Is Shevchenko’s dominance good or dangerous for the UFC?
Valentina Shevchenko dominated Liz Carmouche on Saturday, cruising to a unanimous choice victory in Montevideo, Uruguay, to retain her UFC flyweight belt. The win was her second protection of the title, and no finish for her seems to be in sight. Is that this dominance — and lack of any true competitors — an excellent factor or dangerous factor for the UFC?
We requested ESPN MMA’s workforce of Ariel Helwani, Marc Raimondi and Jeff Wagenheim that and extra after Saturday’s card.
Is Shevchenko’s dominance an excellent factor for the UFC?
Helwani: Nothing to fret about right here. Dominant champions are good. They assist set up belts. Let’s not overreact as a result of that battle wasn’t very thrilling. All of us knew going into Saturday evening’s essential occasion that the hole between Shevchenko and the remainder of the division was very large, so we did not actually be taught something new right here. I like a champion who reigns supreme for a very long time as a result of it makes the eventual loss that rather more impactful. If the belt simply will get handed round on a regular basis, it does not imply as a lot.
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Raimondi: Dominance is okay. Typically it may be superb. But it surely’s arduous to promote the form of essential occasion Shevchenko and Liz Carmouche had Saturday. It was not entertaining. If Shevchenko goes to knock folks out like she did to Jessica Eye at UFC 238 in June, then she’ll be one of the crucial common champions within the UFC. This battle was very technical and tactical, which is extra in keeping with Shevchenko’s model — she has solely 5 knockouts or TKOs in 18 profession wins.
The opposite factor about dominance is that it is handiest as a promoting level when there are compelling challengers. Shevchenko was a monster favourite towards Carmouche, for good cause. There aren’t many compelling challengers for Shevchenko proper now at flyweight. Her most attention-grabbing future battle is a 3rd bout towards Amanda Nunes. What Shevchenko is, although, is nice. She’s among the finest girls’s MMA fighters to ever dwell.
Wagenheim: The dominance itself appeals to me. Seemingly unbeatable champions, resembling Demetrious Johnson, Anderson Silva, Georges St-Pierre and even Ronda Rousey for a spell, have all the time been enjoyable to observe, whether or not we’re cheering them on or rooting for his or her demise. What issues me is the UFC’s latest obsession with superfights. Sure, that is the place the cash is. However now the promotion has 12 weight lessons however simply 10 champions — as a result of a few them reign in two divisions. That is a web loss, as I see it, from a contest perspective.
When Shevchenko defends her title, and the primary query requested of her in her Octagon interview is whether or not she’s trying to transfer as much as face Amanda Nunes, that appears like matchmaking with simply the quick time period in thoughts. Nunes can maintain a lot busy defending her bantamweight and featherweight belts. Let’s enable Shevchenko to rule at 125 kilos, even when she’s crushing the competitors. That will not final ceaselessly. It by no means does. Simply ask “Mighty Mouse,” Silva, GSP or “Rowdy Ronda.”
Vicente Luque has gained six in a row and 10 of his previous 11. Does he want to regulate his rugged model as he strikes up the ranks?
Raimondi: Possibly. However you possibly can go a great distance within the welterweight division with that form of propensity for thrilling fights. Simply ask Robbie Lawler and Carlos Condit. Luque is a really technical striker — he is no brawler by any stretch. He simply has some deficiencies relating to protection. Luque can be more practical as he continues to climb the ladder through the use of his grappling extra. He is a wonderful submission artist. Luque has three submission wins by way of d’arce choke variations.
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Vicente Luque lands a devastating knee sq. on the nostril of Mike Perry in Spherical Three. For extra UFC, enroll right here for ESPN+ http://plus.espn.com/ufc.
Wagenheim: Luque is who he’s, and he will dwell or die with that model. His means to take a punch after which soak up dozens extra means that even because the competitors will get stiffer, he’ll have the ability to make a mistake or two and possibly not have it finish his climb. What stands out for me extra, although, is his means to dish out harm. Have a look at his six-fight streak and even his 10 wins out of 11: Earlier than he went the gap on Saturday, when he was in a position to break Mike Perry’s nostril however unable to interrupt Mike Perry, Luque had completed each final one among his latest fights. That may be the good equalizer when he is dealing with higher-ranked guys extra expert than he’s.
Helwani: If it ain’t broke, do not attempt to repair it, proper? (And no, that is not a joke about Mike Perry’s nostril. How dare you suppose that.) Luque’s model is working for him simply tremendous. Certain, there is a case to be made that he misplaced that battle and that he hasn’t confronted the crème de la crème of the division simply but, however I believe he is ok to regulate his model primarily based on his opponent and is a gifted fighter who has come a great distance. He is due for a marquee battle subsequent.
Volkan Oezdemir ended a three-fight dropping streak with a formidable top-10 victory. Is that this the beginning of his climb again to being a contender?
Wagenheim: Oezdemir seemed good. In fact, he was in with a fighter a lot shorter than him that he was simply in a position to keep protected vary. Think about that he educated with Ilir Latifi and knew his tendencies for closing distance. So Oezdemir did have some benefits working for him.
