Henry Cejudo, UFC Seattle ceremonial weigh-in Credit score: Gabriel Gonzalez/Cageside Press
UFC Seattle introduced struggle followers loads of MMA motion! Three of the 5 fights on the primary card went to fairly shut selections. Contrastingly, on the undercard, all seven bouts ended with a end.
All in all a incredible card. Sadly, the primary occasion was extraordinarily anticlimactic as probably the most accredited man in fight sports activities, Henry Cejudo, made his return to the game at 38 years outdated simply to undergo a technical determination defeat due to an eye fixed poke from Music Yadong. Within the co-main occasion, it was a rematch over seven years within the making as Anthony Hernandez grinded out Brendan Allen in a particularly entertaining grappling affair. Some high-ranking fighters and upcoming prospects, particularly for a struggle night time card, on this version of Losers.
Henry Cejudo
Henry Cejudo misplaced a technical determination to Music Yadong in the primary occasion of UFC Seattle after he couldn’t proceed because of a double eye poke. Regardless of taking the whole 5 minutes of allotted harm time, Cejudo knowledgeable the ref and physician that he couldn’t see out of 1 eye triggering the top of the struggle. It was a disappointing final result for Cejudo as he has now misplaced three fights in a row starting with shedding his belt to Aljamain Sterling in Could of 2023.
Cejudo entered the bout ranked at #7 within the UFC’s bantamweight division whereas his opponent was ranked at #8. Whereas one wouldn’t say that working this one again can be the one factor that is smart on this state of affairs, it definitely makes probably the most sense. Particularly listening to Music’s instant response to the result of the struggle in his post-fight octagon interview. If Music’s down for the instant rematch, this could nonetheless be the struggle to make, because the scrap was aggressive up till the fouls have been dedicated. Dana White doesn’t prefer it, however he’s modified his thoughts earlier than.
Cejudo’s subsequent struggle: Music Yadong rematch
Brendan Allen
Brendan Allen misplaced a back-and-forth unanimous determination to Anthony Hernadez in a struggle that noticed the southern-bred fighter achieve the higher hand in just about each putting trade. It was Allen’s second loss in a row after dropping a unanimous determination to Nassourdine Imavov in final September. Earlier than that, Allen was driving excessive on a seven-fight win streak that featured 5 finishes. He was eyeing a title shot. Not anymore.
Allen entered the struggle ranked at #9 within the UFC’s middleweight division whereas “Fluffy” was ranked at #12. These two first met again in January of 2018 at LFA 32 for the middleweight championship. That bout truly went eerily just like this (besides it was 5 rounds) as Hernandez wore down Allen on the bottom, successful a choice.
Brendan ought to tackle Roman Kopylov in his subsequent struggle. Kopylov is ranked at #14 and driving a two struggle win streak together with Allen’s most up-to-date victory, Chris Curtis. Roman’s most up-to-date loss was additionally reverse of “Fluffy” as effectively. Although Kopylov misplaced by submission within the second spherical as a substitute of going the gap. This may be an fascinating one as Allen’s putting appeared good Saturday whereas Kopylov is understood for his dynamic putting.
Allen’s subsequent struggle: Roman Kopylov
Jean Matsumoto
Jean Matsumoto suffered his first defeat in skilled MMA profession Saturday, when Rob Font shocked the teenager stealing a break up determination nod. Matsumoto, a 2023 Contender Collection alum had scored two victories with the UFC since becoming a member of the promotion a pair years in the past. Matsumoto submitted Dan Argueta in his promotional debut earlier than snagging a unaimous determination over Brad Katona final October.
Undoubtedly, this wasn’t the result Jean hoped to have for an enormous struggle at UFC Seattle. However the 25-year-old had a superb displaying on brief discover (stepping up for an injured and now retired, Dominick Cruz) in opposition to the #9 ranked bantamweight, having quite a lot of moments within the struggle. However the veteran turned it up within the last spherical out damaging Jean to steal the struggle. An enormous favor executed for the promotion and a banger struggle.
Matsumoto, who entered the struggle unranked, is worthy of one other shot of incomes a rating subsequent to his title, particularly if somebody in #10-15 vary is accessible and the timing is smart. A struggle in opposition to a man like Jonathan Martinez may make sense. Martinez has misplaced his final two fights- each in opposition to ranked opposition in Jose Aldo and Marcus McGhee. Earlier than that, he was on a six-fight successful streak that includes two finishes. Jonathan is harmful, established within the promotion at 10-5, and has just a little little bit of a reputation. So, the winner of this bout may simply be taking a look at a matchup in opposition to somebody within the rankings.
Matsumoto’s subsequent struggle: Jonathan Martinez
Melsik Baghdasaryan
Melsik Baghdasryan was dropped and completed by Jean Silva within the first spherical of their bout on the primary card of UFC Seattle. The end was brutal and Melsik had been out of motion since July of 2023, tearing his labrum and having three fights cancelled in that point interval.
Baghdasaryan, a 2020 season Contender Collection alum, is now 3-2 with the UFC. However these two losses have are available his previous three fights. Melsik is an accredited striker with professional kickboxing and boxing expertise regardless of his slightly inexperienced, 8-3 professional MMA file. A great matchup for Melsik can be one other fighter who misplaced on Saturday, Andre Fili. Andre was submitted within the first spherical of his first in opposition to Melquizael Costa, and has misplaced three of his final 5. Fili is a UFC featherweight staple with a 12-11, 1 NC with the UFC in his 12+ years tenure with the promotion. Andre’s victories in that point have been a first-round end in opposition to Lucas Almeida and most not too long ago a break up determination struggle of the night time in opposition to Cub Swanson final June.
Fili is all the time sport for a scrap and greater than competent standing. Couldn’t see any approach {that a} struggle between these two wouldn’t be a back-and-forth affair that has equal possibilities of going the gap or come to a sudden and brutal stoppage. Winner can be proper in the course of the featherweight visitors shifting upwards with two or three wins away from getting a ranked struggle.
Baghdasaryan’s subsequent struggle: Andre Fili
Julius Walker
Julius Walker dropped a break up determination to #15 ranked mild heavyweight, Alonzo Menifield, to kick off the UFC Seattle major card on Saturday. It was Walker’s debut within the UFC as the previous Synergy and Peak Combating mild heavyweight champion competed on the regional scene as not too long ago as December.
The 25-year-old mild heavyweight continues to be extraordinarily early on in his profession at 6-1. Walker’s barnburner with Menifield earned him struggle of the night time honors. Followers ought to preserve tabs on this fighter as 205lbs continues to battle to seek out new, younger, and thrilling expertise.
Walker ought to tackle one other fighter who misplaced final night time, Ibo Aslan. Ibo misplaced to UFC vet Ion Cutelaba by first spherical submission. Aslan is 2-1 with the UFC since coming off the Contender Collection in 2023. Again then, he was an 11-1 fighter that had confronted simply three opponents with successful data. Aslan has greater than confirmed himself since then, stopping his first two opponents together with an undefeated 11-0, Raffael Cerqueira. Aslan additionally had his first struggle with the group win struggle of the night time honors. A struggle like that has the potential to be a nail bitter for followers.
Walker’s subsequent struggle: Ibo Aslan
