The UFC has been the only sports company to consistently put on safe events (excluding the face punching) during the pandemic, and they returned to the UFC Apex Center in Las Vegas on Saturday night. The main event consisted of UFC and Strikeforce veteran Derek Brunson and Dana White’s Contender Series Alum Kevin Holland, making this an old school versus new school affair. With a compelling main event and a stacked main card, this was another successful ESPN card for the UFC, and all of the fighters from this show need a fresh opponent for their next outing.
Harry Hunsucker vs. Alexander Romanov
Harry Hunsucker stepped up an extremely short notice to face formerly ranked UFC fighter Tai Tuivasa, and of course he got put out in the first round. While this result was fairly predictable, Hunsucker actually managed to tag Tuivasa with a good punch, and made everyone think for a second that he might be able to put out Mark Hunt’s protégé. There are no easy fights in the UFC, and with Alexander Romanov being undefeated and having a slow climb to the top, Hunsucker could be a good chance for him to get some more easy fight time.
Tai Tuivasa vs. Todd Duffee
Can you say fireworks? Tai Tuivasa may not be the most technical fighter in the Heavyweight division, but he knows how to slug, and he will slug with anyone in the world. The same can be said about Todd Duffee, making this an excellent fight to start off any pay-per-view.
Gustavo Lopez vs. Jesse Strader
Gustavo Lopez managed to put up a fight for three rounds against Adrian Yanez, but failed to make it to the final bell with the superior striker. Someone else who lost by knockout tonight was Jesse Strader, who did not mount any offense against Montel Jackson. With both men coming off of a knockout loss on the same card, it only makes sense to match them up and see which one belongs in the UFC.
Adrian Yanez vs. Montel Jackson
Adrian Yanez continues to look bright in his UFC career, but so does Montel Jackson. Both men are likely on the bubble of the Bantamweight rankings after their respective knockout wins, so this fight would probably determine who becomes the number fifteen fighter in the world.
Cheyanne Buys vs. Mallory Martin
Tonight was not a good night for the Buys family, as both Cheyanne and her husband JP lost their fights in dominant fashion. However, women in the Strawweight division tend to get many chances at a UFC win due to how shallow the weight class is, so Buys is likely a few losses away from being in any trouble of getting cut from the UFC. Mallory Martin has gone 1-2 in the UFC thus far, and with both women desperate for a win, a fight between the two of them would make a lot of sense.
Montserrat Ruiz vs. Jinh Yu Frey
While she faced some opposition on the feet, Montserrat Ruiz was able to implement her game plan and drag Cheyanne Buys to the ground with consistency. Everything is sunshine and rainbows for Ruiz right now as she is undefeated in the UFC, but does she have what it takes to beat someone like a former Invicta FC champion? Jinh Yu Frey could be an ample test for her skills, and could provide an excellent measuring stick for as to how far Ruiz can go in the promotion.
Kenan Song vs. David Zawada
If doesn’t get much worse than getting knocked out in the first round, and sadly that’s the position that Kenan Song finds himself in. However, Song has a great UFC record, and has heavy hands of his own. Fighting someone like David Zawada to get a win back under his belt would be beneficial for the potential star, and while anything can happen in a fight, this should be a good way to build Kenan Song back up to his former glory.
Max Griffin vs. Geoff Neal
When a fighter calls for a fight that isn’t the champion, they should get that fight. Max Griffin won his fight by first round knockout, called out Geoff Neal, and now he should get that fight. Geoff Neal would undoubtedly be the toughest test of Griffin’s career, but with these two heavy-handed Welterweights stepping into the cage, a knockout is almost guaranteed.
Kevin Holland vs. Omari Akhmedov
A lot of fighters have talked their way into fights, but this is the first time a fighter has ever talked themselves out of one. Kevin Holland decided that instead of focusing on Derek Brunson’s takedowns, trying to use his reach to land punches, and using his bottom submission game to finish the fight or stand up, that he would talk to Khabib Nurmagomedov in the audience and run his mouth while he’s losing every round. So, with Holland’s potential firmly quenched, a relatively no-name wrestler in Omari Akhmedov should be enough to either prove he can beat this kind of fighter or put the final nail in the coffin of Holland’s Middleweight title dreams.
Derek Brunson vs. Paulo Costa
Derek Brunson has suffered his fair of knockout losses to the elite of the Middleweight division, but he has been a consistent detector of who belongs at the top and who doesn’t. However, it may be time for Brunson to step out of his gatekeeper status and try to make his own pass at the title, using Paulo Costa to get there. Brunson called out Costa in his post-fight speech, and while it is entirely possible that his suspect chin gets tagged again, this could be the win that gets him a rematch with Israel Adesanya.
