1. What’s your blurb evaluate of UFC 319?
Heck: Memorable card in a variety of methods — together with a few completely surprising outcomes. Shall be one we speak about at 12 months’s finish, definitely.
Lee: May have used yet one more spinning again elbow knockout, ideally in the principle occasion.
Martin: Unforgettable back-to-back spinning again elbow knockouts and a brand new famous person is born. That’s a strong present.
Meshew: Khamzat Chimaev lastly did it.
2. Who can cease Khamzat Chimaev?
Heck: Brief reply? In all probability no one at middleweight. Nonetheless, I believe there’s one fighter on this division who has a [super slight] likelihood of beat him, and that’s Anthony Hernandez.
“Fluffy” delivered one of many three finest performances in MMA this 12 months when he completely ran over, and embarrassed Roman Dolidze in a principal occasion battle. His relentless model, the tempo he places on, and simply the general gameness he brings to the desk may probably give Chimaev some issues.
With all due respect, exterior of Hernandez, I’m not giving anyone within the division a lot of an opportunity, exterior of a slip on a banana peel.
Lee: Up right here in Ontario, we had a furniture-selling model referred to as Dangerous Boy and to borrow their well-known slogan:
“Who’s higher? Noooobodyyyyyyy!”
Wow, that was an extended strategy to go to get to my level. Completely value it.
What I’m saying is I’ve by no means picked Chimaev to lose, I didn’t choose him to lose Saturday, and I’m definitely not selecting him to lose within the close to future. There are a variety of compelling challengers within the pipeline and I really like all these matchups, however for me, Chimaev is a -400 favourite at worst towards any of them.
Chimaev’s rise to the highest was slowed by exterior components and he’s solely dropping this belt if he will get injured or makes an oh-so-trendy change in divisions to chase one other title.
Martin: Primarily based on the present crop of contenders, Chimaev goes to be closely favored towards all people however Reinier de Ridder remains to be my choose to offer him the hardest problem. Not saying he’ll win however he’s acquired the most effective likelihood.
The 2 fighters who’ve given Chimaev probably the most grief within the UFC have been Gilbert Burns — world class jiu-jitsu — and Kamaru Usman — among the best wrestlers to ever compete within the octagon. On paper, de Ridder is arguably the closest mixture of the 2. He’s by far the slickest grappler at middleweight, his wrestling is strong if not underrated and he’s really proven fairly good hanging up to now within the UFC.
Plus, de Ridder has skilled with Chimaev up to now so there’s some familiarity there and as an added bonus he at the moment works with each Usman and Burns. All that further perception can’t damage.
Meshew: Whereas my coronary heart sings that folks like Damon suppose RDR presents a problem to Chimaev — I’m the unique RDR fan — my mind is aware of it’s not true. I believe de Ridder goes to get the decision to step in towards Chimaev when the promotion goes to Abu Dhabi in a few months, and it’s gonna go poorly for my massive, lovely bozo, as a result of it would go poorly for anybody on this weight class.
Heading into UFC 319, I assumed du Plessis was the hardest matchup for Chimaev at middleweight, and whereas that certain seems to be improper now, I don’t suppose it’s that improper. My massive takeaway from Saturday is just how good this new, extra mature Chimaev seems to be, and provided that, the remainder of the division is in bother for the foreseeable future.
If I needed to choose one man who may perhaps pull it off although, give me Alex Pereira if “Poatan” decides dropping again right down to 185 for one final dance can be enjoyable. Pereira is large man, nice athlete, higher wrestler than he will get credit score for, and would clearly wax Chimaev on the ft, if he can hold it there. He’s the one middleweight who has a shot.
3. Is Lerone Murphy subsequent for Alexander Volkanovski and what are his probabilities?
Heck: Sure, and I didn’t suppose that will be doable.
First off, I picked Murphy to win this battle. I simply really feel expertise issues, and whereas Aaron Pico has a whole lot of foundational instruments and expertise, his finest win might be Justin Gonzalez. And to go from that, to combating a extremely good fighter like Lerone Murphy is an excellent robust ask. I used to be really stunned how rapidly folks have been anointing Pico because the clear winner of this battle.
Second, did I count on Murphy to win in the best way he did? After all not, and neither did you. However he certain did, and when Alexander Volkanovski instantly tweets about it, and has a month in thoughts, you’re in all probability going to get your shot. What an evening for “The Miracle.”
