4 Hits & 3 Misses From UFC Atlanta: Kamaru Usman vs. Joaquin Buckley

The UFC returned to Atlanta for the primary time in six years this previous Saturday evening, internet hosting a Struggle Night time card that introduced out loads of names and a few noteworthy performances.

The final time the UFC was in Atlanta was for UFC 236, which featured two title fights which have connections to even upcoming UFC occasions. The primary occasion of that evening noticed Dustin Poirier defeat Max Holloway of their second encounter to turn out to be interim UFC light-weight champion. These two will face off yet one more time in Poirier’s retirement battle subsequent month at UFC 318. The co-main occasion, in the meantime, noticed a wild encounter through which Israel Adesanya defeated Kelvin Gastelum to turn out to be interim UFC middleweight champion. That battle will likely be inducted into the UFC Corridor of Fame in simply a few weeks.

In the meantime, final evening’s UFC Atlanta noticed fairly a couple of fights the place a rising up-and-comer seemed to make a press release towards a identified title.

In the primary occasion, Kamaru Usman returned to the Octagon for the primary time in practically two years to tackle Joaquin Buckley. Usman had not been seen since his UFC 280 loss to Khamzat Chimaev — a battle that marked Usman’s third straight defeat since dropping the welterweight title to Leon Edwards. Buckley, in the meantime, was driving a six-fight win streak, having most just lately completed Usman’s previous rival, Colby Covington, in December.

The co-main occasion noticed Rose Namajunas look to maintain optimistic momentum within the flyweight division towards rising star Miranda Maverick. Namajunas entered the battle simply 2-2 since transferring to 125, having dropped a choice to Erin Blanchfield this previous November. Maverick, in the meantime, was on a four-fight win streak and had received six of her earlier seven bouts.

Who got here out robust? Who didn’t? Let’s go into it along with this week’s version of Hits and Misses.

Hit: Enjoyable-Crammed Finishes On Prelims

UFC Atlanta’s predominant card might have had the star energy; nonetheless, it was the prelims that had the large finishes — and was arguably the extra entertaining portion of the night.

All of it started with Phil Rowe happening two rounds towards Ange Loosa. Loosa was in pretty dominant management over the bout’s first 10 minutes, even scoring a knockdown on Rowe on the conclusion of a wild second spherical. However within the third, issues modified shortly. Rowe managed to get his combos going, bringing the stress proper to Loosa, who seemed to be struggling. Rowe managed to land blow after blow, together with a sequence of uppercuts, earlier than a proper hand crumbled Loosa to the mat for the end.

It was a wild outing for “The Contemporary Prince,” who’s now 4-3 within the Octagon since coming into the UFC by Dana White’s Contender Sequence (DWCS). He not solely avoids a three-fight skid and debatable retained his job, but it surely was the form of efficiency that’s certain to depart an enduring impression on followers and brass alike.

Then got here a violent knockout Jose Ochoa had on Cody Durden and a walk-off KO for Malcolm Wellmaker towards Kris Moutinho. It was a pair of violent shows that actually acquired the cardboard on hearth — and three finishes in a four-fight span that moist the urge for food of Atlanta’s UFC trustworthy in attendance.

Hit: Watch Out For Wellmaker

I do know I simply talked about Malcolm Wellmaker within the entry in regards to the card’s finishes, however he deserves a second hit for the impression he left within the Octagon — each on this night and to date in his UFC run.

Taking over a returning Kris Moutinho, Wellmaker pushed the tempo towards somebody who likes to deliver stress and get into putting battles. It doesn’t matter what Moutinho tried to ship, Wellmaker was simply too robust and too correct.

Wellmaker landed a proper hand within the middle of the Octagon that knocked out Moutinho, bringing the group to its ft. In actual fact, for a second straight battle, Wellmaker walked away from the battle because the referee waved all of it off.

“The Machine” had made his UFC debut lower than two months in the past, when he stopped Cameron Saaiman — and that was after he knocked out Adam Bramhald on DWCS.

I do know he’s solely two fights in, however we have to maintain critical eyes on Wellmaker. He deserves recognition for what he’s completed to date, and one other considered one of these performances will simply shortly rise his star that’s beginning to shine.

Miss: One other Inconclusive Paul Craig vs. Rodolfo Bellato Ending…And Is It An Act?

After Rodolfo Bellato’s herpes analysis pressured him out of a battle with Paul Craig simply weeks in the past, you’d assume a fast re-booking would assist to unravel the problem of which man is the higher fighter, proper?

Effectively, UFC Atlanta didn’t present that — and it was a battle that left a extremely bitter style in followers’ mouths.

The 2 males threw their energy instantly, and after rocking Craig, Bellato took him down and acquired right into a dominant high management. But it surely was the tip of that first spherical that introduced the difficulty.

Craig landed an upkick that appeared to knock out Bellato; nonetheless, with Bellato’s knees nonetheless grounded, the kick was an unlawful one. And when Bellato seemed to be out of it, trying to take down the ref upon waking the up, the referee determined to cease the battle and rule it a no-contest.

When wanting on the end, nonetheless, it appeared Bellato seemed towards the ref, able to dispute earlier than flopping to the mat. MMA X (fka Twitter) has referred to as him out on it. Anthony Smith has referred to as him out on it. And it seems to be that many are in settlement Bellato seemed for the simple method out.

