6 Hits And 4 Misses From UFC 321: Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane

The eyes of the fight world have been locked in on Abu Dhabi, as UFC 321 and its two title fights went down on the Etihad Enviornment in Abu Dhabi.

It was this 12 months’s version of the UFC’s annual tour to Abu Dhabi for a late October pay-per-view (albeit with the unique one in 2019 occurring in September). The UFC was additionally on the Etihad Enviornment earlier this 12 months for a Combat Night time card that was headlined by Reinier de Ridder defeating Robert Whittaker.

The principle occasion noticed Tom Aspinall defend the UFC heavyweight championship in opposition to Ciryl Gane. Aspinall defeated Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295 to turn out to be interim heavyweight champion, and he retained the interim gold in opposition to Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304. Aspinall was then promoted to undisputed champion following Jon Jones’ transient retirement in June. Gane, a former interim champion and two-time former title challenger, earned this title shot off a controversial choice over Alexander Volkov at UFC 310.

The co-main occasion noticed the vacant UFC ladies’s strawweight title on the road as Virna Jandiroba confronted Mackenzie Dern. This was a rematch from UFC 256, the place Dern earned a choice win over Jandiroba. Since then, Jandiroba had received six of seven, together with 5 in a row, whereas Dern entered this struggle with three wins in her final 5 fights.

Who delivered in Abu Dhabi? Who didn’t? Let’s discover out as we undergo the hits and misses of UFC 321!

Miss: Beastboy Far From A Beast

I do know we within the MMA group are entertained by Chris Barnett, and he’s had his victories within the Octagon. However when the heavyweight division is as weak as it’s within the UFC, watching a efficiency like Barnett delivered on this card isn’t solely irritating; it’s de-motivating.

Abdelwahab utterly dominated this struggle, touchdown a number of takedowns and smothering Barnett together with his wrestling. Actually, the very best offense that Barnett dedicated on this struggle was his unintentional mooning of the gang and residential viewers.

Barnett has misplaced three of his final 4 and is now 2-4 within the UFC. If he will get one other alternative one way or the other after that, his Octagon tenure is for positive going to be at stake.

Hit: One other Combat, One other Ankle For Valter Walker

In a sky filled with stormy clouds that’s the heavyweight division of the UFC, Valter Walker presents a ray of sunshine. Actually, he was by far the very best heavyweight performer of the night time, spoiling the UFC debut of Louie Sutherland.

It solely took Walker a couple of minute to attain a takedown on Sutherland. About 30 seconds later, and Walker had secured one other first-round heel hook submission win. He turns into the primary UFC fighter to have 4 consecutive victories in such a style, and he’s solely the second UFC fighter with 4 heel hook victories within the Octagon interval.

Walker could also be towards the decrease finish of the UFC’s heavyweight rankings, however wanting across the division, he may current the most important risk to Tom Aspinall that isn’t named Ciryl Gane.

Hit: L’udovit Klein And Mateusz Rebecki Go To Struggle

L’udovit Klein and Mateusz Rebecki obtained their flowers for the present they placed on at UFC 321, incomes the occasion’s Combat of the Night time honors. Klein, nevertheless, was the one who got here away together with his hand raised in a majority choice victory.

Rebecki tried to carry his energy from the get-go, displaying some robust hanging. However it was Klein who seemed to be in management for the primary two rounds, displaying good footwork whereas with the ability to land on Rebecki, busting him open at one level. Klein would get busted up himself, nevertheless, as Rebecki pressured Klein through the third spherical. Klein would find yourself hurting his ankle, and Rebecki would take the struggle to the bottom, delivering some hard-hitting floor pictures that might have ended the struggle at any second.

One decide scored the bout a draw, however Klein obtained the nod on the opposite two playing cards. However, it was a struggle that shined the brightest on today, and each males deserved to take a bow.

Hit: Quillan Salkilld Sends A Scary KO

Quillan Salkilld left the complete MMA group’s jaws on the ground with the best way he put away Nasrat Haqparast.

Haqparast tried to take cost early, coming ahead together with his left hand whereas stopping Salkilld’s takedown makes an attempt. However all it took was one perfectly-time head kick early within the first spherical to drop Haqparast out chilly, twitching on the canvas and leaving him unconscious for a number of minutes.

Salkilld is now 3-0 in his UFC debut 12 months, and his monitor file additionally features a 19-second end in his Octagon debut. Salkilld could also be one among, if not the, high Octagon rookies for 2025. Right here’s hoping his 2026 continues his upward momentum and trajectory.

Hit: Azamat Murzakanov Is For Actual

One concern individuals had about Azamat Murzakanov getting into his UFC 321 bout with Aleksandar Rakic was that Rakic final three losses had all come in opposition to individuals who had been or went on to turn out to be UFC gentle heavyweight champion. Murzakanov had not confronted competitors like that earlier than. However like what he did to Rakic, Murzakanov put these issues to mattress.

