The Fight Library

By Blaine Henry

Welcome to Fight Library! When it comes to combat sports, I love talking about them, weather it be MMA or boxing. News, breakdowns, gossip, and interviews, they're all here! Drop a sub if you enjoy!

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E244 - Liam Harrison, Muay Thai World Champion

The Fight LibraryApr 21, 2022

00:00

10:21

E302 - Jack Della Maddalena butchered Belal Muhammad || UFC 315 recap and breakdown

Your new welterweight king is here. Jack Della Maddalena dethrones Belal Muhammad at UFC 315 to take another title to Australia. Is Islam Makhachev next?

🎞️Check out Fight Finders, my docuseries! Episode 006 is out now: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLx7TZlIVGhDZ_TpnOtVEVSXmkpr_ViExz&si=J8DZ9G6a-RvTaMOv

📰 Newsletter: fightlibrary.substack.com

📚 “Iron Ambition” by Mike Tyson: https://amzn.to/3RXbIMr

Chapters:

0:11 The new king: Jack Della Maddalena

8:34 Belal Muhammad’s Mistakes

13:32 Boring Valentina Shevchenko

17:24 Goodbye, Jose Aldo

Jack Della Maddalena straight up dominated Belal Muhammad. Despite being ranked behind several top contenders, Jack Della Maddalena came out firing on all cylinders and looked the best he ever has at UFC 315. Now with the strap, he’s the king. But another is coming: Islam Makhachev. Jack Della Maddalena will have to take on the top pound for pound fighter in he world next (likely) if he hopes to stay the king.

Belal Muhammad made some mistakes at UFC 315. While Jack Della Maddalena did fight a near perfect fight, the insistence on boxing early really hurt Belal Muhammad. Not wrestling early hurt and even if he did, Jack Della Maddalena looked great in defending. Now Belal Muhammad is at the back of the queue, behind Islam Makhachev, Sean Brady, and Shavkat Rakhmonov.

Valentina Shevchenko proved me wrong and took a tough win over Manon Fiorot. I thought UFC 315 would be the arrival of a new champ and the ousting of an old one. But Valentina Shevchenko came out, got behind, and still fought to win her fight, despite bein down. All in all, Manon Fiorot didn’t fight terribly. But she lacked the experience to defeat Valentina Shevchenko over five rounds. All this said, Valentina Shevchenko is bad.

UFC 315 is (supposedly) the last time we see Jose Aldo in the cage. After nearly finishing Aiemann Zahabi in the third round, Jose Aldo sprinted across he cage, trying to finish the fight. Cool? Yes. But Jose Aldo was looking up at the clock and seeing there were three minutes left. That was the moment when Jose Aldo gave up. Goodbye, Jose Aldo, one of the GOAT’s.

May 12, 202524:18

E301 - How is Jack Della Maddalena different from Leon Edwards? || UFC 315 breakdown

How is Jack Della Maddalena different for Belal Muhammad than that of Leon Edwards? Let’s take a dive in and see how the main event of UFC 315 will shake out!

🎞️Check out Fight Finders, my docuseries! Episode 006 is out now: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLx7TZlIVGhDZ_TpnOtVEVSXmkpr_ViExz&si=J8DZ9G6a-RvTaMOv

📰 Newsletter: fightlibrary.substack.com

📚 “My Fight/Your Fight” by Ronda Rousey: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0590543431/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_1TK4319W3HPNFR75FQSS?linkCode=ml2&tag=tfl0db-20

Chapters:

0:06 Why Jack Della Maddalena different from Leon Edwards?

3:38 Has MMA passed up Valentina Shevchenko?

7:59 Jose Aldo with another W?

11:00 Benoit Saint-Denis’ break in competition

Jack Della Maddalena is taking on the tough task of facing Belal Muhammad and capturing the welterweight title in the process. We will discuss how Jack Della Maddalena is different from Leon Edwards. He has a more than puncher’s chance at UFC 315. But don’t count Belal Muhammad out either. He’s come into his own right and can cause trouble for Jack Della Maddalena.

Valentina Shevchenko is back in action with her re-captured title. This time, she’s defending her title against a new challenger: Manon Fiorot. Has MMA passed up Valentina Shevchenko, as Manon Fiorot says? Or is Valentina Shevchenko just 37 and slowing down? Manon Fiorot has the size and range. Can she win at UFC 315?

