The Fight Library

Does Ryan Garcia stand a chance against Devin Haney this weekend? The two fight on DAZN and I can’t really give Ryan Garcia much credit after all these shenanigans in the build up.

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

1:00 Devin Haney vs. Ryan Garcia: the resume

4:55 The new, aggressive Devin Haney

11:06 Ryan Garcia’s path to victory

13:56 Be coachable

The resume of Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia are not comparable in the least bit. Haney has fought Kambosos, Kambosos, Lomachenko, and Prograis in his last four. Ryan Garcia is coming off of an underwhelming win over Oscar Duarte. Is Garcia a high level fighter or will Devin Haney have a field day?

This new Devin Haney, the one from the Vasyl Lomachenko and Regis Prograis fights, is exciting. No more jab and clinch merchant, Haney is now an action fighter. If that comes out against Garcia, Devin Haney could have a coming out party that puts him on the world stage in terms of popularity.

Ryan Garcia DOES have the skills to beat Devin Haney. He’s fast, surely. How does he beat Haney? That is the next thing we discuss, as tall an order as that may be.

Lastly, Ryan Garcia needs to be COACHABLE. After his performance against Duarte, I talked about how he was an uncoachable fighter. If you have Derrick James as a coach, why wouldn’t you use him? Ryan Garcia must trust in his coaches if he wants to win this fight.

Max Holloway stole the show at UFC 300. Sure, Alex Pereira smashed away Jamahal Hill but it was Holloway’s knockout of Justin Gaethje that broke the most waves.

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

1:00 Max Holloway slumps Justin Gaethje

8:08 Alex Pereira’s one-hitter-quitter

15:08 Weili Zhang has a tough night

18:47 Arman Tsarukyan breaks through the static

22:01 Bo Nickal’s tough night

24:18 Jiri Prochazka back in the win column

28:18 Kayla Harrison’s UFC debut

We started the show off different from the usual and talked about, not the main event, but Max Holloway vs. Justin Gaethje. This is a new version of Max Holloway, one that isn’t insistent on volume. Instead, “Blessed” is selecting his shots better and making them count. He’s also making an effort to get hit less. His win over Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 was capped off by the last second knockout that only Max Holloway could deliver.

Alex Pereira was the man of the hour against Jamahal Hill. Continuing his Glover Texiera revenge tour, Alex Pereira knocked out Jamahal Hill in round one, his best yet at 205. What’s next for Alex Pereira? Will he have an old foe return from the shadows? A new contender? A heavyweight challenge? Only time will tell. And time is ticking for him to appear on UFC 301.

Weili Zhang vs. Xiaonan Yan was the co-main event on in the stacked UFC 300 card. What was thought to be a walk-over for Weili Zhang turned into a rather tough night despite what the score cards read. Several times Xiaonan Yan hurt Zhang, had her in advantageous positions and more. At the end of the day, Weili Zhang managed to snag a win and a title defense.

Other topics in this episode will include Arman Tsarukyan breaking through the static against Charles Oliveira, Bo Nickal’s tough day, Kayla Harrison’s UFC debut, Aljamain Sterling, Jiri Prochazka and much more. It’s safe to say UFC 300 delivered all that and a bag of chips.

UFC 300 is finally here! In today’s podcast we’re breaking down some of the cards best fights including Alex Pereira vs. Jamahal Hill.

Chapters

0:00 Intro

0:48 What’s on the line for Alex Pereira?

4:38 Jamahal Hill’s path to victory

10:09 Weili Zhang showcase fight

13:34 Gaethje and Holloway’s violence bowl

More than a win is on the line for Alex Pereira at UFC 300. He’s got potential mega fights down the line too. At 36 years old, Father Time is lurking and Pereira doesn’t have much longer. But the man before him, Jamahal Hill, is a tough challenge in it’s own respects. Alex Pereira will want to make sure to approach this fight with all the proper tools in his tool belt. History shows us that is exactly what he is going to do.

