UFC on ESPN 69 takeaways: Ex-champs Usman, Namajunas, Garbrandt emerge in different spots
UFC on ESPN 69 takeaways: Ex-champs Usman, Namajunas, Garbrandt emerge in different spots
What mattered most at UFC on ESPN 69 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta? Here are a few post-fight musings …
4. Malcolm Wellmaker is a problem
Malcolm Wellmaker is a legitimate bantamweight prospect to watch, and he showed why with a highlight-reel victory over Kris Moutinho to keep his undefeated record intact.
Although Wellmaker (10-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) was set up for this kind of moment in his home state of Georgia, it doesn't mean the result was a given. He still had to go out there and do it, and he did so in absolutely spectacular fashion.
It was clear that Wellmaker had something special in him when he emphatically earned his UFC contract on Dana White's Contender Series. That was back in August, and all he's done in the 10 months since is earn two first-round face plant knockouts in the UFC, both of which got him Performance of the Night honors. Nice start for the 31-year-old.
3. Cody Garbrandt's future
Cody Garbrandt fought valiantly against Raoni Barcelos in their bantamweight bout, but ultimately he came out on the wrong end of a unanimous decision and is now 3-7 in his past 10 fights.
At this point, it's probably best to understand that Garbrandt (14-7 MMA, 9-7 UFC) is who he is. He can beat UFC-level fighters and even be highly competitive with the upper tier on the right night, but anyone expecting him to recapture the magic that saw him become UFC champion in 2016, is probably in for an eternal wait.
There was a different level of intrigue coming into this fight when we thought Garbrandt was on the final bout of his UFC contract. However, he revealed at media day that he signed a new multi-fight deal, so unless the UFC re-negs and cuts him, we are going to likely see more of him being a familiar name at 135 pounds and perhaps not much more.
2. Can Rose Namajunas rediscover title glory?
Rose Namajunas showed flashes of the brilliance that made her a UFC champion twice over in her win against Miranda Maverick, even if she didn't get the finish.
Former two-time strawweight titleholder Namajunas (14-7 MMA, 12-6 UFC) claimed her third victory in five fight since moving up to women's flyweight in September 2023 when she outworked Maverick to a unanimous decision. A third-round knockdown sealed the deal in her favor, and that type of moment showed what "Thug" is truly capable of.
Although she is only 32 and has just 20 professional fights, Namajunas has accomplished more than most fighters could dream. She wants to get another title in a second division, but 125-pounds is getting deeper and deeper by the day, and no matter how she tries to transform her body, it seems there are critical moments where her technique is overthrown by stronger and bigger opponents who are cutting more weight from bigger frames.
We're not here to put a ceiling on Namajunas, though. In peak form, she can truly beat anyone on the women's side. The question, however, is how many more of those nights are left in her at this point. And she would probably agree with that sentiment.
1. How back is Kamaru Usman really?
Kamaru Usman dug himself out of the trenches in a big way in the main event when he overcame naysayers, self-doubt and more to thwart Joaquin Buckley for one of the most critical victories of his career.
Usman (21-4 MMA, 16-3 UFC) has been at the pinnacle of the sport that everyone chases for prolonged period of time, but then it all changed in seemingly the blink of an eye for the former long-reigning UFC welterweight champion, who found himself on a three-fight losing skid and as a betting underdog to Buckley, who was eager to take his spot.
It wasn't happening on this night, however, because Usman brought Buckley's six-fight winning streak since dropping to 170 pounds to a halt by unanimous decision, and in the process showed he still has life as a contender in his own right.
