Why can't every night of fighting be this way? We get so caught up in melodramas that we don't need to be stimulated by fighting like the one we saw at UFC 266.
Saturday night was a complete success.
Alexander Volkanovski fought another challenge in the main events, just as he has done for years, quietly waiting for someone else to notice. In a five-round fight, the Aussie won his 20th consecutive victory. He was brutally beaten by Brian Ortega, a featherweight challenger. The champ had to escape two submission attempts from Ortega, who is best known for his jiu jitsu skills. This win, despite Max Holloway's two victories, should finally bring some attention to Alexander The Great.
In the co-main event, another great show was put on by the judges. Valentina Shevchenko proved why she is the sport's dominant champion by outclassing Lauren Murphy, a flyweight challenger in a fourth round TKO. Although every fighter can lose on any given night, Shevchenko is the only fighter who seems capable of hanging with her at 125 pounds. Even though she was a -1500 betting favorite, it was exciting to see her address the fans in four languages. She can do anything!
Nick Diaz was the night's most popular attraction. We might have forgotten about Nick Diaz's six-year absence from combat. He is an expert at drawing out every emotion from us all. We were reminded by his fight with Robbie Lawler, which turned back the clock slightly. Although it wasn't their first encounter 17 years ago they were able to go back to a time when Lawler was not in a losing streak of four fights and Diaz's determination to fight was not being challenged.
Although neither Diaz nor Lawler appeared to be in their prime, it was not the sad spectacle many might have expected. After a grueling back-and-forth that saw T-Mobile Arena reach deafening heights, Lawler won the TKO in round three. We wish both men enjoyed the fan adulation that gushed from every corner. They have always been real and Saturday night was no exception.
These three bouts were only the culmination of an evening that was vital for combat sports. A night with real fighters fighting is essential in a world where YouTuber-as–boxer is slowly making its way to the mainstream. It is a vital ingredient for MMA and boxing to survive. In front of 66,000 Londoners, Oleksandr Usyk defeated heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua earlier in the day.
UFC 266 was an intense feast of fighting. Before the title fights and the return of Diaz, there were fights between the ranked fighters at heavyweight (Curtis Blaydes defeated Jairzinho Rozenstruik), and women's flyweight. Jessica Andrade beat Cynthia Calvillo. Merab Dvalishvili also made an impressive comeback. He fought back from the brink of being defeated by Marlon Moaes and won a TKO victory of his own, thanks to a triple-digits torrent of unanswered strikes.
There was more. This was one night that Ron Popeil, late-night TV infomercial huckster, would be proud of. This is an old-time reference, but it might be appropriate for a night that was a throwback back to when fight cards were full of the right kind of drama. Real fights.
Diaz displayed signs of his former self, but it is time to move on
Raimondi: This week, I was among the first to see Nick Diaz's interview with Brett Okamoto. For the past few days, I have maintained that I was not concerned about what Diaz was saying. Since a decade, we've been aware of Diaz's mixed feelings regarding MMA. Diaz has always been open about his dislike of fighting, and that it was something he did because he had to. Although he hated it at the end, he was born to it. I still feel the same way as before Diaz's UFC 266 fight against Robbie Lawler in round three.
Let's not forget this. Diaz did not appear slower than normal or in worse condition than normal due to anything he said during that interview. These were his 38-year-old age and he hadn't fought in nearly seven years. Lawler was the first to see Diaz. According to ESPN Stats & Information, he landed 150 more strikes than Lawler. He also landed the most important strikes in a loss in a fight that ended so early in UFC history. Although his punches were slow, Diaz landed many combinations and won at most one round against Lawler.
Okamoto was told by Diaz this week that he regretted not taking the chance to go back before it was too late. He stated that he was not sure how he would feel about himself if the chance had been given to him. He has now done it. He's done with Lawler even though he had some good moments. Except for a few old legends, I don't know how comfortable I would be watching Diaz face someone else in the UFC. Lawler was a great matchup. Another aging warrior whose best days are behind him.
This wasn't a total disaster. It was a great success. It was somewhere in between. It was a good thing Diaz knew when he was done. Before things got worse, Diaz had that calmness of mind. He can hopefully now retire with no regrets about his MMA career. We have been given enough by him and it is now that he can take the next step towards his future.
We have enjoyed nearly two decades worth of entertainment from Diaz. Although he's not the greatest fighter of all time, he is a great entertainer. He is one of the most beloved fighters of all times, though. Because you knew exactly what you would get -- an absolute battle. It was Saturday night against Lawler, and Diaz knew when it was time to raise the white flag. We should do the same for his long-storied career.
Valentina Shevchenko is worth admiring, even if it means she hasn't created drama in a sport that depends on it
Okamoto: Okamoto, for the record, I believe we appreciate Shevchenko. This sport knows how special Shevchenko is, and I believe that it is. Shevchenko is owed a fair share by this sport.
It's not always easy. We, the viewers, love the unknown so it's easy to overlook her. We admire greatness. But there is a limit to how much power we are willing to accept before our interest wanes. Shevchenko may be heading into that territory right now. She has already beaten every flyweight she has faced and taken out the most formidable challengers to her.
We might have a chance if we looked hard and used our imaginations. The Joanna Jedrzejczyks, and Jessica Andrades. They were devoured by Shevchenko. We'll keep going down the 125-pound rankings in order to find new matchups. The betting odds will remain very favorable to Shevchenko. It's sometimes hard for viewers to see the good in this.
It is important to pay attention to Shevchenko's dedication to her sport and the way she has perfected it. Keep watching Shevchenko. Keep admiring what she does. It's almost like watching a movie 100 times.
Dan Hooker should be the next big thing
Legaspi: The fight took place, which was enough to make it a major deal. The visas for both fighters arrived in the last minute, and we saw a dominant performance from Dan Hooker against Nasrat Haqparast. Hooker requested neither a catchweight, as Hooker wanted to show that he is still in the top 5 of the division.
Hooker's knockout victory over New Zealander Michael Chandler made it easy for many to forget that Hooker was involved in some of the most exciting fights of 2020. Hooker was able to enter title contention after two 25-minute wars against Dustin Poirier and Paul Felder. Hooker flew from Auckland to Las Vegas in less than 72 hours, lost weight and defeated Haqparast. He was a natural on the feet and performed well on the ground using his improved wrestling.
He and his City Kickboxing team, including middleweight champion Israel Adesanya might decide to travel to the U.S. temporarily. However, quarantine protocols, embassy shutdowns, and other restrictions will continue to hinder efforts to secure big fights in a highly competitive division. Beniel Dariush, Tony Ferguson, and Rafael dos Anjos would all make great matches. Hooker is a great way to test the potential Arman Tsarukyan.
Hooker won UFC 266 after all the effort he put in to get there. Hooker deserves another big fight as a reward for all his efforts.