In terms of contenders like Murphy, who put collectively prolonged win streaks however aren’t essentially recognized for his or her viral trash speak or highlight-reel finishes, all you possibly can ask them to do is to discover a strategy to manufacture that signature second and Murphy lastly did it (with a tiny little bit of assist from the all the time reckless Pico).
Evloev is out of the image, Jean Silva has to get previous Diego Lopes first earlier than we push him to the entrance of the dialogue, and we will’t severely be contemplating Yair Rodriguez for an additional title shot.
Martin: 100% Murphy will get the subsequent shot and he’s earned it.
Nobody has been a fiercer critic of Murphy’s combating model than me. He wins however his fights are nearly all the time fully forgettable. He beat Josh Emmett and 24 hours later, I couldn’t inform you a single factor that stood out concerning the efficiency. That each one modified on Saturday when Murphy deaded Aaron Pico with a spinning again elbow. Positive, a part of that was Pico being his ultra-aggressive self and that allowed Murphy to attain a spotlight reel end however that’s precisely what he wanted to safe a title battle.
Can he beat Volkanovski? One thing tells me that battle in all probability appears much more like Murphy’s different current performances however he’s extremely expert and Volk isn’t getting any youthful. It might be a 48-47 resolution however Murphy can get the job executed.
Meshew: Maybe probably the most spectacular factor from Saturday was Murphy fully altering his stars with one battle. Heading into the occasion, Murphy appeared to be within the Leon Edwards zone of “must win 12 fights to get into the title image” after which one extremely KO later and he’s the frontrunner to battle for the belt subsequent.
And will that occur, I believe he’s acquired an incredible likelihood. Murphy has all the time been an incredible fighter, it’s simply that typically he isn’t probably the most thrilling. However he’s within the prime of his profession and, merely put, Volk just isn’t. Credit score to Volkanovski for profitable the vacant title over a younger and harmful man, however even in that battle he appeared clearly previous his prime. Murphy could be the man to firmly knock Volk out of title competition.
4. Who was the most important loser at UFC 319?
Heck: To construct upon my earlier reply — and to go off the board as I usually do on these questions — it’s Movsar Evloev. The undefeated fighter who Dana White unfairly painted with the boring brush as a result of he confused him with a unique fighter on the UFC 297 card (I’ll by no means cease believing that and White is simply too far alongside to show again now) in all probability checked out this UFC 319 co-main occasion like the remainder of us: Pico may get a title shot, and if not, looks as if a transparent path for Evloev.
That tremendous didn’t occur. And what makes it worse — and I mentioned this publicly on just a few of our exhibits — I assumed Evloev would’ve completely ran over Pico when that battle was introduced. So to observe Murphy chilly him should’ve been such a troublesome blow for Evloev.
If he’s injured in an excellent decently unhealthy manner, Evloev is most definitely going to wish to win one other battle, and if Jean Silva beats Diego Lopes at Noche UFC, he might have to win two. Robust scenes.
Lee: Kai Asakura, welcome to No Man’s Land.
Don’t get me improper, there are many enjoyable fights for the explosive Japanese striker and with the proper matchmaking, Asakura might be a mainstay within the division for years to return. However to go from an immediate UFC title shot to 0-2 with two submission wins that uncovered a obtrusive weak spot. That ain’t good.
The UFC flyweight division lacks depth, so there aren’t many simple fights to get Asakura again on observe. A return to bantamweight may alleviate a few of his pre-fight stress, however there are many robust wrestlers and grapplers at 135, too.
And if Asakura finally ends up going 0-3, his UFC journey may come to an finish far ahead of anticipated.
Martin: Apparently it’s anyone who complains about their contract in PFL and indicators with the UFC in free company.
Aaron Pico is the third excessive profile fighter who wished out from underneath the PFL umbrella to then signal with the UFC and lose of their debut. Patricio Pitbull was the primary and he dropped an uninspired resolution to Yair Rodriguez and that was adopted by Patchy Combine’s puzzling efficiency towards Mario Bautista again in June. Now it’s Pico’s flip and he acquired the worst of it after getting demolished by a notable non-finisher like Lerone Murphy.
These guys can bounce again — Pitbull already did, though not precisely in a barnburner — however the UFC gave all three extremely ranked opponents of their first appearances with the promotion and so they all misplaced in lopsided vogue.
Meshew: I really like the person like a son, nevertheless it must be Dricus du Plessis.
