MMA

Fightful’s Watch/Don’t Watch From SRS: UFC Stockholm

Sean Ross SappJune 1, 2019, 10:15 pm

Joel Alvarez finishes Danilo Belluardo, R2

Both guys were going for their first win.
Belluardo came from Venator, which I’m surprised still exists. He actually lost to AJ McKee several years ago
Alvarez’s ground and pound isn’t particularly hard, but there’s a lot of it, and the fight gets stopped in the second round.

SRS’ Rec: A nice fight that doesn’t really matter at this point

Devin Clark defeated Darko Stosic

Clark hasn’t had the best luck with European fighters. Two pulled from their fights, Rakic and Blachowicz beat him.
It’s weird to think he’s been around in the UFC for three years.
He ends up taking the decision, making him 4-3 in the UFC.

SRS’ Rec: Not a high level one

Bea Malecki taparoos Duda Santana, SUB R2

This fight should not be happening. A few combined career fights, and featherweights competing at bantamweight.
The irony is, it’s a lot better than the last Cachoeira fight from a technical standpoint.
Malecki gets the submission win in round two.

SRS’ Rec: If this were at Featherweight, maybe it would have meant something. This should have happened in Invicta.

Frank Camacho finishes Nick Hein, R2

Poured it on!@CrankEffect gets the win here at #UFCStockholm. pic.twitter.com/qOOSWJeLy0

— UFC (@ufc) June 1, 2019

This is your typical UFC prelim fight. Camacho has lost two in a row, and so has Hein — but he’s from Europe so he’s booked.
Camacho’s finish is really good. He’s a nice, likeable guy, too.
That might be it for Hein in today’s UFC landscape of dwindling roster size.

SRS’ Rec: Fun finish but the fight doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things right now.

Leonardo Santos blasts Stevie Ray

WALK OFF! #UFCStockholm pic.twitter.com/GeeordAkvH

— UFC (@ufc) June 1, 2019

Ray is in control a bit, and it’s looking like the time off isn’t good to Santos, but the thing is, that’s just Santos.
Mother of Jesus, Santos just flattened Ray. THEN HE RAN OUT OF THE ARENA
I wish this UFC card was in Germany so I could say Leonardo Santos knocked out Stevie Ray with the Hamburg Heat.
This is Santos’ first fight since 2016, so what does this really mean? He’s unbeaten in his last seven UFC fights, dating back to 2013.

SRS’ Rec: This is an all-timer KO right out of the gate, then Santos left the gate.

#13 Lina Lansberg topples #12 Tonya Evinger, UD

That’s how you end a round!

WOW! #UFCStockholm pic.twitter.com/jMwOiuDp3B

— UFC (@ufc) June 1, 2019

A couple of Cyborg victims fighting in a top-15 bantamweight fight here. Sounds about right. Lansberg was an I GOT 5 ON IT pick.
Lansberg is pressed up against the fence, but fights off of it very well. She connects with elbows and knees that end up opening Evinger up.
Evinger gets Lansberg down, but Lina turns the tides. All things considered, this is a great performance from Lina.
Lansberg wants a rematch against Aspen Ladd. This was all really encouraging from Lina, but the problem is, she hasn’t put together great back-to-back performances in the UFC, ever
Evinger has lost all three of her UFC fights. I think Invicta is a better fit.

SRS’ Rec: This was a good one.

Khandozhko defeated Akman, UD

Rostem Akman has some heavy hands, and is undefeated, but only a pro for a couple of years.

Khandozhko has 30+ fights, and Akman has 6 pro fights, and it looks the opposite.

Composure pays off after Akman is dropped on his ass, but gets back up.

SRS’ Rec: Decent, but not that important

Daniel Teymur defeated Sung Bin Jo, UD

Teymur was lucky to get this fight, and probably did because of geography. He’s 0-3 in the UFC. He’s also 5 inches shorter than Jo.

Teymur cracked Jo early, but Jo gave it back to him.

Teymur got tired of chasing Jo at one point. He earns the win and it was very emotional after two years and three losses in the UFC.

SRS’ Rec: The first round is fun. Pass though

Christos Giagos defeated Damir Hadzovic, UD

Another fight booked on this show based on geography, and the fourth consecutive decision on this card after the great Santos finish.
At least Hadzovic has some semblance of consistency coming into this card and event, but this show pretty badly needed Latifi vs. Oezdemir to help out depth.
Giagos had a great head kick to shot that I liked. He pressed forward and was really aggressive with takedowns.
Giagos halts that momentum and consistency, though. He wins, and gives him his first winning streak in the UFC. He’s won two in a row.

SRS’ Rec: Nope.

Makwan Amirkhani tappy taps Chris Fishgold, R3

Amirkhani gets a great ovation from the crowd.
Amirkhani goes for the takedown often, and not a ton goes down in the first two rounds.
The highlight of the fight, and honestly the main card, is Amirkhani applying the Anaconda choke, and Fishgold trying to walk around to alleviate the pressure. This was so awesome.

SRS’ Rec: Watch the finish. It was an amazing struggle.

Aleksander Rakic KTFO # 12 Jimi Manuwa, R1

Rakic isn’t ranked, but Manuwa is a solid name.
Rakic immiediately sets up a head kick and knocks out Manuwa. That’s a wrap.
Mother of god that was a filthy knockout.
Manuwa is effectively done in the top 10 forever. He’s 39. He’s not getting whatever he had back.
Rakic is now 4-0 in the UFC, and probably be in the #12 range.

SRS Rec: You HAVE to watch this.

#4 Anthony Smith retired #2 Alexander Gustafsson

Anthony Smith slugs away and Gustafsson turns and runs. Surely someone has to learn to catch that pattern and cut him off.
Gustafsson works the leg kicks.
Smith belongs in the top fights of this division. It’s undeniable. He’s hanging in there with Gustafsson.
Smith switches his hips and forces Gustafsson down!
Smith grounds and pounds to set up a rear naked choke and wins!
HUGE win for Anthony Smith.
Alexander Gustafsson took his gloves off in the cage. He says “the show is over”

SRS’ Rec: Hell yeah.