Monday Mailbag: Max Holloway, Alex Pereira, Conor McGregor, and the sensational UFC 300

UFC 300 is within the books and it was every thing we ever wished. So many terrific fights resulting in so many intriguing storylines. Plus, Dana White introduced Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier for June, and Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler for this summer season. There are such a lot of enjoyable issues to speak about, we’re simply going to leap proper in and attempt to get to all of them.

Max Holloway cements legend standing

ICYMI, Holloway was 10 seconds away from successful a unanimous choice over Justin Gaethje when he invited a brawl after which colded Gaethje simply earlier than the buzzer. It was rad.

It’s simple to be reactionary after nights like Saturday, however even taking that under consideration, I believe it’s nonetheless protected to name Max’s excessive midday showdown a Mount Rushmore legendary second. It’s very possible going to win Knockout of the 12 months and individuals are already calling it the best knockout ever. I believe these individuals are fairly clearly caught up within the second, however nonetheless, that is the kind of factor that lives eternally. The scene, the stakes, the end result, and the truth that many individuals had been skeptical of Max heading into this struggle (extra on that in a minute) make it a transcendent second in promotional historical past. It’s by no means going to cross one thing like Forrest Griffin vs. Stephan Bonnar simply due to the historic significance, nevertheless it’s within the pantheon, for certain.

Ilia Topuria

That relies upon. If Topuria was in Gaethje’s footwear and wanted a knockout, sure. Sure, he would. As a result of folks love Max a lot and Max obtained it in his head that Topuria ducked him (ludicrous), there’s been a swift momentum towards “Ilia is scared.” Children, that man ain’t shook. Not by half. If the struggle is on the road and Max is providing chaos, he’ll oblige as a result of Topuria can be a lunatic (within the great way).

But when Topuria is 10 seconds away from successful? In all probability not. The person ain’t shook however he’s additionally not a moron. We love folks like Max and Gaethje as a result of they’ll danger all of it for that second on the finish, nevertheless it’s not precisely sensible. Except you’re Max and can’t be harm by God nor man.

Why Max received

I obtained many issues fallacious at UFC 300, however the “BMF” title struggle wasn’t certainly one of them. Certain, I didn’t count on that ending, as a result of nobody did. However when this struggle was introduced and many individuals thought Max was cooked, I assumed the alternative.

Holloway is only a actually dangerous model matchup for Gaethje, in the identical means that Poirier is a nasty one for Holloway. Gaethje’s offense is constructed round his energy and Max is invulnerable. Gaethje’s protection is constructed round protecting up and Max throws lengthy combos and may work the physique. All of that strains up extraordinarily nicely for Holloway. And that’s precisely the way it performed out. Granted, the damaged nostril within the first spherical undoubtedly modified a few of Gaethje’s struggle, however that’s what you get for ducking down. Max had a learn and launched the identical spinning assault each time, and it stored touchdown.

The opposite factor is that for as a lot as I like watching Justin Gaethje struggle, the person is sort of incapable of combating to his strengths till it’s a final resort. He has a very good jab however merely refuses to throw it till late into fights. It occurred towards Chandler and it occurred on this one. As soon as he begins jabbing, Gaethje does lots higher, however by the point he figured it out on this one, he had a smashed schnoz and had been poked in each eyes. Not perfect!

In the meantime, Holloway virtually all the time fights as sensible as doable. He and his camp make nice tactical choices forward of each struggle, and he executes them. Simply have a look at the spinning again kick that I believe was essentially the most significant strike of the bout. (I do know, the knockout, but when Max doesn’t knock him out, he nonetheless wins. If he doesn’t break Gaethje’s nostril, that struggle in all probability appears to be like totally different, although nonetheless Max in all probability wins.)

The longer term

What’s subsequent for Holloway is a good query. Personally, I’d like to see the Ilia Topuria struggle, however I’m skeptical that occurs subsequent, as a result of Alexander Volkanovski nonetheless exists and, I assume, remains to be going to get an instantaneous rematch with Topuria. That then leaves Max to both await the winner, which could possibly be a very long time, or defend the “BMF” title. I believe we all know which of these he would select.

And I’d completely like to see him struggle Charles Oliveira for mentioned belt. The 2 fought earlier than at featherweight nevertheless it was bizarre and probably not even a struggle. And likewise, they’re each so totally different from then. With Oliveira now out of the light-weight title image, that’s what I hope occurs.

