UFC Fight Night Moscow - The Fallout
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| Valery Sharifulin Magomedsharipov remains undefeated after UFC Moscow. |
Zabit Magomedsharipov continues to blitz the featherweight division of the UFC. So far in his Octagon stint, the Dagestan striker has yet to be matched, and extended his undefeated run in the promotion to six straight victories last night on home soil, in a unanimous decision triumph over Calvin Kattar.
Zabit, cool as ever, outpointed Kattar for the majority of the fifteen minute main event, but notably toward the end of the final round, displayed a couple of chinks in his armour. It was a familiar setting and outcome for Magomedsharipov over three rounds, but I believe the Russian is some distance away from the complete article.
In the 29-28 unanimous decision victory for Zabit, one judge scored the second round in favor of Kattar, and one scored the third round in favor of the Massachusetts native. A couple of factor's in Magomedsharipov's late fatigue may come with his elaborate output and dynamic style, something that we've seen in victories over Jeremy Stephens and Kyle Bochniak. The 28-year-old has called for a championship title alongside the winner of Max Holloway vs. Alexander Volkanovski who clash in December, but is he necessarily fully prepared for the output of someone like Holloway? A title clash is a tad far-fetched for Zabit in my opinion. I'd rather see him compete in a title-eliminator against one of the division's top five, certainly in a five round main event.
Zabit Magomedsharipov vs. Yair Rodriguez:
Zabit and Yair have been paired once before, but as of yet, we are yet to see them stand across from each other in the Octagon. In the climate of today's 145-pound division, this matchup is a certain title-eliminator. There's quite substantial history here as well. Rodriguez was briefly released from his UFC contract in 2018 for rejecting two fight offers for a bout with Ricardo Lamas, and Magomedsharipov. at UFC 228, the two were eventually booked, with Rodriguez once more pulling from the meeting due to injury, and was replaced by Brandon Davis. Both men have since prominently climbed the ranks at featherweight in the last calendar year. With Rodriguez's recent victory over Jeremy Stephens, let's strike while the iron on this pairing his hotter than ever and book them in a main event clash in the first quarter of next year.
Zabit Magomedsharipov vs. Brian Ortega-Chan Sung Jung Winner:
In the final UFC event of the year, Brian Ortega returns after almost eighteen months out of the action, as he headlines UFC Fight Night Busan against hometown favorite Chan Sung Jung. Ortega has only dropped one loss in the Octagon during his five year stint, and is keen on returning to top-contender status. The Korean Zombie, who returned from conscription in 2017 with an opening round knockout of Dennis Bermudez. Against the aforementioned Rodriguez, Jung was a single second away from managing a unanimous decision win before falling onto an upward-elbow from the Chihuahua native. Bouncing back to winning ways in June, it took the South Korean just a minute to dispatch Renato Moicano via strikes. Both Busan headliners are eager to earn a second crack at 145-pound gold, pair the victor with Zabit to determine the number-one contender at featherweight.
Max Holloway-Alexander Volkanovski Winner vs. Zabit Magomedsharipov:
It's the bout Zabit called for immediately after his victory over Kattar yesterday evening in Moscow. For Mark Henry and co, it's an exciting prospect of possibly challenging Holloway for featherweight gold once again. Holloway returned to 145-pounds and the win column against former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar recently, while UFC 245 opponent, Volkanovski, added Jose Aldo and Chad Mendes to his professional resume in the previous eighteen months. It's an appealing proposition for the promotion to book Magomedsharipov in a title matchup, especially against Holloway in my opinion, but it may be a bridge too far too soon. Zabit left Russia last night relatively unscathed, with a staph infection cited as the reason for his cardio issues. Against someone as potent and fluid over twenty-five minutes as 'Blessed' Holloway, cardio is key.
Calvin Kattar vs. Jeremy Stephens:
Kattar vs. Stephens is a pairing of too of the most slick boxers at 145-pounds today. Stephens has dropped three loses in his three most recent outings, but has managed to keep his rank inside the top ten. Stephens, made a run to the featherweight crown two years ago, picking up brutal stoppages over Doo Ho Choi and Josh Emmett, after a calf kicking execution of former Strikeforce lightweight best Gilbert 'El Nino' Melendez. Kattar represents the new breed of boxing talents at 145-pounds, evident o his impressive strike finishes of Shane Burgos, Chris Fishgold and Ricardo Lamas in recent memory. Let's see how Stephens manages against the new breed of the division.
