What mattered most at UFC on ESPN+ 27 in Norfolk, Va.? Here are a few post-fight musings …
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1. The flyweight mess
The UFC flyweight division endured its worst-case scenario with Deiveson Figueiredo (18-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) stopping Joseph Benavidez (28-6 MMA, 15-4 UFC) with strikes in the second round of the main event, thus keeping the title vacant because the Brazilian missed weight by 2.5 pounds for the contest, making him ineligible to claim the belt.
Figueiredo is a good fighter and went out there and performed as he needed to under the circumstances, but his win puts the weight class in a troublesome state going forward. From Day 1, when one of the inaugural 125-pound bouts between Demetrious Johnson and Ian McCall was improperly scored, the weight class has not gotten off the ground in a way anyone had hoped.
From Johnson’s inability to get over with the casual audience, to Henry Cejudo’s decision to relinquish the strap, to this situation with Figueiredo, it’s been challenge after challenge. The UFC has as good an excuse as ever now to put the death blow on the weight class and dissolve it all together, but I don’t think that will happen just yet. Only time will tell, though.
2. Heartbreak for Joseph Benavidez
That was a tough one to watch for Benavidez, who is universally considered one of the best human beings in the sport. He was doing well in the fight up until the knockout, but it also seemed to be trending in a worrying direction. His power wasn’t really effecting Figueiredo that badly, and while he may have been able to pick his shots for five rounds, it was a stiff task.
Benavidez is now 0-3 in UFC championship fights, joining a short list with six other fighters in company history to have that dubious distinction on his resume. At 35, he’s the oldest active fighter in the flyweight division, and it remains to be seen if he’ll be eager to put in the effort to try to get back into this spot.
It was definitely a bad decision by the UFC production team to force Benavidez into an interview with Michael Bisping in the immediate aftermath of the result, and the heartbreak of defeat was clear on his face. The knockout happened right in front of me on press row, and it wasn’t a soft one. There was major damage inflicted.
In addition to the interview, it was gut wrenching to watch Benavidez’s wife, UFC reporter Megan Olivi, try to console her partner at his lowest of lows. Benavidez is nothing if not resilient, though, and if he feels compelled to push forward, he’s got the support of a great woman, great coaches and a strong mindset to get there.
3. Who is next for Amanda Nunes?
Felicia Spencer (8-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) and Megan Anderson (10-4 MMA, 3-2 UFC) did exactly what they needed to do in the four-person audition of sorts to see who will be next to challenge Amanda Nunes, who is keen to defend her women’s featherweight title.
Spencer ground-and-pounded Zarah Fairn into a first-round TKO, while Anderson landed a knockout bomb on Norma Dumont in the opening frame of their matchup. So who will get the shot? One would have to imagine it would be Spencer, who has a submission win over Anderson on her record just 10 months ago. Moreover, Spencer is the flag bearer for the Canadian market in the UFC at this point, and it would be important for the country to have another person fighting for a title (not that I’m bias, or anything).
The reality, however, is that the UFC will likely approach both athletes about the matchup with Nunes. The final verdict might simply come down to negotiations.
4. That Ankalaev vs. Cutelaba stoppage
Kevin MacDonald screwed the pooch with his stoppage in the Magomed Ankalaev (13-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) vs. Ion Cutelaba (15-5 MMA, 4-4 UFC) fight as badly as any referee in recent memory. It was not good.
Although Ankalaev was definitely pouring on the offense in the opening seconds of the contest, Cutelaba was far from being in a position where a stoppage of that nature was warranted. Maybe he would’ve been hurt worse, or maybe (as he claimed post-fight) he would’ve altered the momentum of the bout and picked up the win.
Unfortunately, MacDonald robbed both fighters and viewers of knowing with certainty due to his poor decision-making in the moment. All referees have gaffs, but this one was particularly bad, and it would nice to see him take ownership of the mistake in a public capacity. But we all know that ain’t happening.
5. Prospects abound
It wasn’t the deepest card in terms of fighter name value, but Norfolk featured a lot of the next wave of UFC talent, with seven fighters debuting in the octagon and 15 overall having three or less fights with the organization.
Newcomer Kyler Phillips (7-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) was winner of the “Fight of the Night,” Jordan Griffin (18-7 MMA, 1-2 UFC) got “Performance of the Night” for a slick submission finish, and Brendan Allen (14-3 MMA, 2-0 UFC) continued the strong start to his UFC career.
That’s not to mention the likes of Grant Dawson, Luis Pena, Spike Carlyle and Sean Brady, who had solid performances, as well. The sport continues to evolve, and the future is in good hands.
