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Abu Dhabi saw a rollercoaster of events transpire at UFC 294, putting fighters and fight fans in a frenzy of emotions. The main-card came and went, leaving fans with a bittersweet taste in their mouth, while fighters were left either in triumph or agony.
The main-card sure showed the viewers all kinds of noise. Questionable judges and refs- check. Knockouts- check. Doctor stoppages causing chaos- check. Violence altered into a chess match- check. You name the scenarios, and UFC 294 had it happen. The main-card only lasted 2 hours (just over) and saw the main-event end in a jaw-dropping three minutes and six seconds. Abu Dhabi had an unreal bubble of anticipation and hype surrounding Etihad Arena. Level of hype that broke out of the bubble and electrified itself across the globe. Everyone anticipated a violent war between Chimaev and Usman. Everyone anticipated Makhachev/Volkanovski II to be louder than the first. That didn't happen, neither did. Many felt gutted, not with who won but, with how they won. Was the card a let down? Underwhelming? It definitely depends on how you look at things.
The noise was LOUD off the first bell as we experienced two quick finishes in the first two bouts. Said Nurmagomedov got the fireworks going with a quick picking of Muin Gafurov, subbin' Gafurov with a swift guilly to make EASY work of em:
video via X// all footage rights: Zuffa LLC
Nurmagomedov's electric guillotine finish was a massive tone setter. Said got the party started! The tone was set and ready to be one upped. Ikram Aliskerov did just that in the second bout. The fierce young riser Aliskerov landed a beautiful flying knee to set up a barrage of punches and a knockout of Warlley Alves. Back to back finishes.
Two quick finishes in the first two matchups of a main card is never really an issue, at least for me. You spend money on violence, lets not forget. I was sittin' GOOD entering the Walker/Ankalaev fight, my appeasement meter was filled as I figured the early fireworks would help explode UFC 294 into an epic night. I started doin' the Brock Lesnar warmup trot as we welcomed the noise to be multiplied. Those around had the same buzz as they ran to refills and smokes knowing the eyes will be glued to the action in the final three. Then the sh** storm started.
Johnny Walker takin' on Magomed Ankalaev was suppose to be a perfect appetizer to follow up drinks with the first two, and settin' up the main entrees. A sure fire finish outcome was in store it felt. Instead we get an illegal knee and doctor stoppage. From having a basketball stance and hype to silent ponder with hands on the head. A complete flick of the switch on the noise. The whole thing was an utter debacle that took minutes to sort out, killing the vibe that was built from Nurmagomedov and Aliskerov. A mood killer and a debacle that left people with many different opinions. First and foremost, visualize the illegal knee:
The knee is obviously illegal, there isn't a debate. Now lets talk about the stoppage and the doctor. After every illegal strike of that magnitude, the fighter who was struck is to be evaluated by the doc and is given a time period to adjust and collect themselves. Walker didn't make it past the doctor. Now everyone wants to make their own gripe acting as if they were inside the octagon when the doctor evaluated Walker. As figured there are a slew of different reports on what was said by Walker in response to the questioning from the doc: "he didn't know which round", he said he was "in the desert", this and that. I think you lip readers are just sayin' sh** to say it:
Even Daniel Cormier in this snippet doesn't know exactly what was said, he is just blowing smoke out of his ass. What do I see? I see Walker out of it and not answering the questions in the right manner and in the tone needed. The doc won't be respected in any term regardless of the outcome. People don't care for Walker's mentals they just want the fight to resume. I won't sit here and degrade the doctor for attempting to care for Walker's safety. He felt Walker shouldn't continue and called the fight. Look, I am a huge fan of violence and someone who wants my every dime for a PPV purchase but, we have to care for these guys' health long term. I know in this world that is a shocking revelation to have.
Walker was out of it, call it off, fine. The decision is understandable but, I still have two issues, well three. First and foremost, the handling was extremely poor, the debacle should not have went on for as long as it did. Secondly, why did the doctor not have a Portuguese speaking interpreter when questioning Walker? That is a given when considering all the language barriers. We need to give Walker as much a chance to show he is ok as possible. A lot is on the line for him and Ankalaev in that moment. That I will send some degrade to the doctor for. Lastly, why the hell do we reward it a no contest? Pure inconsistency. An illegal strike should result in a DQ. Ankalaev's illegal strike was punishing to the point the other fighter couldn't resume: that's a disqualification. Not sometimes. Not for this fighter or for that fighter. It's a disqualification. Dana White and the UFC do nothing about this stuff. Rarely even create accountability. How is it that judges and a commission hold all the power on outcomes of fights?
