UFC 239 Watch/Don’t Watch From Sean Ross Sapp | HIGHLIGHTS
Julia Avila def. Pannie Kianzad by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26)
This is all Julia Avilea’s fight. She’s making her UFC debut, and has been finishing people with regularity. her only pro loss is because of a hand injury early into a fight last year. She doesn’t have any amateur losses either. She looked very good here.
SRS’ Rec: No way.
Chance Rencountre def. Ismail Naurdiev by unanimous decision (29-27, 29-28, 30-27)
Rencountre was a sizable underdog here and won his second fight in a row after dropping his debut to Belal Muhammad. Considering that Naurdiev was able to beat Tractor Prazeres, this was a bit of a surprise to see unfold.
SRS’ Rec: Nope
Edmen Shahbazyan def. Jack Marshman by submission via rear naked choke (1:12, R1)
It only took 72 seconds! @EdmenShahbazyan improves to 10-0 at #UFC239 with the first round stoppage! pic.twitter.com/dHhBOjkBS4
— UFC (@ufc) July 6, 2019
This is a one sided ass whipping, and the betting lines were completely correct. After a couple of striking exchanges, Shahbazyan takes down Marshman, uses some ground and pound and taps him out with the quickness. Shahbazyan is 21 years old and is 3-0 in the UFC, with another 40 second win on Contender Series. He’s someone that has to be looked at as a possibly big name for the future.
SRS’ Rec: Um, yep.
Song Yadong stiffens Alejandro Perez, R1
Perez went on a great hot streak that had him winning six straight fights until he ran into Stamann, and it’ll take something special to put him back in the title picture after this one. He’d done so well on TUF and in his early UFC career, but the Stamann fight and this one weren’t hot. Yadong cracks Perez and finishes him. Yadong has won four straight fights in the UFC and remains unbeaten there.
The right hand puts Perez away in the FIRST ROUND!
Wow! #UFC239 pic.twitter.com/bbnxvMBpYI
— UFC (@ufc) July 7, 2019
SRS’ Rec: Yeah, Yadong is one to keep your eyes on.
#5 Claudia Gadelha def. #14 Randa Markos by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
This is a Claudia Gadelha fight. If you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all. There is nothing special here, there are no new wrinkles to her game. She keeps beating people she should beat. That’s it. She’s not a lot closer to the title with a performance like this. It was not a fun fight to watch at all, outside of a particularly good exchange in round 1.
SRS’ Rec: No
Marlon Vera def. Nohelin Hernandez by submission via rear naked choke (3:25, R2)
Vera applies several submissions on the ground, and this chain is particularly great. He goes from armbar to bicep crusher, almost to a triangle choke. Hernandez manages to throw some nice ground and pound. In round two, Vera straight up lands a running knee and taps Hernandez out with a rear naked choke. This was a really great finish. It’s time for a top 10 fight for Vera. He’s won four straight fights via finish, and is the first UFC bantamweight to ever do so.
Wow!@ChitoVeraUFC turns the tables in round 2 and gets the submission win! #UFC239 pic.twitter.com/ApN6FiRQmK
— UFC (@ufc) July 7, 2019
SRS’ Rec: Hell yeah, this is a good one.
Arnold Allen beats the brakes off Gilbert Melendez, UD
Arnold Allen just keeps piecing up Melendez. Gilbert has about as much for Allen as he’s had for his last 32894 fights, which isn’t a lot. At the very least, Melendez is tough and can’t really be put away with strikes. This goes to the scorecards, change the record.
SRS’ Rec: You can pass on this one.
Michael Chiesa jobs out Diego Sanchez, UD
Diego Sanchez came in with one corner man with no MMA experience after leaving Jackson’s MMA and cutting a bunch of really crazy promos. He shoots a quick takedown and gets it, but is swept and switched. Chiesa applies a rear naked choke and elbows the hell out of Sanchez. Diego almost hit a helicopter sweep, even. Round two is the exact same way. Diego gets no help from his corner for obvious reasons. This was a bad idea from Diego, but at least his scrambling ability is still there.
SRS’ Rec: Nope
#6 Jan Blachowicz def. Luke Rockhold by KTFO via strikes (1:39, R2)
Rockhold is wearing a shin sleeve, and throws some heavy kicks. Blachowicz is able to score some strikes upon separation. Blachowicz damn near knocked out Rockhold after the bell with a huge head kick. Herb Dean says that was initiated at the bell. Either way, Rockhold was wobbled, but comes out aggressive in round 2. That whole being off a year and a half thing didn’t work out, Blachowicz flattens Rockhold and finishes up. Luke is out cold. Rockhold has one win since 2016. No more talk of him near the title picture for a while
JAN BLACHOWICZ!!!! #UFC239 pic.twitter.com/d6Rx1KpsGT
— UFC (@ufc) July 7, 2019
SRS’ Rec: YES.
#4 Jorge Masvidal def. #5 Ben Askren by RECORD SETTER via flying knee strike (0:05, R1)
Masvidal runs across the cage and flying knees Askren. That’s it. The fight is over. Askren went stiff. After the fight, Masvidal said that he threw a flying knee at Askren because he was a bum. Masvidal had some big follow up punches and taunted Askren after. Holy crap. That was one of the most insane things I’ve ever seen in MMA.
As they say.
That’ll do it.pic.twitter.com/wfETU0xK2I— Sean Ross Sapp Of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) July 7, 2019
SRS’ Rec: What do you think!?
UFC Bantamweight Championship
Amanda Nunes (c) drills Holly Holm, KO, R1
Amanda Nunes lands a quick trip, but Holm gets up and lands some short punches on the way. A big head kick drops Holm, and Nunes follows up with strikes to put Holm away. Amanda Nunes knocks out Holly Holm! She’s now beaten every UFC Bantamweight and Featherweight Champions, and every Bellator Featherweight Champion. She’s the greatest of all time.
SRS’ Rec: Yes, of course
UFC Light Heavyweight Championship
Jon Jones def. #2 Thiago Santos by split decision (48-47, 47-48, 48-47) to retain the title
No punches thrown through, only kicks. Both men find success with kicks, but I don’t know that Santos fighting on the outside is a great idea. Santos does start landing some good punches, and I have him winning the first round. Santos looks like he hurt himself, and gets wild and aggressive when Jones comes in after him. Robert Whittaker came back and won a fight on one leg. Stop acting like Santos has to go for broke, commentary team. Jones landed a good body kick that dropped Santos, but Santos isn’t going away. Santos continually lands big punches, and Jones isn’t throwing any, opting to counter. That changes in round three with a big elbow that drops Santos, and Jones takes what I think is his first round of the night. Jones is just picking away at Santos now, who is still dangerous. I think it comes down to the last round, though Jones could be up one. Santos opens up in round three as commentary alleges he has a torn ACL. ………….I had Santos winning rounds 1, 2 and 5, but 2 and 5 were so close I could see them going either way. Jones took the split decision and Santos is the first person to win a scorecard over Jones.
SRS’ Rec: Any Jones fight is worth the watch.
