The rise of Sean Strickland was halted by consecutive losses to Alex Pereira and Jared Cannonier, but earned his title shot at UFC 293 with a pair of wins in 2023 (and the unavailability of would-be challenger Dricus du Plessis). Israel Adesanya had just earned his title back from Pereira, who had stopped his run of title defenses at five.

It was a perhaps expected start between Adesanya and Strickland, with Adesanya sizing up his distance while Strickland marched forward. Neither fighter was landing cleanly for the first several minutes, with long jabs and kicks from Adesanya being the main weapon of the fight. With about a minute left, Strickland landed a combination that caused the champion to guard up against the fence. Strickland liked where that led him as a huge right hand landed for him as Adesanya was throwing a left, knocking down the champion. Strickland pushed him up against the fence and unloaded haymakers to a shelled-up Adesanya. The champion survived the first-round scare.

Adesanya had a bit more aggression in his approach in the second round, as he couldn’t allow Strickland to dictate the rhythm of the fight following the knockdown. A two-punch combination for Adesanya was the most relevant set of strikes for the first few minutes of the round. A strong body shot also connected for him as well as an overhand right. Strickland, on the other hand, was not able to build off of the first-round knockdown aside from a pair of punches at the very end of the round.

The fight continued at a measured pace as Strickland’s forward movement and defensive approach made life difficult for Adesanya. The fighters traded right hands, but as the round went on, Strickland’s punches were getting through the guard of Adesanya, while the champion struggled to land cleanly.

Adesanya continued to try and find a home for his kicks, but nothing was getting through. Strickland was opening up more as the fight went on and was landing with success. Adesanya did not have an answer for the straightforward approach. Strickland had taken minimum damage through four rounds and the champion was running out of time.

The sense of urgency for Adesanya, seemingly down three rounds to one, was not there. He remained puzzled by the defense of Strickland. The challenger wasn’t resting on the lead either. He continued to bully Adesanya with jabs and clean pressure. With 10 seconds left, Strickland realized he was going to be the champion and began talking trash to his battered opponent. Strickland’s journey to the top was complete. He pulled off one of the greatest championship upsets in the history of the sport.

Sean Strickland def. Israel Adesanya by Unanimous Decision (49-46 x3)

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While his fight with Kai Kara-France falling through had Manel Kape fired up ahead of UFC 293, come fight night he had newcomer Felipe dos Santos to focus on.

Ex-RIZIN champ Kape was welcoming dos Santos to the octagon after the Brazilian had been lined up for the Contender Series this year — only for his opponent to withdraw from the bout at the last minute.

The flyweights came out firing in this one, with dos Santos leading the charge early. Kape was happy to let his opponent take the lead, as he scored an early knockdown in the first minute. They returned to the feet where Kape landed a few more shots. Dos Santos started a grappling exchange after catching a kick, but Kape was able to end up in top position with a smart reversal. Dos Santos started getting the better of Kape after they returned to the feet in terms of sheer volume, but the cleaner strikes belonged to Kape. Those strikes notably included a spinning elbow that wobbled dos Santos temporarily. Both men were happy to let shots fly as we headed to the second round.

The output of strikes from dos Santos stayed high in the second round, but he was staggered by a leg kick from Kape. Kape darted in with a hard right hand. The kicks and jabs continued to come in from dos Santos as Kape picked his spots. A big left wobbled dos Santos as Kape was clearly dealing more damage. Dos Santos was clipped by a body shot and went to a knee, where Kape unloaded shots. Dos Santos popped back up and fired right back. The flyweights were putting on a show.

Following the first minute of the final round, things opened up again. A double jab from dos Santos was answered by a hook combination by Kape. Kape was rocked for the first time by a standing knee and his defense was more offense. The exchanges continued as Kape skirted away from true danger while absorbing strikes. To cap off a solid performance, Kape connected a double-leg takedown with 20 seconds left. He climbed up onto the cage afterward to celebrate to the boos of the Sydney fans, who were not too fond of Kape after his beef with City Kickboxing at the UFC 293 press conference.

Manel Kape used the post-fight interview to continue his feud with Kai Kara-France, but ended it with the same slur that was used by Charles Radtke earlier in the night.

Manel Kape def. Felipe dos Santos by Unanimous Decision (29-28 x2, 30-27) 

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Lerone Murphy has the makings of a future contender, owning an unbeaten 4-0-1 record since making his UFC debut in 2019. Joshua Culibao has a similarly strong 3-1-1 record since his promotional debut in 2020 heading into UFC London.

Lerone Murphy slipped early on and Culibao was all over it, firing a multitude of punches against the cage. Murphy outmuscled him in the clinch to get back to the center of the Octagon. Murphy’s leg kicks were connecting, but Culibao had Murphy stumbling with one of his own. Murphy got Culibao against the cage and rifled a pair of straights right on the money. Murphy then ducked for a takedown, but couldn’t pull Culibao away and instead disengaged and ripped a three-punch combination to end the round.

