Let’s examine Rafael dos Anjos vs. Connor McGregor 2023?
Earlier than Conor McGregor turned UFC champion towards Eddie Alvarez in November 2016, the then-UFC featherweight title holder was scheduled to face UFC light-weight king Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 196. That bout fell by in late February 2016 when a foot damage struck Dos Anjos. from the match. Nate Diaz changed Dos Anjos on that card and defeated McGregor by way of second-round submission in a welterweight scrap.
We’re approaching seven years for the reason that Dos Anjos-McGregor bout was booked and it appears the previous light-weight champion has but to let go of the concept.
Within the aftermath of his UFC Orlando victory over Bryan Barberena, Dos Anjos advised UFC commentator Daniel Cormier, “I need to name out Conor McGregor. Seven years in the past, I obtained this combat by beating Donald Cerrone. He got here up a division, we had been going to combat, I broke my foot (and the combat was referred to as off), however now I am right here.
“He is obtained a few months to clear his physique of all this crap he is taking, and I am going to see you in July!”
There are a number of fighters lining as much as face McGregor when he returns to motion, however Dos Anjos is the one one in all them who had a combat booked towards the previous two-division UFC champion.
What was Dan Miragliotta pondering?
In one of many strangest moments in an already unusual sport, referee Dan Miragliotta appeared to wave off the principle occasion combat between Stephen Thompson and Kevin Holland after an trade towards the cage with 1:57 left within the spherical. However seconds later, Miragliotta signaled a timeout as a substitute of an unintentional low blow.
The above occurred after the veteran referee additionally paused the Darren Elkins vs. Jonathan Pearce combat earlier within the night, so the physician may take a look at a reduce close to Elkins’ eye. He then restarted the match on the ft as a substitute with Pearce on high inside Elkin’s guard close to the middle of the Octagon.
Each incidents triggered some confusion for the UFC commentary staff – and I am certain, for the followers within the enviornment and people watching the printed.
Will corners observe Bob Perez’s lead?
Kevin Holland went to his nook after the fourth spherical of his combat towards Stephen Thompson and plopped on his stool. Holland then held up his proper glove and advised his coach Bob Perez, “Take this off me.”
Perez instantly rotated and advised referee Dan Miragliotta that the combat was over. He then allowed the cageside medic to take care of his fighter. What Perez did not do was attempt to speak his injured fighter into “toughing it out,” nor did he point out that Holland solely had “yet another spherical” left. As an alternative, Perez listened to Holland and determined to wave off the combat.
Followers and media praised Perez for his actions on Saturday. Hopefully different trainers and corners will take word and we’ll see extra nook stoppages in MMA. I do not suppose it’s going to occur, but when I am improper I will be ecstatic.
What’s going to occur at heavyweight?
Final we heard, the UFC was seeking to e book heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou towards Jon Jones in the principle occasion of UFC 285. That reserving is much from locked in because the UFC and Ngannou haven’t agreed on a brand new contract. Other than that, there was some dialogue about Jones vs. Curtis Blaydes for that occasion for an interim strap. Nonetheless, I would not be shocked if the UFC matchmakers entered the title “Sergei Pavlovich” in that spot after UFC Orlando.
The 30-year-old Pavlovich picked up his fifth straight first-round KO win on the principle card of Saturday’s ESPN occasion, bloodied and collapsed Tai Tuivasa in 54 seconds of violence. Pavlovich was the No. 5 fighter within the official UFC heavyweight rankings heading into his matchup towards No. 4-ranked Tuivasa.
Blaydes is ranked larger than Pavlovich, however his wrestling-heavy type has by no means gave the impression to be a favourite amongst UFC matchmakers and it may price him on this occasion.
Combat of the 12 months?
There was lots of “combat of the 12 months” commentary thrown round throughout and after the principle occasion between Stephen Thompson and Kevin Holland. I’m prepared to forgive those that obtained caught up within the second and adjusted their minds about these awards upon additional consideration on Sunday or Monday. However for these nonetheless adamant that the Thompson vs. Holland combat deserves “combat of the 12 months” consideration, let me clarify why I hesitate.
As soon as the combat went past the primary spherical, it wasn’t that aggressive and lots of that truth needed to do with Holland agreeing to combat on Thompson’s phrases. Holland is an efficient blended martial artist, Thompson is an impressive striker. By limiting his probabilities of profitable to forgoing something however hitting, Holland cheated himself – however rewarded the followers.
Was the combat one of many extra entertaining matches of 2022? Certain, however that leisure got here as Thompson dominated Holland over three rounds, selecting him aside on the ft. After I consider a “combat of the 12 months” I need it to be each aggressive and entertaining. I do not suppose the UFC Orlando principal occasion met each of these standards all through.
The place was the UFC?
On Friday, the Nevada State Athletic Fee suspended James Krause and the UFC knowledgeable fighters who proceed to work with Krause’s Glory MMA that they won’t be eligible to compete for the UFC whereas investigations proceed into betting irregularities surrounding a combat Krause coached at UFC Vegas 64.
It was noticeable that nobody from UFC administration was readily available to reply any questions from the entry media on the occasion. Whereas I am certain the UFC, with the continuing investigations, are restricted in what they will reply relating to the scenario, the promotion may have no less than had somebody in Orlando to supply what updates they might.
With UFC 282 going down this week in Las Vegas, the promotion wants to handle all questions and the UFC’s entry media must ask these questions. For starters, the correct UFC media ought to ask what modified between November eleventh, when White gave the under response, and December 2nd.
#Combat #12 months #unanswered #questions #UFC #Orlando