Jamahal Hill will have to prove his reign, as short as it was, was legitimate. Alex Pereira is a tough challenge for the American. But Jamahal Hill, being a southpaw, has some different tools than what Alex Pereira has dealt with in the past. Still, Jamahal Hill will have to fight a different kind of fight at UFC 300 if he wishes to recapture that which was his once upon a time.

In the co-main event, Weili Zhang and Xiaonan Yan are competing in the first ever China vs. China title fight. Is the fight going to be close? If Weili Zhang fights how she’s supposed to, it should be an easy night for the reigning champion. Xiaonan Yan is a fantastic striker but poor grappler. If Weili Zhang puts on the singlet and goes out to wrestle, it can be a quick, easy, and lucrative night for the champion.

For the BMF title, Justin Gaethje and Max Holloway are facing off in a legend vs. legend matchup. Can Max Holloway deal with Justin Gaethje’s low kick and power? Will Justin Gaethje be able to deal with Max Holloway’s volume? This fight is one born of pure violence and has two of my favorite fighters on the card. It sucks that one has to lose.

Brendan Allen has won seven straight but lacks a marquee win. What’s next for the Louisiana middleweight? Let’s look at that as well as what else UFC Vegas 90 has to offer!

Chapters:

0:00

1:01 Brendan Allen has a tough night with Chris Curtis

10:25 Damon Jackson has a new W and hairline

13:23 Morgan Charriere is not elite

18:22 Ignacio Bahamondes’ highlight KO

Brendan Allen extended his win streak to seven straight while avenging his last loss to Chris Curtis. The fight was a close affair with back and forth action that capped off a fairly decent event that was UFC Vegas 90. Brendan Allen survived being hurt several times and ground out a win that will put his eyes forward looking for that marquee win to give him a title shot. Chris Curtis took this fight on short notice and showed out all the same. We got his usual body work, his awesome boxing and his toughness. But at the end of the day, we needed a winner and that winner was Brendan Allen.

Alexander Hernandez is a notorious quitter. He took on Damon Jackson who was sporting an all new hair line, and Hernandez showed some heart in this fight. After being controlled by Damon Jackson for most of the fight, Alexander Hernandez managed to knock down Damon Jackson in the third round. Alexander Hernandez is explosive and has struggled with heart in the past. While he lost this fight, he showed improvements.

Morgan Charriere has a lot of hype on him for someone with a 19-9-1 record. He took on Chepe Mariscal and lost the decision. He had his moments, sure, but Morgan Charriere couldn’t deal with the pressure and wrestling of Chepe Mariscal. At the end of the segment I question if Morgan Charriere will be a significant fighter or a cult favorite.

Lastly, we will talk about Ignacio Bahamondes knocking out Christos Giagos in the first round. 6’3” and lanky as it comes, Ignacio Bahamondes is an incredibly interesting fighter. He switches stances, has fantastic finishes, but is there to get hit. The fight with Christos Giagos was no exception. With his win, Ignacio Bahamondes lives to fight another day. Maybe in the Sphere in Vegas, as he called out in his post fight speech.

Erin Blanchfield really ran onto Manon Fiorot’s jabs and crosses all night. Didn’t try much different. Just ate them all night. Now it’s back to the drawing board for the 24 year old.

Chapters

0:00 Intro

0:10 Manon Fiorot deserves a title shot

6:07 Erin Blanchfield needs some work

9:50 Joaquin Buckley gets career best win

14:02 Chris Weidman combination eye pokes

Manon Fiorot has one of the best résumé’s in the women’s flyweight division. Myra Bueno Silva, Rose Namajunas, Jennifer Maia, Katlyn Chookagain, and now Erin Blanchfield. all great wins. Manon Fiorot may not be the most exciting fighter but she is the most deserving. Unfortunately for her, timing might not work out and another fight may be in the cards. But there’s no doubt that Manon Fiorot deserves it.

