6 Hits And 2 Misses From UFC Vegas 111: Gabriel Bonfim vs. Randy Brown

For the second straight week — and the second-to-last time within the 2025 calendar yr — the UFC landed at its UFC APEX headquarters, trying to transfer on from final week’s controversial occasion and go ahead with UFC Vegas 111.

The principle occasion noticed a welterweight battle between Gabriel Bonfim and Randy Brown. Bonfim had gained three straight since struggling his first profession loss, coming into this bout off a controversial break up choice win over Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson at UFC Nashville in July. Brown, in the meantime, entered with 4 wins in his final 5 fights, together with a spotlight knockout of Nicolas Dalby within the Battle of the Night time of April’s UFC Kansas Metropolis.

The co-main occasion noticed a flyweight battle, as Matt Schnell welcomed Joseph Morales again to the UFC. Schnell entered this combat off a win over Jimmy Flick at UFC Kansas Metropolis, a combat that snapped a three-fight shedding streak for him. This, in the meantime, marked Morales’ first combat since successful The Final Fighter season 33.

Who confirmed out in Vegas? Who had a letdown? Let’s undergo along with the Hits and Misses of UFC Vegas 111!

Hit: Zachary Reese Goes By means of A Storm For A Brief-Discover Win

It often doesn’t end in a win when a fighter steps up on brief discover; nonetheless, Zachary Reese was in a position to face that adversity — and early adversity from opponent Jackson McVey — to attain a second-round end.

Reese and McVey placed on fairly the placing storm early on within the combat, each throwing energy photographs. McVey gave the impression to be getting the higher of issues, nonetheless, and Reese gave the impression to be rocked throughout the opening spherical. Reese survived although, and he managed to get McVey to the mat within the second, ending him off with a rear-naked choke.

This was a robust efficiency for Reese, one thing wanted after the bitter style of a no contest with Sedriques Dumas at Noche UFC 3 in September. With only one loss in his final six fights now, Reese is likely to be due for just a little step up in competitors subsequent go round.

Hit: Gomes & Cavalcanti Rising Up

There have been two ladies’s fights throughout the UFC Vegas 111 prelims, each that includes contenders within the strawweight and bantamweight contenders. And the 2 lower-ranked contenders — Denise Gomes and Jacqueline Cavalcanti — confirmed off in spectacular performances that can transfer them up the ranks.

Gomes didn’t appear to have any hassle in opposition to Tecia Pennington, staying in management because of her placing, in addition to prime management work within the third spherical. Cavalcanti, in the meantime, took benefit of a Mayra Bueno Silva who appeared unwilling or unable to tug the set off on explosive offense. Cavalcanti used her boxing to almost sweep the scorecards (and truthfully ought to have swept the playing cards) within the victory.

Gomes will make a slight transfer up the 115-pound ranks, and he or she might take a look at somebody within the top-10 subsequent. Cavalcanti, in the meantime, is definitely going to be within the top-10 at 135, and her subsequent bout ought to carry a possibility to gear her nearer towards the highest of the title image.

Miss: The Fall Of Mayra Bueno Silva

It has been virtually two years since Mayra Bueno Silva fought Raquel Pennington for the then-vacant ladies’s bantamweight championship within the co-main occasion of UFC 297. Sadly, it looks like which may have been the height of her MMA profession.

MBS has now misplaced 4 straight fights following this loss to Jacqueline Cavalcanti. The truth is, she’s now technically winless in her final 5 fights, as her spectacular win over Holly Holm in 2023 was overturned to a no contest after testing constructive for ritalinic acid. And for the reason that loss to Pennington — a horrible combat in itself — she was completed by Macy Chiasson and now has dropped choices to rising names in Jasmine Jasudavicius and Cavalcanti.

These have all been contenders’ battles — minus the lone title combat — so it’s not going to threaten MBS’ job almost definitely. Nonetheless, one thing feels off about her. And whether or not its altering camps or altering one thing about her pre-fight prep, Bueno Silva has to determine it out, and quick.

Hit: One other Excellent CLD KO

Christian Leroy Duncan’s placing is enjoyable to observe, and for the second straight time, it’s led him to a spotlight knockout.

CLD appeared to land one thing flashy on opponent Marco Tulio from the opening of the combat. He discovered a spinning elbow that did injury, however Tulio tried to stress Leroy Duncan again. Regardless of a takedown and a cut-opening shot from Tulio, CLD put him away with a spinning elbow and a proper hand, crumbling Tulio to the mat.

This was a profitable observe up for Leroy Duncan after his spotlight end of Eryk Anders a number of months in the past. And he’s definitely been spectacular since coming over to the UFC from Cage Warriors in 2023.

Hit: Name A Medic…However Not For Medic

For a second straight combat, Uros Medic managed to win by way of KO/TKO in simply 63 seconds, this time not needing a lot to place away Muslim Salikhov.

Medic did injury with leg kicks early on earlier than dropping Salikhov with a left hand. He then landed some ground-and-pound till the referee intervened.

Medic is a constant finisher, and he’s now gained three of 4 and 4 of six. Whereas the transfer to 170 has been a little bit of a blended bag to date, one other win ought to permit Medic to be in consideration for a combat in opposition to a contender.

Hit: Joseph Morales Is Again

Joseph Morales had maybe probably the most feel-good second of the evening, solidifying a profitable return to the Octagon with a end of Matt Schnell within the co-main occasion.

Schnell is a profitable grappler in his personal proper, however taking Morales down very very first thing proved to be a mistake. Morales reversed in prime place and labored nicely in facet management. After threatening a kimura, Morales made his means into locking up a guillotine, which earned him a first-round submission victory.

After going 1-2 in his first UFC stint, Morales made waves on The Final Fighter season 33 when he knocked off Eduardo Henrique in a battle of prime picks within the first combat of the season. He’d rating a controversial choice over Imanol Rodriguez earlier than submitting Alibi Idiris within the ultimate at UFC 319.

Miss: Morales’ 6-7 Celly

I hate this silly meme. Those that know me will perceive why. Subsequent.

Hit: Gabriel Bonfim Prepared For A Step Up?

I’m not going to place any thought or make any dialogue of Mark Smith stopping the combat when he did. It was a weird end the place each ended up on the mat, and the best way Brown fell after the knee was regarding. And if Gabriel Bonfim landed some follow-up shot(s) that put Brown out worse, Smith would have been crucified anyway. That’s too powerful of a spot for a ref to be in and decide him on.

So, let’s deal with Bonfim.

Bonfim completely chewed up Brown’s legs with the low kicks he handed out within the opening spherical. Brown appeared to carry out his placing within the second spherical, however Bonfim shortly put a cease to that — and the combat itself — together with his knee to the pinnacle.

Bonfim has now gained 4 straight since struggling the primary lack of his profession. Whereas the win over Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson was a controversial name, this end of Brown now provides him a second efficiency bonus in that stretch.

I wouldn’t say this win ought to put him means up the welterweight rankings; nonetheless, after heading off somebody unranked like Brown, Bonfim’s subsequent combat ought to come in opposition to somebody lower-ranked within the prime 10, or else whoever is at No. 11 by the point he fights once more.

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