Jose Aldo is back again. He’s fighting Aiemann Zahabi at UFC 315. Now 38 years of age, Jose Aldo has actually been around for forever. But will he lose to Aiemann Zahabi? I have a hard time thinking so. Very few, if any, can out strike the great Jose Aldo.

Benoit Saint-Denis is getting a huge break! Originally scheduled to face the ever-slick Joel Alvarez, he’s now fighting Kyle Prepolec. This is, no offense to Kyle Prepolec, a huge step down from Dustin Poirier and Renato Moicano. This fight will give Benoit Saint-Denis a chance to slow down and get to waters he’s not familiar with on his own terms. I’m all for a three round decision win for Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC 315.

#ufc315 #jackdellamaddalena #belalmuhammad #ufc #mma

May 09, 202515:19

E300 - Rolly Romero and Naoya Inoue are the kings of boxing || Boxing mega weekend recap

Rolando Romero did the impossible. His win over Ryan Garcia was not exciting. It was not emphatic. But it was entertaining. Rolando Romero isn’t on anyone’s list of best boxers but this win over Ryan Garcia was fantastic because of who it was beating Ryan Garcia. How did Rolando Romero do it? Let’s discuss.

🎞️Check out Fight Finders, my docuseries! Episode 006 is out now: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLx7TZlIVGhDZ_TpnOtVEVSXmkpr_ViExz&si=J8DZ9G6a-RvTaMOv

📰 Newsletter: fightlibrary.substack.com

👾 Discord: https://discord.gg/dXRPzMZuyP

📚 “My Fight/Your Fight” by Ronda Rousey: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0590543431/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_1TK4319W3HPNFR75FQSS?linkCode=ml2&tag=tfl0db-20

Devin Haney, trash. He announced to the world that he was not a boxer, but a track star. He ran from Ramirez all night. Compare that to Teofimo Lopez who dominated Arnold Barboza from the jump. Teofimo Lopez showed what a great boxer is. Devin Haney showed all that a boxer shouldn’t be.

Canelo Alvarez also let us down. But that’s not truly his fault. William Scull fought like a coward all night. Canelo Alvarez hasn’t been great in his last few fights. But this fight was him trying to fight a track star that didn’t want to fight. The fact that William Scull even had a title was atrocious. Now we look forward to Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford.

Finally, Naoya Inoue and Ramon Cardenas put on a real show. After dropping his foe in the first round, all eyes were put on Ramon Cardenas. But “The Monster” could not be denied. Naoya Inoue settled in and worked Cardenas down. It was the eighth round that Naoya Inoue finally put Ramon Cardenas away.

May 07, 202517:55

E299 - Give Cory Sandhagen the title shot NOW || UFC Des Moines recap

Back in the win column! Cory Sandhagen shredded Deiveson Figueiredo’s knee. What is next for “The Sandman” and why should it be Sean O’Malley?

Chapters:

0:10 Cory Sandhagen is dangerous

4:44 Bo Nickal was not fraud checked

9:01 Santiago Ponzinibbio needs to retire

11:34 Gillian Robertson fan club

🎞️Check out Fight Finders, my docuseries! Episode 006 is out now: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLx7TZlIVGhDZ_TpnOtVEVSXmkpr_ViExz&si=J8DZ9G6a-RvTaMOv

📰 Newsletter: fightlibrary.substack.com

👾 Discord: https://discord.gg/dXRPzMZuyP

📚 “My Fight/Your Fight” by Ronda Rousey: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0590543431/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_1TK4319W3HPNFR75FQSS?linkCode=ml2&tag=tfl0db-20

Cory Sandhagen is one of the best bantamweight fighters and has been for some time. But now with a win over Deiveson Figueiredo, it seems that he is once again close to a title shot. But he may need one more win and that’s why I make the case for Cory Sandhagen in o fight Sean O’Malley. Who do you think Cory Sandhagen should fight next?

Bo Nickal was soundly defeated by Reinier de Ridder. But saying he was “fraud checked” is disrespectful to Reinier de Ridder. Bo Nickal lost to a very good fighter. This is the type of loss that will help Bo Nickal become a better fighter. And it’s one that will help fans better appreciate Reinier de Ridder.

No more Santiago Ponzinibbio please. He was beat up by an equally as old Daniel Rodriguez and it’s evident his body wants no more. Santiago Ponzinibbio was once thought as vicious. But time hasn’t been his friend.

Another quality win for Gillian Robertson. She’s grown up before our eyes and is now a bonafide contender. Marina Rodriguez was on her way out. What a better gift than to give Gillian Robertson her ranking at UFC Des Moines.