Personally, I cherished loads about DDP this battle week, from the build-up, to the best way he dealt with the loss, to even the best way he nonetheless was making an attempt to win within the closing minutes of a battle he was hopelessly outclassed in. However the man was simply handed some of the one-sided losses in UFC championship historical past, particularly on the subject of challengers doing the whomping.
It was so one-sided that there’s now zero chance of him getting a rematch on this lifetime, and for a man who was making a fuss about chasing all-time greatness, that’s a troublesome loss. However much more than that, I believe when DDP wakened at this time, he will likely be disenchanted together with his efficiency. Positive, Chimaev was so vastly forward technically and athletically that it might not have made a distinction, however DDP look woefully unprepared for the matchup, and given the transient moments of success he did have, he must be desirous about what he may have executed as a substitute to make it extra aggressive.
5. Aside from the principle occasion, who stole the present at UFC 319?
Heck: I’m going to make use of this chance to do what most will in all probability not do with how the occasion unfolded storyline sensible and provides the shine to Alexander Hernandez.
Hernandez has had some of the head-scratching careers I can keep in mind within the UFC. From dusting up Beneil Dariush in his short-notice debut, to beating Olivier Aubin-Mercier, to changing into an MMA meme within the Donald Cerrone battle, and all the ups and downs which have include it, the person by no means actually acquired the possibility to develop on the earth’s premier MMA promotion, and simply had type of been flying by the seat of his pants. Hernandez entered this battle with Chase Hooper because the second greatest underdog on the cardboard, however anybody who has watched him battle, and knew what he’s all the time been able to, took a pause with that. After which he completely smoked Hooper on the buzzer of Spherical 1.
He’s now gained three straight, and simply picked up his greatest win since his debut. At nearly 33 years of age, maybe Hernandez is peaking on the proper time. Large win.
For these of you who don’t know-and who wouldn’t-that’s the nickname of the newest winner of The Final Fighter, flyweight Joseph Morales. If his precise identify sounds acquainted, it’s since you might need seen Morales contained in the octagon earlier than when he had a short three-fight stint with the promotion.
Quick ahead seven years and an older, wiser, Morales is now TUF champion after an upset submission win over undefeated Kazakh prospect Alibi Idiris. It’s not the sexiest storyline seeing a UFC veteran win a actuality present to return again to the UFC, however perhaps that is the trail Morales was meant to stroll all alongside.
Martin: It’s the bottom hanging fruit doable however may as nicely snatch it as a result of Carlos Prates bounced again in spectacular vogue after falling to Ian Machado Garry in his earlier outing.
A vicious finisher who smokes his opposition after which fires up a Marlboro crimson afterwards, Prates was already a fan-friendly favourite however he struggled mightily in his battle towards Garry. Prates suffered no such destiny towards Geoff Neal after hurting the veteran welterweight a number of occasions within the opening spherical after which euthanizing him with a spinning again elbow that additionally cut up his head open.
Prates then made probably the most of his post-fight interview to get a $50,000 bonus and a assured spot on the upcoming UFC Rio card in October. That’s the way you make an impression after a loss!
Meshew: Damon is correct, it’s undoubtedly Carlos Prates who might have rating the KO of the 12 months, after which lower one (Mike) Heck of a promo, however I’m going with Baysangur Susurkaev.
Susurkaev earned his UFC contract this previous Tuesday on the primary episode of Contender Sequence the place he hopped in on 4 days’ discover and had a “Be Joe Pyfer” type of second with a sensational end that Dana White mentioned “saved his Tuesday night time.” White was so enamored with Chimaev’s coaching accomplice that the UFC turned him round rapidly to place him on this card on simply 4 days’ discover, and never solely that, however gave him prime place on the cardboard and included him within the pre-fight press convention. Take into consideration that. On Monday no one knew who he was and by Saturday he’s the prelim principal occasion of the most important Pay-Per-View of the 12 months.
And when provided that spot, Susurkaev — who we’ve affectionately dubbed “Jimmy Sus” primarily based on Dana White being unable to say his identify and calling him “Jimmy” as a joke — delivered an incredible efficiency, ending Eric Nolan within the second spherical. Not since Chimaev again in 2020 has a fighter broke by and turn into such a darling of the promotion in such a short while, and at simply 24 years outdated, Jimmy Sus has a shiny, shiny future forward of him.
