UFC 226: The Most Stacked Card Of The Year?

UFC 226: The Most Stacked Card Of The Year?

It seems no UFC PPV can run smoothly and UFC 226 is no exception. The co-main event is off, the UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway is out of his scheduled defence against the unbeaten Brian Ortega due to concussion-like symptoms, Holloway’s team have released the following statement:

Max’s team and UFC staff noticed Max was not normal since late last week. This became obvious to many watching his interviews and public appearances the past few days.

He was showing concussion-like symptoms before he even started his weight cut and was rushed to the ER on Monday where they admitted him overnight. Initial scans seemed okay and he was released Tuesday afternoon but symptoms still continued.

Max fought with his team to continue with the fight. He showed some improvement over the next day but was still showing obvious symptoms. After the open workouts he crashed and was very hard to wake up when he did he had flashing vision and slurred speech.

But the show goes on and UFC 226 is still arguably the most stacked UFC card of the year. The latest UFC PPV takes place this weekend from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, headlined by the champion vs champion match between the reigning UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic (18-2) and the current UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier (20-1 1NC).

Cormier despite his many achievements is still haunted by the defeats to Jon Jones, despite the 2nd being declared a No Contest due to a USADA violation of his great rival. A win over Miocic would put him very much in the conversation for the greatest ever.

Cormier a vastly underrated and underappreciated fighter, the shadow of his nemesis Jones looms large. The fact that he hasn’t beaten Jones harms his legacy his critics argue, but a win over Miocic on Saturday I believe eclipses anything Jones has achieved in his on-off career. Cormier would join Conor McGregor as being the only two fighters to hold two UFC titles simultaneously with a win over the current heavyweight champion.

Miocic much like Cormier hasn’t yet received the plaudits he deserves. Miocic is the most dominant heavyweight champion in UFC history, and last time out he beat Francis Ngannou who was being touted as the next big thing. Miocic was just too rounded for his heavy hitting opponent and won by a wide points decision but he had to survive a few a rocky moments in the process.

There is a lot on the line a blockbuster fight with Brock Lesnar or indeed Jon Jones could be next for the winner. Both fighters still feel they have much to prove, unfairly in my opinion but a win for either would remove any lingering doubts about their legacy in the sport.

The UFC had big hopes for Francis Ngannou until he ran into Miocic, now Ngannou returns against Derrick Lewis with a title shot on the line for the winner.

Ngannou (11-2) cited poor preparation for his defeat to Miocic and seeks redemption against Lewis (19-5 1NC). Ngannou gassed badly after the 1st round against Miocic and seemed unable to stop the takedown from the champion, Lewis has a clear route to victory. Lewis has been stopped 3 times previously the odds say Ngannou will make it 4.

Also on the main card, Anthony Pettis hopes to get his career back on track and the exciting light heavyweight Gokhan Saki meets Khalil Rountree which has fight of the night written all over it, although Paul Felder and Mike Perry is the sleeper fight for me.

Main Card 
Stipe Miocic vs. Daniel Cormier
Derrick Lewis vs. Francis Ngannou
Michael Chiesa vs. Anthony Pettis
Gokhan Saki vs. Khalil Rountree

Preliminary Card 
Uriah Hall vs. Paulo Henrique Costa
Paul Felder vs. Mike Perry
Raphael Assuncao vs. Rob Font
Max Griffin vs. Curtis Millender

Daniel Hooker vs. Gilbert Burns
Drakkar Klose vs. Lando Vannata
Jamie Moyle vs. Emily Whitmire