UFC Denver Watch/Don’t Watch Podcast Notes, Analysis, More From Sean Ross Sapp Of Fightful.com

Mark De La Rosa hangs on to beat Joby Sanchez, SD

• If you’re either one of these guys, you have to be worried about losing. They’re Flyweights who had the good fortune of being bumped up to Bantamweight.
• Sanchez is given chance after chance, too.
• This wasn’t a great fight.
• SRS’ Rec: Don’t watch. De La Rosa will be a Bantamweight full time if he’s lucky.

Eric Shelton keeps Flyweight alive over Joseph Morales, SD

• The final scorecards don’t really tell the tale of this fight. This is also about as insignificant a fight as I can imagine on one of these shows.
• I’m not sure who scored this fight for Morales, but they’re dumb. Literally all media and fan scores had it for Shelton.
• Morales is probably gone, and Shelton will get a shot at Bantamweight
• SRS’ Rec: This fight will never affect you in any way.

Devonta Smith starches Julian Erosa via KO in 46 seconds

• Devonta Smith gets a big pop when he’s announced from Denver.
• Smith steps in quick and just obliterates Erosa. This probably could have been stopped a little earlier by both the ref and Smith. 
• How can you make sure a Contender Series product wins? Match them up. Not a bad idea.
• Smith wants to fight Ross Pearson. Good idea.
• SRS’ Rec: This was a great display of a prospect. Watch it. 

Davi Ramos dominates John Gunther, SUB R1

• This is sad when you know that John Gunther lives in his car. 
• Gunther never had a chance. He’s dragged to the ground and strangled. His first pro loss.
• SRS’ Rec: Despite their records, this was a big mismatch. It isn’t worth your time. 

Bobby Moffett kinda sorta submits Chas Skelly, R2

• Some good exchanges on the feet early, and Moffett has a nice slam. 
• Skelly did really well using the cage to try to sweep and escape. Always cool to see that. 
• Skelly was NOT out, but the ref stopped the fight on a d’arce choke. Skelly was probably going to go out anyway.
• The referee has the benefit of replay, and spends that time defending the decision while looking at the screen. 
• Ben Henderson as a coach is on a roll (technically).
• How the shit is that a TKO instead of a Technical Submission?
• SRS’ Rec: This was a solid fight anyway, but the good, juicy controversy makes it a must-watch.

Ashley Yoder is gifted a win over Amanda Cooper 

• Amanda Cooper really controls all aspects of this fight until a late takedown from Yoder, but she even turns the tide there, too. 
• This really should be 29-28 Cooper.
• Amanda Cooper’s record is deceiving. Her losses are to Mackenzie Dern, Cynthia Calvilo, Tatiana Suarez and Aspen Ladd, and has 3 wins that aren’t counted from TUF. 4-1 as an ammy, too. 
• Yoder saves her job, and hopefully Cooper doesn’t lose hers for that.
• SRS’ Rec: Don’t give this lame decision the time of day. No way.

Mike Trizano splits Luis Pena

• Both guys had their moments, and some nice grappling exchanges. Pena seems really anxious and kind of green, but not a terrible type of green. 
• Pena does himself a disservice by telegraphing his punches with the kind of range he has. Negates a lot. 
• Another lame scorecard. Shouldn’t be a 30-27 for Trizano, but he won. There was only one definite round for Pena.
• Jordan Breen had a fantastic tweet that is worth visiting.

SRS’ Rec: If you’re starving for MMA, sure. Why not?

Maycee Barber CUTS UP Hannah Cifers, R2

• Barber has that footwork that isn’t really great, but it’s active, and that’s enough until she gets caught.
• Barber’s chin is straight up in the air, but still lands strikes. Cifers just takes them. It’s kind of impressive, these are really clean shots. 
• Cifers has some power, some guns on her. Barber works to push forward and get Cifers to the ground. Barber’s use of elbows from the top was fantastic.
• This is the type of impression to make at 20 years old and at Strawweight. Maycee Barber wants Mackenzie Dern.
• SRS’ Rec: Watch this fight. Barber is a top prospect, and Cifers could develop into something good, too.

Beneil Dariush controls Thiago Moises, UD

• I thought they were showing a UFC 1 clip but someone on UFC Denver actually did pull guard in 2018.
• Beneil Dariush gets out of a guillotine, takes down Moises, and finishes round 1 with ground and pound.
• You have to think UFC wants to keep Dariush around as the new generation of the Diego Sanchez/Joe Lauzon/Jim Miller/Michael Johnson class of “shit, I dunno man, he might win.”
• Dariush knocks off a Contender Series guy. This wasn’t an exciting fight, but I see where Dariush is coming from. He got blasted by a late replacement last time out and would likely be PFL bound with a loss tonight.
• 30-25, 30-25, 30-26. WOOSH.
• SRS’ Rec: Nah, son.

#5 GDR put me to sleep against #4 Raquel Pennington

• De Randamie and Pennington is an interesting fight for a number of reasons. GDR hasn’t fought since her title win.
• Pennington pushes GDR against the cage, but when the tides turn, that’s not where she wants to be. That’s dangerous territory.
• Pennington scores a right in the second, but never puts anything else with it. She comes out on the short end of the striking exchanges.
• The most relevant fight of the show. Also, a boring one.
• See you in 2020, De Randamie.
• SRS Rec: A top-5 fight, so if you feel the need to watch all of those, still don’t watch this. 

#12 Cowboy Cerrone tip taps Mike Perry, R1 Armbar

• Will Cerrone pull the trigger? That’s what I think a lot of this comes down to. Cowboy just plodding. I don’t want to see him back at 155.
• Perry is able to get inside on a body lock and drag Cerrone down, but Cowboy sweeps him and takes side control. 
• There’s a brief exchange and Cerrone applies a triangle, then switches to an armbar. Perry slams himself into it deeper. That’s a wrap.
• Lol, can’t believe Perry was the favorite in this. So weird. I’m not sure what Mike Perry has shown that led anyone to believe Cerrone wouldn’t beat him. There’s always a chance, but yeah.
• Cerrone brings his child into the Octagon. He wants to go to 155. Cerrone, not the kid.
• SRS’ Rec: This was a good fight, although slow at the beginning. Watch it. The personalities help. 

#15 Yair Rodriguez all-times #10 Korean Zombie, R5

• Both of these guys have had long layoffs. Zombie is probably ranked a little too high in the division.
• Yair is catching Zombie coming inside often with leg kicks.
• Zombie is able to score some nice counter hooks, and is particularly effective with uppercuts in the clinch.
• The grappling exchanges here are superb, complete with Yair rolling through into a kneebar position into the first bell.
• These two are so evenly matched. Nothing is off the table when Yair is pressured. He lands a spinning back elbow as a counter.
• Rodriguez is really cracking Zombie to the body. 
• These exchanges are a blast to watch and neither are out of their depth.
• Felder breaks the unwritten broadcast rule of asking “WHAT HAPPENED?” a lot, but this one was warranted. There’s a weird situation where both men stop the action.
• When Korean Zombie comes forward with combos, he lands. Yair counters pretty well though. The latter also goes for some fantastic Imanari rolls and cartwheel kick attempts. 
• There are some real goddamn weird parts of this part. They high five, stop, stare, shake hands. Okay. 
• Seconds from the buzzer, Yair threw a back elbow BEHIND HIS OWN HEAD and knocked out Korean Zombie. I have never. This was one of the craziest things I’ve ever seen.
• What a roller coaster ride. Unbelievable!
• SRS’ Rec: This was a great fight with an all-time classic KO. WATCH IT.