Yan’s back in Title Contention after UFC Macau
Diversified attacks setup Yan’s to reenter title contention.
A five-round high-level chess match saw Petr Yan out pint Deiveson Figueiredo. Many expected Figueiredo would be to incorporate his grappling to have success. Figueiredo agreed with the thought, attacking the takedown early on. Yan would have an answer reversing the position. During the middle rounds Yan out worked Figueiredo who throw his right hand with fight ending intentions. The Russian fighter did it with his variety offering his kick leg kick to all three levels and mixing up the angle of his right hand. Possibly the most effective of Yan’s strikes was his right uppercut which stopped Figueiredo in between his level change and entry for takedown attempts in several instances.
While there’s been much speculation about who will be first to challenge new Bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili it’s clear that Petr Yan is back in the title conversation.
Former title challenger Xiaonan Yan is back in the win column and is admit that she’s ready for another shot at Zhang Weili. Yan who traditionally struggled against grapplers never gave Tabatha Ricci the opportunity. Yan stung Ricci early with a piston like right hand before transitioning to having an active lead hand in Ricci’s face. Ricci was kept at kicking distance and Yan constantly got off the center line stopping Ricci from charging forward. A highly technical performance should also have Yan’s name back in the title conversation.
“The King of Kung Fu” showed why he has that manicure. Muslim Salikhov committed to heavy attacks on Song Kenan’s lead calf. Salikhov then pulled out one of his signature spinning kicks. A Wheel kick cut through Song’s guard for the 13th knockout win of his MMA career and 6th by spinning kick.
Gabriella Fernandes derailed the hype train of Wang Cong. Cong felt to be in control of the majority of striking exchanges throwing out a variety of kicks. Fernandes snuck a left head kick in stuck in the pocket sitting Cong down with a straight left taking the back and choking her way to the upset victory.
Carlos Ulberg has now added a win over a former title challenger to his resume defeating Volkan Oezdemir by a convincing decision. Oezdemir crashed in with his trademark hooks but is was the volume counter strikes of Ulberg’s that did the most damage.
China’s Zhang Mingyang continues to impress making it three for three in first round knockouts in official UFC bout. Zhang caught Diaz who was making his promotional debut, coming in with a left elbow and follow up strikes finished the fight on the floor.
Controlling the first two rounds on the ground Su Young You defeated Balgyn Jenisuly by unanimous decision to become the Road to UFC tournament bantamweight winner.
The Road to UFC Flyweight tournament winner didn’t take long to figure out. Dong Hoon Choi got inside on Kiru Singh Sahota firing off a three-peace combination. An overhand right caught Sahota who blocked the majority of a left hook but was crumbled by the next overhand right.
The first Road to UFC Women’s Strawweight winner was crowned as Shi Ming posted a dramatic comeback win over Feng Xiaocan. Feng controlled the first two rounds with her massive reach and height advantage. Inside the first minute of the third round Shi found the opening she’d been searching for placing her shin across Feng’s chin. The vicious knockout saw Feng have to be immediately transported to the hospital.
Carlos Hernandez spoiled the debut of Nyamjargal Tumendemberel and handed him his first professional loss. Tumendemberel finished the first-round strong sitting down Hernandez with a left hand and nearly found an armbar. Hernandez came back in the third with a trio of takedowns and dictated the third with his lateral movement and right hand.
Lone’er Kavanagh made a successful debut under the bright lights keeping his unbeaten record intact. Kavanagh open Jose Ochoa under his right eye and punished the bogy with kicks to take a unanimous decision.
The very experienced Long Xiao made a successful UFC debut in his 36th professional fight. Xiao controlled the striking against Quan Le, sitting Le down with a sharp right hand in the third. One follow up hammerfist was all the ref needed to see. Opening fight on the card saw Nikolas Motta out dual Maheshate Hayisaer by unanimous decision on the effectiveness of power Hooks.
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