Once I was watching all of this go down on Saturday night time, I had the thought that I missed out on the 4 Kings period of boxing. I’m too younger. However we’re all fortunate sufficient to be dwelling by way of the 4 Kings period of MMA, the place Max Holloway, Dustin Poirier, Justin Gaethje, and Charles Oliveira are successful belts, combating one another, and delivering the products time and time once more. Let’s maintain that going.

As for Gaethje, I doubt he’ll retire, however we don’t have a lot left. He’s out of the title image now and so I think we get just a few extra chosen enjoyable fights. Gaethje vs. Oliveira 2 is an choice, as is Gaethje ready to struggle Conor McGregor after the Michael Chandler struggle. However first, time without work. That’s a gnarly knockout and he wants some relaxation.

Alex Pereira

ICYMI, Alex Pereira obliterated Jamahal Hill to retain the light heavyweight title.

Justin Gaethje is the obvious DAMN! They Were Good candidate within the historical past of the present. He’s the kind of fighter this system was constructed for. Him and Lawler are 1A and 1B of essentially the most thrilling dudes to ever lace up 4 ounce gloves. However yeah, Pereira’s DAMN goes to be 4 hours lengthy and peculiar as hell.

Regardless of him demolishing Jamahal Hill with virtually dismissive ease, I’m nonetheless not satisfied Pereira is the very best mild heavyweight alive. Like, he’s fairly clearly a restricted fighter! But it surely doesn’t appear to matter as a result of he’s Jedi thoughts tricked everybody within the sport to all the time give him the struggle he needs. That superpower plus being the precise hardest pound-for-pound puncher I’ve ever seen allowed him to speed-run a Corridor of Fame profession. It’s insane and essentially the most enjoyable factor getting into MMA the previous couple of years. I can’t wait to have fun him.

Heavyweight

ICYMI, after UFC 300, Pereira known as for a struggle at heavyweight at UFC 301 in Rio subsequent month. Folks instantly went to a Tom Aspinall title struggle.

Nah, let’s not do this. I’ve minimal curiosity in watching Pereira face Aspinall at this level. I’m very uninterested in champ-champ fights, primarily as a result of it messes with the timeline. You’ll be able to’t do Pereira vs. Aspinall in three weeks in Rio, so then it must be for the Manchester pay-per-view and that begins shoving again deserving contenders in each weight courses.

No, Pereira known as for a heavyweight struggle subsequent month as a result of he needs to struggle in Rio, he’s wholesome sufficient to take action, however he can’t make the sunshine heavyweight lower once more so shortly. And I’m A-OK with that. Bear in mind after we used to let Anderson Silva take random mild heavyweight fights? Or when Delight champions would face complete oddballs simply to remain busy? Let Pereira do this! Pull Derrick Lewis from the St. Louis struggle card and have him struggle Pereira in Rio in Might. That will rock.

As for an eventual struggle between Pereira and Aspinall, I’m not all that enthused by it as a result of I understand how it goes. Not like Jamahal Hill, who fought one of many easiest strikers alive — a person who boops folks with unnerving, easy energy — and mentioned, “I’m going to face up with this man as a result of I’m ranges higher than him at placing and y’all simply don’t know the way good I’m,” Aspinall shouldn’t be a rube. He’ll take Pereira down and beat the hell out of him, as a result of that’s how anybody who isn’t consumed by hubris and has self-preservation instincts will struggle him.

Gentle heavyweight title image

As the person driving the “Magomed Ankalaev is the very best mild heavyweight on Earth” practice for the previous 4 years, that is an especially doable consequence. They don’t like him, and if Walker mentioned he was recreation for Rio, it’s on the desk. However the excellent news is it wouldn’t be for the title due to the burden and I believe Ankalaev goes to get a crack at Pereira earlier than the 12 months is out.

Rematch?

If we’re fortunate, we get that rematch. In any other case it’s Ankalaev going full Dagestani on MMA’s best treasure.

As for Hill, Jiri Prochazka makes some sense however that’s the form of matchmaking I hate. if Hill wins, it kills Jiri and he’s nonetheless out of the title image due to his personal loss. Give me Hill vs. Aleksandar Rakic.

Rematch

ICYMI, Jiri Prochazka overcame a tricky begin to samurai the hell out of Aleksandar Rakic on the prelims.

Lumped these collectively as they’re comparable.

God, I like Jiri. A couple of weeks in the past we learned that being a hoss is the strongest MMA style. This week, Jiri reminded us that the second strongest model is being a lunatic.

Poor, silly Rakic got here into this struggle considering that every one he wanted to do was be a reliable, well-rounded fighter who did the correct issues on the proper time. And for 5 minutes, he was having an incredible night time, punching Jiri, blocking pictures, shifting out on angles, successful the struggle. However MMA shouldn’t be a sport for rational actors. MMA is a sport for unhinged chaos retailers.

