UFC 298 Anaheim Post Fight Analysis

Hello fight fans! UFC 298 took place this weekend at Honda Center, Anaheim, California and it was a shocking ending!

Trivia (answer at end)

Which country has produced the most UFC champions?

Anthony Hernandez vs. Roman Kopylov

Recap: What a start to this main event!  From the beginning, Hernandez was relentless with the takedown.  He was 1/11 in the first round but that didn’t stop him from going for more in the second round.  In the beginning of the second, the two were throwing extremely hard.  Kopylov had some really hard clean shots and kicks but Hernandez just kept coming forward.  Then Kopylov went for a body kick and slipped, and Hernandez took that opportunity to get Kopylov’s back.  Hernandez got control with a rear naked choke but Kopylov survived.  Then, Hernandez repositioned to get his back again where he secured the rear naked choke.  As he was choking Kopylov, he nodded his head because he knew he was about to get a submission.  Kopylov tapped and Hernandez got the W at 3:23.

What’s Next:  Hernandez has won his last 5 fights and sits at #15 in the division.  I’m looking forward to his fights as he starts to fight guys above him.  Of the ranked guys, he hasn’t fought any yet.  Kopylov is a very impressive striker and was looking really good during this fight.  He has a few more wins to get before getting another top 15 opponent.  I wouldn’t mind seeing him go against JunYong Park who’s also another striker trying to break the top 15.

Merab Dvalishvili vs. Henry Cejudo

Recap: For Cejudo’s sake, he is very lucky this fight was only three rounds.  Merab Dvalishvili is a MACHINE!  Cejudo came out very strong in the first round and put on a show for all three so I have to give the olympic gold medalist all the respect.  For Merab, I think this was one of his best fights despite being out for the past year recovering from a wrist surgery.  First off, it was a three round fight so Merab put on a pace.  Cejudo got him in the first round but after that Merab kept pressing forward (he didn’t in the first round) and dominated.  His striking was on point and he was relentless with the takedowns which I was a bit surprised with.  I thought he would do more standup but I was pleasantly surprised with the change.  What he did to Cejudo in this fight was extremely impressive and he came out with the win with a 29-28 unanimous decision.

What’s Next: Merab is going to fight for the title against the winner of Sean O’Malley and Chito Vera.  He’s worked hard for a title shot and I think he’s earned it especially after the performance on Saturday.  I honestly think Cejudo needs to retire again and his shot at the title has passed him.  He’s small for the Bantamweight division and his age isn’t in his favor.  He mentioned that he would retire if he lost to Merab, so we’ll see if he actually does it.  Usually for a retirement, the UFC will hand the mic over to the fighter but this would have been Cejudo’s second retirement.  I’m glad they kept the focus on Merab as it was his night.

Geoff Neal vs. Ian Machado Garry

Recap: This was definitely the most boring fight of the night.  Neal seemed hesitant all three rounds and Garry used his footwork and played the perimeter.  When there was action (which didn’t happen often until late in the last round), it seemed like they were fighting for points.  Neal was playing into Garry’s range and Garry was getting in clean hits with his kicks and knees.  Neal needed to come in, close the distance, and make the fight dirty.  Instead he got in the clinch and did nothing.  The judges scored the fight 30-27, 28-29, and 30-27 with Garry taking the split decision of the night.

What’s Next: Ian Garry wants Covington.  I think that would be a great stylistic matchup as both have cardio and Garry is on a mission to put Covington away forever.  I would love for that fight to happen because I’d be there for all the shit talking.  Don’t discount Neal after this fight.  His nickname is “Handz of Steel” for a reason.  I think with the position he’s in, the division will need to play out before we can predict who he’s going to fight next.

Robert Whittaker vs. Paulo Costa

Recap: All 15 minutes of this fight were worth watching.  There was a lot of back and forth striking, a lot of blitzes, a lot of leg kicks, and no takedowns.  I love a good stand up fight and this one was thankfully better than the previous.  Both guys came out with HEAVY blitzes and striking.  Whittaker was winning the first round by taking out Costa’s leg but in the last minute Costa did a spinning back kick that wobbled him.  The second and third rounds were close but the edge definitely would go to Whittaker.  He was landing more shots and the damage that he was doing to Costa’s leg well . . . let’s just say you could see the huge welt on Costa’s lead leg.  Whittaker fought a very intelligent fight and didn’t buy into any of Costa’s antics when he was talking and that paid off.  At the end of the fight, the judges scored it 29-28, 29-28, and 30-27 to Whittaker.

What’s Next: Costa looked good especially after being out since 2022.  We have a lot of Middleweight fights coming up so we’ll see how those play out and who Dana and Hunter put him up against.  As for Whittaker, I’d have to say the same thing.  People want him to go against Strickland but I think Strickland deserves a rematch first.

Alexander “The Great” Volkanovski vs. Ilia “El Matador” Topuria

Recap: We have a NEWWWWW FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD!  Congrats to Ilia Topuria for becoming the new champ.  I’m extremely sad about Volk losing because I love Volk but you can’t deny the power and boxing Topuria has.  In the first round, Volk was killing it with the leg kicks and causing good damage to Topuria with the jab.  He was switching stances and so calm.  It was a very technical competitive close round and I would give the edge to Volk.  The second round was very similar and Topuria was starting to wear the damage on his face from the jabs.  With a minute thirty left to go, Topuria blitzed in with a four punch combination that pushed Volk to the fence.  Then all of a sudden, Volk was knocked down to the canvas after a POWERFUL right hook.  Topuria followed it up with punches and Jason Herzog stopped the fight at 3:32.

What’s Next: I love love love watching Volk fight but I really think he needs to take a rest.  Yes the shot was clean and anyone could have been TKO’d from that but this game is also mental.  This was Volk’s third loss in a row and 2nd TKO in a row.  That just has to be a bit mortifying on the mental side.  I hope he takes the time he needs and comes back even stronger.  

Topuria said there won’t be a rematch against Volk.  If that’s the case then up next is going to be Max Holloway or Yair Rodriguez.  Holloway is practically impossible to knock out and Yair Rodriguez is one of the craftiest strikers in this division.  Both would be a great test.  However, Holloway is fighting Gaethje at UFC 300 and Rodriguez is fighting Ortega in Mexico next week.  So, depending on how those all play out will most likely be the next fight for him realistically.  Evloev was thrown around in the post fight interview but I agree with Topuria that he needs to get some submissions under his belt.  Also, Evloev’s last fight was a bit controversial on whether he won.  Topuria threw out McGregor but at this point, who’s not?  What’s that saying?  It’s hard to get up and train at 4am when you’re waking up in silk sheets.  At this point, McGregor is pretty unrealistic when any fighter calls him out.  

Trivia Answer

USA USA USA!!!

Until next time fight fans!

BMF

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