Jacare vs Holland - akin to that Niko Price KO of Randy Brown from off of his back, Holland wobbled Jacare off his back then popped up and put him away. Folks are saying Jacare should retire, and yes he's 0-3 in his last 3 fights, but it was a spit decision loss to a guy who now has the belt at LHW, a decision loss to Hermannson other than this stoppage loss to Holland. Prior to that he put away Gastelum, dropped a decision to Gastelum and put away Derek Brunson et cetera. A tough patch having fought most of his UFC career against the upper echelon of the division is hardly cause for retirement. What's always worried me about his last few years has been the lack of notable training partners/camps I've seen him working with, but alas, you can't make anyone do anything.
Oliveira vs Ferguson - it's also easy to write of Ferguson after the beating he took at the hands of Gaethje and being largely controlled by Oliveira (a guy with plenty of submission wins to his credit). Oliveira with his polished striking, deep resume of tough opposition and veterans, was going to be a stern test for anyone. I don't see this as much that Ferguson doesn't have it anymore, just that Oliveira put together the pieces of his game more cogently.
Gane vs Dos Santos - Gane played his kicking heavy game to harass, touch, and keep Dos Santos at bay, and as the rounds wore on and Dos Santos knew he was under the gun for a decision, Gane waited for Dos Santos to pull away off angle and landed some devastating elbows over the top. A patient, diverse striker, Gane will have the tools (kicking) to give a number of HW's trouble, but I'd be curious to see him fight a Blaydes or another polished HW wrappler. Oleinik would be a stern test for him across 3 rounds. Hilariously enough, he's actually got a heel hook win at HW in the UFC in his 2nd UFC fight, and won his UFC debut via arm triangle.
Fiziev vs Moicano - Moicano paid the same price Pineda paid: he F'd around on the feet too long with a guy with heavy, accurate hands, and got clipped pulling away from a punch in combination. Moicano has been my dark horse to earn a belated title shot but hopefully he comes away from this fight a bit more dedicated to playing a bit more close to the vest in the striking exchanges.
Hooper vs Barrett - it's been said by many other pundits, man needs to polish his striking and wrestling if he intends to do more than win a few lower tier fights via submission and get CTE from striking battles against the toughter guys in the division and better wrestlers.
Swanson vs Pineda - Pineda believed a bit too much in his own hype or experience, either way he dicked around on the feet too long against a guy with a ton of stoppage wins. Pineda had the winning game plan with the chopping knee and calf kicks, but slowed down a tad, and Swanson seized on the traps he'd been setting from the earlier exchanges.
Figueiredo vs Moreno - it's a big plus for the division that a FOTY was a flyweight scrap and that the guys came off of making weight 21 days ago to do fisticuffs. Moreno showed that Figueiredo potentially slows across 5 rounds, and gives up body lock takedowns as he comes streaking forward in a linear striking combination. Both guys gave up the first half of the 5th round, and I figured who ever got a big takedown would take the fight, and it was the champ who got a draw from that last hip toss. Moreno should come away knowing that he has the gameplan to potentially beat the champ, and if he cleans up some striking in bunches, and chains together a bit more wrestling and keeping the wily Figueiredo down afterward long enough to land some strikes, he can take 3 of the 5 rounds.
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