10 Things We Learned: UFC 259 Prelims
A loaded preliminary card deserves its own collection of takeaways
Dominick Cruz Still Has a Little Something Left
Competing in a three-round fight for the first time since September 2014, Dominick Cruz got back into the win column in the final preliminary card bout of the evening on Saturday night at UFC 259.
Over the course of 15 minutes, the former bantamweight champion showed flashes of his former self, dancing in unpredictable patterns while sniping Casey Kenney with punches from unexpected angles and a smattering of kicks, mixing in takedown attempts and a few timely completions in order to land on the positive side of a split decision verdict. Cruz appeared to have Kenney off-balance early, using his movement to confuse the emerging bantamweight, but as the time ticked off the clock, the younger fighter started finding his range and landing successfully, attacking Cruz’ legs and making it a more competitive fight the longer it went.
But after entering the fight having last won a fight all the way back at UFC 199, Cruz showed he’s still got something left by halting Kenney’s winning streak and getting his hand raised.
Bantamweight is stacked with skilled fighters and flush with emerging talent at the moment, and no one should think of Cruz as a contender at this stage of his career. However, he showed on Saturday that he’s capable of serving as an experienced litmus test for unproven hopefuls or a competitive dance partner for fellow olds without issue going forward.
It’s a shame that injuries robbed “The Dominator” of a number of his prime years, so it’s good to see him get a victory, show he can still compete inside the UFC cage, and get to write the final chapters of his career himself, unlike so many other former champions and long-time contenders.
Coming Out Party for Kyler Phillips
Contender Series and Ultimate Fighter alum Kyler Phillips earned the biggest victory of his career, improving to 3-0 inside the Octagon with a hard-fought, well-earned unanimous decision win over Song Yadong in the penultimate preliminary card bout of the evening.
The MMA Lab representative started quickly, showcasing his swift, fluid striking to get the better of the exchanges with the ranked Chinese fighter over the first two rounds before keeping things close and avoiding getting caught over the final five minutes to secure 29-28 scores across the board. The 25-year-old showed his abilities in every phase of the game this weekend, leading to a legitimate coming out party for “The Matrix.”
If you read the Fighters to Watch series back in January, you know I was high on Phillips, writing the following about the Nikidokai practitioner and recently promoted Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under “Tanquinho” Mendes:
A well-rounded fighter who has methodically worked his way to this point by facing a steady diet of solid opposition, the 25-year-old Phillips feels like one of the top potential breakout candidates in the division… as good as he’s looked thus far, I fully anticipate him to take things up a notch or two over the next 12 months.
This effort should elevate him into the rankings (or at least the rankings conversation) and shows that the future is bright for the ultra-talented Phillips.
Askar Askarov is the Real Deal
While there were some folks questioning the undefeated status of Askar Askarov heading into his UFC 259 matchup with perennial contender Joseph Benavidez on Saturday night, there is no denying that the streaking fighter from Dagestan is a legitimate title threat now.
Askarov outclassed Benavidez in every phase, landing a greater variety of strikes and landing with far more impact and frequency on the feet, and dominating in the grappling department, floating through scrambles where the veteran contender usually excels. Although the four-time flyweight title challenger refused to wilt and continued to fire throughout the 15-minute affair, Askarov was clearly in charge and deserving of the unanimous decision victory.
Now 13-0-1 in his professional career and 3-0-1 inside the Octagon, Saturday’s win should secure Askarov the next title shot once Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno run it back later this year, as he’s already bested the only other potential option, Alexandre Pantoja.
This wasn’t a case of the 36-year-old Benavidez falling off a cliff and being “washed,” as some intimated on Twitter during the contest — this was a younger, sharper, ultra-talented fighter showing he’s the real deal and getting the better of a veteran stalwart. It was an outstanding performance from the surging 28-year-old, one that makes him an even more intriguing contender to track as things progress later this year.
Walk-Off Win for Kai Kara-France
Kai Kara-France goes by the nickname “Don’t Blink” and he finally showed why on Saturday night.
