UFC Kansas City: Mighty Mouse is a GOAT, Rose Namajunas is in title contention and other things we learned

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  • The narrative of 2017 for the UFC has been one of missed weight limits, injuries, suspensions and controversy, so it was no wonder then that UFC president Dana White was in an ebullient mood after UFC Kansas City.

    Indeed, the year’s most stacked card came without the pressure of pay-per-view buyrates and unduly delivered were others have failed this year.

    With back-and-forth battles, slick submissions, history made and new storylines emerging, the card was undoubtedly a success and White will hope that from this point on it’s nothing but the best on offer.

    We pick out the four things we learned from an entertaining night in Kansas City.

    The Mighty GOAT

    Demetrious Johnson is a freak. The flyweight champ joined Anderson Silva on a record 10 straight successful title defences in the main event, and he did it with arguably the most impressive victory of his career.

    We are witnessing the evolution of ‘Mighty Mouse’ into the ‘Mighty GOAT’ after his third-round submission of Wilson Reis added credence to his claim as the best ever.

    Go on to break the record and he shatters any element of doubt along with it.

    Even before tapping out the BJJ black belt practitioner to an armbar – the Brazilian had never been submitted previously – he was simply too fast, too furious and too skilled in every aspect of the fight.

    On the feet he was 135 of 216 on strikes while Reis was 18 of 170 – incomprehensible figures. He’s totally wiped out the 125lbs division and with each passing fight, the holes in game become ever smaller.

    There is no obvious way to beat him. His energy is unmatched, his striking too fluid, his wrestling too strong and his brain too switched on. With his determination to keep learning and improving, Johnson won’t just surpass Silva’s mark but reach a number no one will touch.

    04 17 17 UFC

    A Rose has blossomed

    In terms of excitement the women’s 115lbs division is the gift which keeps on giving and in Rose Namajunas lies a talent who keeps on growing.

    The 24-year-old put herself in line for another shot at the title after submitting fellow high-rising contender Michelle Waterson in the co-main event.

    Namajunas worked her way to the back after a shuddering head kick which dropped Waterson before sinking in the rear-naked choke in the second round.

    It was a ruthless display of controlled aggression and sets her up for the winner of the upcoming title fight clash between Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Jessica Andrade.

    The victor will have a lot on their plate because Namajunas is a more complete fighter since the defeat to Karolina Kowalkiewicz last year and represents the present and future of the division.

    The muddle at middleweight continues

    The glory in victory and pain in defeat was perfectly encapsulated in Robert Whittaker’s victory over Jacare.

    The Brazilian has been forced to wait in the long queue of contenders snapping at champ Michael Bisping’s heels but the second-round stoppage inflicted by the rising Aussie/Kiwi star now means the pair have swapped places.

    It was a breakout performance for Whittaker, one of calm domination, which means he now joins Gegard Mousasi and Yoel Romero with legitimate title shots while Luke Rockhold and Chris Weidman lurking in the background. Middleweight is murderous.

    Who is that guy?

    Jeremy Stephens once proudly proclaimed himself the hardest hitter at 145lbs.

    He was quickly shot down by Conor McGregor at the UFC 205 pre-ticket sale press conference and it seems Stephens is struggling to find his identity in the Octagon after dropping a shock decision to Renato Moicano.

    He has just one stoppage in his last eight fights and has lost half of them. Hardly a record fitting of the divisions “hardest hitter”.

    Good Week

    Sabina Mazo

    In the immediate aftermath of stunning knockouts were are quick to claim them as the KOTY.

    But Mazo’s will certainly be in the discussion come the close of 2017. She destroyed Jamie Thorton in the closing stages of the first round of their Legacy Fighting Alliance clash, delivering a picture-perfect head kick.

    The timing and sound was both sweet and savage as Thornton was sent into the dark realms with haste, landing flat on her back as Mazo wheeled away in celebration.

    Bad Week

    Dillon Danis 

    Danis was in the headlines earlier this month after it was confirmed he would cross over from the Jiu-Jitsu circuit into MMA with his debut coming under the Bellator banner.

    The training partner of Conor McGregor has, though, suffered a temporary blow in those preparations after Marcelo Garcia – one of the most decorated BJJ artists of all time – suspended his star pupil from his gym.

    It comes amid rumours of his growing presence on social media which is said to have ruffled a few feathers at Garcia’s gym in New York.

    Flashback

    No changing of the guard

    Saturday marked the 11 year anniversary of Tito Ortiz’s Fight of the Year victory over Forrest Griffin at UFC 59.

    Griffin was riding a four-fight win streak and was quickly being shaped into the promotion’s latest star.

    The next logical step was for a changing of the guard with Griffin replacing Ortiz.

    However, the veteran upset those plans as he brutalised Griffin early with ground-and-pound before a tremendous back-and-forth with a takedown in the last session edging a split decision for Ortiz.

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