May 05, 202514:46

E298 - Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn 2 HAS to happen || Eubank Jr. vs. Benn recap

Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn put on an all time classic last weekend on DAZN. Now, with a rematch tentatively set for September, we are all aboard. Chris Eubank Jr. managed to snag the win but Conor Benn put on a heck of a performance. September is only 5 months away. Count me in for Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn 2!🎞️Check out Fight Finders, my docuseries! Episode 006 is out now: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLx7TZlIVGhDZ_TpnOtVEVSXmkpr_ViExz&si=J8DZ9G6a-RvTaMOv📰 Newsletter: fightlibrary.substack.com👾 Discord: https://discord.gg/dXRPzMZuyP📚 “My Fight/Your Fight” by Ronda Rousey: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0590543431/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_1TK4319W3HPNFR75FQSS?linkCode=ml2&tag=tfl0db-20

Apr 29, 202508:54

E297 - Is Ian Garry boring or brilliant? || UFC Kansas City: Machado Garry vs. Prates recap

Ian Machado Garry managed to snag the win over Carlos Prates, one of welterweight’s more exciting contenders. Is the pride of the Irish a boring fighter?

Chapters:

0:18 Is Ian Machado Garry boring?

5:38 Carlos Prates’ lack of urgency

9:01 Farewell Anthony Smith

12:45 Abus Magomedov with cardio?!

🎞️Check out Fight Finders, my docuseries! Episode 006 is out now: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLx7TZlIVGhDZ_TpnOtVEVSXmkpr_ViExz&si=z78axCZ8b7r98c8C

📰 Newsletter: fightlibrary.substack.com

👾 Discord: https://discord.gg/dXRPzMZuyP

📚 “My Fight/Your Fight” by Ronda Rousey: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0590543431/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_1TK4319W3HPNFR75FQSS?linkCode=ml2&tag=tfl0db-20

Ian Machado Garry cruised to an almost-perfect decision victory over Carlos Prates at UFC Kansas City. Many are calling him boring but we are calling bull on that. Ian Machado Garry put on a masterclass and deserves all the credit. Ian Machado Garry is a bonafide contender at 170.

Carlos Prates deserves all the boring blame for the main event of UFC Kansas City. His inability to deal with what Ian Machado Garry presented. He looked for one thing and couldn’t solve the problem presented to him. With the biggest opportunity of his career to date, Carlos Prates came up short. That’s not a detriment. Just a set back for Carlos Prates.

Anthony Smith finally hung up the gloves. Long overdue, Anthony Smith took on Chinese heavy hitter Mingyang Zhang for his final fight. It did not go well. Anthony Smith started off strong but eventually reverted to curling up onto a ball on the floor in his own blood. It was long time for Anthony Smith to retire. Let’s look at his legacy.

Don’t let Abus Magomedov fool you. He does not have better cardio just yet. He beat Michel Pereira who is also known to have terrible cardio. He just stunk less. Abus Magomedov will be ranked come Tuesday and will be a prime fight for someone who is looking for a way into the rankings themselves.

Apr 28, 202518:02

E296 - Devin Haney will DESTROY Ryan Garcia Saturday | Haney vs. Garcia preview

Does Ryan Garcia stand a chance against Devin Haney this weekend? The two fight on DAZN and I can’t really give Ryan Garcia much credit after all these shenanigans in the build up.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
1:00 Devin Haney vs. Ryan Garcia: the resume
4:55 The new, aggressive Devin Haney
11:06 Ryan Garcia’s path to victory
13:56 Be coachable

The resume of Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia are not comparable in the least bit. Haney has fought Kambosos, Kambosos, Lomachenko, and Prograis in his last four. Ryan Garcia is coming off of an underwhelming win over Oscar Duarte. Is Garcia a high level fighter or will Devin Haney have a field day?

This new Devin Haney, the one from the Vasyl Lomachenko and Regis Prograis fights, is exciting. No more jab and clinch merchant, Haney is now an action fighter. If that comes out against Garcia, Devin Haney could have a coming out party that puts him on the world stage in terms of popularity.

Ryan Garcia DOES have the skills to beat Devin Haney. He’s fast, surely. How does he beat Haney? That is the next thing we discuss, as tall an order as that may be.

Lastly, Ryan Garcia needs to be COACHABLE. After his performance against Duarte, I talked about how he was an uncoachable fighter. If you have Derrick James as a coach, why wouldn’t you use him? Ryan Garcia must trust in his coaches if he wants to win this fight.