Early in his bout with Rogerio Bontorin, the 27-year-old New Zealander got stuck defending on the canvas, fighting hands as the Brazilian relentlessly sought out a choke from back mount. Just a few moments away from likely dropping a the opening stanza 10-8, Kara-France got loose with his hands, stinging Bontorin with a clean right, following it with a precise uppercut and finishing the sequence with another right hand down the pipe that sent Bontorin crashing face-first into the canvas and allowed the Kiwi to do his best Mark Hunt impression and walk it off.
This was a sudden and massive shift in momentum and a tremendous victory for the talented, but thus far inconsistent former Ultimate Fighter contestant.
Kara-France had dropped two of his last three coming into this one, but like Tim Elliott (see below), those setbacks came against elite competition in Brandon Moreno and Brandon Royval. To clearly be down and show the urgency he did in the waning moments of the opening stanza says a lot about the City Kickboxing representative’s recognition of the situation, and the finish highlights why he’s been considered a potential title threat since arriving in the UFC at the close of 2018.
Already entrenched in the Top 10, this could be the kind of performance the proud new father needs to kick off a run of success that finally carries him into contention. If nothing else, it put him in the Knockout of the Year conversation for 2021.
Grimy, Gritty Win for Tim Elliott
Tim Elliott told Thomas Gerbasi that he can “take orders like nobody’s business” and that showed on Saturday night, as the veteran flyweight turned in a gritty, grimy effort to sweep the scorecards against Jordan Espinosa.
A former title challenger in the 125-pound ranks, Elliott returned to Missouri to work with James Krause again, and the benefits were clear at UFC 259, as the 34-year-old utilized his wrestling to grind out Espinosa, mushing his elbows into his opponent’s face throughout and steering his own blood on his downed foe at points in the third round. It was the most complete and efficient effort Elliott has delivered in a couple years, and keeps him entrenched as the mini-boss hopefuls need to clear in order to work their way into the Top 10 in the flyweight division.
Elliott’s teammate and occasional training partner, UFC broadcaster Laura Sanko, said he’s “a mean SOB on the ground,” and that showed on Saturday, as he made a point of shit-talking Espinosa while mauling him on the canvas.
Though he had lost three straight before getting a victory to close out last year, those setbacks came against current champ Deiveson Figueiredo and Top 5 contenders Askar Askarov and Brandon Royval, so it’s not like Elliott had fallen off and taken a step back. Now settled in back home and allowing Krause to organize his training, don’t be surprised if the Top 15 fixture works his way back into the mix in the 125-pound division over the next 18 months.
Huge Win for Kennedy Nzechukwu
Fortis MMA light heavyweight prospect Kennedy Nzechukwu registered easily the biggest win of his career on Saturday night at UFC 259, surviving an early storm from hyped newcomer Carlos Ulberg before finishing the City Kickboxing representative with a flurry of strikes along the fence just passed the midway point of the second round.
The 28-year-old, who earned a pair of Contender Series wins, was fighting for the first time in more than 18 month after suffering an ACL tear last year, and while he started slowly, Nzechukwu diligently covered up and handled the blows coming his way well, eventually finding his footing and beginning to return fire. While Ulberg slowing towards the end of the first, the towering youngster began turning up his output and finding success.
Round 2 started the same way, but once again, Nzechukwu was able to deal with Ulberg’s offense and eventually open up himself, walking the newcomer from New Zealand into the fence and lighting him up with a series of heavy, unanswered blows that prompted the finish.
Nzechukwu is still raw, but his coach Sayif Saud raves about his potential and when you know a little more about his story, it’s difficult not to root for him. Now, “The African Savage” has a breakout victory under his belt and a lot more people beginning to wonder what kind of future the powerful, developing talent from the Dallas, Texas fight camp may have inside the Octagon.
Sean Brady Remains Perfect
Welterweight prospect Sean Brady maintained his unblemished record on Saturday night, dominating talented Australian Jake Matthews, submitting “The Celtic Kid” by arm-triangle choke late in the third round to extend his record to 14-0.
