Will Cub Swanson lead by example with retirement?

Sean Woodson gained once more with a first-round TKO of Fernanda Padilla courtesy of a nasty ending combo along with his fingers. With the outcome, the three longest energetic unbeaten streaks within the featherweight division are Woodson, Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy, all of whom have eight straight wins.

What’s the large distinction between Woodson (13-1-1 MMA, 7-1-1 UFC) and different two names on the listing? They’re extremely ranked at 145 kilos, and he’s not. It’s loopy to assume how far he’d must push the streak to get right into a title struggle, however first issues first, can we fill his request of getting a ranked opponent subsequent day trip?

That’s the least UFC matchmakers can do for Woodson at this level, as a result of it’s long gone time we discover out if he’s worthy of upper positioning on this division.

Michael Johnson confirmed he’s nonetheless able to delivering violent knockouts at 38 when he put Ottman Azaitar out chilly within the second spherical of their light-weight bout.

Johnson (23-19 MMA, 15-15 UFC) delivered a late Knockout of the Yr entry into the nominee listing with a sick mixture and observe up pictures to render Azaitar unconscious in a scary style, and afterward stated he’s nowhere near carried out.

I’ll be trustworthy: I misplaced religion in Johnson a number of years in the past. He’s been one of the maddeningly inconsistent fighters in UFC historical past, and his .500 report within the octagon after 30 appearances is proof of that reality.

Johnson has proven many instances that, when working at his greatest, he’s able to beating the highest tier at 155 kilos. When he’s not, he can lose any matchup UFC places him in. However it’s been greater than six years since “The Menace” was on a two-fight profitable streak, so he’s obtained one thing going for him proper now.

After every week of dialog about how there’s nothing intriguing for UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja after his title protection in opposition to Kai Asakura, the dialogue modified with Manel Kape’s full railroading of Bruno Silva.

Kape took three arduous low blows earlier than he put Silva down with a TKO within the last spherical, and afterward he had UFC CEO Dana White excited a few potential rematch with Pantoja, who beat him by unanimous determination in his octagon debut in February 2021.

It’s actually an intriguing possibility, however will Kape get it? He doesn’t have probably the most worthy resume. That belongs to Brandon Royval proper now. Nonetheless, he has the benefit of being probably the most distant opponent of Pantoja’s within the higher tier of the division.

White stated post-fight Kape is not going to be subsequent for the belt, however did tease one thing that can make him “glad” subsequent.

The whole build-up to Cub Swanson’s wonderful walk-off knockout win over Billy Quarantillo made it look like retirement was coming. Swanson held off, admitting he promised his spouse he would achieve this, however displaying the problem any fighter would have after such a tremendous second.

It’s clear Swanson (30-14 MMA, 15-10 UFC) can cling when given applicable matchmaking within the featherweight division. Quarantillo was a justifiable opponent at this level in his profession, and the outcome confirmed what Swanson can nonetheless give highlight-reel moments on this sport.

Ought to he maintain going, although? He stated previous to the struggle his primary motivation to maintain combating was to indicate the fighters he managed the correct solution to function within the sport. That’s truthful, however there could be no higher instance to set for his steady of athletes then to indicate it’s attainable to step away on a excessive.

Joaquin Buckley has been looking for a signature win on his resume to take his profession to the following degree, and he obtained it with a powerful efficiency in opposition to Colby Covington in the principle occasion.

Buckley (22-6 MMA, 11-4 UFC) is now 6-0 since dropping right down to welterweight from the middleweight division, and it’s arduous to not be impressed with the best way he battered and bloodied Covington en path to a physician’s stoppage TKO within the third spherical.

Was it a flawless efficiency from Buckley? No. However he proved to be largely well-rounded in harmful within the route of Covington, and there’s no denying he’s a official contender at 170 kilos.

Buckley deserves his struggle with Kamaru Usman, who he has known as out in back-to-back fights now. That might be an ideal take a look at for each at this stage of their respective careers, and would give the prospect for Buckley to place consecutive legacy names on his report, which might be completely large.

If not Usman, then Buckley wants a struggle that can transfer him near the belt.

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