Culibao started the second round with a head kick and pushed Murphy to the fence. He was seeking out a takedown, but Murphy was able to stay on his feet. Culibao was able to get Murphy to the ground, but a strong whizzer kept Murphy elevated. A big shot staggered Murphy briefly, but he responded immediately with a strong combination and a takedown to the back of Culibao. Murphy rode out the round on his opponent’s back with hooks in but never threatened to finish the fight.

Culibao pushed Murphy to the fence to start the round and threw a few punches, but was unable to turn it into a takedown. Murphy separated, threw a head kick that appeared to not land, but Culibao fell backward. Murphy took advantage of this outcome (it was a kick that landed across the midsection) and took top position. Murphy kept the pressure on, attempting to secure a D’arce choke several times. Another takedown put Culibao on his back again after he was able to work his way up. Murphy looked excellent in the third round to secure the fight.

Lerone Murphy def. Joshua Culibao by Unanimous Decision (30-26 x2, 30-27)

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Daniel Marcos is an undefeated Peruvian fighter who earned a second-round knockout in his UFC debut back in January. Facing him at UFC London is longtime veteran Davey Grant, who has been making appearances in the Octagon for nearly a decade. He’s coming off a pair of stoppages.

Davey Grant started the fight by establishing his range with leg kicks in the center of the Octagon. Daniel Marcos was off to a tentative start, allowing Grant to find a rhythm on the feet. Grant was able to mix in some punches, but it was an oddly quiet first round for a Grant fight.

Marcos stepped forward and whiffed on a jumping knee to start the second round and Grant answered with a wheel kick that was deflected by Marcos. The first punch that landed for Marcos came soon after, and it was a hard left hook that got Grant’s attention. Marcos started to open things up, landing a looping right. The uptick in aggression from Marcos opened things up for Grant, who threw a four-punch combination at a shelled-up Marcos. Grant then landed a knee up the middle and unfortunately, the next strike that landed was a kick below the belt by Marcos. After a brief pause, the second round continued to change the complexion of the fight. Both fighters picked up their volume significantly, but the damage was still leaving a bit to be desired.

Marcos sat behind a strong jab as Grant came out frantic in the third round. He shot for a takedown to no avail against the cage. Marcos landed a knee, as he seemed to be in control after not using any offense in the first five minutes of the fight. A backwards elbow connected for Marcos following a combination by Grant. Grant continued to keep a high pace in the third round, keeping Marcos on the back foot. Marcos made him pay briefly for that with a quick single-leg takedown. Grant popped right back up and was firing combinations to the end, getting caught by a big shot from Marcos near the bell.

Daniel Marcos def. Davey Grant by Split Decision (29-28 x2, 28-29)

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David Onama came into UFC Jacksonville with an even 2-2 record in the Octagon, owning stoppages in all 10 of his victories. He was looking to bounce back from a decision loss to Nate Landwehr 10 months ago. Santos was coming off a split decision loss in his UFC debut that handed him the first defeat of his 11 fight career.

David Onama immediately started firing the jab out to start the fight while Santos was throwing kicks. Santos opened up his offense with hooks that got through the guard of Onama. Santos continued moving forward and closed the distance, but found himself taken down. The pair returned to the feet and Santos was dictating the pace on the feet. A left hand staggered Onama to the fence and Santos stayed on him. Through the pressure, Santos found an opening for an armbar while Onama was still standing. Onama had to defend for nearly a minute as Santos went back and forth between an armbar and a triangle choke. Onama was able to escape, but Santos made sure to get another takedown before the end of the round.

Onama went back to the jab to start the second round, then was clocked by a spinning backfist that sent him stumbling to the cage. Santos pursued and and took the back with well over four minutes left in the round. The body triangle was slapped on, but not quite tight enough as Onama spun into closed guard. A few elbows from Onama slammed down on Santos before he slowed his output to maintain top control. Santos was able to make his way to his feet, where it was Onama who had the advantage this time around. Hooks were mixed in with jabs wisely, then a jab opened up Santos’ guard for an uppercut that shut the lights off. Santos fell backwards and was hit by two more punches on the way down as Onama claimed the victory by knockout.

BRUTAL UPPERCUT FROM ONAMA 👊 pic.twitter.com/DdQfB1RWnZ

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) June 24, 2023

David Onama def. Gabriel Santos by KO (Uppercut) in Round 2 (4:13)

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Dana White’s Contender Series found another gem in Poland’s Mateusz Rebecki. Coming into the fight, Rebecki had finished 14 of his 17 victories. However, his UFC debut in January went to decision. His opponent at UFC Jacksonville was Loik Radzhabov, a former PFL title contender coming off a win in his promotional debut.