After disdainfully strolling proper into Rakic’s finest pictures for a spherical, Jiri merely determined that he was carried out with this nonsense and Rakic had no reply to the berserker insanity that ensued. Only a few folks do! You both have to have the ability to go to the depths of chaos with him, or pack a nuclear choice that renders his violent cacophony silent. Pereira has the latter and it makes him a tricky opponent.

If Jiri does get the rematch with Alex, he has no selection however to be the mad samurai. It’s all he is aware of. And it’s not like he didn’t have success within the first struggle. He can accomplish that once more. However possibly simply have some tiny sense of self preservation, and like, maintain your fingers up a bit. Apart from that, embrace the wild and hope the die roll comes up in your favor.

Arman Tsarukyan

ICYMI, Arman Tsarukyan took a break up choice over Charles Oliveira to ascertain himself because the possible subsequent light-weight contender.

I’m very excessive on Tsarukyan as a fighter, however I give him a really low likelihood of success towards Islam Makhachev. Many will disagree with me, nevertheless it’s only a robust model matchup for him. Makhachev is solely higher than Tsarukyan in all phases of the sport. There’s no disgrace in that, nevertheless it actually limits his choices to win. Distinction that with somebody like Oliveira who, I’d by no means choose to beat Makhachev, however not less than he has clear avenues to take action.

Off the highest of my head, Tsarukyan would wish to combine issues up as a lot as doable and attempt to take Makhachev down, however Islam is a a lot higher defensive fighter on the toes, and simply the extra highly effective, threatening man. I truly scored that struggle for Oliveira as a result of Tsarukyan obtained place however by no means did something with it. That’s not going to work towards Islam.

That is a kind of fights that I believe Tsarukyan can be aggressive in defeat with out ever wanting like he had an opportunity to win.

Different fights

ICYMI, Aljamain Sterling beat Calvin Kattar in a wretched struggle to look at, Kayla Harrison defenestrated Holly Holm, and Deiveson Figueiredo randomly submitted Cody Garbrandt.

1. Zero likelihood Sterling will get a title shot off that efficiency. It was actually, actually dangerous to look at. Credit score to Aljo, sensible struggle, obtained the win, however that was arguably my worst viewing expertise of 2024, and I noticed Madame Net and Argylle in theaters. I believe you do Sterling vs. Movsar Evloev for a struggle that may have spectacular positional grappling and be actually depressing to look at.
2. Harrison is completely getting a title shot after that efficiency and he or she’s going to win the belt. One other factor I used to be proper on this week was that Harrison was going to show the doubters fallacious concerning the weight lower and look distinctive. Mission completed. Now, was she helped by Holly Holm going to the Jamahal Hill college of Struggle IQ and selecting to clinch with the two-time Olympic gold medalist judoka? Sure. Sure, she was. However that was inevitable. Bear in mind, HOSS is the strongest model, and Harrison is powerful within the HOSS.
3. No, however he does get one thing shut. Figgy Smalls appears to be like fairly good up at bantamweight and looks like you possibly can go forward and pull the set off on Figueiredo vs. Chito Vera. That can be fairly enjoyable and may get Figgy a title shot if he wins.

Conor vs. Chandler

Conor very a lot must beat Chandler this summer season as a result of Michael Chandler isn’t good and it hurts the résumé to lose to individuals who aren’t good. However he’s not combating Max Holloway. Not if he is aware of what’s good for him.

Merely put, Conor isn’t nice anymore. On the time he was nice, he wasn’t as nice as many thought he was, and that point is now previous him. There’s no telling what he’ll seem like getting back from this damage, nevertheless it’s extraordinarily unlikely that he comes again higher. Conor turned a glass canon and that’s who he’ll be for nevertheless lengthy he retains combating. That could be a HORRIFIC factor to be towards Max Holloway. Max would completely dog-walk Conor in a rematch. It could not be remotely aggressive, and nobody in Conor’s camp ought to enable it to occur.

No, Conor goes to beat Chandler (I believe?) after which he’s going to get a title shot as a result of this sport could be very foolish and that may be very bankable. But when Conor is combating for a 3rd title, it’s for the welterweight belt. Decrease danger to the legacy than dropping to a featherweight you already beat.

Thanks for studying, and thanks for everybody who despatched in tweets (Xs?)! Do you’ve gotten any burning questions on issues not less than considerably associated to fight sports activities? Then you definitely’re in luck, as a result of you possibly can ship your tweets to me, @JedKMeshew, and I’ll reply my favourite ones! 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.