Erin Blanchfield had one of those “time to get better” fights. Manon Fiorot really put it to her all night with some basic tools. Erin Blanchfield didn’t work on anything different for the fight. She tried to impose her will. At 24, it’s time to get better. I have no doubt in my mind that Erin Blanchfield will be back in title contention soon.

Joaquin Buckley took on a docile Vicente Luque and smashed him out in the second round. Now at 170, Joaquin Buckley seems to have found his home a weight down from where his internet breaking knockout. What’s next for Joaquin Buckley? Possibly a shot at Michael Venom Page as was once discussed by UFC brass.

Lastly, Chris Weidman, the former middleweight champion, returned against Bruno Silva. While he fought well early on and ate some shots that answered a few questions about his chin, Chris Weidman managed to invent combination eye poking that would make Bruce Lee proud. Despite the controversy, Chris Weidman was able to finally get a win in close proximity to New York, his home town.

Tim Tszyu and Rolly Romero were both dethroned in two very different fights. In today’s podcast, we talk about the first PBC card on Amazon Prime.

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

0:10 Tim Tszyu gashed up

5:05 Sebastian Fundora vs. Terence Crawford?

9:51 Isaac Cruz is a terminator

13:55 Rolly Romero’s fraudulent title reign

Tim Tszyu was one of the higher regarded undefeated fighters. With two belts on the line, he took on Sebastian Fundora on three weeks notice and paid the consequences. After an elbow to the head gone awry, Tim Tszyu couldn’t see for most of the fight after two rounds of good boxing. There, he suffered and couldn’t get his shots off on Fundora and it ultimately cost him his title and another on the line. Tim Tszyu will be back.

Sebastian Fundora, however, just set himself up with a major fight with Terence Crawford. His win over Tim Tszyu came nearly a year after his knockout loss and couldn’t have gone better. Fundora surely didn’t mean to elbow Tim Tszyu on the crown but it did happen. Once the damage was done, Sebastian Fundora finally used his genetic gifts and jabbed down the blood-blind Tim Tszyu to cruise to a questionable split decision victory. The fight was pretty one sided and how a judge gives that fight to anyone besides Sebastian Fundora is besides me.

Isaac Cruz and Rolly Romero made up the co-main event on Amazon’s debut boxing card. Isaac Cruz walked forward with his high guard and proceeded to club Rolly Romero into submission. After almost finishing Romero in the first round, Isaac Cruz kept plodding forward, battering up the reigning champion for eight rounds. In the seventh, he almost put Rolly Romero away and in the eighth, early at that, Isaac Cruz became champion at 140. Guess who I want to see him fight? Subriel Matias. As usual.

Rolly Romero took a beating but wasn’t as bad as I thought. He did look better than I assumed he would. Make no mistake, however, Rolly Romero got beat up and showed that he didn’t really have what it takes to be champion at 140. He struggled to keep Isaac Cruz off of him all night it it cost Rolly Romero his title.

Rose Namajunas notched a win over Amanda Ribas in the main event of UFC Vegas 89 last night. With a win at 125, “Thug” Rose is looking for her way to a title shot in her second division.

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

0:10 Rose Namajunas isn’t the same at 125

6:37 Amanda Ribas fought well

11:55 Edmen Shahbazyan REALLY wants to grapple

14:57 Youssef Zalal returns!

19:14 We biting now?

Rose Namajunas is trying to find new life in her new weight class of 125. After going two time champion at 115, she believes women’s flyweight is her new home. I’m not so sure. After her loss to Manon Fiorot in her debut I question has time passed Rose Namajunas by? She’s only 31 but it looks as if she’s slower and relies on her tactics instead of speed. Regardless, Rose Namajunas looked acceptable against Amanda Ribas, a fight which she should have won and did so.

Amanda Ribas, on the other hand, over performed by my own estimation. She wasn’t supposed to look as good as she did but has shown some improvements. That said, her game is too shallow for a fighter like Rose Namajunas, who has a deep tool kit. Amanda Ribas is ranked in two divisions and, being the tweener she is, will keep doing so. This loss to Rose Namajunas was just another bump in the road for Amanda Ribas.

