Rating Paddy Pimblett chances of becoming champion

Virna Jandiroba made herself simple as the subsequent strawweight title contender when she outworked Yan Xiaonan to a unanimous choice that prolonged her profitable streak to 5.

An argument may very well be made that Jandiroba (22-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) was already deserving of the shot in February in opposition to Zhang Weili, however Tatiana Suarez obtained it as an alternative. That meant she needed to reaffirm her place in opposition to one other high contender in Xiaonan, and she or he did simply that.

Jandiroba has accomplished issues the fitting manner, and the onerous manner. Is a title bout in opposition to Weili going to maneuver the needle to a major diploma? No. However she is probably the most deserving, and just about the one intriguing contender remaining. A end would’ve generated just a little extra pleasure, however regardless, she’s owed an opportunity.

Jean Silva stated he was going to show Bryce Mitchell a lesson in ache, and he did so by beating the controversial featherweight at his personal recreation.

Silva (16-2 MMA, 5-0 UFC) battered Mitchell across the octagon for almost eight minutes earlier than he snatched a ninja choke to seal the deal, and plenty of observers had been happy to see it.

Mitchell deserved all of the backlash he obtained after his controversial remarks earlier this 12 months, and he obtained the final word type of karma contained in the octagon. On the flip aspect, Silva is a really official featherweight expertise. He confirmed all aspects of his recreation within the efficiency, and now it’s extremely intriguing to see him face the subsequent echelon of expertise at 145 kilos, lots of whom it might sound he might beat in definitive style, as properly.

Paddy Pimblett had one other huge second towards silencing the critics when he delivered a brutal, devastating and dominant efficiency in opposition to Michael Chandler that led to a massacre third-round TKO.

Chandler had a pair early moments within the battle, however aside from that it was all Pimblett (23-3 MMA, 7-0 UFC), who confirmed vastly improved putting, robust wrestling and his trademark jiu-jitsu. He stated previous to the battle that his naysayers are going to maintain shifting the goalposts, and now the narrative will likely be that Chandler has been a failure within the UFC and Pimblett ought to’ve crushed him all alongside.

That’s completely unfair to Pimblett, particularly whenever you evaluate how he gained to a few of the different individuals who have beat Chandler within the UFC. It was an enormous assertion, and now he should be validated as elite. He known as out the highest 5 names at light-weight afterward, and whether or not it’s Justin Gaethje, Charles Oliveira, Arman Tsarukyan or, hell, even Ilia Topuria, he completely, 100% deserves that kind of battle. And if he wins it? Prepare for a real UFC star.

Not rather more must be added to this. All of us noticed what occurred on the press convention. Particulars are spilling out increasingly more in regards to the historical past between Diego Lopes and Yair Rodriguez, in addition to their respective groups.

This battle would’ve been huge had each males gained. However even with Rodriguez (20-5 MMA, 11-4 UFC) coming off his unanimous choice victory over Patricio Freire, and Lopes coming off his title-fight defeat, it’s an enormous matchup that should occur at UFC 320 in Guadalajara on Sept. 13.

Alexander Volkanovski was preventing not solely Diego Lopes in his return from a career-long layoff in a vacant featherweight title bout, however he was preventing a seemingly countless stream of narratives that pointed to him shedding.

Let’s listing a number of of the issues Volkanovski (27-4 MMA, 14-3 UFC) needed to overcome to get featherweight gold again round his waist, which he did with a unanimous choice overcome Lopes:

• The 35-and-older curse for athletes competing in title bout at light-weight and under
• No fighter ever profitable an undisputed UFC title after back-to-back losses
• The tough stretch of outcomes for fighters who do coaching movies with UFC character Nina Drama.
• Drake putting a $545,000 wager on him to win the battle
• The PRIME sponsorship curse

Even earlier than this win, Volkanovski was a licensed future UFC Corridor of Famer and arguably the featherweight GOAT. He solely enhanced his stature, and now, after turning into a two-time champion, has a legacy that’s unflappable.

For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC 314.