UFC 278: 10 Things We Learned Last Night
Leon Edwards shook up the welterweight division, Luke Rockhold called it day, and much, much more
And New!
Leon Edwards was less than a minute away from defeat and then BANG… And New!
Down three rounds and needing a finish, Edwards showed Kamaru Usman a left hand and followed it with a left high kick, putting shin to neck as the champion dipped his head, turning out the lights instantly. This was the most unbelievable come-from-behind title win since Anderson Silva retained his middleweight title with his fifth-round submission win over Chael Sonnen, and the instant clubhouse leader in the Knockout of the Year race.
Usman dominated the second, third, and fourth with his pressure, pace, and grappling prowess, having his way with Edwards, who seemed resigned to losing a decision. Even in the fifth, the champion was in control until an errant kick landed low and forced a pause in the action. When they re-started, Edwards had a bounce in his step, and with the two hanging out in range, the challenger stepped forward into the pocket, and then it happened.
Edwards pawed out with the left hand, occupying Usman’s hands and prompting him to lean off the center line. As he dipped out, Edwards followed with a same-side high kick, connecting with a thwack that put Usman out in a flash.
Just an absolutely insane finish!
Rematch at Wembley?
At the end of the broadcast, UFC play-by-play man Jon Anik mentioned that UFC President Dana White floated the idea of doing the rematch at Wembley Stadium in London, and all I can say is, “Oh Fuck Yes!”
Here’s what we do: rather than rushing the rematch, give Usman the rest of the year to recover, Edwards the rest of the year to celebrate, and instead of hitting up the O2 Arena in March, take the show to Wembley. Load it up with the biggest fighters from the United Kingdom and Europe, pray that you get a week of good weather, and blow the absolute doors off the place with the third bout between these two going down on Edwards’ turf.
And don’t pull that “North American pay-per-view time” junk that usually happens with events like this — run it as an afternoon event and see if you can’t capture a massive audience at a time when the NFL season is over and the draft is still four or five weeks away, baseball hasn’t started, and you can promote the ever-loving hell out of a fight that sells itself after a finish like we saw on Saturday night.
Cross your fingers that Manon Fiorot beats Katlyn Chookagian in Paris and can land a championship opportunity against Valentina Shevchenko so you can book that as the co-main event, drop a No. 1 contender bout for Arnold Allen in the swing position on the main card, and have Paddy Pimblett kicking off the pay-per-view; mix in some familiar names and fan favourites and you’ve got yourself a massive pay-per-view spectacular in a typically quiet time.
This makes too much sense not to do everything possible to try and make it happen.
Costa Wins a Bloody Battle
Paulo Costa won a bloody battle of attrition in Saturday night’s main event, battering a game Luke Rockhold over three rounds to get back in the win column for the first time since edging out Yoel Romero three years and three days ago.
The Brazilian swung hammers out of the gate, as expected, but he also grappled more than anyone would have anticipated, driving home heavy shots the body of Rockhold from top position in the first, further compromising the breathing and gas tank of the returning former champion. Both men through full power each time they pulled the trigger, with Costa having far more success and dealing with Rockhold’s return fire reasonably well throughout. In the times when he was hurt, Costa was effective at finding space and getting back to his feet quickly when they spilled to the canvas.
Late in the fight, Rockhold reversed into top position on the canvas and went all Tyler Durden, giving Costa the “You don’t know where I’ve been, Lou!” treatment by shaking and smearing his blood all over the Brazilian.
This was a bloody, gruelling battle and a good win for Costa, who re-affirms his position in the middleweight division after looking completely disinterested last time out against Marvin Vettori.
Rockhold Walks Away
The bigger story from the co-main event, however, is that Rockhold called it a career following the contest.
Posted up along the fence with his gloves in his hands, the 37-year-old fought off tears (and probably some soreness and frustration as well) as he told Joe Rogan that he just couldn’t do it any longer. He worked really hard to get back to the Octagon and give it one more shot, and while he had moments, the chasm between he and Costa was clear immediately, and that isn’t going to change going forward, making this absolutely the right decision for Rockhold.
A polarizing figure because of his personality, which can be prickly and prickish at times, his skills during his prime cannot be disputed. From the first loss of his career to the night he lost the middleweight title to Michael Bisping, the American Kickboxing Academy representative went 14-1 with victories over Jacare Souza, Tim Kennedy, Costa Philippou, Bisping, Lyoto Machida, and Chris Weidman, claiming both the Strikeforce and UFC titles while earning a dozen finishes during that run.
G’head and dislike him, but give him his due: Rockhold was an absolute stud, and arguably the best middleweight of his generation.
Pressure and Pace
Merab Dvalishvili is one of the few fighters in the UFC that might be able win a fight without throwing any punches or attacking submissions; that’s how suffocating his pressure and pace can be inside the Octagon.
We saw it on full display on Saturday night, as “The Machine” spent 15 minutes closing the distance on former featherweight champ Jose Aldo, smothering him along the fence and chipping away with very small, annoying shots that resulted in a unanimous devision victory. It was the first fight in his UFC career where he didn’t successfully land a takedown — he was officially 0-for-16 — and it didn’t matter; his constant presence in Aldo’s face, forcing him to defend was enough to deplete the Brazilian’s energy reserves.
Dvalishvili has now won eight straight to make the bantamweight division even more interesting, as he’s the primary training partner of reigning champ Aljamain Sterling. He told Joe Rogan the two would not fight, ever, following the bout, and if that’s the case, it could result in the 135-pound “Energizer Bunny” becoming one of the best bouncers in recent UFC history because there aren’t a lot of dudes that are going to be able to deal with his style.