Most major sports leagues consist of a collection of teams unified under a central bureaucracy. This bureaucracy is supposed to be neutral in its dealings with teams, and is responsible for fielding umpires/referees. The UFC doesn't fit that model. The UFC is a promotions company which keeps athletes under contract and pays them to perform. They are not neutral; the UFC will often have an interest in who wins a fight. For that reason, it would be a conflict of interest for the UFC to appoint their own judges for a fight. Which is a sick twister when we know that commissions' (judges) make their picks off interest over reality.
Now, as to why the state ACs have such problems with finding competent MMA judges, there's two main reasons. Most of the judges are drawn from boxing, or just strictly lack MMA knowledge (though this is gradually improving, and isn't much of a problem in big jurisdictions like Nevada and California), and secondly, the pay is sh**. Each event we have 1/3 judges have complete wild scorecards and way different cards than the other judges, scoring the same fight. It's bloody mental how frequent it is. The same thing with the doctors. What drives me to ferocity is that the UFC won't ever care to make this a priority of change due to the money: Abu Dhabi; Vegas; and any international spot is the reason we won't see change. I was hoping the Endeavor merge would change that, but things seem dwindle. We see that again with there being no accountability from Dana and co. after this Walker/Ankalaev debacle.
What a brutal speed bump in the middle of the card. More like a damn pothole. Hopefully these two can run things back and give themselves, as well as fight fans a better deserving outcome. Despite the speed bump, the anticipation for the marquee two was just too hot with flames. By the time Kamaru Usman and Khamzat Chimaev were both in the Octagon the feels were real. Hair sticking up on the arms. Jaws beginnin' to grind. Bettor's 'pits gettin' puddled in sweat. The feels were REAL, lemme tell ya. Nah. Lemme show ya:
video via UFC Canada//X
I wish the crowd was roarin' along to Kernkraft 400 or Seven Nation Army while the warriors awaited the signal. Still, holy smokes what a moment. Like gettin' to watch two of the Sahara's baddest lions circle each other for the deathmatch. The vibes were nuts. Unfortunately, we are left wondering if the pre fight vibes outweigh the fight vibes.
Round one can be looked at in many ways, it really depends on what type of MMA fan you are. Was it Chandler/Gaethje? No, it wasn't. Was it exciting and nerve-racking? I think it was electric. Khamzat immediately changed levels and went on the attack... he POUNCED on the attack. It took 50+ seconds for Chimaev to finally execute the takedown on Usman. Knowing Chimaev's utter dominance in takedown offense and Usman's top level wrestling- the 50 second fury was electric on both sides. Seeing Usman try and defend when no one else has shown to against Chimaev was electric. Then seeing Chimaev try and manhandle one of the greatest technical fighters ever was electric. I was on the edge of my seat for a takedown... so it just depends on how you like the sport. The rest of the round was all controlled by Chimaev, as he relentlessly searched for a submission finish. It was electric to see Usman use positioning and length to avoid several submission attacks with Chimaev on his back or on top in guard. At any moment you thought Chimaev was going to lock one in and put the Nigerian Nightmare to rest. Rarely am I on the edge of my seat in ground exchanges, fighters like Chimaev; Oliveira; and Nate Diaz do their tricks. I was in awe that Usman avoided a choke in the first round but, it was a sure 10-8 for Khamzat. Get a look at Chimaev's relentless attack that secured just the SECOND takedown on Usman in 18 UFC fights:
video via X// all footage rights: Zuffa LLC
The second round was lack-luster as Chimaev was extremely tired after the first, and Usman was hesitant as he focused on waiting for Khamzat to shoot for a takedown. The second round is what left a bad taste in folks mouth. The round didn't live up to the hype, I agree. Usman had a solid round, making the third round more interesting. Usman took the fight to Khamzat and pieced him up in several occasions in round three. With his stamina low, it looked like Usman had Chimaev on the ROPES in the final round:
video via X// all footage rights: Zuffa LLC
Neither fighter could get a finish as they went guns blazin' in the final seconds. Usman used rounds two and three to even things in significant strikes, causing damage and dazing Khamzat in moments but, it wasn't enough to trump the 10-8 first round; the control time; and the four to none takedown differential. Chimaev won via majority decision. The fight may not have ended with someone staring at the lights, but it was a very competitive bout. Underwhelming? In a sense, I agree. Mostly due to the second round.
