Are de Randamie and Faber in line for UFC title pictures?
UFC Battle Evening in Sacramento, California, on Saturday featured the return of the ageless “California Child” in Urijah Faber, in addition to the reemergence of former featherweight champion Germaine de Randamie and several other first-round finishes from town’s personal Staff Alpha Male.
What’s subsequent for Faber, de Randamie, Aspen Ladd and the opposite high names from this weekend? Here is ESPN’s take.
Germaine de Randamie, bantamweight
End result: Defeated Aspen Ladd through first-round TKO Subsequent: Amanda Nunes
That is the combat de Randamie has needed for years — and he or she deserves it. Even when she moved as much as 145 kilos to combat for the UFC’s inaugural title in 2017, she at all times stated she needed to be again at 135 in some unspecified time in the future, combating Amanda Nunes. The 2 met in 2013. Nunes received through first-round knockout.
Put aside no matter criticisms you’ll have of how de Randamie dealt with that complete “featherweight, Cris Cyborg” state of affairs and simply have a look at the info. She’s received 5 in a row. She’s surpassed Brazilian contender Ketlen Vieira within the rankings. She’s harmful on the toes, sufficient to pose a menace to the double champ. She’s subsequent in line.
Aspen Ladd, bantamweight
End result: Misplaced to Germaine de Randamie through first-round TKO Subsequent: Marion Reneau
This Saturday’s UFC Battle Evening card in San Antonio will function two welterweights aiming to get into the title image and the subsequent take a look at for ex-NFL star Greg Hardy. Rafael Dos Anjos, who snapped a two-fight skid in Could, and Leon Edwards, a winner of seven straight bouts, will meet in the principle occasion. Hardy additionally might be on the principle card as he takes on Juan Adams.
UFC Battle Evening: Dos Anjos vs. Edwards
• Saturday, July 20, San Antonio
• Prelims: ESPN 6 p.m. ET
• Principal card: ESPN 9 p.m. ET
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The stoppage was early, however so was the chance normally for the 24-year-old Ladd. It is simple to say this now, however for the file, I stated it earlier than the combat as nicely. This was an excessive amount of, too quickly. De Randamie has been combating for practically 20 years. Ladd’s ceiling is excessive, however she’s nonetheless studying. You’ll be able to’t study on the fly, towards a seasoned kickboxer, below the strain of a UFC foremost occasion. It was a recipe for a loss.
All good, although. Ladd continues to be younger and mature for her age. It seems she’ll deal with the loss nicely. She confronted the media. She was gracious in the direction of de Randamie and referee Herb Dean. Reel her again a bit. E book her towards a ranked, however far more manageable opponent, in Marion Reneau subsequent. She’ll be again.
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Urijah Faber displays on his knockout victory vs. Ricky Simon in Faber’s hometown of Sacramento, and he challenges Henry Cejudo. For extra UFC, enroll right here for ESPN+ http://plus.espn.com/ufc
Urijah Faber, bantamweight
End result: Defeated Ricky Simon through first-round TKO Subsequent: Rob Font
I have been masking MMA for greater than 10 years, and Faber’s win over Ricky Simon is a second that may eternally stand out to me. Unbelievable.
This is not alleged to occur. A 40-year-old pioneer of the game is not alleged to return from a 2 ½-year layoff and starch a rising 26-year-old prospect within the first spherical. We’re used to seeing this case go the opposite manner. As an goal journalist, I do not know if I am alleged to say this … however I am gonna say it anyway. I used to be genuinely pleased for Faber. The entire evening was incredible to observe.
