Brandon Moreno poised to be a star, Israel Adesanya’s old foe is back

Rematches had been the theme of the title fights at UFC 263 on Saturday in Glendale, Arizona. Middleweight champion Israel Adesanya confronted Marvin Vettori, on the lookout for a extra definitive victory than the cut up determination he gained of their first combat in 2018. Deiveson Figueiredo aimed to show {that a} journey to the hospital earlier than the evening of their first flyweight title combat was the one cause why Brandon Moreno got here near beating him earlier than each fighters settled for a majority draw.

Adesanya was profitable, incomes a transparent, decisive victory over Vettori to focus the highlight on his dominance at 185 kilos. His assault on Vettori’s lead leg and takedown protection stored him one step forward of his opponent.

The opposite champion wasn’t so fortunate. Figueiredo misplaced to Moreno in a superb efficiency for the brand new Mexican flyweight champion. Positive, Nate Diaz’s late rally towards Leon Edwards had the sector buzzing, but it surely was Moreno’s victory that introduced the feelings within the constructing to a brand new stage. Within the Octagon along with his household and his new UFC championship, Moreno, with tears in his eyes, poured his coronary heart out, and a brand new star within the sport was born.

Marc Raimondi, Jeff Wagenheim and Brett Okamoto react to the highest two fights at UFC 263.

Moreno is the proper champion to place Mexico on the MMA map

Raimondi: Moreno is now the first-ever Mexican-born UFC champion, and the promotion couldn’t have requested for a greater one. He’s extremely likeable, has a singular charisma and an underdog spirit that one can’t assist however root for.

I used to be shocked with the reactions Moreno, who is comparatively new to the highlight, was getting this week in Phoenix. However the metropolis, which has a big Mexican-American inhabitants, shortly embraced him. He was getting cheers on the information convention and weigh-ins at a stage that was not far off from way more established stars corresponding to Diaz and Adesanya. And by profitable at UFC 263 and turning into champion, he appears effectively positioned to turn out to be a viable headliner within the Southwest and California.

Extra importantly, it is a enormous deal for the UFC in Mexico. Moreno is from Tijuana, and his Entram health club there’s in a growth interval since he began to have success within the Octagon. Him being champion ought to solely take that to the following stage. Mexico remains to be a boxing nation — and it probably all the time shall be — but it surely’s additionally a rustic with individuals who love and recognize fight sports activities. “Mexican model” is an actual factor, and Moreno embodies that. He by no means stops coming ahead and he’s a finisher. He confirmed that towards the very harmful Figueiredo on Saturday evening.

Moreno has all of the elements — from preventing model to character — to be the UFC’s first Mexican-born famous person. Cain Velasquez was a large deal in Mexico, despite the fact that he was born in the US. I’ve been with Velasquez in Mexico Metropolis, and he can’t stroll round there with out folks flocking to him for pictures or autographs. That’s what the long run might appear like for Moreno, maybe even larger. And by younger Mexican athletes seeing what he has executed, extra might select MMA over boxing. The chances are infinite, and the UFC must be extremely enthusiastic about what the long run might maintain in that key market.

Moreno’s recreation plan executed to perfection

Wagenheim: The narrative popping out of the primary assembly between Moreno and Figueiredo was that the draw took place solely due to a foul by the champion, that Figueiredo would have gained the December bout if not for shedding a degree to a third-round low blow. One choose even scored the combat for the Brazilian regardless of the purpose deduction.

So perhaps Moreno had one thing to show on Saturday to the lots, however he positive didn’t appear like he wanted to show one thing to himself. He fought with confidence proper from the beginning.

It wasn’t simply the psychological recreation, although, that made Moreno a champ. He displayed expertise and tenacity in each the standup and the grappling that stored him a step forward of Figueiredo. That began to indicate pretty early within the combat, as Moreno’s aggression put the champ on the defensive. And when a Moreno jab despatched Figueiredo to the canvas late within the first spherical, the challenger was in management. By the point the horn sounded, Moreno had a 25-7 edge in vital strikes.

Moreno nonetheless had work to do. Figueiredo confirmed urgency beginning Spherical 2, and Moreno didn’t flinch. The challenger obtained taken down and twice was threatened by the champ’s ironclad guillotine choke. However Moreno not solely defended the submission, he additionally reversed place and began working towards a tapout attempt of his personal. Because the spherical wore on, it grew to become evident that Moreno had a solution to no matter Figueiredo was throwing at him, and the arrogance he began the evening with solely grew. He was placing on a near-perfect efficiency.

The ultimate act within the masterpiece was Moreno’s relentless pursuit of a end in Spherical 3, which confirmed a champion’s gritty coronary heart. And it earned him a champion’s belt.

Israel Adesanya appears so untouchable at middleweight, he truly wanted Robert Whittaker to do what he’s executed

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Israel Adesanya calls out Robert Whittaker and says he desires to combat in Auckland, New Zealand, for his or her rematch.

Okamoto: For almost all of the final two years, it appeared like Whittaker can be a thorn in Adesanya’s facet, in {that a} rematch between them wasn’t that interesting. However on the similar time, Whittaker stored beating guys who might be a brand new problem for Adesanya. He beat Darren Until, who Adesnanya wished to combat. He beat Jared Cannonier, who Adesanya wished to combat.

After he beat Kelvin Gastelum in April, the narrative modified. It not seems like Whittaker is knocking off doable fights for Adesanya. It seems like he’s the combat for Adesanya. And Adesanya wants that, as a result of he’s dominating 185 kilos proper now. That back-and-forth affair with Gastelum in 2019 seems like a very long time in the past. As of late, he has cruised towards Yoel Romero, Paulo Costa and now Marvin Vettori. He’s in want of a matchup that may really check him at this weight class, and whether or not it proves to be true or not, the sensation is Whittaker can do this.