Sooo … About Last Night

Final evening (Sat., Sept. 28, 2024), Final Preventing Championship (UFC) ventured forth to Accor Enviornment in Paris, France for UFC Paris. It’s wonderful the distinction an enthusiastic crowd could make. Regardless of the cardboard general being pretty Apex-level and that includes a sluggish begin, the Paris crowd went completely nuts the complete time! It felt like a significant evening of motion, elevating the stakes for the viewers and fighters alike.

Let’s have a look again over at UFC Paris’ greatest performances and strategies:

Cash Moicano Recreation Plans His Manner To Victory

Benoit Saint Denis is a really harmful man, however his method to fight is easy. Renato Moicano, a veteran contender with loads of cage time in opposition to the best possible, got here into the Octagon well-prepared to use Saint Denis’ inexperience.

Proper off the bat, Saint Denis aimed for his favourite left liver kick. Moicano — virtually like he spent a whole coaching camp practising for this weapon! — swiped the kick by, created an angle, and used it to attain a straightforward takedown. Keep in mind when Alexander Gustafsson did the very same factor to change into the primary man to take down Jon Jones? It’s arduous to cease a shot that begins so deep and at such an excellent angle.

Moicano’s sensible technique gained his high place early, when each males have been dry. Displaying off his preparation once more, in addition to his typically wonderful jiu-jitsu, the Brazilian countered Saint Denis’ butterfly guard and stored him pinned. When the French athlete tried as an alternative to blow up to his ft, Moicano jumped his again and beat absolutely the piss out of him from the physique triangle.

Saint Denis returned to his stool a distinct man. Each of his eyes have been swollen practically shut, and his proper eye additionally sported two nasty cuts. Spherical two noticed a relaxed Moicano flicking jabs as Saint Denis tried to get his legs again beneath him. He seemed a bit extra within the combat by the top of the second, but it surely was already a performed deal.

Saint Denis’ face was a large number. He couldn’t open one eye in any respect. The cage aspect physician didn’t earn the love of the French crowd, however he made the right name in stopping the combat after the second.

All in all, Moicano and his camp deserve a ton of credit score for this win. Benoit Saint Denis gave Moicano’s group mate Dustin Poirier absolute hell earlier this yr, however Moicano walked away and not using a scratch on his face — that’s the ability of an excellent sport plan!

The Darkish Horses Underwhelm

Nassourdine Imavov and Brendan Allen entered UFC Paris making an attempt to make their case for a title shot in a crowded 185-pound division. They have been making an attempt to impress and wrest the chance away from the likes of Sean Strickland, Robert Whittaker, Khamzat Chimaev, or Alex Pereira — every of whom COULD be subsequent for Dricus Du Plessis.

Nope.

The combat was advantageous, however I didn’t stroll away impressed with both man. Allen’s wrestling seemed horrible. In rounds two and three, he stored taking unhealthy pictures and giving up high place by repeatedly wrestling from his knees — terrible type! When he really tried to strike, he would land decently nicely, however he frequently shot himself within the foot by committing so closely to the poor takedown assault.

Imavov was solely a bit higher. His palms seemed sharp as typical, and his wrestling protection has improved through the years. That was sufficient to select up the W right here, however his conditioning remains to be depressing. Nothing actually occurred in spherical one (Allen managed him from high place however didn’t do something), he gained spherical two simply, and he’s nonetheless horribly gassed in spherical three?

Cardio machine champion “Stillknocks” isn’t dropping any sleep on the considered an Imavov title shot.

Battle Continues His Welterweight Climb

Is making an attempt to cage wrestle a Judo specialist the most effective thought? That’s up for debate. On one hand, Bryan Battle wasn’t in a position to take down Kevin Jousset. On the similar time, Battle’s wrestling push match with the overall thought of his technique, which was to put on down and fatigue Jousset with fixed strain and offense.

The primary spherical was shut sufficient, as Battle couldn’t end the takedowns however scored with quantity whereas consuming counters. His weaponized tempo paid off within the second, nonetheless, as he began firing increasingly quantity within the face of a slowing Jousset. It actually felt like a basic Diaz brother-style mauling, full with cage-side physique rips. When a proper hand rocked Jousset, Battle emptied the tank with an endless flurry, forcing the referee’s hand to save lots of the wobbly Frenchman.

“The Butcher” improves his UFC report to 6-1-1.

Charriere Treats The Paris Crowd

Regardless of getting into his third UFC bout with a 1-1 report, it’s been clear to anybody watching that Morgan Charreire is absolutely expert. He’s a reduce above the common unranked Featherweight populace. His win over Gabriel Miranda — additionally 1-1 within the UFC however hasn’t seemed notably particular — was no shock. He largely dominated the grappler on the ft, shucking off takedowns simply and ultimately flooring with a giant left hook.

It was a pleasant win, affirmation that Charreire is legit. The massive second, nonetheless, was Charreire main the complete crowd in a rendition of the French nationwide anthem! Breaking into track is usually trigger for Mike Bisping to yank the mic away, however on this case, it was really an important second.

The Most Brutal Knockout Of 2024?

Fares Ziam leveled up in an important efficiency in opposition to Matt Frevola, however I’ve to imagine his growth will probably be overshadowed by the sheer viciousness of the knee that completed the combat. Possibly I’m alone on this, however I used to be pretty shocked by simply how nastily Frevola crumbled after taking the knee to the jaw line, collapsing in full unconsciousness as his mouthpiece fell to the wayside.

I hope “Steamrolla” is alright.

As for Ziam, he deserves all his flowers. At age 27, Ziam has grown into a real Light-weight contender. He’s at all times been technically gifted, however up to now, Ziam was hampered a bit by his lack of physicality and killer intuition. Comprehensible flaws for a younger fighter who made it into the UFC at 22!

On this bout, Ziam’s power held up nicely within the face of Frevola’s bowling ball offense. His straight punches weaved contained in the arc of Frevola’s swings and did actual injury, calming him down. When Frevola did stand nonetheless for a second, Ziam confirmed off sensible mixture constructing and combined up his strikes very well. He then moved to his personal grappling, practically scoring his personal submission win in spherical two.

Extra Ideas

Chris Duncan defeats Bolaji Oki through first-round guillotine choke (highlights): When’s the final time leaping the gilly labored? Higher but, when’s the final time an arm-in closed guard guillotine labored? Duncan beat the historic precedent and odds alike close to the top of the primary. Oki was the sooner man with heavier strikes early, however a takedown try from Duncan created a chance to leap on the neck as Oki moved to face. Simply as Duncan gave up on the choke, Oki was revealed to be unconscious!

Ailin Perez defeats Darya Zheleznyakova through first-round arm triangle choke (highlights): Perez missed weight on Friday, which positively prices her some factors right here. That stated, she picked up a reasonably easy submission win in simply over a minute to attain her fourth straight UFC win in a really weak division. She’s already ranked, so possibly the victory (and subsequent twerking) scores her a Prime 10 opponent subsequent? They’re aren’t many ladies’s Bantamweights actively racking up wins like this.

For full UFC Paris: “Saint-Denis vs. Moicano” outcomes and play-by-play, click on HERE!