A welterweight grudge match between former teammates Colby “Chaos” Covington and Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal headlined UFC 272 in Las Vegas on Saturday. Here are five things we learned from another stellar card in the octagon.
*Bold names are winners
There is no “fake news” in this feud
Colby “Chaos” Covington vs. Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal (5-round Welterweight bout)
Despite Kamaru Usman defeating him to retain the UFC Welterweight Championship, Colby Covington is arguably the best welterweight in the world. Coming into the fight with a record of 16 wins and 3 losses, Covington has risen into one of the most polarizing fighters in the sport today and can back up his word with great striking, strong wrestling and a foul-mouthed attitude that rivals only top heels in WWE pro wrestling.
Despite Usman also defeating him to retain the Welterweight Championship, Jorge Masvidal is a serious welterweight threat and had taken out some of the biggest names in mixed martial arts including Donald Cerrone and Nate Diaz. He held a record of 35 wins and 15 losses.
This fight was made for Covington to close the distance and take Masvidal to the ground. Masvidal often does allow his back to be exposed, instead playing on the defensive and finding the stamina to keep the game standing once he finds his footing. After all, he hasn’t been submitted in over a decade.
UFC commentator Joe Rogan noted how Covington “uses his gas tank as a weapon”. An exhausted Masvidal was keeping his chin up (literally) as Covington attempted a choke with nothing left to do but scramble away many times in the fight.
Masvidal was lacking options going into the fourth round and looked to find the knockout. Masvidal almost found that knockout with 1:20 left in the round when Covington was stunned with a right hook to the jaw. Covington’s massive wrestling advantage controlled the fight while his striking led Masvidal to defend himself even more.
The crowd saw much of the same in the final round: Masvidal defending on the ground with Covington on his back as the bout went to decision. By the end of the fight, Covington had collected the first win of what looks to be just the first match between the bitter “frenemies”.
Dos Anjos vs. Moicano was all killer, no filler
Rafael Dos Anjos vs. Renato Moicano (5-round 160 lbs. Catchweight bout)
For over a decade, the sixth-highest ranked lightweight in the world Rafael Dos Anjos has been a problem fighter in the division against the best. 2-time holder of the belt, well-rounded in a star-studded weight class. Every jab, hook and strike he gave to Moicano in Las Vegas held years of experience and power.
Renato Moicano knew he would have a fierce battle. He took the fight on just five days’ notice leaving a possible “ace-in-the-hole” for the Brazilian to simply say that he was always going to be underprepared for the fight. However, he’s no beginner.
Renato Moicano has arguably the best rear-naked choke in his weight class, winning all 9 submissions victories the same way. Moicano had the ground game to last against Dos Anjos but the momentum against him was always going to be too much in the first two rounds.
By the third round, the same underdog fighter story we love in the sport had started to cultivate. The bloodied and swollen Moicano had to fight to survive Dos Anjos. By the final bell, Moicano was pushing the cutmen away from him as blood gushed from his wounds. Dos Anjos may have the victory but Moicano won the war.
Edson Barboza is playing catch-up with an evolving Featherweight division
Edson “Junior” Barboza vs. Bryce “Thug Nasty” Mitchell (3-round Featherweight bout)
Edson Barboza will go down as one of the greatest featherweights in mixed martial arts history. However, his chin is deteriorating, like most sensational fighters do in the “hurt business”, It’s what led to his poor finish. He now holds a record of 22 wins and 11 losses.
Bryce Mitchell caught the attention of the MMA community with being the 2nd person in history to win by a Twister submission against Matt Sayles back in late 2019.
Mitchell did exactly what you should against such a strong specialist like Barboza, maintain position, hold ground control time and keep on the pressure. His takedowns were excellent and took advantage of Barboza being on the backfoot. Even with the arm triangle scare in 3rd round, Mitchell mauled Barboza.
The energy Mitchell displayed on the ground made it hard for Barboza to do anything. Strike after strike and further time defending on the ground against Mitchell, Barboza was just trying to breathe. Barboza can bounce back but there isn’t much time left when your division is getting stronger every day.
Kevin Holland wants to be a trailblazing welterweight
Kevin “Trailblazer” Holland vs. Alex “Cowboy” Oliviera (3-round Welterweight bout)
Many knew this would be a great fight, but nobody expected a takedown from Alex Oliviera getting Kevin Holland’s back, with Holland trying to roll out of a submission seconds before the first bell. His thumbs up for the camera, as Oliviera is cinching up his choke on him epitomized how Holland was ready to change his game from the first round.
Once Holland stopped thrusting forward in the first round, he got closer to Oliviera and stunned him in 38 seconds into the second round.
This bout was a technical fight seeing who would budge first, who would make the first mistake. Oliviera looked classy in defeat but Holland looked exciting as he called out to a “Cowboy”, Donald Cerrone, sitting in the audience.
Serghei Spivac is here to stay
Greg Hardy v. Sergey Spivac (3-round Heavyweight bout 2:16 first-round TKO)
This 3-round pay-per-view opener wasn’t that tough to watch, even if you were a Greg Hardy fan.
Hardy is a former NFL defensive end with the better reach and height advantage with a previous record of 7 wins, 4 losses and 1 “no-contest”. He was coming off back-to-back losses against fellow heavyweights Tai Tuivasa and Marcin Tybura.
His opponent was Sergey Spivac, a well-rounded Moldovan takedown artist, who he was set to face earlier before a finger injury took place.
Hardy looked strong at the beginning of the first round with low kicks to Spivac. The game wasn’t going to be a sparring match for long though. Spivac took hold of Hardy, transitioned to a judo takedown and exposed his expertise and Hardy’s deficit.
Hardy has great strength and grit to leave his back exposed but Spivac was always going to ground and pound him as he is fighting against a heavier opponent by 20+ pounds. The fight concluded at 2:16 left into the 1st round.
