Yea, Jiri is really good, but Alex made him look like a complete amateur last night. He really made Jiri look bad, and that is saying a lot. Jiri is a strange guy, lol. I don't know whether to laugh with him or at him, haha. Was he joking about the magic stuff, or was he serious? I wonder if he is acting and putting on a face with some of what he does and says, or if he is really serious? Not a knock, but a unique guy, lol. Alex's coach said that before they came out they looked at Jiri's method of defending the leg/calve kicks and notice that he drops his hands during it and totally leaves himself susceptible to head kicks. I mean wow, they read that like a textbook. Alex is getting so much better with each and every fight, I don't think a lot of people are going to beat him in the standup. I mean, they are trying to best a world champion kickboxer on the feet, which isn't going to happen. Adesanya was the best equipped for him, but he has the same background. Somebody will need good standup, but a good ground game and good takedowns to really hang with him....and be able to take punches. This guy has both unbelievable top technique coupled with power, he is unreal on the feet. I would love to see him and Jon Jones fight each other, it would be the biggest fight in the history of the UFC if they can make it happen, and if both don't lose in the process. I have my doubts on an old Stipe at this point, and if Aspinall can't do it, then I don't see anybody in the HW division who can come close to Jon. I think we are a ways-off from a Jones/Perreira fight. After Stipe, Jon will have to fight Aspinall....well, unless Curtis Blaydes beats him in their fight coming up, then I could see Perreira getting a fast track to Jones. Perreira will have to at least fight Ankalaev next, I imagine. That could be a good fight.
Lopes gassed in the 3rd and Ige capitalized on it. Ige is underrated imo. This was a tough fight for Diego no matter what. I imagine the huge weight gain for the fight may have played against him. Just speculation on my part. He will need to fix that in the future. He always did well in his prior fights, so I think this was a 1-time deal with all that went on leading into the fight. Major props to both guys for making this fight happen. I wouldn't be surprised if they do it over in September at that Sphere event. I can see Dana doing it for them both after stepping up big time for this card. We'll see.
The Dolidze/Smith fight was a bore fest. Not the worst, but both guys died out in a 3-round fight, especially Smith. I'm not that high on Dolidze at this point either. He is good, but at this point, I don't see him in a title fight.
Chiasson/Silva was a decent women's fight until it was called. That cut on Silva was DEEP. It's tough because she was not fazed by it at all, and part of me wanted the fight to continue. Silva was a lot more reserved with her emotions on this fight, lol.
IMG/MVP was a decent fight. IMG did what he needed to do to win. On the feet, MVP was tearing him up. He had MVP in a major choke in the first round, and for the life of me, I do not know how he didn't choke him out. That would have never happened with a great ground JJ specialist. He let that get away from him and left the door open for MVP. In fact, MVP came back and won the 2nd round big time. MVP needs more experience on the ground. He did some things, or didn;t do for that matter, some things he should have already been aware of at this level....such as rolling to the side of the ankle in the body triangle, and few things when in the clench up against the fence, and then when IMG took his back for the last 2-2.5 minutes of the 3rd round he didn't try to shake him off his back. I was disappointed he didn't try anything in that 3rd round. IMG was content just ending the fight like that to wear out the clock, and he should have done at least something to counter that. I agree with Jipped though, both guys need some work before they make their way up the ranks.
Pyfer totally annihilated MAB. Not much to talk about except it almost seemed like MAB got scared and dropped on purpose. He got hit clean with one punch, but to me, it didn't seem like the f/u punches even connected? Pyfer must have some unbelievable power...I can't even imagine if he would have landed flush.
Fili and Swanson was a good fight. I swear I had Swanson edging him out, and so did Joe Rogan and others. Both guys needed this win. I hate to see it go like that when in the judges hands. It was a close fight though, and I would probably have to rewatch it.