On memorial weekend Cody Garbrandt had a coming out party. He when into the fight unranked but that didn't stop him from making a statement. In the main event in he Mandalay Bay event center he took down 22-0 Thomas Almeida from famed camp "Chute Box." In a night where every fight on the main card went to a judges decision, Cody's KO in the first round as he predicted was how "No Love" made his mark this weekend, and I also made him get a "Performance of the Night" bonus. He used his amazing boxing, which he has a 35-1 amateur boxing record, to the best of his ability. First rocking Almeida with his right hand, but he stayed discipline and didn't go for the kill, he let it come to him. His power and hand speed had Almeida confused from the start. Cody stayed in boxing range, not in Muay Thai range, which is where Almeida thrives in. This win puts Garbrandt a fight or two away from a tittle shot, but in one of the most stacked division it would be smart or him to stay in shape and healthy.
Rick Story returned to the octagon in what is an amazing story. He had disk replacement surgery, which just got approve by the FDA, and returned after 2 years of inactivity. He took on amazing kick boxer Tarec Saffiedine. He looked better than ever, staying on top of Tarec, and not letting the kick boxer settle and unleash his kicks and punches. Story fought a Smart and discipline, and tooled deadly inside kicks by Tarec but that didn't waiver when it came to his pressure game. In what it is one of the best comeback stories in the sport, Story's return to the cage was very impressive. Just him making it to fight week was a win, and him beating the former Strikeforce champion, was just the cherry on top.
On on the co-main event Renan Barao moved up in weight to take on "Lil' Heathen" Jeremy Stephens. A very close fight that on "Fight of the Night" honors, but the power of Stephens was the difference in the fight. Barao looked good, but not compare to how he looked as he champion. It was visible that those fights with TJ Dillashaw changed him as a fighter. Barao got rocked multiple times in the fight, but his chin held on. An impressive showing by big fighters, but Stephens was too big and too strong for Barao last night.
In in the other main event, the fight pass main event, Bryan Caraway put away one of the division's most promising prospect. Aljamain Sterling was being called by many the next king of the division, but Caraway had other thoughts. I personally scored the fight a draw. Giving Sterling the first round a 10-8, a round where dominated Caraway on the ground. But that was all the success he had. The second round didn't had that much action but Caraway closed the round with a takedown and control. The third was the same, Sterling looked gassed, and Caraway capitalized on it. As arrive veteran he stayed patient and when to his strengths. The judges gave him a split decision, but many due to the first round score it a draw. Sterling showed promised during the fight, but that wasn't enough to take out a smart crafty veteran.
In a extremely fight for both Jessica Eye took on Sara McMann in the main feature bout of the prelims on FS1. The first round was one of the worst in history of the sport. Both fighters stayed inactive, extremely inactive. The second started the same way, but with 30 seconds to go McMann finally was able to take the fight to the ground, which was be only offense any of the fighters had in the fight so far. In the third she continue to use her Olympic wrestling to control the fight and win it. In a fight needed by big fighters, neither looked good.
Rick Story returned to the octagon in what is an amazing story. He had disk replacement surgery, which just got approve by the FDA, and returned after 2 years of inactivity. He took on amazing kick boxer Tarec Saffiedine. He looked better than ever, staying on top of Tarec, and not letting the kick boxer settle and unleash his kicks and punches. Story fought a Smart and discipline, and tooled deadly inside kicks by Tarec but that didn't waiver when it came to his pressure game. In what it is one of the best comeback stories in the sport, Story's return to the cage was very impressive. Just him making it to fight week was a win, and him beating the former Strikeforce champion, was just the cherry on top.
On on the co-main event Renan Barao moved up in weight to take on "Lil' Heathen" Jeremy Stephens. A very close fight that on "Fight of the Night" honors, but the power of Stephens was the difference in the fight. Barao looked good, but not compare to how he looked as he champion. It was visible that those fights with TJ Dillashaw changed him as a fighter. Barao got rocked multiple times in the fight, but his chin held on. An impressive showing by big fighters, but Stephens was too big and too strong for Barao last night.
In in the other main event, the fight pass main event, Bryan Caraway put away one of the division's most promising prospect. Aljamain Sterling was being called by many the next king of the division, but Caraway had other thoughts. I personally scored the fight a draw. Giving Sterling the first round a 10-8, a round where dominated Caraway on the ground. But that was all the success he had. The second round didn't had that much action but Caraway closed the round with a takedown and control. The third was the same, Sterling looked gassed, and Caraway capitalized on it. As arrive veteran he stayed patient and when to his strengths. The judges gave him a split decision, but many due to the first round score it a draw. Sterling showed promised during the fight, but that wasn't enough to take out a smart crafty veteran.
In a extremely fight for both Jessica Eye took on Sara McMann in the main feature bout of the prelims on FS1. The first round was one of the worst in history of the sport. Both fighters stayed inactive, extremely inactive. The second started the same way, but with 30 seconds to go McMann finally was able to take the fight to the ground, which was be only offense any of the fighters had in the fight so far. In the third she continue to use her Olympic wrestling to control the fight and win it. In a fight needed by big fighters, neither looked good.