Apr 18, 202416:56

E295 - Max Holloway SLUMPS Justin Gaethje | UFC 300 full card recap

Max Holloway stole the show at UFC 300. Sure, Alex Pereira smashed away Jamahal Hill but it was Holloway’s knockout of Justin Gaethje that broke the most waves.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
1:00 Max Holloway slumps Justin Gaethje
8:08 Alex Pereira’s one-hitter-quitter
15:08 Weili Zhang has a tough night
18:47 Arman Tsarukyan breaks through the static
22:01 Bo Nickal’s tough night
24:18 Jiri Prochazka back in the win column
28:18 Kayla Harrison’s UFC debut

We started the show off different from the usual and talked about, not the main event, but Max Holloway vs. Justin Gaethje. This is a new version of Max Holloway, one that isn’t insistent on volume. Instead, “Blessed” is selecting his shots better and making them count. He’s also making an effort to get hit less. His win over Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 was capped off by the last second knockout that only Max Holloway could deliver.

Alex Pereira was the man of the hour against Jamahal Hill. Continuing his Glover Texiera revenge tour, Alex Pereira knocked out Jamahal Hill in round one, his best yet at 205. What’s next for Alex Pereira? Will he have an old foe return from the shadows? A new contender? A heavyweight challenge? Only time will tell. And time is ticking for him to appear on UFC 301.

Weili Zhang vs. Xiaonan Yan was the co-main event on in the stacked UFC 300 card. What was thought to be a walk-over for Weili Zhang turned into a rather tough night despite what the score cards read. Several times Xiaonan Yan hurt Zhang, had her in advantageous positions and more. At the end of the day, Weili Zhang managed to snag a win and a title defense.

Other topics in this episode will include Arman Tsarukyan breaking through the static against Charles Oliveira, Bo Nickal’s tough day, Kayla Harrison’s UFC debut, Aljamain Sterling, Jiri Prochazka and much more. It’s safe to say UFC 300 delivered all that and a bag of chips.

Apr 15, 202433:16

E294 - EVERYTHING is on the line for Alex Pereira at UFC 300? | UFC 300 preview podcast

UFC 300 is finally here! In today’s podcast we’re breaking down some of the cards best fights including Alex Pereira vs. Jamahal Hill.

Chapters
0:00 Intro
0:48 What’s on the line for Alex Pereira?
4:38 Jamahal Hill’s path to victory
10:09 Weili Zhang showcase fight
13:34 Gaethje and Holloway’s violence bowl

More than a win is on the line for Alex Pereira at UFC 300. He’s got potential mega fights down the line too. At 36 years old, Father Time is lurking and Pereira doesn’t have much longer. But the man before him, Jamahal Hill, is a tough challenge in it’s own respects. Alex Pereira will want to make sure to approach this fight with all the proper tools in his tool belt. History shows us that is exactly what he is going to do.

Jamahal Hill will have to prove his reign, as short as it was, was legitimate. Alex Pereira is a tough challenge for the American. But Jamahal Hill, being a southpaw, has some different tools than what Alex Pereira has dealt with in the past. Still, Jamahal Hill will have to fight a different kind of fight at UFC 300 if he wishes to recapture that which was his once upon a time.

In the co-main event, Weili Zhang and Xiaonan Yan are competing in the first ever China vs. China title fight. Is the fight going to be close? If Weili Zhang fights how she’s supposed to, it should be an easy night for the reigning champion. Xiaonan Yan is a fantastic striker but poor grappler. If Weili Zhang puts on the singlet and goes out to wrestle, it can be a quick, easy, and lucrative night for the champion.

For the BMF title, Justin Gaethje and Max Holloway are facing off in a legend vs. legend matchup. Can Max Holloway deal with Justin Gaethje’s low kick and power? Will Justin Gaethje be able to deal with Max Holloway’s volume? This fight is one born of pure violence and has two of my favorite fighters on the card. It sucks that one has to lose.

Apr 10, 202423:34

E293 - Brendan Allen beats Chris Curtis, eyes top five | UFC Vegas 90 Recap

Brendan Allen has won seven straight but lacks a marquee win. What’s next for the Louisiana middleweight? Let’s look at that as well as what else UFC Vegas 90 has to offer!

