UFC mailbag: Where does Israel Adesanya go from here? Plus some early UFC 312 talk

UFC Saudi Arabia is within the books, and now, it’s on to UFC 312.

This previous Saturday, Nassourdine Imavov scored the most important win of his profession when he knocked out former two-time champion Israel Adesanya within the second spherical of their principal occasion matchup. Imavov appears poised to struggle for the 185 belt sooner slightly than later and so the large query is what is going to change into of “The Final Stylebender?” Let’s reply that and extra from this week’s mailbag.

Israel Adesanya

“What’s the subsequent finest transfer for Izzy, and (relatedly) do fighters threat damaging their legacy by remaining lively previous their prime?”

Heading into UFC Saudi Arabia my greatest query was how a lot does Adesanya have left within the tank, and I believe we acquired the reply fairly definitively. Adesanya is an all-time nice, however he’s 35, been competing for 15 years, and has 115 skilled fights. That’s an unbelievable quantity of mileage, and it’s exhibiting. Adesanya’s reflexes aren’t as quick as they as soon as have been so he’s getting hit extra typically, and he can’t take harm the identical approach. There’s a motive he’s been dropped or damage in his previous 5 fights: Izzy is ageing out.

So with that in thoughts, I personally consider the perfect transfer can be for him to both retire or arrange a retirement struggle. One thing he one hundred pc ought to win so he can exit on a excessive notice earlier than he waits round for his Corridor of Fame jacket. Nevertheless, I doubt that occurs. And assuming it doesn’t, I believe the proper transfer for Adesanya is a giant step again in competitors. Adesanya can nonetheless win fights, however he’s unlikely to beat up-and-comers or Prime 10 opposition. So if I have been in Izzy’s nook, I’d be concentrating on the legends type of fights towards different declining warriors with large names. However extra on that in a number of.

So far as damaging his legacy, the reply is each sure and no. Within the case of Adesanya, what he’s achieved can by no means be taken away from him. He’s the second-greatest middleweight ever and a Prime 20 all-time fighter. No quantity of dropping will change that, solely different fighters surpassing him. However that’s solely the case for longstanding, hardcore followers. The reality of the matter is that newer followers not often choose fighters primarily based on their peaks however on the totality of the profession. That’s why fighters like Anderson Silva and B.J. Penn and Fedor Emelianenko are routinely overlooked of GOAT conversations, as a result of they hung round lengthy sufficient to lose lots, and dropping dulls the mystique.

So for individuals who know, Adesanya sticking round gained’t matter, however for many who don’t, it in all probability will.

Michael ‘Venom’ Web page

“Do you suppose MVP may sneak right into a title shot at WW or MW with yet one more win? With the proper matchmaking, particularly at MW, I believe he may stifle one other striker within the prime ten and use his restricted star energy to place his title into the dialog.”

Within the co-main occasion on Saturday, “MVP” pulled off a small upset and acquired himself into the middleweight rankings by doing traditional MVP stuff to Shara Bullet. It was a classic efficiency and one worthy of celebrating, however let’s not get out over our skis. This win didn’t make MVP a title risk at both weight class. It was only a good win over a succesful opponent who had no actual solutions to the confounding type of Web page.

The difficulty for MVP is that he’s not remotely close to a title struggle, a lot much less one win away. At middleweight, there’s presently a backlog of contenders, which means Web page would wish a number of wins, and that’s exceedingly unlikely, and at welterweight, identical story. Web page isn’t going to struggle for a UFC title and that’s high-quality. MMA isn’t a sport the place it’s title or bust. You’ll be able to have an extended, productive, and memorable profession by simply being good at preventing and making folks care about you, and Web page is nice at that.

Matchmaking

“How briskly will Dana try to ebook MVP vs Adesanya and would Izzy even settle for it?”

My guess is Dana White doesn’t attempt to ebook this, however truthfully, that is precisely the struggle Adesanya must be attempting to get. Web page is a giant title, a struggle between the 2 of them would draw a ton of curiosity, and Adesanya would have a very good probability to win this. Web page’s sport is fairly set at this level of on the lookout for a number of explosive photographs, and whereas Adesanya has fallen off, he can merely set a brilliant lengthy vary, chew up Web page’s leg with low kicks, and win. This must be a reasonably good type matchup for Adesanya so if I’m Izzy, and I need to hold going, that is the one to name for.

