of Silva’s lead leg, particularly his thigh. The favored leg kick assault in MMA nowadays is a roundhouse with the again leg to an opponent’s lead calf.
Magomedov looks like a unique man, basically. He is from Dagestan, but additionally represents Shanghai, China. He has a grayed-out proper eye attributable to points with it following surgical procedure. Whereas he may use some higher takedown protection, “Shara Bullet” is aggressive, enjoyable to look at and clearly has nice hanging. He is somebody to regulate within the 185-pound division. — Raimondi