Mateusz Rebecki started the fight with kick-heavy approach, marching forward against Radzhabov. The low kicks were finding a home, so Radzhabov tried to change things up with a clinch. Rebecki broke free and withstood a punch combination from Radzhabov. Rebecki landed the first takedown of the fight, moving to side control. There was enough space for Radzhabov to spin out from side control and return to the feet, where he was met with several punches from Rebecki. A hard leg kick connected for Rebecki and Radzhabov was on his back again. A straight armbar attempt from Rebecki came up short, but he was in full control of the fight through one round with Radzhabov struggling with his left leg.

Rebecki opened up the second round with a hard leg kick and Radzhabov was wobbled. Rebecki continued pressuring with his opponent in a compromised state. More and more strikes came through at a steady pace from Rebecki until a left hand knocked down Radzhabov and the referee had seen enough punishment.

That's 15 wins in a row for Rebecki 😤 pic.twitter.com/MUUBjDbH9r

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) June 24, 2023

Rebecki was limping after the fight with a suspected broken foot or toe. A casualty of all the heavy leg kicks he landed throughout the fight.

Mateusz Rebecki def. Loik Radzhabov by TKO (Strikes) in Round 2 (2:36) 

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An exciting fight between young phenom Song Yadong (19-7-1) and Ricky Simon (20-3)  with his five-fight win streak was moved back a week and elevated to the main card of UFC Vegas 72 on just one week’s notice.

Yadong made his second main event appearance in quick succession after he lost his headlining debut against top contender Cory Sandhagen in September of 2022 via doctor’s stoppage due to a gnarly cut. Still, in that fight, they earned ‘Fight of the Night’ honors as he fought through that cut for three full rounds and was willing to keep going.

Both he and Simon are better than they have ever been and seem to be on upward trajectories in the sport. The result will have a huge effect on the division and title picture in bantamweight, arguably the UFC’s best division, right before a huge title fight a week from now.

Ricky Simon was dictating the pace early on with in-and-out movement and leg kicks. Yadong was picking his shots as Simon attempted a takedown to get Yadong thinking. Simon later locked up a clinch but it was Yadong who overpowered him and had the advantageous position before breaking apart. Simon came up empty on another takedown attempt but Yadong was unable to make him pay.

Simon came out as the aggressor again in the second round, but that came back to bite him as Yadong scored an early knockdown against the fence. Simon attempted to recover but nearly found himself in a standing guillotine. Simon broke free and took Yadong down into side control. The top position did not last long as Simon would have liked as Yadong returned to the feet. Momentum had swung Yadong’s way as he was now getting the better of Simon on the feet. A body shot connected for Yadong but Simon made a statement with a late takedown and some hammerfists at the very end of the round.

Simon nearly scored a takedown to start the third round but Yadong was able to get right back to his feet. An uppercut that was meant for Simon’s body traveled a bit too low and the fight came to a brief halt. When action resumed, it was Yadong pushing forward with leg kicks as his weapon of choice. Simon was able to connect with a left straight then dodged a pair of high kicks from his opponent. A big right hand found the target for Yadong followed by a left hand. The pressure of Yadong was beginning to make Simon cover up on the feet. At the end of the round, Yadong accidentally headbutted Simon and the latter was not pleased by the lack of a foul called.

Simon came out in the fourth with a one-two combination and a flying knee, all of which landed. Two hooks to the head and one to the body landed for Yadong, who was finding his rhythm again. A left caused Simon to reset. He was still landing, but with less frequency than his opponent. Yadong stunned Simon at the very end of the fourth with his second knockdown of the contest.

A double jab from Simon started the final round, but he was soon stung by a left hand over the top. Another left hook was fired by Yadong and this one sent Simon to his back. A few more punches and the fight was called in favor of Yadong.

SONG KNOCKS OUT SIMON IN ROUND 5 👊 #UFCVEGAS72 pic.twitter.com/FRzD0yJJ5y

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) April 30, 2023

Song Yadong def. Ricky Simon by TKO (Punches) in Round 5 (1:10)

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Could the fourth time be the charm for former champion Israel Adesanya? Alex Pereira had defeated him three times already heading into UFC 287, twice in kickboxing and once in MMA. However, Adesanya was well on his way to a win at UFC 281 before a fifth-round knockout by Pereira that ended Adesanya’s title reign.

Pereira has lived up to the billing since transitioning to MMA following an illustrious kickboxing career. It took him just three fights in the UFC to earn a title shot, and he made the most of it.

Israel Adesanya established his leg kick early on, opening up with a pair of punches two minutes in followed by a leg kick. Pereira shot up a head kick that did not land cleanly. The jabs started to find a home for Adesanya as he began backing up Pereira successfully. The leg kicks continued to land too as the champion was simply feeling out the challenger, throwing less than a handful of strikes.