Edmen Shahbazyan and his weird rib cage returned with another win at UFC Vegas 89. He beat AJ Dobson and got hurt in the process. That said, Edmen Shahbazyan really showed that he’s been working on his grappling and really went after that rear naked choke. In the end, he got the finish via submission and all is well. Edmen Shahbazyan doesn’t need to rush his career at only 26. A couple years of these types of fights will do him good.

After he was cut from the UFC, I questioned why they had done so to Youssef Zalal. He’s a great fighter with great hands, the exact type of fighter the UFC enjoys. But after an 0-3-1 run, including a loss to Ilia Topuria, Zalal was cut. Now he’s back after just over a year and a half gone. He choked out Billy Quarantillo to show us that he’s improved in his time away. I think Youssef Zalal has a bright future ahead of him in the UFC’s featherweight division.

Lastly, we will bust out the ole Jaws theme and talk about Igor Severino biting Andre Lima and getting subsequently disqualified and cut from the UFC. GOOD! There’s no place for that blatant type of cheating in the sport.

Sean O’Malley put on a masterclass against Chito Vera in the two’s long awaited rematch. That doesn’t mean Chito Vera didn’t fight like a moron. Let’s talk about his performance for a minute.

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

0:10 Chito Vera is braindead

9:17 Dustin Poirier is braindead too

12:55 Welcome to the UFC, MVP

15:58 Jack Della Maddelena is for real

18:58 Petr Yan is back

Sean O’Malley put on for UFC 299. He avenged his loss to Chito Vera from years ago with a near-perfect performance. Sean O’Malley overwhelmed Chito Vera with feints and volumes, the same things we talked about in our Vera film study (XXX). Now, Sean O’Malley, with negative charisma, calls out Ilia Topuria. That’s not a good idea yet. But I can see a future where the two face off and the winner becomes the next superstar for the UFC. I just will put my money on Ilia Topuria. Regardless, Sean O’Malley really looked great and should really face Merab Dvalishvili or Cory Sandhagen next.

In the co-main event of UFC 299, Dustin Poirier took on Benoit Saint-Denis in a close fight that saw Poirier jump the guillotine over and over again only to get smashed by the Frenchman. In the end, Dustin Poirier came through for this fellow Louisianan and knocked Benoit Saint-Denis out in round 2. Despite his flaws, I still very much love Dustin Poirier and he’s probably the best fighter to never win the belt.

Michael “Venom” Page made his UFC debut at UFC 299 as well. He took on Kevin Holland and beat him from pillar to post. Holland could not keep up with Michael “Venom” Page and MVP got off on Kevin Holland all night. He styled with exciting kicks, spinning back elbows, and insanely illusive footwork that had Kevin Holland frustrated by the end of the night. All I can ask for now is Michael “Venom” Page versus Ian Garry and/or Stephen Thompson.

Jack Della Maddelena had his coming out party on the night too! He took on the experienced Gilbert Burns at UFC 299 and really had a testing fight. Gilbert Burns, being as technical as he is on the ground, challenged Jack Della Maddelena in areas we have wondered about since his debut on the Contender Series. Now ranked top five and busting up the wrestler’s club at at the top of 170, what is next for the Australian striker?

Opening the main card, Petr Yan looked to snap his 3 fight losing streak against Yadong Song. Yan has struggled in the past and took some time to get going. But he stayed in the fight and eventually started rolling before Yadong Song could really land any damage. Petr Yan got his hands working and we even got to see some of that clinch work that we love so much from the former Russian champion. The takedown, leg sweep thing was just magnificent. Petr Yan really did his best work and seemingly got back on track at UFC 299.

It took Anthony Joshua two rounds to do what Tyson Fury couldn’t: knock out Francis Ngannou. And in spectacular fashion, he did it in the second round. In this episode we will recap the fight between Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou and compare it to Tyson Fury’s body of work against the former UFC champion.

