UFC has rolled right back into the action in 2021. After what can be called nothing short of a massive success in 2020 under incredibly difficult circumstances, UFC hasn’t missed a beat in the time since the pandemic started with big fight after big fight throughout the year.
The first two months of the new year have been no different.
Leon Edwards and Khamzat Chimaev look set to fight at the third attempt at UFC Vegas 21’s Main Event.
Both Edwards and Chimaev have had to withdraw from a scheduled fight due to respective coronavirus infections. Edwards tested positive ahead of Fight Night 183, and Chimaev then pulled out of the rescheduled January 20 fight when he failed to gain match fitness after struggling with his own case of Covid-19.
With both fighters now recovered, they are now due to fight in two months’ time. Edwards has won his last eight fights, and last lost five years ago to Kamara Usman.
This fight would represent his first action in the octagon for a year and a half, following his July 2019 win over Rafael dos Anjos.
A win over Muhammad would be his ninth in a row. With Edwards as the No. 3 welterweight challenger, Usman would make for the next logical opponent.
Muhammad is the No. 13 challenger in UFC’s 170-pound rankings, one spot ahead of Chimaev.
Respect for Belal for stepping up when no one else would. March 13 I show I am the best in the world. #StrapSeason
In total 15 bouts took place #UFC259 with three titles on the line contested between four champion fighters — excellent! Plus, the undercard featured top-tier names like Dominick Cruz, so there were plenty of reasons to watch from top-to-bottom.
My personal highlights of Fight Night were the following.
Jan Blachowicz defeated Israel Adesanya by unanimous decision to remain light heavyweight champion.
The weight difference advantage by Blachowicz over Adesanya was evident from the onset their fight.
“Who on earth can step in the octagon with Amanda Nunes and beat her? After her two minute win!”
Amanda Nunes of Brazil women’s undisputed featherweight champion. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Amanda Nunes is on a level of her own and nobody is close to her. Frankly her victory was an expected none event.
Amanda Nunes, easily defeated Megan Anderson via submission (armbar) in Round One.
Megan Anderson never should have been in the cage with “The Lioness.”
She may have been the top contender in an imaginary division, but even so, there was just nowhere she could really compete with the Brazilian. Anderson is best known as a striker, but Amanda Nunes’ overhand still crumped her to the mat in less than two minutes.
From there, the massive gap in grappling skill also made itself known, as Nunes wrapped up an inverted triangle/armbar. The fight didn’t tell us anything new: Nunes is violent and an all-time great, and Anderson didn’t have the skill necessary to counter an amazing champion.
Valentina Shevchenko vs Amanda Nunes if anybody wants to change division, is the only remaining competitive remaining fight to be schedule for Nunes.
Otherwise Amanda should just take the her belts and retire undefeated because she’s not being tested.
@GregCowboys At this point Amanda Nunes has Zero Competition! Even her "Walk to the Octagon" screams-says her opponents "The Champ is Here to kick Your Ass & there's nothing you can do to stop me!!!" pic.twitter.com/61XmvdtObJ
UFC Fans strongly believe Islam Makhachev is the second coming of retired champion Khabib Nurmagomedov because of his dominant victory over Drew Dober at UFC 259.
Makhachev walked through Drew Dober like he wasn’t even there. He took his first shot in the opening minute, effortlessly finishing a takedown. He nearly submitted Dober in the closing seconds of the first with an armbar, forcing his foe to rely on toughness and flexibility to survive.
The second and third saw further gorgeous wrestling transitions and effortless grappling mastery. Once on the mat, Makhachev drove so much shoulder pressure into Dober, exhausting and controlling him. That shoulder pressure turned into a modified arm triangle choke from half guard later in the bout, forcing Dober to submit.
Per the commentary, Makhachev was hit just about seven times in this bout. INSANE! Let’s get this man a top-tier opponent and find out for sure just where he stands.
NFL
"The Champ is Here to kick Your Ass & there's nothing you can do to stop me!!!"
pic.twitter.com/61XmvdtObJ
@MakhachevMMA positioned himself as the next to watch at lightweight. #UFC259 pic.twitter.com/HfO6JiK2Di
