UFC Utica Podcast Notes, Analysis From Sean Ross Sapp
Intro notes: Judging by UFC and UFC on Fox's twitter accounts, they've pretty well checked out on their deal. Also, Jessica Aguilar was pulled from the show for CHAPPED LIPS. Unbelievable. It'll be rescheduled ASAP. Also, I have a hard time believing UFC lets Andrea Lee's husband anywhere near their official events until he gets some work done on those nazi tattoos.
Shorty Torres over Jarred Brooks via R1 KO: Shorty Torres and the UFC have played chicken for a while. Seven or eight offers before he finally accepted a fight on ten days' notice. This is one of the highest level fights on the card, and Brooks should be undefeated going into the fight. Kind of sad one prospect will be derailed. As Showdown Joe pointed out, Torres gets going once he gets hit. That happens with a spinning back fist, and also has a standing body triangle applied. Brooks was so good at landing strikes out of transitions. Torres is able to mat return Brooks. Brooks goes for White Noise and knocks himself out! MOTHER OF GOD!!!!!!!
Nathan Wood over Johnny Eduardo via R2 Sub: Interesting strategy from Wood, which seems to be to get punched in the face after daring the veteran to do so. The first round was really like watching a big brother bully around his little brother. In the second round, Wood sped up and went lead kick to jab. Eduardo got caught going for a deep half guard on a takedown attempt, but Wood laced in a Darce choke and ended up getting the submission. That was a really impressive comeback. Wood is a Brad Pickett product, who wants to avenge some of Pickett's losses
Desmond Green beats Gleison Tibau via UD: I expect this to be a 'loser leaves' fight, as Green has lost two in a row, and Tibau keeps losing and had a drug test failure. Green was busier, faster, more accurate, more aggressive, had better combos, and even dropped Tibau in the third round. Gleison Tibau is five months younger than Tony Ferguson. I don't know how that's a thing, but it is. Also, I won't miss UFC getting pre-empted by golf, even if it is the US Open. I'm stoked to see the people who are gonna complain about CM Punk using that name in the UFC next week when they don't know who Janigleison Herculano Alves is.
Belal Muhammad defeated Chance Rencountre via UD: Belal Muhammad won in almost every facet of this fight, but never really seemed like he wanted to finish it off. This is in the middle of Ramadan, so I'm inclined to cut him some slack on the lack of finish. The guy has to fast from dawn until dusk.
David Teymur defeated Nik Lentz via UD: David Teymur should have literally been disqualified by now after two eye pokes and grabbing the cage twice. Lentz counters Teymur's kicks with a hook or straight, but Teymur still lands a lot. Teymur grabs the cage again in the third round. Embarrassing refereeing in this fight. Lentz works his ass off to close the distance, Teymur grabs the fence and stops the takedown, no call. Shout outs to 2014 when some people thought Lentz was the answer to Conor McGregor's hype. This fight underwhelmed on so many levels. Teymur is now 5-0 in the UFC, and wants a top-10 opponent.
#2 Sijara Eubanks defeated #3 Lauren Murphy via UD: I can't believe this is a top-3 UFC fight. This turns into a brawl pretty early, which you could think favors Murphy, but hasn't through the first three minutes. Just as Lauren Murphy starts to find her range, Sijara switches things up and takes down Murphy. The second round is a little closer, but still Sijara's in my estimation. Eubanks wants a title shot, but this fighter wasn't exactly a technical masterpiece or anything. Valentina Shevchenko should still get the title fight. Eubanks did do a cool finger wag, though.
Sam Alvey SD's #15 Gian Villante: From a technical standpoint, Alvey's success is puzzling. But there he is, dropping sons of bitches. He does that at the end of round one, but he's overmatched technically in round two. Alvey is so awkward that he can make almost anything a battle. I can't believe Sam Alvey won that fight. Alvey calls out Corey Anderson, who is a top-10 UFC light heavyweight.
Julio Arce submits Daniel Teymur, R3: Arce is leading the way with some nice punches, and controls most of the fight. Of course when we get a finish, it's past the mid-way point in the third round. Arce is now 2-0 in the UFC after a rear naked choke victory. His only two MMA losses are to Brian Kelleher.
Ben Saunders TKO's Jake Ellenberger, R1: This is really happening, ugh. Ellenberger cracks Saunders with a wild hook, but Saunders crumples him with a knee to the liver. Edmond is somewhere screaming LIVER MOVEMEEEEEEEEEEEENT. Why would you clinch with Ben Saunders? Jake Ellenberger gotta go. 2-9 in his last 11. Despite Saunders' post-fight speech, I get the feeling there are more fighters that have dedicated their lives to MMA. This is Saunders' first finish since 2014.
Walt Harris TKO Daniel Spitz, R2:16 minutes from the end of Saunders' weird promo and the start of this fight. Almost literally nothing happens until about nine minutes in when Harris uncorks a combo. A little later, Spitz is dropped and Harris follows up with some really nasty elbows. That's a wrap.
Gregor Gillespie submits Vinc Pichel, R2: Gillespie scores a couple of really nice takedowns and moves around the guard rather easily. When Pichel gets up, he stuffs a takedown, but Gillespie has a great second effort to turn the corner and take Vinc down. In the second round, we see more of the same until an arm triangle submits Pichel. Thank god, this card can't end soon enough. Both were on 4 fight winning streaks in the UFC but nobody knows them — Gregor's moves to 5.
#5 Marlon Moraes TKOs #4 Jimmie Rivera: Well here we go. Marlon Moraes vs. Jimmie Rivera. Winner should get a title shot. AAAAAAAAAAND MORAES WINS WITH A HEAD KICK WOW. Okay yeah Moraes deserves that title shot. Just go ahead and pull Garbrandt, because he doesn't.
