What could turn into a long term problem came up again with a likely previous ankle/foot injury derailing Suga show who had been stumping for top 10 guys and more money.
It remains to be seen what happens. Vera was victim to some heavy leg kicks early on, but didn't bite on the feints as the round wore on. I predicted a competitive fight going the distance, and prior to the ankle buckling on O'Malley, I still think that was in the cards. If it's something serious and he needs surgery, will be interesting if this early in his career he has to work around a change in mobility and no longer rely on the diversity of kicks to ply the rang he prefers to set up the right hand.
Cormier suffered a torn cornea in the fight. I don't think it changed the outcome of a close fight in which he only landed one takedown (albeit briefly). I don't know if it was a fatigue/energy expenditure choice or what, but having brought in his previous wrestling coach, I had hoped it was for more than just hard work in camp, but Miocic smartly and correctly stymied Cormier in the clinch and shut down his dirty boxing while buying control/clinch time in several rounds. Cormier gave up the overhook/collar tie position he does but Miocic didn't take the bait as other guys naively have (and in fact he did in their first fight). Was a bummer to not see Cormier snatch single legs and chain together wrestling the way he does so efficiently and impressively at HW, and he knockdown/stumble that led to him being mounted briefly at the end of one of the rounds led to a 49-46 score from one of the judges which visibly distressed Cormier. He's done far more in the sport than most ever well, and especially at HW with winning the Strikeforce Grand Prix, and 2 weight classes in the UFC. He has the distinction of fighting a number of non-UFC HW's that rounds out an incredibly resume of men he beat in 2 divisions which aside from Stipe and Jon Jones, respectively, have been notoriously hard to defend and retain over the years.
I have no doubt DC still beats the vast majority of HW's out there, but to what end? He has a win over Stipe who is the consensus UFC HW Goat of all time, and bested many of the other notables of this generation.
Rozenstruik did what I expected which was go back to the way he fought against Overeem and ply his time until landing an odd angle shot and ending the fight savagely. He's in a tough position of having been blitzed by Ngannou who now likely faces Stipe (who battered him and dragged him to the mat for 5 rounds). That being said, Stipe looked much more tentative on the feet this time around and I like Ngannou's chances a bit better this time around as he looks only more impressive in his current run and Stipe last night looked tentative against DC, even on the feet and as the takedowns seemed not in play.
I think a fight against Volov makes sense, or Curtis Blaydes as Rozenstruik hasn't faced any UFC level wrestlers in his Octagon run and will likely have to piece together a couple more wins before fighting for the title (regardless of whether Stipe or Ngannou holds it by that time).
It remains to be seen what happens. Vera was victim to some heavy leg kicks early on, but didn't bite on the feints as the round wore on. I predicted a competitive fight going the distance, and prior to the ankle buckling on O'Malley, I still think that was in the cards. If it's something serious and he needs surgery, will be interesting if this early in his career he has to work around a change in mobility and no longer rely on the diversity of kicks to ply the rang he prefers to set up the right hand.
Cormier suffered a torn cornea in the fight. I don't think it changed the outcome of a close fight in which he only landed one takedown (albeit briefly). I don't know if it was a fatigue/energy expenditure choice or what, but having brought in his previous wrestling coach, I had hoped it was for more than just hard work in camp, but Miocic smartly and correctly stymied Cormier in the clinch and shut down his dirty boxing while buying control/clinch time in several rounds. Cormier gave up the overhook/collar tie position he does but Miocic didn't take the bait as other guys naively have (and in fact he did in their first fight). Was a bummer to not see Cormier snatch single legs and chain together wrestling the way he does so efficiently and impressively at HW, and he knockdown/stumble that led to him being mounted briefly at the end of one of the rounds led to a 49-46 score from one of the judges which visibly distressed Cormier. He's done far more in the sport than most ever well, and especially at HW with winning the Strikeforce Grand Prix, and 2 weight classes in the UFC. He has the distinction of fighting a number of non-UFC HW's that rounds out an incredibly resume of men he beat in 2 divisions which aside from Stipe and Jon Jones, respectively, have been notoriously hard to defend and retain over the years.
I have no doubt DC still beats the vast majority of HW's out there, but to what end? He has a win over Stipe who is the consensus UFC HW Goat of all time, and bested many of the other notables of this generation.
Rozenstruik did what I expected which was go back to the way he fought against Overeem and ply his time until landing an odd angle shot and ending the fight savagely. He's in a tough position of having been blitzed by Ngannou who now likely faces Stipe (who battered him and dragged him to the mat for 5 rounds). That being said, Stipe looked much more tentative on the feet this time around and I like Ngannou's chances a bit better this time around as he looks only more impressive in his current run and Stipe last night looked tentative against DC, even on the feet and as the takedowns seemed not in play.
I think a fight against Volov makes sense, or Curtis Blaydes as Rozenstruik hasn't faced any UFC level wrestlers in his Octagon run and will likely have to piece together a couple more wins before fighting for the title (regardless of whether Stipe or Ngannou holds it by that time).