Rakic introduced strain early, courtesy of his hanging and a pair of takedown makes an attempt. Murzakanov was capable of fend off these takedowns, nevertheless, earlier than connecting on a proper hand that put Rakic away.

Murzakanov, now 16-0, is definitely going to search out himself simply outdoors the highest 5 within the UFC’s gentle heavyweight division. And a type of names within the high 5 ought to absolutely be who Murzakanov faces subsequent.

Miss: Get rid of The Heavyweight Title Eliminator?

The query gave the impression to be who amongst Alexander Volkov and Jailton Almeida was going to be subsequent in line for the UFC heavyweight championship. Now the questions appear to be “Why trouble?” and “Was this all for nothing?”

Takedowns and grappling was the gameplan for Almeida, and whereas he dominated with that within the second spherical. The primary spherical, nevertheless, noticed Volkov reverse the place and land robust strikes. The hanging additionally was current within the third spherical particularly, and two of the judges felt Volkov’s strikes have been simpler than Almeida’s grappling, giving him the win.

The struggle, nevertheless, simply noticed too easy and never thrilling. Neither man actually displayed any argument that they’d give a lot a struggle to the UFC heavyweight champion. After which so as to add insult, the primary occasion’s end result means Volkov could not get a title shot anytime quickly.

Hit: Umar Nurmagomedov Rebounds, Mario Bautista Exhibits He Is Legit

After arising a spherical shy of defeating Merab Dvalishvili for the UFC bantamweight championship, Umar Nurmagomedov pulled off a robust efficiency in a win over Mario Bautista.

Nurmagomedov’s grappling was the important thing to his victory, however it didn’t come with out Bautista disrupting momentum. Actually, Bautista appeared to have a decent toe maintain in on Nurmagomedov through the first spherical that he needed to work his method out of. Bautista additionally landed a robust knee through the second spherical, however Nurmagomedov finally obtained a physique triangle in on him on the bottom and practically obtained a choke.

Nurmagomedov then put issues away with extra grappling and management within the last spherical to brush the judges’ scorecards.

That is a type of fights the place each come away with one thing — Nurmagomedov made a case for the Dvalishvili vs. Yan 2 winner, and Bautista confirmed he’s a legit thrilling contender in a stacked 135-pound division.

Miss: Virna Jandiroba vs. Mackenzie Dern Fails To Excite

Din Thomas was just lately on the file calling Virna Jandiroba vs. Mackenzie Dern essentially the most “insignificant” title struggle in UFC historical past. And whereas some could really feel his feedback weren’t warranted, the struggle itself finally didn’t really feel prefer it had the joy.

Dern and Jandiroba traded management between grappling and hanging exchanges. Jandiroba appeared to get off to a robust begin along with her strain and takedowns. Dern, nevertheless, appeared snug from her again and managed to maintain issues even with the grappling. Dern’s improved hanging finally helped lead her to the choice victory.

The struggle was aggressive however didn’t have the hard-hitting, intense nature you may really feel with a title struggle. Hopefully for Dern, nevertheless, that is the beginning of a brand new run that may achieve aura over time. And maybe Tatiana Suarez or Yan Xiaonan could make for an attention-grabbing first title protection.

Hit: Dern Fulfills Future

Whereas the struggle wasn’t the best title bout in UFC historical past, I do wish to give a tip of the cap to Dern.

There was loads of discuss Dern early in her profession, because the jiu-jitsu world champion made her UFC debut as a 5-0 fighter off a stint within the LFA. Issues began off effectively for her between 2016 and 2020, however a loss to Marina Rodriguez in late 2021 caused concern that her momentum had stalled. And this was after already drawing concern early in her profession with weight misses.

However ever since aligning herself with Jason Parillo, Dern’s hanging has continued to get higher over time. She has was a well-rounded fighter, and she or he has discovered success to the purpose the place she now has fulfilled a future she set for herself. Nicely finished, Mackenzie!

Miss: A Letdown Ending For A Letdown Of A Division

A lot for the Tom Aspinall period starting with a bang. It as an alternative begins with a small pop that coincides with the best way he was named champion.

Or ought to I say that it begins with an eye fixed poke? As a result of a double eye poke left Aspinall unable to proceed, ensuing within the first UFC title struggle major occasion on pay-per-view that ends in an instantaneous no contest (Cormier vs. Jones 2 was overturned to 1 months after the very fact).

Gane’s hanging seemed to be giving him success, even busting up Aspinall round his mouth. Issues have been wanting nice for him till the attention pokes, and now all momentum for Aspinall is one way or the other stalled even additional. It will get run again, however it’s a disgrace that that is how the night time ends.

And after the best way this match performed out, mixed with the opposite heavyweight fights on the night time, Jon Jones is the most important winner. It stinks to confess — however heavyweight is nothing with out him. And with Alex Pereira needing a transfer up in weight, maybe Jones vs. Pereira is on the desk once more…and perhaps for the White Home card that Dana White didn’t need Jones on?

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