#ufc255

[theanticool]

Valentina Shevchenko takes the UD over Jennifer Maia

It was not a good fight but it was a surprisingly competitive fight. Maia refused to not engage with Shevchenko, which is the fatal flaw most opponents run into. They want to beat her in one space and end up giving her space and initiative to operate. Maia refused to get scared off by Shevchenko’s power shots and was throwing back, which pushed Shevchenko back. Shevchenko was still the better wrestler and striker but Maia was able to take a round on all the judges score cards and landed clean a whole lot.

Shevchenko is not unbeatable. She’s a tough nut to crack but you got to be willing to take the fight to her. Makes me all the more interested for the Andrade fight.

[theanticool]

I’m sorry this fight is funny as hell

[theanticool]

Brandon Moreno stops Brandon Royval in the closing seconds of the first round!

Fuck, looks like Royval’s arm dislocated as he was trying to go 2-on-1 while Moreno was moving to side control on the ground. Unfortunate ending to an otherwise amazing fight. Just complete nonsense grappling with nonstop scrambling, Moreno trying to snap Royval’s neck on a crank, Royval throwing damaging shit off his back, and just really fun exchanges on the feet. Love this damn division.

Moreno is your rightful #1 contender though and should face the winner of Figueiredo-Perez.

[theanticool]

Antonina Shevchenko stops Ariane Lipski in the 2nd!

Giving us our first fight of the night not to see the third round. Antonina showed off her grappling game (which I honestly don’t think was ever “bad” but not as good as Roxy or Chook). She took Lipski down from the clinch twice and just refused to let up on her. Eventually she got enough off that the ref stepped in in round 2.

[theanticool]

Paul Craig stops Shogun in round 2

I’m sorry, that was funny. Craig could not keep Shogun down for the life of him despite Shogun not having and explosive bone left in his body. Shogun landed some huge bombs along the cage that Craig ate admittedly well. The first ended with Shogun in top control landing GnP. He was FINALLY able to get Shogun down for good when he grabbed a leg and threw Shogun down. Got to Shogun’s back immediately and started throwing GnP til Shogun tapped. Sad end but if Shogun’s going to continue fighting, I refuse to feel sad about it.

[theanticool]

Deiveson Figueiredo guillotines Alex Perez in the first round!

Perez actually looked pretty good. He looked fast and powerful. Got in deep on a takedown attempt when he elevated Fig’s leg. Was trying to kick it out as Figueiredo went down to reap the leg. Perez managed to scramble out of it, then tried to get on top of Figueiredo but Figs recognizes this and just locks in a guillotine. Perez tries to lift him up to slam out of it but taps. Wasn’t the violence affair I thought it’d be but dude is just so dangerous everywhere. That squeeze was crazy.

[theanticool]

Cody Garbrandt deixa luta, e Deiveson Figueiredo vai enfrentar Alex Perez pelo cinturão

Brasileiro, que detém o título do peso-mosca, segue escalado para atuar no UFC 255, dia 21 de novembro

Combate is reporting that Cody Garbrandt is out of his fight at UFC 255 with UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo and will be replaced by Alex Perez, who is the more deserving challenger anyway.

Someone correct me is I’m wrong, but I think this makes Alex Perez the first Contender Series fighter to get a title shot.

[theanticool]

Katlyn Chookagian takes a decision over Cynthia Calvillo.

Chookagian was always a terrible fight for Calvillo cause Calvillo, despite being a great striker, refuses to grapple for long stretches of fight. She doesn’t have a great shot and her boxing game is to circle at range and pick shots. She’s 5 inches shorter than Chookgian who’s one of the few good outfighters at 125lbs and will avoid the clinch at all costs. Calvillo needs to tie people up but her striking game is built around her trying to outbox people from range. So bizarre.