UFC Fight Night results – Josh Emmett gets closer to gold, Kevin Holland sparks superstar potential

Fight fans in Austin were treated to an absolute showdown Saturday night. The 12-match battle card delivered eight knockouts, combining the other six for the most KOs in a single event in the modern era. Rising stars like Joaquin Buckley, Gregory Rodrigues and Adrian Yanez make statements with endings and include their parts in the announcement.

But for the main event and co-main event, the knockout is not the main attraction. Kevin Holland looks impressive in his victory Tim Nghia in the main copper, while Josh Emmett and Calvin Kattar performed five epic rounds in the main event. Emmett emerges victorious, but where does that place both fighters in a fully loaded featherweight division?

Brett Okamoto and Carlos Contreras Legaspi share a breakdown of UFC Fight Night.

Emmett deserves a title after Saturday, but if I look ahead, I don’t think it will be his next fight. He’s not wrong to call for “new blood” at the top level of the department. It would be nice to see Emmett – a 37-year-old who has never competed for a title – get that chance.

But there is a big war between Brian Ortega and Yair Rodriguez on July 16, this will affect Emmett’s future. Arnold Allen are still floating around the top 5 and need a big fight. And a great fight like Saturday, it’s not kind result that puts Emmett in a very tight divide. I think he’ll have to fight one more time, whether it’s Allen or Chan Sung Jungthe person it appeared on won’t retire after his most recent loss first Alexander Volkanovski.

For Kattar, this is a tough one to swallow. Those divisive decisions can go both ways, and if you’re losing, it can mean a world of differences, especially for one’s career trajectory and salary. friends in Fight Night. Saturday’s two scorecards against Kattar will be permanent.

Obviously, he’s still right there in regards to the big fights in the team. Movsar Evloev no big names, but he’s a strong contender and it’s going to be a great fight for the UFC to put together. Like Sodiq Yusuff. Those are low steps for Kattar, but sometimes that’s the case when you’ve lost two out of three teamfights and have fought many other top 10 opponents. He might be considering facing an enemy. is rising. – Brett Okamoto

Kevin Holland can graduate to become a title challenger

By a number of different standards, Holland’s career has been remarkably successful up to this point. He is a fan favorite. He is very active. He won some big fights. He has already earned his main event appearance. All good, right?

But so far, he has never really been able to compete for a title. He is more of a “fun addition to a card” than a serious title challenger, as he is prone to making too many mistakes. He probably fought in the wrong weight class as he weighed 185 pounds and his knockdown defense was poor. Such boys do not go on to win titles.

However, this Netherlands, which we saw on Saturday, was different. This Dutchman looks like he’s coming into his own and the improvements he’s made are obvious. He doesn’t have the obvious vulnerability he used to have in his takedown defense – and he truly believes it is. Why? Because after his win on Saturday, he called Sean Brady, one of the best physically fit wrestlers in the division. I have to say, old Holland was fun, but this version is even more fun. And this guy’s ceiling suddenly looks so much higher. – Okamoto

Gregory Rodrigues showing ‘no emotion’ while putting his name in middle

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Gregory Rodrigues beat Julian Marquez as the announcers couldn’t believe what they were seeing in Austin.

“Robocop” wants his name respected and it’s hard to refuse it after he’s dealt with Julian Marquez finish first in his UFC career.

The 30-year-old Brazilian now has a 3-1 record in the UFC, with his only loss being a decisive bout before Armen Petrosyan last February. The former Legacy Fighting Alliance middleweight champion has grown from a career-first threat into a true knockout powerhouse, as he demonstrated by finishing off his opponent. himself six of his last nine wins. Rodrigues was driven by an oversold crowd in Austin, which he experienced for the first time in his UFC career, and was brutal with his swing early in the bout.

Before Saturday’s game, he was asked for his thoughts before taking on Marquez, who has earned performance bonuses in three of his last four games.

“I was programmed to go there on Saturday, no emotions,” Rodriguez said during media day. “I’m not thinking about anyone, just thinking about winning and doing my job.”

Rodrigues has done his job well into his first year in the UFC, and if he can continue to fight with power and entertaining style, he’ll likely be in for a big fight. in the near future. – Legaspi

Adrian Yanez is due to a ranked opponent

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Adrian Yanez knocks out Tony Kelley in Austin, much to the delight of the UFC faithful.

Adrian Yanez, 28, from Houston, put on a performance in front of an audience full of fans from Texas. Yanez is one of the best fighters in bantamweight and showed off his incredible power with a knock-out in the first round. Tony Kelley.

Yanez had a 6-0 record in the UFC including his first fight in Dana White’s Contender Series where he won his contract. Five of the six games under the promotion ended in a knockout, as his ability to work remotely and from the inside wreaked havoc on his opponents.

Kelley was an interesting challenge for him, with his range advantage and his southbound stance forcing Yanez to close the gap. Plus, Kelley entered the fight with a 1.5-pound underweight, leading some to wonder if the extra weight was beneficial. That was not the case, as Kelley was able to find some early success but was ultimately overwhelmed by the pressure and precision of Yanez’s punches.

After losing coach Saul Soliz, Yanez adapted to the new camp and trained with Aljamain Sterling most recently, receiving accolades from the current champion. This performance will bring the top 15 in the table to attention. – Legaspi