Chapters:
0:00
1:01 Brendan Allen has a tough night with Chris Curtis
10:25 Damon Jackson has a new W and hairline
13:23 Morgan Charriere is not elite
18:22 Ignacio Bahamondes’ highlight KO

Brendan Allen extended his win streak to seven straight while avenging his last loss to Chris Curtis. The fight was a close affair with back and forth action that capped off a fairly decent event that was UFC Vegas 90. Brendan Allen survived being hurt several times and ground out a win that will put his eyes forward looking for that marquee win to give him a title shot. Chris Curtis took this fight on short notice and showed out all the same. We got his usual body work, his awesome boxing and his toughness. But at the end of the day, we needed a winner and that winner was Brendan Allen.

Alexander Hernandez is a notorious quitter. He took on Damon Jackson who was sporting an all new hair line, and Hernandez showed some heart in this fight. After being controlled by Damon Jackson for most of the fight, Alexander Hernandez managed to knock down Damon Jackson in the third round. Alexander Hernandez is explosive and has struggled with heart in the past. While he lost this fight, he showed improvements.

Morgan Charriere has a lot of hype on him for someone with a 19-9-1 record. He took on Chepe Mariscal and lost the decision. He had his moments, sure, but Morgan Charriere couldn’t deal with the pressure and wrestling of Chepe Mariscal. At the end of the segment I question if Morgan Charriere will be a significant fighter or a cult favorite.

Lastly, we will talk about Ignacio Bahamondes knocking out Christos Giagos in the first round. 6’3” and lanky as it comes, Ignacio Bahamondes is an incredibly interesting fighter. He switches stances, has fantastic finishes, but is there to get hit. The fight with Christos Giagos was no exception. With his win, Ignacio Bahamondes lives to fight another day. Maybe in the Sphere in Vegas, as he called out in his post fight speech.

Apr 08, 202423:28

E292 - Erin Blanchfield eats all Manon Fiorot’s jabs | UFC Atlantic City fight recap podcast

Erin Blanchfield really ran onto Manon Fiorot’s jabs and crosses all night. Didn’t try much different. Just ate them all night. Now it’s back to the drawing board for the 24 year old.

Chapters
0:00 Intro
0:10 Manon Fiorot deserves a title shot
6:07 Erin Blanchfield needs some work
9:50 Joaquin Buckley gets career best win
14:02 Chris Weidman combination eye pokes

Manon Fiorot has one of the best résumé’s in the women’s flyweight division. Myra Bueno Silva, Rose Namajunas, Jennifer Maia, Katlyn Chookagain, and now Erin Blanchfield. all great wins. Manon Fiorot may not be the most exciting fighter but she is the most deserving. Unfortunately for her, timing might not work out and another fight may be in the cards. But there’s no doubt that Manon Fiorot deserves it.

Erin Blanchfield had one of those “time to get better” fights. Manon Fiorot really put it to her all night with some basic tools. Erin Blanchfield didn’t work on anything different for the fight. She tried to impose her will. At 24, it’s time to get better. I have no doubt in my mind that Erin Blanchfield will be back in title contention soon.

Joaquin Buckley took on a docile Vicente Luque and smashed him out in the second round. Now at 170, Joaquin Buckley seems to have found his home a weight down from where his internet breaking knockout. What’s next for Joaquin Buckley? Possibly a shot at Michael Venom Page as was once discussed by UFC brass.

Lastly, Chris Weidman, the former middleweight champion, returned against Bruno Silva. While he fought well early on and ate some shots that answered a few questions about his chin, Chris Weidman managed to invent combination eye poking that would make Bruce Lee proud. Despite the controversy, Chris Weidman was able to finally get a win in close proximity to New York, his home town.

Apr 02, 202421:34

E291 - Tim Tszyu bled so Rolly Romero could walk

Tim Tszyu and Rolly Romero were both dethroned in two very different fights. In today’s podcast, we talk about the first PBC card on Amazon Prime.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:10 Tim Tszyu gashed up
5:05 Sebastian Fundora vs. Terence Crawford?
9:51 Isaac Cruz is a terminator
13:55 Rolly Romero’s fraudulent title reign

Tim Tszyu was one of the higher regarded undefeated fighters. With two belts on the line, he took on Sebastian Fundora on three weeks notice and paid the consequences. After an elbow to the head gone awry, Tim Tszyu couldn’t see for most of the fight after two rounds of good boxing. There, he suffered and couldn’t get his shots off on Fundora and it ultimately cost him his title and another on the line. Tim Tszyu will be back.

