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What a week of FIGHT! It's now three days after UFC 257 and I am just now finally gathering my jaw from the floor. Epic debuts, legendary performances and monumental big fight finishes that shocked the UFC world. Now that I have had the time to gather my thoughts lets break it down.
A Blessed Performance
The first card to start the week on Fight Island 7 was a bit bleak. We saw in my opinion, a stunning knockout upset on New Mansa. I did not see that coming, thought it was sure to be the other way with Buckley scoring the knockout dub but it was Chirico's night, who had the most bizarre f'n interview after his match.
video via MMA Junkie
The card started off with three straight knockout finishes. Can't complain about that as a viewer. The boys came to play on the ABC premiere, but no one performed greater than the f'n Blessed One! Max Holloway had arguably one of the greatest striking and all-around performances in Octagon history. To me as a spectator, it was one of the best sports performances I have watched live. I was going crazy on The Pod. When he started chirping at Dana and co while dodging paunches and landing a NO LOOK JAB.
video via ESPN MMA// Twitter
That is 20 of the best seconds in sports history, ya gotta love it. Holloway took some bombs from Kattar but was just on another planet as a performer that night, and ya know what... so was Kattar. All fight Holloway was piecing him up with combos and nasty elbows (ton of staples to heal a head wound), but Kattar never hit the canvas, not once. The dude was a bloody mess and I don't want to hear anything about Holloway not having power. Kattar was a bloody mess, but had the chin of a monster. Stood in there, bit down on the mouth guard and just kept trying despite being dominated and beat to a pulp, he never gave up. Mad respect and we all need to give it to him.
Holloway was incredible to watch. He broke numerous records in the bout including just about every striking record. He was absolutely incredible to watch.
"It's Over Colby Covington"
International Fight Week blessed fight fans with some nice early Wednesday action. The card was technical and a bit slow through the first half. Good for those "love-huggin" fans. Good action, nonetheless. Then the card got steam with two solid knockouts and finished with a marvelous performance by "Maverick" Michael Chiesa.
The main-event was a pretty great & competitive bout to watch. Chess in the Octagon. Chiesa was just far too much for Neil Magny as he cruised to a great dub via decision. His post-match interview topped his performance with a cherry as he called out Colby Covington in what I think would be a pretty solid match even though I'd rather see Colby be split open.
"Wow, speechless...no words."
Those were my words as I watched the King... The Notorious Conor McGregor be dropped and slept by the almighty "Diamond" Dustin Poirier. It was a absolute stunner and sent shockwaves across the MMA and Sports world. You can hear our live reactions now on the podcast. Before Poirier sent our jaws to the floor we had already been punched in the face with shock as Michael Chandler debuted and hung The Hangman in epic and quite effortless fashion. I was floored.
The card started off with quite a bang as the rising woman's star Amanda Libas got finished not once, but twice thanks to good ole Herb Dean. Having fans back for a event was a great feel. It had the co-main & main event poppin' in anticipation. For weeks I have said on the Pod that Michael Chandler was a fraud, a hype fail & some other "nice" things, and that man shut my a** up! He destroyed Dan Hooker, like handled my guy. I was shocked! He brought the thunder immediately and had Hooker completely on edge. Hooker landed barely any offense before being dropped to the fence and hung to finish in a LOUD statement by Chandler. Outside of Anderson Silva's epic debut dub over Leben, this debut by Michael Chandler tops the cakes as top ever. I begged for his failure after he was placed as the fill in for Khabib-Gaethje. I was disgusted and have called him a fraud since. He looks to be no such thing.
Chandler looked nice, dominate and ferocious. Now it can be time to consider him a contender in a stacked 155 division, but first I'd like to see him face Gaethje next. That should be a awesome matchup and will make Chandler show his other aspects of his game since Hooker was to shocked to even make him sweat. Calling out Khabib and saying he would be 29-Chandler is f'n bold. I didn't see much of his full arsenal to say he can compete with the "Champ" but he did show me enough were I won't be truly doubting him anymore.
Now the main-event, how stunning it was. It was odd, after witnessing Chandler dominate Hooker I had this weird feeling in my gut about the outcome of the main-event. Sure enough, the feeling became a reality. The first round was outstanding and full of action as expected. McGregor came out in a full new stance and it was a terrible decision. Not sure if Poirier had his knee strike approach before the match or after seeing Conor's stance, but it was the X-Factor in the match. Conor landed some big shots in the first round and seemed liked he would be comfortable to fight on the ground for awhile. Winning the round 10-9 in most people's opinion. Poirier just kept at McGregor's lead leg, bruising it with each strike. Conor didn't defend the strikes at all and would not switch back to South Paw. His leg was mangled and so damaged once he got pushed to the fence with power he fell into a coffin as he couldn't avoid Poirier's onslaught no longer.
I was stunned. I couldn't believe McGregor loss like that, completely floored. Hats off to The Diamond who came, saw & conquered. He was in a whole other zone and is now on a hot streak unlike any in UFC. His approach and game plan was flawless and he continues to just get scarier as a fighter. These two fights set up a wild and electric ride in the Lightweight division, with Poirier already pointing at a trilogy match with Conor and Chandler demanding contender-ship. Let the madness begin, I on the other hand might take a break from predicting fights.
video via UFC
Listen to our live reactions to UFC 257 now on streaming services-- Spittin' Cap Podcast
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