This past Saturday concluded a marathon of UFC action that included three events in seven days on “Fight Island” at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. From UFC 251 to UFC on ESPN 13 to UFC on ESPN+ 30, a total of 36 fights unfolded over from July 11 to July 18, and there’s a lot to digest from that time.
There were memorable performances delivered in championship bouts, matchups between contenders and fighters making their debuts. Which effort left the strongest lasting impression, though? MMA Junkie’s Farah Hannoun, John Morgan and Simon Head debate in the latest edition of Triple Take.
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Farah Hannoun: Deiveson Figueiredo
Deiveson Figueiredo’s performance against Joseph Benavidez at UFC on ESPN+ 30 will go down as one of the most dominant championship wins in UFC history.
Few imagined Figueiredo (19-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) would be able to run through Benavidez like that, dropping him three times and becoming the first man to ever submit him. While Figueiredo did stop Benavidez in Round 2 of their first fight, it was a competitive battle where Benavidez was able to win the first round.
Though Benavidez has never won a UFC title, he’s been a staple in the 125-pound division, taking out just about every flyweight on the roster, including a decision win over former UFC dual-champ Henry Cejudo. But Figueiredo was a man on a mission that night and wanted to erase the notion that he only won the first fight because of an inadvertent head butt.
There are several 125-pounders chomping at the bit to get their crack at the title, but Figueiredo looked like an unstoppable force that may rule the division for a very long time.
Simon Head: Jiri Prochazka
If we’re talking about fighters stepping in and making an impact, few could match the performance delivered by Jiri Prochazka at UFC 251.
After arriving in the UFC from a hugely successful stint in Japan with RIZIN FF, seasoned MMA watchers were viewing Prochazka’s octagon debut with great interest. He was handed a tough first assignment against Volkan Oezdemir, a tough, durable contender with plenty of knockout power. But Prochazka (27-3-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) stepped into the cage seemingly without a care in the world and, after a short period of time to settle himself and set his sights, he started to tee off on the Swiss striker.
His languid, unorthodox style made for entertaining viewing with his low-slung hands seemingly goading Oezdemir to try to knock him out. Sure, he took a few punches, but he took them well, and by the time the second round started, he was ready to show the world why he’s going to be a serious problem at 205 pounds.
A sledgehammer of a right hand found its mark just seconds into the second frame as he sent Oezdemir crashing to the canvas and propelled himself into legitimate contender status. There’s a host of exciting matchups awaiting him at light heavyweight, but if there’s one bout that seems like a slam-dunk booking after Prochazka’s stunning debut, it’s a clash with Brazilian wild man Johnny Walker.
If Prochazka can replicate the sort of performance we saw against Oezdemir against Walker, the big Czech can expect to be cashing some big checks – and facing some big names – in the coming months.
John Morgan: Amanda Ribas
Sure, Amanda Ribas wasn’t in the highest-profile contest of the stretch, but she was also in the building for all three nights of action.
The burgeoning prospect picked up an impressive first-round submission win over longtime fan favorite Paige VanZant at UFC 251, stealing a little bit of that “PVZ” shine in the process. Then Ribas (10-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) showed up in the VIP section of Flash Forum for the remaining two cards, getting herself on TV each night and keeping her name on fans’ minds in the process. She also did a media scrum following her victory, essentially making her the first guest fighter we’ve talked to since the ongoing pandemic changed how fight weeks are covered.
Ribas appears destined for big things in the strawweight division, though she says she’ll compete at flyweight along the way, as well. But “Fight Island” proved to be her coming out party.
