With former WBC Heavyweight Champion Deontay Wilder watching from the audience, the UFC wrapped up Season 30 of The Ultimate Fighter while also hosting a main event featuring Jamahal Hill and Thiago Santos. Both TUF fights showcased the raw talents of up-and-coming fighters who seemed poised to make a name for themselves once they officially signed their new contracts with the organization. For its part, Jamahal Hill put an exclamation point to what was generally a very entertaining evening of fights. There is a lot to unpack here; Without further ado, let’s get to work!
Santos vs Cerro
The first round between light heavyweight prospects Thiago Santos and Jamahal Hill was a relatively quiet affair. Santos attempted a high kick early in the round, but Hill’s ability to block the move seemed to discourage him from trying again. Neither was able to inflict significant damage on the other; instead, they jabbed with the intent of landing scoring shots while figuring out the other man’s strategy.
In the second round, Santos decided to execute level changes and look for takedowns. He was able to score a takedown in the first minute and a half of the round, but Hill struggled to his feet quickly. Towards the end of the round, Hill landed a right jab that stunned Santos. Had he been given more time to execute after the connection, Hill could have pulled off a stoppage within the round. Outside of a knockdown of Santos less than halfway through the round, the third round was relatively uneventful.
Prior to tonight, Jamahal Hill had never been scheduled for a five-round fight in the UFC. At the start of the fourth round, he set about erasing any doubt as to whether or not he had the conditioning to go more than three rounds. He landed a right hook that stunned Santos early in the round. Santos immediately started backing up and Hill seized the moment, unleashing a flurry of punches that sent Santos to the canvas and forced him to cover his head instead of fighting back. Referee Herb Dean had no choice but to stop the fight. It was a dramatic turn of events and an emphatic statement from Hill. With this win, Jamahal Hill has established himself as a serious contender in the light heavyweight division.
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Luke vs. Neal
Ahead of tonight’s showdown with Vicente Luque, welterweight challenger Geoff Neal stated that he was looking forward to facing the highest-ranked opponent of his UFC tenure. He felt that an opponent of Luque’s caliber would serve as a great yardstick to measure how well he stacked up against elite fighters in the welterweight division. If tonight’s performance is any indication, Geoff Neal is ready to compete against the best fighters the organization has to offer.
In the first minute and a half of the first round, Neal landed a left jab that left Luque visibly hurt. Luque never regained the strength in his legs after that initial blow and Neal was able to send him to the canvas twice throughout the round. In the second round, Neal was able to score a takedown, although Luque displayed great determination and didn’t stay on the canvas for long.
At the 3:30 mark of the third round, Neal landed a big left hook that rocked Luque. He then followed up the opening blow with a series of uppercuts that would make Clubber Lang proud. The momentum was too much for Luque to handle; he collapsed to the canvas and the referee thankfully stopped the fight. It was an impressive performance from Neal on a day when reigning welterweight champion Kamaru Usman was in attendance. Usman has a fight scheduled in two weeks at UFC 278, but if he’s thinking about his next opponent, Geoff Neal may have made a compelling case with tonight’s performance.
Usman vs. Pauga
Mohammed Usman has a physique that rivals Francis Ngannou for the most intimidating figure in the heavyweight division. At 32 years old, it’s hard to imagine that he’s just now making his way in the UFC. He was a college football player whose aspirations to compete in the NFL did not come true. Fortunately for him, he’s still a gifted athlete and it seems a lot of men in the heavyweight division are about to learn that the hard way.
Zac Pauga attempted a high kick to start the first round, but was unable to connect. For the rest of the round, he and Usman attempted to box, but neither was able to land a significant blow. Early in the second round, Pauga dropped his hands slightly after attempting to land a body shot against his opponent. Usman saw the opening and landed a quick short left that didn’t even amount to a full jab extension. The power was enough to knock out Pauga on immediate impact.
The terrifying thing about Usman’s power is that his opponent was unconscious at the time of impact and Usman clearly hadn’t even hit all he had. If Usman ever gets into a heated battle and gets a chance to land a legitimate jab or uppercut, there will be plenty more highlight-reel-level knockouts in his future. He is a man of powerful build and the rest of the heavyweight division has been officially notified; Mohammed Usman is a factor and perspective worth keeping an eye on.
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Walker vs. Miller
Before their fight, female flyweight prospect Brogan Walker kept a serious look in Juliana Miller’s direction. However, it was Miller who was able to handle her business inside the octagon. Miller dominated rounds one and two with takedowns and time control from the ground. In the third round, Miller scored another takedown and took advantage of Walker’s weakened stance to elbow her. Ultimately, Walker was unable to defend himself and the fight was stopped. Miller was declared the winner, thus earning a spot on the UFC roster. Walker was the more experienced fighter going into the fight, but Miller’s dictum that “you can’t measure your heart” ultimately proved true.
Sakai vs. Spivac
Heavyweight prospect Sergey Spivac put in a dominant performance against Augusto Sakai tonight. Spivac was able to score three takedowns in the first round and make Sakai look visibly worn. Two more takedowns in the opening moments of the second round seemed to wear Sakai down completely. Eventually, Spivac gained the upper hand and began punishing Sakai with repeated hammer fists. Seeing that Sakai was helpless, the referee wisely stopped the fight.
McKinney vs. Gonzalez
Lightweight challenger Terrance McKinney opened the first minute of his fight against Erick Gonzalez with an emphatic high kick. Not long after, he scored a takedown; however, González was able to quickly struggle to his feet. Unfortunately for Gonzalez, struggling to his feet didn’t stop McKinney from getting on his back and setting up a chokehold. The two men battled for a while, but McKinney finally got a hold strong enough to force Gonzalez to give up. McKinney is known for his quick fights; twelve of his thirteen career wins have come by first-round stoppage. Tonight’s victory was a statement; Terrance McKinney wants to be recognized in the highly talented lightweight division.
Main conclusions
Jamahal Hill’s victory tonight was their third win in a row after suffering a setback last summer. He is starting to look more and more like a true contender. The light heavyweight division has a lot of talent, but it seems that Hill is not afraid; any man who steps into the octagon with him is in for a serious fight.
There are serious questions as to whether Francis Ngannou will fight again or decide to retire. That said, the number one contender for the heavyweight belt should still be Cyril Gane. After Gane, anyone can guess who really is the best heavyweight in the UFC; there are several men who could claim to be elite within the division. Mohammed Usman is as serious an athlete as the heavyweight division has to offer. If he puts his mind to it, he could be a contender for the heavyweight belt in his next five or six fights. He is powerful and strong and his technique will only improve with time.
Whats Next
The UFC returns next week, when bantamweight stars Marlon Vera and Dominick Cruz square off in the main event of the night. The event will take place in San Diego California; the place must be packed and the atmosphere must be electric. As always, we’ll have the latest updates on fight results, as well as in-depth analysis, available right here on World in Sport!
Until next time, take care and take care of each other.
Source: worldinsport.com