To be blunt, we’ll see if Bellato has a job after this one. I’m certain Dana White and the remainder of the UFC brass received’t be joyful together with his actions and the way his efficiency is being referred to as out on. If he does, will we have now to see a 3rd reserving between this pair?

Miss: Mansur Abdul-Malik Loses End On Unintentional Headbutt

It’s unhealthy when a foul causes the tip of a battle as soon as. Sadly, it happed simply a few fights later at UFC Atlanta — and this one price a fighter a robust end.

The second battle of the primary card noticed Mansur Abdul-Malik tackle Cody Brundage. The battle was very lackluster to begin, with each fighters not taking a lot management within the first 10 minutes — albeit with Abdul-Malik busting Brundage open behind considered one of his ears.

However the two let their fingers go to begin the third — a spherical the place Brundage appeared to go down in ache, overlaying up, after a giant knee to the physique by Abdul-Malik. However simply as we thought Abdul-Malik acquired a third-round end, battle replay confirmed an unintended headbutt that triggered Brundage’s ache and crumbling to the mat.

As a result of foul inflicting the end, overruling the ref, and with the battle within the third spherical, the battle went to a technical choice. Abdul-Malik nonetheless received the battle, but it surely marked the primary time the judges’ playing cards performed a task within the victory.

It was a disappointing battle that noticed a terrific end ruined by an unlucky foul. Hopefully Abdul-Malik can nonetheless carry this momentum into his subsequent outing.

Miss: Modifications Do Cody Garbrandt No Good

There was as soon as a time the place Cody Garbrandt was undefeated and on high of the bantamweight world because the UFC champion. These days are lengthy gone, nonetheless, and Garbrandt finds himself in fairly the place after shedding at UFC Atlanta towards Raoni Barcelos.

Garbrandt seemed to showcase a classic efficiency within the opening spherical, with speedy crisp strikes that shocked and opened up Barcelos. Barcelos had his moments, nonetheless, briefly taking Garbrandt down and busting the previous champ open round considered one of his eyebrows.

Barcelos, nonetheless, took over throughout the remaining 10 minutes. Barcelos landed clear, robust combos, led by his proper hand, which rocked Garbrandt throughout the spherical. Barcelos continued his pressure-based offense within the third, stopping Garbrandt’s takedown makes an attempt and dealing neatly together with his power and precision.

Garbrandt has solely as soon as per yr since shedding the bantamweight title apart from 2021 — and even then, he didn’t battle in any respect in 2022. In that point, he has gone from an 11-0 fighter that received the UFC’s 135-pound strap to a 14-7 fighter whose future is unsure. Clearly he’s needed to overcome accidents and well being scares — and his well being needs to be precedence — however his standing as a fighter ought to nonetheless be in query at this level given his skid.

Even after supposed modifications in his battle camp, Garbrandt is in a foul place.

Hit: Rose Namajunas Continues To Fly, Places On Conflict With Miranda Maverick

Might Rose Namajunas be in competition for a flyweight title alternative? She might have confirmed how she positively belongs on the high of 125 competition along with her choice win over Miranda Maverick within the UFC Atlanta co-main occasion.

The 2 did loads of buying and selling for a wild back-and-forth encounter over quarter-hour. Namajunas appeared to get the higher of issues throughout the first spherical; nonetheless, Maverick did get her to discover her personal assault. Namajunas acquired Maverick to the bottom throughout the second and labored round Maverick’s guard to get to her again, troubling her with floor strikes and a strong-rear bare choke try. Credit score must given to Maverick, nonetheless, for slipping out and locking up a decent arm-triangle within the dying seconds of the spherical.

“Thug Rose” scored a knockdown within the third spherical and managed from there, happening to win a unanimous choice.

Namajunas is now 3-2 at 125 — and her solely losses have come towards former title challengers in Manon Fiorot and Erin Blanchfield. She positively received’t be getting the following title alternative, particularly if the UFC goes for a battle between Weili Zhang and Valentina Shevchenko, however one or two extra wins might nail Namajunas with an opportunity at gold in a second UFC weight class.

Hit: Usman’s Again, ‘Nuff Stated

Those that wrote Kamaru Usman’s grave throughout the time away from the cage might have been sorely mistaken.

Usman seemed like his previous self towards Joaquin Buckley, placing on a dominant show stuffed with takedowns, wrestling, and highly effective strikes in the primary occasion of UFC Atlanta.

Although the dwell crowd didn’t recognize it as a lot, Usman used what made him so profitable and a UFC champion within the first place — his dominant wrestling expertise. Usman used it in model — as soon as he acquired Buckley down throughout the first three rounds, Buckley stayed there. Usman added his highly effective floor strikes, together with busting Buckley overtly badly on his face throughout the second spherical.

Buckley appeared to storm again within the fifth, nonetheless, dodging all of Usman’s takedown makes an attempt and trying to land wild, highly effective strikes for a Leon Edwards-style, last-minute end. Alas, he didn’t discover it, and Usman received a dominant choice.

It was his first win in three fights; his most up-to-date win previous to this battle got here when he defeated Colby Covington at UFC 281 to retain the welterweight title. Now it’ll be fascinating to see what occurs if Usman will get paired with somebody within the high three like Belal Muhammad, Sean Brady or Shavkat Rakhmonov. Usman and Muhammad, the truth is, have already traded barbs just lately — and if Usman received that, maybe he may get one other alternative to regain the belt he as soon as had.

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