International Fight Week: The Fallout

So, after three events in three days it’s safe to say that there’s a lot to talk about and to digest from the UFC’s latest ‘International Fight Week’, ranging from new champions being crowned to old champions returning victorious, and prospects making waves in their respective divisions. So, where to start?

How about a list? Everyone loves a list.

Right?

Amanda Nunes

Lost in the furore surrounding the UFC results is the fact that Amanda Nunes is the first openly gay champion in the UFC’s –  and possibly MMA’s – history. In a sport where gay slurs were, and still are, acceptable in the eyes of some (Donald Cerrone, we’re looking at you), Nunes is a beacon of hope to an industry filled with machismo.

New Champions

Both Eddie Alvarez and Amanda Nunes walked in to UFC fight week as underdogs, albeit only slight for Alvarez, and weren’t expected to perform the way they did, let alone rip the championship belts from the carcasses of former champions Rafael dos Anjos and Miesha Tate. And yet at the end of the their fights, RDA and Tate were left bloodied and battered in the octagon and it made you wonder why you’d ever thought Nunes and Alavrez wouldn’t win. Who they fight next is anyone’s guess, but after these performances it’s safe to say it’ll be entertaining.

Joanna Jedrzejczyk emerges as the number one female fighter in the world

Can’t make a list without the best female fighter on the planet, can we? Once again Joanna Jedrzejczyk emerges victorious in a tough fight with Claudia Gadelha, leaving no doubt that she is the pound for pound best female fighter on the planet. If you disagree, feel free to tell Joanna, I’m sure she’ll beat some sense in to you…

Daniel Cormier can’t catch a break

Having had his rematch with Jon Jones pulled from UFC 200 after Jones tested positive for PED’s, Daniel Cormier was understandably devastated and the UFC were determined to have him fight on the card to make it up to him. A last-minute opponent was found in the shape of Anderson Silva, and Cormier had his fight. Unfortunately for Cormier, instead of delivering a highlight reel beating of Silva, he decided to lay on him for three rounds, not really doing much, leading to the crowd voicing their displeasure throughout the fight. Safe to say, any sympathy Cormier had prior to that fight has now vanished in the eyes of most fans.

Prospects Assemble

Do Hoo Choi, Will Brooks, Kevin Lee, Joseph Duffy, Alberto Mina, and Sage Northcutt all emerged victorious from their fights this week and provided some highlight reel finishes to boot. Whilst there’s no guarantee these fighters will go on to great things in the UFC, Duffy aside (obviously), it’s safe to say there’s still plenty of talent emerging from a gargantuan roster of fighters who are providing exciting fights.

Controversy

This week will forever be remembered for Jon Jones’ USADA violation, but there were plenty more controversial talking points that have been overlooked due to that news. Anderson Silva taking a fight on short notice shortly after gall bladder surgery, Johny Hendricks missing weight…again, oh and according his social media, Derrick Lewis getting pregnant to Roy Nelson during their fight.

Submissions

Who doesn’t love a submission? And this week had plenty of them, with eight in total across the three events, including five in a row on the Alvarez vs dos Anjos fight night event, and the UFC 200 main event being won via rear-naked choke. Hopefully this’ll result in less of those boring articles stating that submissions are no longer as frequent in MMA, but I doubt it.

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