Leon Edwards, UFC London ceremonial weigh-in Credit score: Patrick McCorry/Cageside Press
UFC London went down on Saturday that includes an thrilling 13-fight card. The principle card was a particular deal with for followers, that includes six fights. In the primary occasion, former welterweight champion, Leon Edwards, was strangled by Sean Brady in championship rounds. The co-main occasion featured the unsuccessful return of former gentle heavyweight champion. Jan Blachowicz, who was getting back from an prolonged layoff as a consequence of harm and fell in a chess match to Carlos Ulberg.
This version of losers matchmaker options a few former champions, a fighter that’s winless with the promotion and a few thrilling strikers.
Leon Edwards
Leon Edwards was submitted by Sean Brady through guillotine choke within the fourth spherical of the UFC London major occasion on Saturday. Edwards was initially imagined to tackle Jack Della Maddalena however JDM rebooked and is now combating Belal Muhammad for the belt at UFC 315. That truth, makes this combat end result sting simply that rather more for Leon.
Edwards entered the combat ranked at #1 within the welterweight division, whereas his opponent, Sean Brady, was ranked at #5. Leon is simply two losses faraway from a 13-fight unbeaten streak that noticed him seize the welterweight belt. You’ll be able to’t disrespect Leon’s physique of labor along with his subsequent matchup however another loss may slide him out of the elites of the welterweight division.
Leon ought to combat Ian Garry subsequent. Ian final fought in December of final yr when he misplaced his first professional MMA bout reverse of Shavkat Rakhmonov. Garry is ranked at #7 within the welterweight division and has some dynamic placing in addition to good combat IQ. This has all of the potential makings of a wonderful technical stand-up battle between two of the perfect muay thai strikers within the division. Winner would return to being one spectacular win away from difficult from the belt. Loser would probably must combat somebody rising through the ranks with a trajectory inside the highest 7 of the division.
Edwards’s subsequent combat: Ian Garry
Jan Blachowicz
Jan Blachowicz misplaced a aggressive unanimous choice to the streaking Carlos Ulberg in Saturday’s UFC London co-headliner. Blachowicz suffered a shoulder harm forward of his scheduled combat with Aleksandar Rakic in January of 2024. So, this was the primary time followers had seen Jan since his break up choice loss to Alex Pereira in July of 2023.
Blachowicz is now 0-2-1 through his final three bouts (together with a break up draw to Magomed Ankalaev in 2022). Regardless of the layoff, Jan entered the bout ranked at #3 within the gentle heavyweight division whereas Carlos was ranked at #6.
Jan’s subsequent combat ought to be a rematch towards Aleksandar Rakic. The 2 have a bizarre combat historical past. Jan and Aleksandar have been first scheduled to combat in March of 2022, however the combat was cancelled as a consequence of a neck harm from Rakic. When the 2 lastly fought a number of months later, Rakic injured his knee within the third spherical of the bout triggering a TKO win for Jan. Blachowicz would go on to have his draw towards Ankalaev and misplaced towards Pereira- whereas Rakic recovered from his harm. The 2 fighters have been booked for a rematch in January of final yr, however Jan withdrew as a consequence of a shoulder harm. Within the meantime, Rakic was completed by Jiri Prochazka and misplaced a call to Magomed Ankalaev, most not too long ago.
This could be a good time to revisit this combat contemplating how the final couple of years have performed out for each fighters. Rakic is at the moment ranked at #5 within the UFC’s gentle heavyweight division. Winner could be proper again within the dialog of 1 or two wins from a title shot. A definitive ending to that saga could possibly be fascinating if this matchup materializes. However the winner of #8 Nikita Krylov vs #11 Dominick Reyes at UFC 314 may additionally make sense relying on how that combat goes.
Blachowicz’s subsequent combat: Aleksandar Rakic
Gunnar Nelson
Gunnar Nelson dropped a tricky combat to Kevin Holland in his first UFC combat in two years. Nelson had a few moments within the bout however was largely pieced up on the toes. The loss snapped a two-fight profitable streak for Gunnar (that noticed him earn victories over Takashi Sato and Bryan Barberena).
Regardless of the inactivity, Gunnar has fought some very stiff competitors. He’s a tricky and greater than competent fighter, even on the age of 36 years outdated. There are a variety of opponents that Gunnar may doubtlessly tackle subsequent. Backside line is Gunnar has competed simply thrice since 2019, it looks like he’s content material tackle significant challenges towards confirmed competitors.
With that in thoughts, Gunnar ought to tackle Rafael dos Anjos for his subsequent combat. The previous light-weight champ is a tall job and a giant identify however he’s now 40 years outdated. RDA has misplaced three of his final 4 fights and suffered a knee harm in his final bout towards Geoff Neal final October. A fighter like Gunnar could be a superb take a look at for RDA when he returns. And Gunnar would probably respect a while on the shelf ready for RDA to totally recuperate from his harm (if the previous six years have been any indication). A strong identify for Gunnar and a significant combat for the division between two older, tenured, vets.
Nelson’s subsequent combat: Rafael dos Anjos
Molly McCann
Molly McCann was shortly overwhelmed and submitted in her combat towards UFC newcomer, Alexia Thainara, at UFC London. The loss was Molly’s second straight and he or she has now misplaced 4 of her final 5 fights.
After the end result an emotional Molly took to the middle of the octagon to specific that if she couldn’t beat a fighter making their debut on quick notice- then it’s time to maneuver on. McCann subsequently introduced her retirement ending her tenure with the UFC with a 7-7 file, and 4 efficiency bonuses at 34 years outdated.
McCann’s subsequent combat: Retirement
Jordan Vucenic
Jordan Vucenic was guillotined by Chris Duncan within the second spherical of their bout on Saturday. The 29-year-old English fighter is now 0-2 in his UFC tenure since being signed in August of final yr.
Winless inside the UFC’s light-weight division is a scary place to be. Jordan ought to combat Bolaji Oki in his subsequent combat. Oki, who can also be 29, is a 2023 Contender Sequence alum who’s 1-1 with the UFC. Oki received his debut final February defeating Timmy Cuamba (a featherweight) by break up choice. In Bolaji’s final combat, he was additionally submitted by a guillotine choke within the first spherical by Chris Duncan. This could be the right combat for each males. A fighter that’s 0-2 vs a fighter that’s 1-1 with a break up choice towards a man from a lighter weight class. The loser of this bout will probably be packing their baggage.
Vucenic’s subsequent combat: Bolaji Oki
Morgan Charriere
Morgan Charriere misplaced a unanimous choice to Nathaniel Wooden in what was each a aggressive and entertaining combat to open the UFC London major card. Charriere has misplaced two of his final three fights however is 2-2 with the UFC. This was Morgan’s first bout with the UFC the place he was unsuccessful in securing a efficiency bonus.
Morgan’s subsequent combat ought to be towards an outdated foe in William Gomis. Gomis competed earlier this month when he was edged out in a break up choice reverse of Hyder Amil. Morgan defeated William in 2016 through heel hook for the 100% Struggle featherweight event championship. This combat was previewed in an earlier version of losers as a risk. Each guys produce some action-packed fights and revisiting an outdated matchup may simply lead to fireworks for followers.
Morgan’s subsequent combat: William Gomis