Heavyweight

“How most of the present UFC Heavyweight Prime 10 may Tom Aspinall defeat without delay?”

Within the characteristic bout, Sergei Pavlovich gained a dreadfully boring determination over prime 10 heavyweight Jairzinho Rozenstruik, who the UFC then launched. This weight class is a wasteland.

As a result of it’s heavyweight, Aspinall couldn’t beat up even two of the Prime 10 without delay, it’s simply too exhausting. But when he’s doing a king of the hill type of factor the place it’s one after the other, there’s a authentic probability Aspinall may clear your complete heavyweight Prime 15 in a single evening.

Zhang Weili vs. Tatiana Suarez

“Zhang vs Suarez, must be an excellent struggle, nevertheless, neither fighter is almost lively sufficient. I perceive Suarez with Accidents, I suppose, however Zhang fights every year. Both approach how do you see the way forward for the division enjoying out submit 312?”

There’s a case to be made that Zhang’s lack of exercise is an effective factor as a result of the highest 15 at strawweight is principally the identical folks it was 5 years in the past, which suggests if she was lively we’d be firmly within the “that is all boring rematches” zone that girls’s bantamweight finds itself in. As an alternative, Zhang’s rare title defenses are at the least coming towards new names, which brings some freshness to the state of affairs.

That being mentioned, I’m nonetheless becoming concerned in regards to the lack of progress of ladies’s MMA within the UFC. It was all the time going to be a tall order to seek out one other Ronda Rousey however I’m not even positive the UFC has one other Joanna Jedrzejczyk, by way of star energy. Valentina Shevchenko doesn’t have for much longer, and Zhang is revered however by no means actually broke out in america. Each strawweight and bantamweight are floundering for brand new expertise. I don’t know easy methods to repair it, however issues aren’t the perfect for 115.

The lesser Topuria

“Jed… do you’re feeling the UFC will put Topuria vs. Thicknesse on the primary card as a result of it’s now change into the third most attention-grabbing struggle on the slate?”

Aleksandre Topuria, brother of featherweight champion Ilia Topuria, makes his UFC debut on Saturday towards Colby Thicknesse. He was speculated to face Cody Haddon however a late-notice change left him with significantly cooler, if much less well-known title (I’m talking completely in regards to the precise title, not the fighter — Colby Thickness is a superb title).

Anyway, the UFC one hundred pc ought to transfer this struggle to the primary card as a result of, exterior of the 2 title fights, UFC 312 is among the worst playing cards the promotion has put collectively in years, with no large names and few compelling matchups. Topuria is at the least associated to anyone nice and that truthfully makes this one of many higher bouts of the weekend.

Royal Rumble

“Which UFC fighter would you’ve got booked to make an look within the Royal Rumble?”

I’ll preface this by saying that I don’t watch skilled wrestling. I briefly loved it (or the concept of it) once I was a toddler however I by no means adopted it even passingly till I began working in MMA. The 2 are so intertwined it’s unattainable to not have realized some issues however I’m nonetheless woefully unschooled on principally something about WWE.

That being mentioned, I did watch the Royal Rumble this yr (I used to be working, and if an MMA fighter confirmed I wanted to have the ability to write about it) and I had three main ideas:

1. I undoubtedly thought John Cena was going to win, as a result of I had no concept who Jey Uso was, so after they swerved I assumed that was neat
2. I do know that is scripted however iShowSpeed may need truly acquired damage in there. Yeesh.
3. Professional wrestling isn’t for me however it is a enjoyable idea

It’s unattainable to do something like that in MMA (although god love Dogfight Wild Match, they tried) but when somebody ever has the nice sense to rent me as head of artistic for his or her struggle promotion, I promise to attempt. The countdown factor is thrilling and enjoyable.

Anyway, primarily based on my restricted understanding of professional wrestling it seems you’ll want to be jacked, athletic, and have charisma, so my selection can be Dricus du Plessis. The person nearly seems like a professional wrestler already, and NO ONE would’ve seen it coming what with him defending his title in Australia on Saturday.

Swerve of the century.

Thanks for studying and due to everybody who despatched in tweets (Xs?)! Do you’ve got any burning questions on issues at the least considerably associated to fight sports activities? Then you definitely’re in luck as a result of you may ship your tweets to me, @JedKMeshew, and I’ll reply my favourite ones! It doesn’t matter in the event that they’re topical or insane, simply as long as they’re good. Thanks once more, and see y’all subsequent week.