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

0:10 Francis Ngannou fraud checked

2:50 Anthony Joshua: still good at boxing

6:10 Tyson Fury in shambles

8:02 Anthony Joshua vs. Tyson Fury?

11:43 Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira?

We start the episode off by calling the fight what it was: a fraud check. Many were riding high on Francis Ngannou’s fight with Tyson Fury despite him losing, and perhaps rightfully so. But when he took the Anthony Joshua fight, we said that if AJ took this fight seriously, he could run through Francis Ngannou. It was also mentioned that Francis Ngannou could have been taken lightly by Tyson Fury. Regardless, Ngannou may want to be done with boxing at 37 years old.

Then I’ll discuss what I liked about Anthony Joshua. He’s still a very talented boxer and after some lackluster performances and then the two losses to Oleksandr Usyk, may thought Joshua was washed. But his fights with Otto Wallin and now Francis Ngannou give me hope that Anthony Joshua is improved and gotten over that hump that’s been hindering him in the past few years.

Tyson Fury’s win over Francis Ngannou has now aged like milk. Having gone to decision with him and being knocked down in the process, Tyson Fury’s stock has plummeted after Anthony Joshua did it in only two rounds. While styles do make fights, it will be impossible to avoid the comparisons now and a fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua seems imminent once Fury is done with Oleksandr Usyk.

So does Anthony Joshua beat Tyson Fury? With the last couple performances for both, I’m leaning to yes for now. Of course, that’s always changing and if Tyson Fury beats Oleksandr Usyk, it will dump all that on its head.

What’s next for Francis Ngannou? It’s gotta be an MMA fight with Renan Ferreira in PFL. Ferreira just beat Bellator champion Ryan Bader and is the PFL champion. He’s sitting out of the PFL season and now has his sights set on Francis Ngannou.

Brandon Royval snagged a sketchy split decision win over former flyweight champion Brandon Moreno this weekend at UFC Mexico. His fight was at elevation and “Raw Dog” put on a torrid pace of volume with a lot of variety. The question now is the following: Is Brandon Royval 125’s Max Holloway?

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

0:10 Brandon Royval’s volume

5:55 Brandon Moreno isn’t the same anymore

10:55 Brian Ortega’s big comeback

14:12 Yair Rodriguez doesn’t have a gas tank

16:13 Raoni Barcelos is the best cheater

In this podcast we will be discussing Brandon Royval and how he utilized his length to give the “better boxer” Brandon Moreno trouble. We will also talk about why he didn’t gas at UFC Mexico despite it being at elevation. Hint: Brandon Royval trained at even higher elevation. Now Brandon Royval is the number one contender but will that give him a third fight against Alexandre Pantoja, the champion, despite him losing to Pantoja twice?

Brandon Moreno has changed since his fights with Deiveson Figueiredo. He no longer punches straight and looked for looping shots over the top against Brandon Royval all night at UFC Mexico. Moreno isn’t big enough to go to 135 so he’s unfortunately stuck. That kinda sucks because I really enjoy when Brandon Moreno fights. He’s exciting.

Next, Brian Ortega was back and took on Yair Rodriguez. Ortega isn’t a good wrestler despite needing to wrestle to get to his top level jiu jitsu. He showed that either A: he has been working on his cage wrestling ahead of UFC Mexico, or B: Yair Rodriguez was gassed. Brian Ortega still has many of the same problems he always has like being too comfortable with his hands despite getting hit way too much. But this fight returned a Brian Ortega who is a grappler first, not a reinvented boxer. Keep him away from Ilia Topuria tho.

Yair Rodriguez has the same old problems. He has the gas tank of a weed eater and despite nearly finishing Ortega at UFC Mexico, he gassed himself out, spent round two on the bottom and got promptly choked out in round three. How tired do you have to be to let Brian Ortega take you down? Only Yair Rodriguez knows.

Last for UFC Mexico, we talk about Raoni Barcelos’ cheating spree against Christian Quinonez. A fence grab, a wedgie, and downed knee were all on display. But Raoni Barcelos is still the man and got the finish so I’m happy!