UFC 244: A Night of Redemption, Hype and a BMF of a Main Event
When the UFC get it right, it truly is the greatest show on planet Earth, at UFC 244 they got it right. In New York at an iconic venue we got an evening to match the incredible setting.
The night might have ended in unsavoury chants, a questionable call ending the evening rather prematurely, but nobody should forget what we were served up prior.
The so called BMF main event, a perfect fit if there ever was one, did what it was supposed to do, but the unsatisfactory ending left us wanting more, craving the definitive conclusion.
Jorge Masvidal looked well on his way to beating Nate Diaz, but both fighters deserved better. Diaz showed again what an incredibly durable fighter he is, Masvidal showing again the reborn fighter he now is.
Yes the cut was bad, but we have seen worse, much worse, and while the safety of the fighters should always be paramount, this wasn’t such a case that demanded an outside influence.
They will undoubtedly run it back at some point, maybe not as soon as they both wish, but all parties should agree they find another venue that will let them finish what they start.
Darren Till dared to challenge high in his new weight division, it looked a high risk strategy coming off two devastating losses, but it paid off as he sneaked past Kelvin Gastelum. Till fought smart, looked strong and I thought he deserved the decision, his career can now start again.
Stephen Thompson put on a striking clinic against Vicente Luque. Like previous foe Till, Thompson was looking for redemption and he found it, he badly needed it.
Kevin Lee stunned the previously unbeaten Gregor Gillespie with a head kick from hell, knocking his opponent out cold and reintroduced himself to the lightweight division in some style. A new camp brings new hope.
The preliminary fights were of a high enough quality for any main card. Hype trains enhanced, others derailed.
Johnny Walker saw his immediate title hopes end by the heavy hands of Corey Anderson, and another potential opponent for Jon Jones fell by the wayside. Luke Rockhold, Chris Weidman and now Walker have come and gone, and hopefully now the talk turns to more deserving challengers.
Walker shouldn’t be counted out just yet, believing in your own hype and forgetting that the person in the opposite corner actually hits back, has happened to many before him, he will learn from this humbling experience.
Edmen Shahbazyan and Jairzinho Rozenstruik showed again they are real and legitimate threats in their respective divisions.
It was a crazy night, but it all kinda worked, and because of the inconclusive ending to the main event, we will get to witness it all over again, very few will complain.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
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