Pereira came out much more aggressive in round two, clipping Adesanya with a head kick and pushing Adesanya to the fence. A pair of heavy punches connected for the champion. Adesanya got his back off the cage and got back to work with his kicks. A strong right straight split the guard of Pereira. A left hook then knocked Pereira off balance. Adesanya’s volume was too much in the early going for Pereira to contend with as another right hand snapped the head of the champion back. Pereira stung Adesanya with a slew of leg kicks. Adesanya was trapped with his back against the cage with Pereira teeing off. A right hand rifled out from Adesanya, wobbling Pereira. The former champion quickly followed it with another right hand over the top, and Pereira crumbled. His head hit the canvas, and Adesanya delivered the finishing blows, reclaiming his title.

Adesanya celebrated by firing several invisible arrows into his longtime foe.

Israel Adesanya def. Alex Pereira by KO (Right Hook) in Round 2 (4:21)

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If there was a pick for People’s Main Event at UFC 287 on Saturday, Rob Font vs. Adrian Yanez would be it.

Both men were explosive, all-action fighters capable of maintaining a high pace from bell-to-bell. The winner of a bout that held Fight of the Night potential would also boost themselves into the title picture, though a number of names including Henry Cejudo, Sean O’Malley, and Cory Sandhagen sat ahead of them in the stacked 135lb division.

Rob Font came out fast with a combination but Adrian Yanez settled in quickly. Yanez quickly bruised the eye of Font with solid jabs. Font responded with jabs of his own and Yanez went to the body. Both men were landing what they wanted, but it was Font who stopped Yanez in his tracks with a quick combination. In the midst of a second combination, Font pulled Yanez in with a collar tie and knocked Yanez backward with a huge right hand. Font delivered the finishing blows and the veteran was victorious.

Rob Font!! pic.twitter.com/6vhCi6i31v

— 🔥 Combat Sports Vids (@FireMMAVid) April 9, 2023

Font said after the fight that he needed a stoppage win, having not earned one since knocking out Marlon Moraes in 2020. Stopping the rise of Yanez, who had yet to lose in the UFC, was a huge accomplishment for the bantamweight who had lost his previous two fights.

Rob Font def. Adrian Yanez by TKO (Punches) in Round 1 (2:57)

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Marlon Vera looked to push further into the title picture at Saturday’s UFC San Antonio, paired up with fellow top-five bantamweight Cory Sandhagen.

“Chito” Vera, ranked third in the division, and Sandhagen, ranked fifth, might have secured a shot at gold with a win — were they competing in any other weight class. But in the crowded 135lb ranks, Henry Cejudo and Sean O’Malley both sat above them, with Cejudo getting the next shot at champ Aljamain Sterling in May.

Sandhagen started as the lead fighter on the feet, mixing in combinations with body punches. Vera was limited in output for the first two minutes of the fight, as per usual when Chito fights. Sandhagen, however, was taking advantage of that and pushing the pace. He threw a flying knee and then took Vera down. Sandhagen stacked Vera in half guard and began landing blows. Vera was pushed up against the cage in an uncomfortable position and Sandhagen was in full control until the bell.

Sandhagen shot for an early takedown and Vera tried applying a guillotine but could not get control of the body. Sandhagen popped out into half guard. Sandhagen cleared the guard and moved into side control. Vera was able to get to his feet with just over a minute remaining in the round, but he did not have an answer for Sandhagen’s wrestling. Vera nearly landed a single-leg of his own, but Sandhagen stayed on his feet and connected with a flying knee.

Vera started opening up in the third round with his striking. Punches were beginning to land as did a solid leg kick. A left hand connected for Sandhagen after a caught kick followed by a feinted takedown. Sandhagen then capped off a one-two combination with a body kick, but was then drilled by a one-two. He pushed forward with a body shot but came up empty on a takedown effort. Long punches landed for Sandhagen as Vera’s volume still left a bit to be desired. A smooth combination got through the guard of Vera, who had yet to find his range.

Sandhagen started the fourth round with a few takedown attempts, with Vera defending all of them. Sandhagen then shot through with a flying knee. Vera seemed just out of range to land the strikes he wanted. Vera even stuck his arms out at one point in frustration. The movement of Sandhagen kept him out of range, with Vera landing a left straight to break the cold streak. Vera stared down Sandhagen after the round concluded, down four rounds to none.

Sandhagen started the fifth round with an early takedown, sucking the air out of a potential Vera comeback. Vera did get back to his feet, but the push for a finish only came with 30 seconds left. A dominant win for Sandhagen.

Cory Sandhagen def. Marlon Vera by Split Decision (50-45, 49-46, 47-48)

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