Newark, New Jersey, played host to the third instalment after two blistering UFC events in 300 & 301. It’s fair to say this event did not match the level of its two predecessors.
However, there were still some exciting fights, notable performances and as usual, questions answered.
Only three fights of the twelve scheduled ended in finishes, and only three fighters picked up bonuses.
TOP PERFORMER: ISLAM MAKHACHEV
Despite what Dana White says. Regarding fighters who have fought in the past 12 months, and more than once in the past three years. Makhachev’s certainly done enough to be the UFC’s no.1 p4p fighter.
In a card that never really caught fire. He battled it out with Dustin Poirier in the main event, a puncher who has beaten the likes of McGregor, Holloway, Gaethje and Chandler, and for the most part, stood with him.
If that wasn’t enough, Makhachev closed the show in the fifth round with a viciously deep brabo choke. That made it seven finishes from his last eight fights, as he retained his lightweight title.
TOP PERFORMER 2: KEVIN HOLLAND
Although Holland came into this fight as a slight favourite, and his Polish opponent Michal Oleksiejczuk lost his last fight.
Few expected a first-round finish, and even fewer expected it to come from a Kevin Holland armbar.
Oleksiejczuk dropped Holland with a big overhand left. But when the Polish puncher went to finish with some wild shots, Holland showed composure to lock in a beautiful armbar. Oleksiejczuk refused to tap, so Holland snapped the arm for the victory.
TOP PERFORMER 3: ROMAN KOPYLOV
Coming off a loss a few months back in February, it felt like Kopylov was being fed to the wolves fighting Cesar Almeida, who was unbeaten in the five MMA fights.
Almeida was an accomplished kickboxer, winning multiple titles and although late in his career, MMA seemed a natural progress.
But after a rocky start where Almeida threatened. Kopylov, soon settled and began to pick off the kickboxer and then used his skill to take it to the ground when needed, to cruise to a comfortable and impressive unanimous points victory.
Honorable Mentions
Jailton Almeida was the only other fighter to get a stoppage on the card, so, has to get a mention. He did it emphatically, running through Alexander Romanov to submit him in the first round for a seventh win in his eight UFC fights.
Randy Brown won a back-and-forth fight that had eye pokes and intervals. He showed skill, both on the feet and the ground, to better Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos in all disciplines to secure a unanimous points victory, and his seventh win in his last eight UFC fights.
