What mattered most at UFC 240 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada? Here are a few post-fight musings …
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1. The best is still ‘Blessed’
We’ll be hard pressed to see a featherweight able to dethrone Max Holloway after he cruised to a unanimous-decision win over Frankie Edgar in his rebound fight following an unsuccessful jump to lightweight earlier this year.
Holloway’s pace, output, distance management, and durability are a frightening and overwhelming combo. Add in some pretty sharp takedown defense and a lengthy frame for the 145-pound division, and it’s a nearly insurmountable task to defeat the Hawaiian champion.
Holloway (21-4 MMA, 17-4 UFC) was never in any real danger against Edgar (23-7-1 MMA, 17-7-1 UFC). After 25 minutes it looked like he could’ve invited Alexander Volkanovski in from cageside and gone again. What’s more is Holloway is only 27, which means it’s possible we still haven’t seen his peak form. That’s scary.
2. Volkanovski is eager, but Holloway’s earned his time
Speaking of Volkanovski (20-1 MMA, 7-0 UFC), that guy deserves all the credit for making what he described as a treacherous trek from Australia to Edmonton in order to serve as an alternate for Holloway vs. Edgar if anything went wrong.
Fortunately it did not, but Volkanovski still made his presence known, watching the main event intently from cageside then speaking to me immediately post-fight to ensure everyone knew he was the next contender for Holloway’s belt.
All signs point to Volkanovski getting his title shot, but Holloway has earned the right to choose when and where that happens. He’s fought in three title fights – and spent 14 rounds in the octagon – since December. And given one of those matchups was a beatdown from Poirier, he’s perfectly within his right to seek medical testing before agreeing to compete again.
In a perfect world, Holloway vs. Volkanovski would be the co-main event for the UFC 243 stadium show this October in Australia, but that should only happen if Holloway is 100 percent ready for it physically and mentally. Otherwise him waiting until November or December is the more logical play. He’s earned the right to fight on his own timetable.
3. Cris Cyborg’s curious future
Between Cris Cyborg’s post-fight comments and those offered by UFC president Dana White, it’s hard to envision the former UFC women’s featherweight champ coming back to the octagon. It could happen, but the outlook is bleak.
Cyborg (21-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC) did what she was supposed to in giving Felicia Spencer (7-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) a beating in a largely one-sided affair. Still, though, White chose to tear her down during his post-fight media rounds in what could only come across as a tactic to devalue the Brazilian heading into free agency.
I was sitting just a few feet in front of Cyborg when she was venting about her relationship with White at the post-fight press conference, and unjust or not, the hurt in her eyes was real as she opened up about how being at odds with the company president has impacted her life.
A rematch between Cyborg and Amanda Nunes (18-4 MMA, 10-1 UFC) would be among the most anticipated fights in women’s MMA history. I’d like to see it as much as everyone else, but Cyborg has to decide whether she wants to continue this dramatic relationship with the UFC or seek out another situation that could bring her more happiness.
4. Felicia Spencer is tough as nails
Not much more to add here. Just wanted to take a moment to recognize my fellow Canadian for absorbing more significant strikes from Cyborg than anyone who has shared the cage with the Brazilian powerhouse.
Ever.
Spencer was right there for all 122 of Cyborg’s significant blows, and while it certainly took it out of her, she always tried to stay in the fight and left with her head held high.
Respect.
5. Geoff Neal is the real deal
Geoff Neal received my praise prior to the fight with Niko Price, and after winning a wild one that came with a $50,000 “Performance of the Night” bonus, I’m ready to heave even more on the rising welterweight contender.
Ahead of his second-round TKO of Price, the conversation I had with Neal (12-2 MMA, 4-0 UFC) centered around talk from his team at Fortis MMA about his striking ability. He did land some thunderous strikes to end the fight, but they came from top position in a ground-and-pound manner following some rarely utilized wrestling from “Handz of Steel.”
Crazy enough, that wasn’t even the gameplan throughout camp. Neal revealed post-fight his coaches called an audible on the bus ride over to the venue, directing him to use more takedowns. That worked, and Neal is now 4-0 in the UFC.
It’s hard to dislike Neal, who balances his MMA career with being a waiter at Moxie’s Bar & Grill in Dallas. He also seems as down to earth as it gets. Neal appears to be one of the good ones in and out of the octagon, and if he keeps it up, it won’t be long until more people take notice.