Usman appears to strongly believe he will be fighting for the title next against the winner of Jack Della Maddalena vs. Islam Makhachev. The likes of Sean Brady, Shavkat Rakhmonov and more will have something to say about that, but Usman is no doubt in a far better spot than he had been if this went the other way, and no matter what he should be proud to have fended off a member of the new guard when the general expectation was he wouldn't.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
38 minutes ago
- USA Today
UFC 317: How to watch Las Vegas title fights, start time, lineup, odds, more
The UFC is back in Las Vegas this week for International Fight Week with two titles at the top of the lineup in Las Vegas. The UFC is back in Las Vegas this week for International Fight Week with two titles at the top of the lineup in Las Vegas. Here's how to watch UFC 317 with the vacant lightweight and flyweight belts on the line at the top of the card. Broadcast and streaming info UFC 317 has a main card that starts at 10 p.m. ET on pay-per-view via ESPN+. The preliminary card airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET, and early prelims stream on ESPN+ at 6:30 p.m. ET. Longtime UFC correspondent Heidi Androl will conduct pre and post-fight interviews backstage with some of the athletes on the UFC 317 card, as well as report additional real-time updates for the event. Dan Hellie will host the official UFC 317 weigh-in show on Friday at 11:50 a.m. ET/9:50 a.m. PT. He'll be joined by UFC Hall of Famers Daniel Cormier and Michael Bisping, as well as Laura Sanko. Retired light heavyweight contender Anthony Smith, former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen and Teddy Atlas will serve as desk analysts on the UFC 317 post-fight show and throughout the card, when necessary. Brett Okamoto will serve as desk host with Jon Anik joining the desk post-fight. Jon Anik will serve as the leading man on the mic from cageside at UFC 317. He will command play-by-play alongside color commentators, former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier and Joe Rogan. Din Thomas will also contribute to the broadcast as a coach-analyst. (Mike Bohn–MMA Junkie) Main event: Ilia Topuria Main event: Charles Oliveira Co-main event: Alexandre Pantoja Co-main event: Kai Kara-France UFC debut: Jackson McVey UFC debut: Alvin Hines UFC 317 lineup MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET) PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN/ESPN+/Disney+, 8 p.m. ET) PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+/Disney+, 6:30 p.m. ET) UFC 317 main card betting odds UFC 317 prelim betting odds UFC 317 early prelim betting odds UFC 317 preview videos UFC 317 full fight videos
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Jon Anik on Jon Jones retiring: 'A lot of public figures feel perpetually misunderstood'
Jon Anik is grateful for Jon Jones' time in the UFC. Jones (28-1 MMA, 22-1 UFC) has officially retired, relinquishing his UFC heavyweight title. The former two-division UFC champion has never lost a fight outside of a disqualification blemish in 2010. Advertisement Anik, who has witnessed all of Jones' championship reign in the UFC, heaped praise on him as both a fighter and a person. "Congratulations to the 🐐, @jonnybones on accomplishing more as a mixed martial arts fighter than any man had prior! I met Jon in his hotel room in 2011, a few hours before he beat Shogun to become the youngest champion in UFC history. A lot of public figures feel perpetually misunderstood. Jones' infectious smile and presence cloaked the absolute killer that resided within. Over 15 years, I have witnessed this man's graciousness, kindness, and generosity with the UFC fan base. His success has helped push the UFC and MMA forward and, indirectly, he helped guys like me to make a living in the sport we all hold so dear. Look forward to seeing that grin and presence at @dirtyboxing soon, champ. Appreciate all the time, energy, and love over the years. You will be missed. -30-" Jones defended his UFC light heavyweight title a total of 11 times before opting to make the move up to heavyweight years later. He claimed the vacant belt with a quick finish of Ciryl Gane at UFC 285, then successfully defended it against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309, which would mark his final fight. "Bones" finds himself in legal trouble once again, with reports in Albuquerque accusing Jones of leaving the scene of an accident with a half-naked and intoxicated woman in the car. Jones' attorney says his client has been falsely accused and is being targeted by police. This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC commentator Jon Anik reflects on Jon Jones' retirement
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Jon Anik on Jon Jones retiring: 'A lot of public figures feel perpetually misunderstood'
Jon Anik is grateful for Jon Jones' time in the UFC. Jones (28-1 MMA, 22-1 UFC) has officially retired, relinquishing his UFC heavyweight title. The former two-division UFC champion has never lost a fight outside of a disqualification blemish in 2010. Anik, who has witnessed all of Jones' championship reign in the UFC, heaped praise on him as both a fighter and a person. "Congratulations to the 🐐, @jonnybones on accomplishing more as a mixed martial arts fighter than any man had prior! I met Jon in his hotel room in 2011, a few hours before he beat Shogun to become the youngest champion in UFC history. A lot of public figures feel perpetually misunderstood. Jones' infectious smile and presence cloaked the absolute killer that resided within. Over 15 years, I have witnessed this man's graciousness, kindness, and generosity with the UFC fan base. His success has helped push the UFC and MMA forward and, indirectly, he helped guys like me to make a living in the sport we all hold so dear. Look forward to seeing that grin and presence at @dirtyboxing soon, champ. Appreciate all the time, energy, and love over the years. You will be missed. -30-" Jones defended his UFC light heavyweight title a total of 11 times before opting to make the move up to heavyweight years later. He claimed the vacant belt with a quick finish of Ciryl Gane at UFC 285, then successfully defended it against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309, which would mark his final fight. "Bones" finds himself in legal trouble once again, with reports in Albuquerque accusing Jones of leaving the scene of an accident with a half-naked and intoxicated woman in the car. Jones' attorney says his client has been falsely accused and is being targeted by police.
