UFC Seattle delivered in every way possible. Not only did we hit a few bets, but there were plenty of finishes on the prelims and some solid showings on the main card.
As discussed in the look-ahead article, this card had some underrated fights. Ricky Simon returned with a bang, getting a big finish over Javid Basharat. Rob Font came away with a close decision against the rising prospect Jean Matsumoto. Jean Silva did what everyone expected with a one-punch knockout win over Melsik Baghdasaryan.
What’s next for the big winners and losers at UFC Seattle? Here’s what should happen.
Winners
Yadong Song: Song looks like a slow starter, taking damage while finding his range. As the fight went on, he was gaining confidence. He looked ready for championship rounds. Umar Nurmagomedov would be a good matchup for Song.
Anthony Hernandez: Hernandez did what he does best and wrestled out a victory against Brendan Allen. While both guys had their moments, the pressure and control are something to marvel at. Hernandez looks ready for the next level, and a solid matchup to test his skills would be Jared Cannonier.
Rob Font: The boxing, as always, was beautiful. Font also did a better job avoiding terrible spots on the ground for a long time. His ability to fight for five rounds made the comeback possible against Matsumoto and he made the most of the third round. A five-round rematch with Jose Aldo would be a solid outing for both fighters.
Jean Silva: Is Silva the fastest-growing star in the UFC right now? His aura is unmatched and his confidence is soaring. The finishes he’s putting together are incredibly impressive. Not only is he finishing solid fighters in the UFC, but he’s doing it dominantly. Melsik Baghdasaryan is a good kickboxer, but Silva was not phased. He’s shooting up the UFC ladder and seeing him against Muhammad Naimov would be perfect.
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Losers:
Henry Cejudo: Should Cejudo stay retired? It was a competitive fight, but he was starting to fade and lost via decision due to an eye poke. Only Cejudo knows how he felt after the foul, but to see him go out like that makes you wonder if he’s willing to fight at the level he should be.
Brendan Allen: Despite being one of the best middleweights in the UFC, Allen is on a two-fight skid. He’s a solid grappler but needs to find ways to implement his offense. He does it against lesser competition but struggles with the better fighters. If the UFC wants to give him an up-and-comer, Andrei Petroski seems like a good option to test both fighters.
Jean Matsumoto: Font got better with time, but there’s a real argument for Matsumoto winning that fight. Though it was close, it felt rushed. Matsumoto will benefit tremendously from fighting lower-level talent to improve his ability to stretch the fight over three rounds. Fighters at the top are more conditioned to go five rounds, something you get better at with time. Based on the styles and passing of the guard, Ricky Simon seems like a great option for Matsumoto’s next fight.
Melsik Baghdasaryan: Taking breaks from MMA action never works out. For some, it might be healing time, but the time away from the cage seems to do more damage than good. Fighters grow with more action and Baghdasaryan is in a weird place now. Maybe Andre Filli makes sense here after both fighters lost devastatingly at UFC Seattle.
In terms of honorable mentions, Mansur Abdul-Malik is well on his way to the higher ranks. The UFC seems cautious after rushing a few prospects, but he looks poised for tougher challenges. Austin Vanderford was dominant in his short-notice victory and should get a big challenge in his next UFC fight. Melquizael Costa is the last of a dying breed, locking up a beautiful guillotine when the fight was getting away from him.
Plenty of names made a splash this weekend, and the UFC has a tough job ahead. UFC Seattle set the tone for the coming weeks of UFC fights. With submissions and knockouts filling up the card, it will be hard to top. For all your UFC analysis, breakdowns, and picks, keep it locked to SlotsFighter.com.
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