Nevertheless, he additionally has seemingly moved previous a time of non-public issues in his life. How important a task they performed in his losses is not possible to say, however even on his finest day, Volkan might be not higher than Daniel Cormier, who beat him up final yr to start the skid. Nonetheless, primarily based on Saturday’s efficiency, Oezdemir seems to be sharp and centered, and whereas the sunshine heavyweight prime 10 has develop into crowded with harmful fighters, we are able to safely rely the 29-year-old Swiss amongst them.
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Volkan Oezdemir clocks Ilir Latifi within the face with a robust knee that finally sends him to the canvas. For extra UFC, enroll right here for ESPN+ http://plus.espn.com/ufc.
Helwani: I do not see why he cannot make a run. For starters, you can argue he beat Dominick Reyes and may at present be on a two-fight successful streak. Mild heavyweight is deeper lately than when he obtained a title shot in January 2018, however once you hit as arduous as Oezdemir does, you are all the time within the combine. Clearly, he is not getting the Reyes rematch subsequent, however I do not hate the thought of him combating Jan Blachowicz, as he steered.
Raimondi: Oezdemir’s efficiency in stopping Ilir Latifi on Saturday was essentially the most spectacular of his profession. We have seen Oezdemir pull off fast knockouts en path to his title problem towards Daniel Cormier in January 2018. However this was no fluke. This wasn’t only a punch that landed in the suitable place. Oezdemir completely pieced the very robust Latifi up. I believe Oezdemir will proceed to be an element at mild heavyweight. He is simply 29 years outdated and was coming off a really shut split-decision loss to Dominick Reyes.
There have been some notable UFC debuts on the cardboard. Whose was most spectacular?
Helwani: Sure, it is true that there have been some strong debuts on this card, however this one got here right down to Rodolfo Vieira, the five-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion and a former ADCC gold medalist, and Francis Ngannou protégé Ciryl Gané. Each seemed strong of their respective debuts. If I needed to choose one, although, I am going to go along with Vieira. He seemed actually good and actually, actually robust on the market. I imply, did you see these again muscle mass when he was making use of the arm-triangle choke? I do not know the way he makes 185.
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Rodolfo Vieira is ready to management the bout vs. Oskar Piechota with a number of takedowns. For extra UFC, enroll right here for ESPN+ http://plus.espn.com/ufc.
Wagenheim: I cherished the atmosphere at Antel Enviornment in Montevideo when Eduardo Garagorri, the one Uruguayan on the cardboard, walked out. However whereas Garagorri placed on a successful efficiency and remained undefeated, I believe a lot of the plaudits ought to go to the UFC’s matchmakers, who made that raucous scene potential.
So far as debut performances contained in the Octagon go, I used to be most excited by Ciryl Gané, possibly as a result of he was much less excitable than I used to be. The French heavyweight, who was signed to the UFC at simply Three-Zero, seemed far more poised than somebody along with his stage of expertise ought to. Possibly his coaching with Francis Ngannou helped that. Should you can stand in entrance of “The Predator,” you possibly can stand in entrance of anybody. And the truth that Gané, recognized for his heavy palms, ended his battle with Raphael Pessoa by way of submission provides different heavies one thing to consider.
Raimondi: Rodolfo Vieira was very formidable in his debut win over Oskar Piechota, and he must be somebody to look at within the middleweight division. Vieira is as elite because it will get when it comes to Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He is a four-time IBJJF world champion and among the finest black belts of his measurement ever. Vieira beat Piechota with an arm-triangle choke, and his prime recreation seemed fairly oppressive. The jury continues to be out on his putting, however Vieira will have the ability to take nearly anybody at 185 on the bottom. The Brazilian has solely six profession fights, so there’s prone to be some rising pains. He is additionally solely 29 years outdated. This was a pleasant peek into what might be a shiny future for Vieira.
Marina Rodriguez is undefeated and simply beat a top-10 strawweight, Tecia Torres. How excited ought to we get?
Raimondi: She’s undoubtedly a prospect. Rodriguez is a gifted Muay Thai striker with the form of peak and size that can be a troublesome matchup for her strawweight friends. One of the best half was Rodriguez was really higher when Torres closed distance and obtained right into a clinch. There, she was a buzzsaw of elbows and knees. Anybody who can beat Torres is a reputable menace within the division. Torres had misplaced to solely champions and prime contenders beforehand, and Rodriguez gained comprehensively. Somebody resembling Nina Ansaroff could be attention-grabbing subsequent.
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Marina Rodriguez pressures Tecia Torres towards the cage on the finish of the third spherical. For extra UFC, enroll right here for ESPN+ http://plus.espn.com/ufc.
Helwani: Rodriguez is certainly an intriguing prospect, however I believe she wants an enormous end to get folks enthusiastic about her at 115. Do not get me mistaken: Exhausting-fought victories over Jessica Aguilar and Tecia Torres are actually nothing to scoff at, however I simply do not suppose she has that signature second but. I might wish to see her towards the winner of the Carla Esparza vs. Alexa Grasso battle subsequent. Possibly that’ll do it.
Wagenheim: Previous to Saturday, Torres had misplaced solely to 115-pound champion Jessica Andrade, ex-champs Rose Namajunas and Joanna Jedrzejczyk, and Aug. 31 title challenger Zhang Weili. Rodriguez, by convincingly defeating somebody who has crushed everybody set in entrance of her besides that crème de la crème group, has immediately made herself a critical contender. It is not like she’s proper behind Zhang in line for a shot, however on Saturday, she began her construct in that course.