Another week of MMA is in the books, and one that saw yet another hype-train in the bin, and a hint of a fight which will give goosebumps to any fighting fan. The MMA Mindset takes a look at the most prevalent talking points from the past weekend!
Ryan Bader Viciously Finished
Friday's Bellator card saw Ryan Bader finished in devastating fashion in the second round. This marked "Darth" Bader's first loss since he was knocked-out by Anthony Johnson back in 2016. Many were stating, given that Jon Jones seems to have left the light heavyweight division, that this fight determined the best current 205lb fighter in the world.
His Russian opponent came into the fight as the underdog, but soon expelled any misconceptions about his skill-set. Bader seemed much slower than Nemkov, failing to land anything significant and being tagged repeatedly from the outside. In the second, Vadmin landed a huge headkick, dropping the former UFC fighter and poured on the pressure to close out the fight.
It's unsure as to whether Ryan intends to compete in the light heavyweight division going forward, or decides to dedicate his time to the heavyweight division, where the speed aspect is less prominent. The 37-year-old fighter still holds the Bellator Heavyweight title, and will look to defend the belt in 2021.
ANOTHER Hype-Train Derailed
I'm getting sick of this. For what seems like the millionth time this year, another hype-train has fallen victim to a major upset. However, this was the BIGGEST upset in UFC history (on paper). Mariya Agapova came into her fight against Shauna Dobson with a record of 9-1, whilst Dobson (3-4 before the bout) was on a three-fight losing streak.
Did that matter? Of course not. The Kazakhstan-born fighter gassed early, after pouring it on "Danger" in an attempt to close the show early. However, after failing to do so, Dobson was able to get the fight to the ground and finish Agapova with relentless ground and pound. Mariya came into the bout as an incredible -1900 betting favourite, meaning if you put your money on Shauna, you would of earned yourself a fair share of cash.
It's unclear as to what the UFC do with Agapova going forward, but the lack of fighters living up to the hype is definitely starting to become a concern.
Nemkov UFC Calibre?
As previously stated in this article, Vadmin Nemkov finished Ryan Bader in an impressive display at Bellator 244. The Russian fighter, who also happens to be the prodigy of the great Fedor Emelianenko, came into the fight on a 6 fight win streak, and had also finished 10 of his 11 wins.
Nemkov looked great in this fight, taking control early and out-classing Bader on the feet with slick punches and kicks. Vadmin made his mark in the second round, knocking down "Darth" with a picture-perfect head kick. The 28-year-old is definitely on a trajectory which leads to the UFC, and in my opinion, could compete at the very top of the sport if he continues with his development.
It has not been stated officially that the UFC would like to bring him into their roster, though it seems very likely he will end up in the premier MMA organisation in the near future.
Frankie Rolls Back the Years
Frankie Edgar once again showed his top level ability and versatility against Pedro Munhoz at UFC Vegas 7. In a razor close decision victory, "The Answer" was able to best his younger opponent over five brutal rounds.
The fight itself was back-and-forth, with both fighters wearing a considerable amount of damage come the final bell. Frankie ultimately took the decision victory, and looked to be getting back to the fighter we all remember. This shows that, despite being 38, he is still able to compete at the very top of the sport.
This result adds yet another top-contender to an already stacked division. The top 10 is a murderer's row, including the likes of Petr Yan, Jose Aldo and Aljamain Sterling to name a few. Hopefully Edgar can keep this momentum and get one last crack at a UFC title.
Dustin vs Tony in the Works
Now this one is really exciting. If there was ever a fight which is "for the fans", this is most definitely it. Although it has not been officially confirmed, when asked on Saturday night if the fight was going to happen, Dana White smiled to himself and said "Probably."
I think I speak for MMA fans across the world in saying this fight will be at the top of many's "Most Anticipated" lists. Dustin is coming off a brilliant display against Dan Hooker, whilst Tony is coming off a TKO loss to Justin Gaejthe. This fight, in my opinion, was the only one that made sense for the pair and has "Fight of the Night" written all over it.
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