C. Do Bronx finishes off J. Gaethje in the UFC 274. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram
After remembering all the best that happened between January and April 2022 in world MMA, the second part of the retrospective SUPER FIGHTS addresses the main highlights of the second four months of last year, between the months of May and August.
During this period, some of the main stories of the season were told, with new champions, fights, upsets and historic outcomes.
See too
UFC 274: drama and redemption of Charles do Bronx
C. From the Bronx weighing in for the UFC 274. Photo: Reproduction/YouTube @superlutas
Fifth numbered event of the year, the UFC 274 became historic on the eve of its completion. At the official weigh-in for his title defense against Justin gaethje, Charles do Bronx became the first fighter in Ultimate history to lose his belt to the scales, by being 200g above the lightweight division limit (up to 70,3kg).
After what happened, Charles of the Bronx pointed to a last-minute change in the scale used for the weight check and claimed it had been “stolen”. The following night, even without the possibility of regaining the belt, the Brazilian submitted Justin Gaethje in a fight full of twists and proved himself as the 'uncrowned king'.
Under boos, Carla Esparza surprises and regains title after almost eight years
C. Esparza overtakes R. Namajunas for the straw belt in the UFC 274..Photo: Reproduction/Instagram @ufc
In addition to writing by Charles of the Bronx: UFC 274 It was also the stage for another story of overcoming. Eight years after she became the first UFC strawweight champion (up to 52,1 kg) and seven years after losing the title, Carla esparza won division gold again by overcoming Rose Namajunas in a monotonous fight and booed by the public.
Veterans' duel has a brutal outcome in 'Knockout of the Year'
T. Ferguson receives a tough knockout from M. Chandler. Photo: Reproduction/Twitter @HansGutknecht
Still at the same event, MMA lovers were able to witness what would become elected, among the team of SUPER FIGHTS, the best knockout of 2022. The person responsible for the feat was Michael chandler, who knocked out Tony Ferguson with a brutal front kick, a la Anderson Silva.
UFC 275: Glover sees title slip away in the last minute of 'Fight of the Year'
J. Prochazka defeated G. Teixeira to win the light heavyweight belt (Photo: Instagram/UFC)
About eight months after becoming the oldest athlete to win a title for the first time in Ultimate, Glover Teixeira returned to action in June to put the light heavyweight belt (up to 93kg) on the line against the dangerous Jiri Prochazka, in Singapore.
The Brazilian and the Czech fought in an extremely exciting duel, full of twists and turns and voted “Fight of the Year” by the SUPER LUTAS team. Ahead on the judges' scorecards, Glover had one hand on the title, but, with 30 seconds left until the end of the fight, he saw Prochazka take advantage of a slip and achieve an unlikely finish to become the new champion.
Taila Santos exposes Valentina Shevchenko, but hits the post
T. Santos (left) put up a tough fight, but lost to V. Shevchenko (right) on points. Photo: Reproduction/Twitter @ufcespanol
Considered by many the most dominant champion of recent years, Valentina Shevchenko was almost surprised by Taila Santos competing for the strawweight belt (up to 52,1kg) in the co-main fight of UFC 275.
With a strong grappling game, the Brazilian exposed the Kyrgyz-Peruvian's weaknesses and controlled much of the duel, but ended up hampered by a fractured orbital bone after an accidental clash of heads, which “closed” her right eye in the fourth round. After the injury, Taila saw Valentina regained control of the fight and won by decision from the judges.
UFC 276: Israel Adesanya and Alex Poatan make trilogy inevitable
A. Poatan (left) surpassed S. Strickland (right) in the UFC 276. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram @ufc
O UFC 276 was surrounded by expectations not only for what would happen on the night of July 2, at the T-Mobile Arena, in Las Vegas, but also for the design that could be projected for the future of the middleweight division (up to 83,9kg).
And it happened as everyone expected: Israel adesanya, to boos from the crowd, defended the title against Jared Cannonier in bureaucratic struggle, while Alex Poatan brutalized Sean Strickland with a first-round knockout.
The results paved the way for another chapter in the rivalry between Israel adesanya e Alex Poatán, who had already faced each other on two occasions during their kickboxing days, with two victories for the Brazilian. The two met again in November, for the UFC middleweight belt, but that is a topic for the next chapter of the retrospective.
Volkanovski 'surpasses' and ends rivalry with 3-0 over Holloway
A. Volkanovski (right) surpassed M. Holloway in the UFC 276. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram @ufceurope
The co-main fight of UFC 276 It served to put an end once and for all to discussions regarding the best featherweight (up to 65,7kg) currently. After overcoming Max Holloway in two even fights, Alexander Volkanovsky “left” in the third duel, did not take notice of his rival and ended the trilogy score at 3×0, not only consolidating himself as division champion, but also as one of the best fighters in the world.
UFC 277: the 'Lioness' is in charge of the jungle
A. Nunes defeated J. Pena in the main fight of UFC 277 (Photo: Instagram/UFC)
Seven months after being dethroned by Julianna Pena in one of the biggest upsets in the history of world MMA, in UFC 269, Amanda nunes returned to action to face the “Venezuela Shrew” in the main fight of the UFC 277, on the 30th of July.
In five rounds of pure dominance, the “Lioness” She didn't give the American a chance, dominated the fight from start to finish without taking notice of her rival and regained the UFC bantamweight belt (up to 61,2kg).
Moreno wins interim title and leads the first quadrilogy in UFC history against Deiveson
B. Moreno wins the interim flyweight belt in UFC 277. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram
In the co-main fight of UFC 277, Ultimate put the interim flyweight (56,7kg) belt at stake, a decision that outraged the linear champion Deiveson Figueiredo, who was injured at the time.
In a busy fight, the former division champion, Brandon Moreno knocked out New Zealander Kai Kara-France in the second round and made the first quadrilogy in UFC history inevitable, against Deiveson Figueiredo. The Mexican and the Brazilian face each other for the fourth time in the co-main fight of the UFC 283, in Rio de Janeiro, on January 21st.
UFC 278: Leon Edwards shocks the world in script 'a la Rocky Balboa'
L. Edwards (left) beat K. Usman in the UFC 278. Photo: Reproduction/Twitter
Closing the second quarter of the year, the UFC 278, held on August 20th, in Salt Lake City, United States, was the stage for one of the most incredible stories in world MMA.
In revenge against the seemingly unbeatable Kamaru Usman for the welterweight belt (up to 77kg), Leon edwards was dominated and lost the fight until the final minute of the fifth and final round, when found a precise and brutal high kick to knock out the Nigerian and become the new champion.
In his last act in the octagon, José Aldo suffers a frustrating defeat
J. Aldo (left) was surpassed by M. Dvalishvili (right) in the UFC 278. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram
O UFC 278 It was also the stage for the silent farewell of a true legend of world MMA. Former champion and considered by many to be the greatest name in featherweight history (up to 65,7kg), José Aldo, which months laterwould surprise everyone by announcing his retirement from MMA, stepped into the octagon for the last time to face Merab Dvalishvili e ended up suffering a frustrating defeat at the hands of the Georgian.
You need login To comment.