Shoutout to Kamaru Usman, man. No one is giving him the flowers he is owed because of the loss. Usman stepped up on eleven days notice to take on one of the most dominant fighters on the planet (if not the most), in a new weight class, and after back to back losses. Usman made Chimaev look human. The takedown defense was superb (as always) when you consider the naturally pure body type advantage to Khamzat. The submission defense was even better. The way he torqued his body and used his length to not allow Chimaev to finish off his body triangle choke was unreal. Khamzat is noticeably larger and Usman still is the only man to not get finished in that predicament by Chimaev. I couldn't imagine how tight a Chimaev body triangle is, especially for over two minutes. A gutsy and elite survival. This will get some of ya in a bind: if this fight was five rounds, Usman wins hands down.
The tides completely changed in that third round. Usman had Khamzat gassed and his striking was finally landing. With Khamzat being that gassed, Usman could have even finished him in a 4th or 5th round. I say that after seeing Chimaev get hazy versus Burns and then again with Usman in the third round. Chimaev goin' that hard in the first is absolutely amazing for fight fans, but it may get him hurt in a five rounder against the elite. Usman needs to keep his head high, he is very well still capable of being amongst the elite. He doesn't give any Tony Ferguson vibes. Usman went toe to toe with Chimaev and could again. The Nigerian Nightmare will be back.
Khamzat Chimaev got his big win. Take away the new weight class line, the current Usman origin, and any other excuses: Chimaev made a statement against one of the most elite fighters in the world. His title shot is inevitable. Statements being dropped were far from over. Islam Makhachev dropped the biggest statement he could have, and dropped the jaws of spectators watching around the world.
The highly anticipated rematch between Makhachev and Alexander Volkanovski ended in stunning fashion as Makhachev landed an infamous leg kick to drop Volk:
video via X// all footage rights: Zuffa LLC
Not a single cat had real money on this fight ending in the first round. What a kick by the champion. Makhachev was adamant on landing that kick, he attempted it four times before the perfect hit. Right in his gameplan, as he exploited Volk's height. There is no denying, even if you aren't a fan- Islam Makhachev is a bad dude and pound for pound number one on the planet. This win solidifies it. Even if you gripe about him beating Volkanovski on days notice: Islam had the same flip. To have a full camp of preparing for Charles Oliveira and have it be swapped to Volkanovski ten days prior, a guy he barely beat, is a tough pill. Islam didn't complain, he signed and then TKO'd him. Only the second time ever, first in UFC, that Volkanovski has been dropped and TKO'd. Islam had him in more a daze than Corey Nelson did. Volkanovski won twenty two fights in a row before he ran into the challenge of Islam Makhachev. Now he has two losses in the UFC and a mental state of degression. Islam is that guy, and now has proven it. What a performance. What a kick. He has silenced his critics.
Like Usman, there is nothing for Volkanovski to hang his head on. Failure and defeat will come to anyone's door in life. For Volk to take this fight is admirable and shows the dog in him. This was a massive risk, and he didn't hesitate. Volkanovski's post presser was a tough listen. It truly explains what the life of a fighter is, and the mental sacrifices it takes to live it:
video via MMA Fighting//X
The fact he says he took the risk just to compete for his sanity is a tough revelation. Really like this guy, he's a damn good competitor and person. Keep the head up. Losses don't define an individual, they help them grow to the real definition. Volkanovski will be back.
UFC 294 allowed some to live in triumph, while others laid in agony. The story of the sport. The story of all sports. Fight fans are included in that. Many have the right to feel the card was underwhelming. They aren't all going to be epic. We still got some good action and saw some unreal finishes. Chimaev moves the train forward. Makhachev closes the door on another double champ and now raises the question: who will dethrone him as the UFC lightweight champion? Dana White says that Charles Oliveira should still be next in line. Onwards we go.
Shoutout to Khamzat Chimaev and Islam Makhachev on using their platform to speak on the violence happening:
video via X// all footage rights: Zuffa LLC
video via X// all footage rights: Zuffa LLC
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