UFC Edmonton mailbag: Brandon Moreno’s masterclass, Rose Namajunas at 125 and Erin Blanchfield’s ceiling

UFC Edmonton went down this previous weekend and a few very notable outcomes occurred. In the primary occasion, Brandon Moreno broke his shedding streak, dominating Amir Albazi in a sensational efficiency for the previous champion, whereas within the co-main occasion, Erin Blanchfield additionally received again within the win column, albeit by eking out a win over former strawweight champion Rose Namajunas.

So with quite a bit to speak about, let’s dive proper in to this week’s questions.

Brandon Moreno

“Ideas on the truth that Moreno placed on a masterclass however didn’t even get a bonus?”

“Masterclass” is the right phrase for what Moreno did to Albazi on Saturday; he received that battle pillar to put up. Credit score to Albazi who regardless of being clearly outclassed nonetheless hung robust, even surviving a few scares in there, however that was a type of one-sided performances that basically places into perspective the hole between Albazi and the highest tier of the burden class.

It was additionally a stark reminder of how small the margins are in MMA. Moreno was on a two-fight shedding streak heading into this weekend and as such was nearly an afterthought. However these losses have been contentious break up selections and in one other universe, Moreno continues to be the UFC flyweight champion. On any given evening he can carry out like the very best on the earth.

As for not getting a bonus, it’s to be anticipated. Although “efficiency” is open ended sufficient to imply something, the Efficiency of the Evening bonuses are derived from the previous Knockout and Submission of the Evening awards, and the UFC treats them as such, which is ok. Jasmine Jasudavicius, Dustin Stoltzfus, Charles Jourdain, and Youssef Zalal all most likely may use the $50,000 greater than Moreno.

Rose Namajunas

“If ‘Thug Rose’ didn’t get to cocky and try a takedown on the heavier grappler, would Blanchfield’s low Battle IQ lose her the battle?”

Man, I positive thought it was going to.

It’s no secret that I’ve been extraordinarily excessive on Blanchfield as a prospect. I’ve received loads of Take Fairness saved up in her turning into champion at some point. And for 10-plus minutes on Saturday, I used to be calling my Take Dealer to scout choices for dumping my inventory.

Merely put, Blanchfield was atrocious for the primary two rounds of that battle. I do not know what the plan was, however I merely can’t think about the plan was “willingly have interaction in a long-range, low-volume kickboxing match with Rose” as a result of that will be among the many dumbest recreation plans ever created. And it’s not like Rose was forcing Blanchfield out of her consolation zone, Blanchfield simply didn’t attempt to do something aside from get sniped. It was maddeningly dangerous, and I nonetheless can’t determine why she did it.

HOWEVER, I take difficulty with the concept that Rose “received cocky” along with her takedown try. Rose received compelled into that takedown try, as a result of within the third spherical, Blanchfield began preventing. Namajunas has by no means favored to be in hearth fights, and after punting the primary two rounds, Blanchfield determined to start out strolling into the road of fireplace and exchanging. Though she additionally received hit a bunch, Blanchfield began touchdown and tagged Rose, main her to search for an escape route with the takedown. I don’t suppose that was essentially dangerous Battle IQ from Rose, however a great adjustment from Blanchfield.

That being stated, there was one occasion earlier within the battle that I’ve re-thought fairly a bit, and whereas I don’t suppose it’s “dangerous Battle IQ” per se, I do suppose it’s instructive of the place Namajunas is in her profession and up at flyweight.

Within the second spherical, Rose hits a visit on Blanchfield and results in facet management, however as a substitute of holding the place and dealing, Namajunas instantly stands up and retreats to putting vary. A part of me can perceive the considering there of not participating with the grappler, however one other a part of me believes that’s an indication of a professional difficulty with Namajunas at this stage of her profession: she doesn’t battle to win, she fights to not lose.

If you happen to return and watch the Carla Esparza rematch (don’t try this to your self, it’s horrible) that battle is admittedly simply two ladies utterly unwilling to danger shedding, so neither does a lot of something, and albeit, that’s no technique to be knowledgeable fist fighter. I’m not saying everybody has to develop into Justin Gaethje, however passivity is a lethal sin on this recreation and Namajunas actually appears to have that in her now, particularly when she’s going through somebody who can clearly threaten her.

I don’t know the place Rose goes from right here, but when she will’t get that spark again, I feel we’ve most likely seen the tip of enjoyable Namajunas fights and her title aspirations.

Erin Blanchfield

“She’s nonetheless solely 25, however how lengthy till Blanchfield’s reliance on her toughness versus studying putting protection turns into a priority?”

It’s already a priority, although not the largest one I’ve at this second.

Blanchfield is a horrible striker, full cease. It’s not simply her protection, it’s her offense as nicely. For as comfy and easy as Blanchfield appears on the bottom, she appears bodily uncomfortable and uncoordinated putting. Like a new child child deer stumbling round on legs it’s simply determining are hers, that’s Blanchfield on the subject of putting.