Imagine having to go through that guy in order to get a title shot? Yuck.
Two Straight for Tyson Pedro
Australian light heavyweight Tyson Pedro spent three years and four months on the sidelines following his December 2018 loss to Shogun Rua. After returning earlier this year and making quick work of Ike Villanueva, the 30-year-old made it two straight on Saturday night, dispatching Harry Hunsucker in just 64 seconds.
The biggest favourite on the card, Pedro did not disappoint, stinging Hunsucker with a jab as he came forward, instantly recognizing that he was hurt. A front kick to the midsection caused Hunsucker to fold up and fall to the canvas, and Pedro quickly unloaded, forcing referee Mike Beltran to step in and halt the action.
Some people bristled at this booking and will likely play the results heavily, but after that long on the sidelines, I was perfectly fine with the UFC bringing Pedro back slowly and making sure the talented and charismatic competitor could get through a couple hard camps and build a little momentum. For the first time in a long time, the 205-pound ranks aren’t barren, and there was no reason to hustle him into the depths. Now that he’s posted consecutive first-round finishes, Pedro will undoubtedly get a step up in competition and a chance to find his way back into the rankings, if not before the year is out, early in 2023.
Undefeated No More
Marcin Tybura bounced Alexandr Romanov from the ranks of the unbeaten in the final preliminary card bout of the evening, weathering a one-sided first round to out-hustle his exhausted foe over the final two frames.
Romanov full on rag-dolled Tybura in the first, slamming him to the canvas with force on multiple occasions and beating him up when he got him there. But the Moldovan couldn’t find a finish and his gas tank ran dry, leading Tybura to start chipping away and working back into the fight in the second. By the third, it was all Tybura, as the Polish veteran simple continued to land select shots while Romanov offered little in return.
This was an impressive, gutsy effort from Tybura and a tremendous learning opportunity for Romanov, who expelled a ton of energy in the first five minutes (at altitude) and found out that the competition is much tougher when you’re facing ranked opposition. It will be interesting to see what the no longer unbeaten fighter takes away from this performance and brings back next time out, but for now, this is Tybura’s moment, and an additional reminder of why fighters like him are vital to have in each division.
Just Terrible Fight IQ
Luis Saldana dropped Sean Woodson with a clean check hook midway through the opening round, but rather than chasing him to the canvas, the Fight Ready representative backed off and pointed to the canvas, telling Woodson to meet him in the center of the Octagon. When the towering St. Louis native rose to his feet, Saldana dropped him again. This time, he raced forward, blasting Woodson with an illegal knee before climbing on top of the Octagon wall to celebrate, believing he’d won.
Sigh.
Rather than win, Saldana was rightfully docked a point, and struggled throughout the rest of the fight to replicate that success. The contest ended up going the distance and being ruled a split draw, and you have to think that when he gets home and watching this back, Saldana is going to be kicking himself… and getting a stern lecture from his coaches.
This was some straight-up terrible Fight IQ. Saldana had Woodson on skates and in prime position to be finished, and all he came away with was a point deduction. I get that adrenaline kicks in and you’re working off instincts at times, but Saldana clearly had no clue what the situation in the Octagon was, both when he kneed the downed Woodson and afterwards, and it cost him.
This was a victory that he allowed get away and if he doesn’t address it, you can be sure it will cost him again in the future.
Albazi Impresses in Return
Amir Albazi dominated Francisco Figueiredo in the final fight of the early prelims, securing a first-round submission win to earn his third straight UFC victory.
“The Prince” worked his way into the Top 15 with victories in his first two outings, but hadn’t stepped into the Octagon in 19 months prior to Saturday night, not that you could tell. He pressured Figueiredo from the outset, cracking him good a couple times from top position after the Brazilian lost his balance when Albazi caught an errant kick. When Figueiredo worked back to his feet, Albazi put him back on the deck quickly, and set out to secure the finish.
With the Brazilian on all fours, he fed Figueiredo’s left hand under his body, capturing the wrist with his right hand, leaving him lacking a defensive tool. From there, Albazi looked to sink his hooks, but he also dove on the neck at the same time, securing the position in the finish almost simultaneously, locking the rear-naked choke in deeper as Figueiredo rolled to his back.
Just an absolutely clinical performance from the ultra-talented Albazi, who looks like the genuine article at flyweight and should land a significant step up in competition next time out.
Kill the Body…
Victor Altamirano was on the wrong side of things to start the opening bout of the evening, but the gnarly knee to the liver put Daniel Da Silva on the deck, and from there, “El Magnifico” never let off the gas until the fight was waved off.
Da Silva was the quicker, more powerful of the two out of the gate, connecting with an assortment of shots that seemed to have Altamirano hurt. As he looked to press forward and capitalize, Altamirano grabbed a clinch and drove his knee into the Brazilian’s liver, and that was where the fight turned. Da Silva crashed to the canvas and the Mexican veteran unloaded, smashing home heavy elbows that split him open and cranking up the pace when the referee called on his opponent to show him more, leaving the ref no choice but to stop the fight.
There is a reason all of us hardcore fight dorks get giddy when people work the body and look to target the liver and this is precisely why — all it takes is one clean shot and you’re body shuts down. Da Silva tried to recover, but Altamirano never gave him a moment to rest, and collects his first UFC victory in his sophomore appearance in the Octagon.
Great rally and an outstanding way to open the show in Salt Lake City!