The former CFFC welterweight champion arrived in the UFC with a ton of hype and thus far, he’s justified it all, running his winning streak inside the Octagon to four with his second straight finish and the biggest victory of his career.
Matthews is an unrated talent who carried a 6-1 record into this clash, and Brady made it look easy. He got put on his back early in the first when Matthews caught a kick and connected with a right hand, but even then, the Philadelphia native ended up in top position and controlled the remainder of the round. After doing the same throughout the second, Brady got a little more aggressive in the third, putting Matthews on the mat and methodically working his way to the finish.
The 28-year-old was scheduled to face Belal Muhammad at the end of last year before both were forced out for different reasons, and lobbied for the chance to run it back with the streaking welterweight should he come up short in his main event matchup with Leon Edwards next weekend. Whether it’s Muhammad or someone else, Brady has earned the chance to share the Octagon with a ranked opponent next time out and looks poised to establish himself as a contender in 2021.
Amanda Lemos: Emerging Strawweight Threat
It didn’t take Amanda Lemos long to show that she was on a different level than Livinha Souza on Saturday night.
The 33-year-old quickly walked down the former Invicta FC champ and attacked with mixed strikes, chopping at her countrywoman’s lead leg and dropping her with a clean right hand along the fence. Though Souza found a way to tie her up and stem the tides momentarily, Lemos got right back to work once they returned to the feet, and when she dropped her again just passed the three-minute mark of the opening stanza, referee Jason Herzog stepped in and stopped the fight.
After beginning her UFC career with a loss at bantamweight, the Brazilian dropped to the 115-pound ranks and has now rattled off three straight victories. She comes forward with unbridled confidence and throws with clear power, making her an intriguing addition to the strawweight ranks. This was a tough assignment against a very good opponent and Lemos made it look easy, becoming the first to finish Souza and making a case for having a number next to her name when the rankings refresh next week.
Monster Debut for Uros Medic
Uros Medic had one of the best performances last season on the Contender Series, establishing himself as one to watch in the lightweight division. Saturday night, the UFC freshman made a massive statement, battering Aalon Cruz from the jump to earn an impressive first-round stoppage win.
Right out of the gate, Medic stung Cruz, connecting with a hook that wobbled his opponent, and the newcomer never let off the gas from there. As Cruz tried desperately to complete a takedown and slow down Medic, the unbeaten 27-year-old prospect stayed on the gas, finding openings to feed Cruz more punishment before referee Mark Smith finally stepped in to halt the action.
There have been a handful of quality debuts already this year, but Medic’s effort on Saturday is certainly in the running for a place on the podium thus far. You never quite know how inexperienced newcomers with unblemished records are going to look when they make the transition to the biggest stage in the sport, but Medic immediately made it clear that he not only belongs, but has the potential to be someone that makes some real noise in the division down the line.
Lightweight is one of the deepest divisions in the sport, so the opportunity is there for Medic to enjoy a slow progression where he can continue gaining experience, develop his skills and give himself a chance to build on this outstanding first showing.
Five Stars for “5Star” Trevin Jones
Saturday’s action got off to an explosive start, as Trevin “5Star” Jones put a nasty lead uppercut to the face of Mario Bautista early in the second round to secure the finish.
After a competitive first round where neither man established a clear advantage, the 30-year-old feinted with a left hand and came with the uppercut behind it, connecting clean and putting Bautista on the deck. The hammerfists followed and the referee stepped in, giving Jones a second consecutive stoppage inside the Octagon.
Jones made his promotional debut on two-days notice last summer, rallying after a slow start to stop highly regarded prospect Timur Valiev, but the result was overturned after Jones tested positive for marijuana in his post-fight drug screening. But there will be no taking this one from him, and it instantly makes the resident of Guam an interesting figure to track going forward in the highly competitive bantamweight division.
With his power and consecutive stoppage wins — because he beat Valiev, regardless of what his resume says now — Jones should get a step up in competition next time out and a victory there could have him knocking on the door of the Top 15 before the fall.