Proper now, the one purpose Blanchfield’s putting will be efficient is, as you identified, as a result of she’s fairly robust and he or she’s prepared to take one to present one. However that type of brawling mentality goes a good distance, particularly in a weight class the place there are possibly a half-dozen individuals who can actually crack. Actually, if I have been teaching her (and let me stress this: I’m not a coach, I’m a moron) I’d work on constructing her offense as a result of that’s a extra crucial piece of the puzzle proper now. Give Blanchfield some actual weapons she will depend on on the ft and the protection can get sorted out later.

However the factor that almost all issues me about Blanchfield proper now could be how disjointed her recreation is. Blanchfield is a superb grappler and a strong wrestler and athlete, however none of it really works collectively. She doesn’t mix the martial arts, she engages in them individually at every stage and so each are lessened dramatically by that. No one would ever confuse Khabib Nurmagomedov with an elite striker, however he had sufficient instruments there to compete and his putting recreation was solely catered to serve his grappling. That’s what Blanchfield wants and as a substitute she has a terrific Plan A and restricted methods to impose it.

The higher bounds of ladies’s flyweight has individuals who can match the physicality Blanchfield brings to bear. We noticed that within the Manon Fiorot battle, and to some extent, we noticed that on Saturday. Blanchfield is just not the type of hyper-athlete that may simply run over even the very best fighters, so she must get a cohesive offensive sorted out sooner reasonably than later or she’ll by no means win the title.

Callout

“Asking as a Blanchfield fan, how does a battle in opposition to Alexa Grasso go for her? Was that the correct callout?”

In case you missed it, Blanchfield known as for a battle with Alexa Grasso subsequent, and I whereas I initially favored it, I’ve cooled on the thought with extra time to consider it, at the very least promotionally.

Fiorot has the following shot at Valentina Shevchenko, however after that, the title image is fairly empty. A win over Grasso would undoubtedly put Blanchfield in line for the following title shot, but when Grasso wins and so does Shevchenko, now the UFC simply killed off a contender for a battle that we actually don’t must see once more.

As an alternative, Blanchfield ought to battle Maycee Barber. That is clearly depending on Barber being wholesome sufficient to compete, and for the second, that looks like it might not be the case. But when she will remedy no matter points she’s going through, Blanchfield vs. Barber makes probably the most sense as a no-doubt-about-it No. 1 contender battle.

That being stated, if Barber doesn’t work out and the Grasso battle is what occurs, that’s not a horrible comfort prize. And I’m genuinely within the matchup. Traditionally, Grasso is a foul defensive wrestler, which strains up nicely for Blanchfield, however Blanchfield is so one-track at this level, that ought to assist Grasso put together and make issues robust on Blanchfield. Valentina Shevchenko took Grasso down a billion instances as a result of she’s a bodily monster AND she’s harmful on the ft. Blanchfield doesn’t have that very same risk so Grasso has an excellent probability in opposition to her.

Youssef Zalal

“How good is Youssef Zalal? I admit I didn’t pay a lot consideration to his 1st run within the UFC however 3 subs in his final 3 fights is spectacular, together with the very fact he took Ilia Topuria the space again in 2020…who would you e book him in opposition to subsequent?”

Appears fairly good!

Zalal is a lock for making the 2024 All-Violence Workforce with three finishes and two bonuses in three fights, and it simply goes to point out that typically the very best factor for a profession will be to go away the UFC. Growth isn’t linear and it’s not the identical for each fighter, and the regional circuit will be extraordinarily good for constructing a fighter again up after a tricky run. Simply take a look at Zalal.

As for who he ought to battle subsequent, let’s go along with the winner of the Nate Landwehr vs. Doo Ho Choi battle at UFC 310.

LONG TIME

“UFC playing cards really feel like they’re getting longer, and in some circumstances, they’re. Your resolution?”

Per the nice Mike Bohn, UFC Edmonton ended with 3:06:38 of whole battle time, the third-longest in UFC historical past. And I’ll be trustworthy, it felt like that.

Fights have been on for seven hours and Saturday frankly, elements of it felt like an eternity. It’s not essentially anybody’s fault however loads of that card was competent but unmemorable. It’s like that line from Ocean’s 11 the place Brad Pitt tells Matt Damon the dangerous man wants to love you after which overlook about you instantly. The UFC Edmonton undercard was the Linus of battle playing cards.

And in my thoughts there are solely two methods to “repair” this. The primary is to convey pageantry again into the manufacturing to interrupt issues up and preserve it feeling recent. However we all know that’s by no means going to occur, so the opposite possibility is to have fewer fights.

13 fights is loads of fights. Hell, it’s loads of something (aside from rice). 10 fights is a pleasant spherical quantity that’s laborious to really feel dangerous about. A part of the rationale I like Contender Collection a lot is that it’s 5 fights, and we’re carried out. Within the absence of pageantry, effectivity guidelines. And on Saturday, I used to be undoubtedly wishing for just a little extra effectivity.

Thanks for studying, and thanks for everybody who despatched in tweets (Xs?)! Do you might have any burning questions on issues at the very least considerably associated to fight sports activities? Then you definately’re in luck, as a result of you may ship your tweets to me, @JedKMeshew, and I’ll reply my favourite ones! Doesn’t matter in the event that they’re topical or insane, simply as long as they’re good. Thanks once more, and see y’all subsequent week.