All that stated, you are loopy for those who suppose Faber ought to bounce the bantamweight line and combat defending double champion Henry Cejudo. Cejudo must defend not only one, however two belts proper now. He has many challengers ready on him. I perceive Cejudo needs (and deserves) the most important fights attainable … and I definitely do not blame Faber for calling his shot … however that matchup is mindless. If Faber is critical about making a run, then make it. Climb the ranks. Rob Font in October in Boston is the play.
zero:43
Josh Emmett knocks Mirsad Bektic down with a left-handed jab, then he unleashes a flurry of hammerfists. For extra UFC, enroll right here for ESPN+ http://plus.espn.com/ufc
End result: Defeated Mirsad Bektic first-round TKO Subsequent: Zabit Magomedsharipov
Apparently, Josh Emmett awakened feeling harmful on Saturday. He has clearly established himself as one among, if not the, heaviest hitters within the division — however what I like most about what Emmett is doing is he is not simply going on the market head searching. He dropped Bektic with a jab on this combat. He is utilizing feints and footwork to arrange his energy, and we all know he is a robust wrestler on high of that, resulting from that collegiate background.
The UFC is heading to Moscow on Nov. 9. Phrase is, Zabit Magomedsharipov is in consideration to headline. Who’s he gonna combat? As a lot as I feel he is prepared for a title shot now, Alex Volkanovski continues to be forward of him and that card isn’t a pay-per-view. I wish to see Magomedsharipov towards an opponent who can introduce him to adversity within the type of a single punch. And that is Emmett.
End result: Defeated Sheymon Moraes through first-round TKO Subsequent: Shane Burgos
I am not able to anoint Fili the subsequent featherweight champion, however this can be a man you wish to regulate proper now. He signed with the UFC in 2013 below a superb quantity of fanfare. There have been lots of people excessive on Fili’s potential for a very long time. It is taken him a minute to appreciate it. He comes from an unstable background, and he had some rising as much as do, even after he signed with the UFC. It seems as if he is achieved it.
Staff Alpha Male is extraordinarily excessive on Fili proper now. Guys like Faber and wrestling coach Danny Castillo rave about his work ethic. He was the sort to skip apply. Now he is the primary one there. His confidence is excessive. He is a proficient striker with the robust, TAM trademarked skill to scramble. I would wish to see him towards one other featherweight I am extraordinarily excessive on: Shane Burgos.
Julianna Peña, bantamweight
End result: Defeated Nicco Montaño through unanimous resolution Subsequent: Ketlen Vieira
2 Associated
Peña acquired off to a sluggish begin in her first combat in 2 ½ years, as she badly misplaced the opening spherical to Nicco Montaño. It was just about classic Peña after that, although. Sure, she’s been gone the final couple years, however I do not see why Peña would not decide up the place she left off by way of rankings. She was proper there for a title shot when she took her break. Her solely UFC loss got here by the hands of flyweight champ Valentina Shevchenko.
Vieira hasn’t fought since March 2018, however she stays extremely ranked. She’s undefeated. It already seems like Nunes is midway by way of cleansing out the division. She’s a champion in want of challengers. De Randamie matches that description to me. And if Peña and Vieira have been to combat, whoever wins would match that description as nicely.
End result: Defeated Darren Elkina through unanimous resolution Subsequent: Jeremy Stephens
It isn’t straightforward discovering Corridor fights. We have identified that since he received The Final Fighter in 2015. Since then, he is solely fought thrice resulting from a mixture of potential opponents turning him down and what kind of opponent Corridor is keen to simply accept. Corridor is rarely going to be that man who simply jumps into the featherweight pool and accepts any combat provided. He believes he is world class and now he is searching for a high 10 opponent.
And if it have been as much as me, I would give it to him. Love or hate his combating type (personally, I am very intrigued by it), Corridor has regarded a category above the competitors he is fought to date. He needs to combat on the UFC Battle Evening occasion scheduled on Dec. 9 in Washington D.C. That makes it a little bit more durable to provide you with an opponent now, because it’s nonetheless 5 months away, however Jeremy Stephens appears cheap to me. Stephens has been across the UFC since 2007. He is fought everybody. He is fought a number of generations of fighters at this level. And he is nonetheless someway solely 33 and ranked within the high 10. However he is additionally coming off a pair of losses. I feel there could be one thing to be gained for each on this matchup.