Calvin Kattar vs. Josh Emmett:
Since Team Alpha MMA staple Josh Emmett's return to featherweight, we've seen the emergance of a legitimate contender. The Arizonian has dropped jus one loss in since his 2017 return, to the previously mentioned Stephens. Emmett currently occupies the #10 rank at 145-pounds, and has battered the likes of Mirsad Bektic, Michael Johnson, and Ricardo Lamas. Emmett is an explosive finisher with punishing hooks inside the pocket, exchanges Kattar does a lot of his best work in. It's not as much of a passing of the torch as Kattar vs. Stephens represents, but it's a matchup of two certain talents at featherweight. Sign me up.
➜Twitter: ://twitter.com/Ross_Markey
Zabit Magomedsharipov vs. Yair Rodriguez:
Zabit and Yair have been paired once before, but as of yet, we are yet to see them stand across from each other in the Octagon. In the climate of today's 145-pound division, this matchup is a certain title-eliminator. There's quite substantial history here as well. Rodriguez was briefly released from his UFC contract in 2018 for rejecting two fight offers for a bout with Ricardo Lamas, and Magomedsharipov. at UFC 228, the two were eventually booked, with Rodriguez once more pulling from the meeting due to injury, and was replaced by Brandon Davis. Both men have since prominently climbed the ranks at featherweight in the last calendar year. With Rodriguez's recent victory over Jeremy Stephens, let's strike while the iron on this pairing his hotter than ever and book them in a main event clash in the first quarter of next year.
Zabit Magomedsharipov vs. Brian Ortega-Chan Sung Jung Winner:
In the final UFC event of the year, Brian Ortega returns after almost eighteen months out of the action, as he headlines UFC Fight Night Busan against hometown favorite Chan Sung Jung. Ortega has only dropped one loss in the Octagon during his five year stint, and is keen on returning to top-contender status. The Korean Zombie, who returned from conscription in 2017 with an opening round knockout of Dennis Bermudez. Against the aforementioned Rodriguez, Jung was a single second away from managing a unanimous decision win before falling onto an upward-elbow from the Chihuahua native. Bouncing back to winning ways in June, it took the South Korean just a minute to dispatch Renato Moicano via strikes. Both Busan headliners are eager to earn a second crack at 145-pound gold, pair the victor with Zabit to determine the number-one contender at featherweight.
Max Holloway-Alexander Volkanovski Winner vs. Zabit Magomedsharipov:
It's the bout Zabit called for immediately after his victory over Kattar yesterday evening in Moscow. For Mark Henry and co, it's an exciting prospect of possibly challenging Holloway for featherweight gold once again. Holloway returned to 145-pounds and the win column against former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar recently, while UFC 245 opponent, Volkanovski, added Jose Aldo and Chad Mendes to his professional resume in the previous eighteen months. It's an appealing proposition for the promotion to book Magomedsharipov in a title matchup, especially against Holloway in my opinion, but it may be a bridge too far too soon. Zabit left Russia last night relatively unscathed, with a staph infection cited as the reason for his cardio issues. Against someone as potent and fluid over twenty-five minutes as 'Blessed' Holloway, cardio is key.
Calvin Kattar vs. Jeremy Stephens:
Kattar vs. Stephens is a pairing of too of the most slick boxers at 145-pounds today. Stephens has dropped three loses in his three most recent outings, but has managed to keep his rank inside the top ten. Stephens, made a run to the featherweight crown two years ago, picking up brutal stoppages over Doo Ho Choi and Josh Emmett, after a calf kicking execution of former Strikeforce lightweight best Gilbert 'El Nino' Melendez. Kattar represents the new breed of boxing talents at 145-pounds, evident o his impressive strike finishes of Shane Burgos, Chris Fishgold and Ricardo Lamas in recent memory. Let's see how Stephens manages against the new breed of the division.
Calvin Kattar vs. Josh Emmett:
Since Team Alpha MMA staple Josh Emmett's return to featherweight, we've seen the emergance of a legitimate contender. The Arizonian has dropped jus one loss in since his 2017 return, to the previously mentioned Stephens. Emmett currently occupies the #10 rank at 145-pounds, and has battered the likes of Mirsad Bektic, Michael Johnson, and Ricardo Lamas. Emmett is an explosive finisher with punishing hooks inside the pocket, exchanges Kattar does a lot of his best work in. It's not as much of a passing of the torch as Kattar vs. Stephens represents, but it's a matchup of two certain talents at featherweight. Sign me up.
➜Twitter: ://twitter.com/Ross_Markey
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