Sebastian Fundora, however, just set himself up with a major fight with Terence Crawford. His win over Tim Tszyu came nearly a year after his knockout loss and couldn’t have gone better. Fundora surely didn’t mean to elbow Tim Tszyu on the crown but it did happen. Once the damage was done, Sebastian Fundora finally used his genetic gifts and jabbed down the blood-blind Tim Tszyu to cruise to a questionable split decision victory. The fight was pretty one sided and how a judge gives that fight to anyone besides Sebastian Fundora is besides me.

Isaac Cruz and Rolly Romero made up the co-main event on Amazon’s debut boxing card. Isaac Cruz walked forward with his high guard and proceeded to club Rolly Romero into submission. After almost finishing Romero in the first round, Isaac Cruz kept plodding forward, battering up the reigning champion for eight rounds. In the seventh, he almost put Rolly Romero away and in the eighth, early at that, Isaac Cruz became champion at 140. Guess who I want to see him fight? Subriel Matias. As usual.

Rolly Romero took a beating but wasn’t as bad as I thought. He did look better than I assumed he would. Make no mistake, however, Rolly Romero got beat up and showed that he didn’t really have what it takes to be champion at 140. He struggled to keep Isaac Cruz off of him all night it it cost Rolly Romero his title.

Apr 01, 202416:27

E290 - 125 Rose ain’t it, chief | UFC Vegas 89: Rose Namajunas vs. Amanda Ribas recap

Rose Namajunas notched a win over Amanda Ribas in the main event of UFC Vegas 89 last night. With a win at 125, “Thug” Rose is looking for her way to a title shot in her second division.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:10 Rose Namajunas isn’t the same at 125
6:37 Amanda Ribas fought well
11:55 Edmen Shahbazyan REALLY wants to grapple
14:57 Youssef Zalal returns!
19:14 We biting now?

Rose Namajunas is trying to find new life in her new weight class of 125. After going two time champion at 115, she believes women’s flyweight is her new home. I’m not so sure. After her loss to Manon Fiorot in her debut I question has time passed Rose Namajunas by? She’s only 31 but it looks as if she’s slower and relies on her tactics instead of speed. Regardless, Rose Namajunas looked acceptable against Amanda Ribas, a fight which she should have won and did so.

Amanda Ribas, on the other hand, over performed by my own estimation. She wasn’t supposed to look as good as she did but has shown some improvements. That said, her game is too shallow for a fighter like Rose Namajunas, who has a deep tool kit. Amanda Ribas is ranked in two divisions and, being the tweener she is, will keep doing so. This loss to Rose Namajunas was just another bump in the road for Amanda Ribas.

Edmen Shahbazyan and his weird rib cage returned with another win at UFC Vegas 89. He beat AJ Dobson and got hurt in the process. That said, Edmen Shahbazyan really showed that he’s been working on his grappling and really went after that rear naked choke. In the end, he got the finish via submission and all is well. Edmen Shahbazyan doesn’t need to rush his career at only 26. A couple years of these types of fights will do him good.

After he was cut from the UFC, I questioned why they had done so to Youssef Zalal. He’s a great fighter with great hands, the exact type of fighter the UFC enjoys. But after an 0-3-1 run, including a loss to Ilia Topuria, Zalal was cut. Now he’s back after just over a year and a half gone. He choked out Billy Quarantillo to show us that he’s improved in his time away. I think Youssef Zalal has a bright future ahead of him in the UFC’s featherweight division.

Lastly, we will bust out the ole Jaws theme and talk about Igor Severino biting Andre Lima and getting subsequently disqualified and cut from the UFC. GOOD! There’s no place for that blatant type of cheating in the sport.

Mar 25, 202421:32

E287 - Chito Vera is BRAINDEAD | UFC 299: Sean O’Malley vs. Chito Vera 2 full card recap

Sean O’Malley put on a masterclass against Chito Vera in the two’s long awaited rematch. That doesn’t mean Chito Vera didn’t fight like a moron. Let’s talk about his performance for a minute.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:10 Chito Vera is braindead
9:17 Dustin Poirier is braindead too
12:55 Welcome to the UFC, MVP
15:58 Jack Della Maddelena is for real
18:58 Petr Yan is back

Sean O’Malley put on for UFC 299. He avenged his loss to Chito Vera from years ago with a near-perfect performance. Sean O’Malley overwhelmed Chito Vera with feints and volumes, the same things we talked about in our Vera film study (XXX). Now, Sean O’Malley, with negative charisma, calls out Ilia Topuria. That’s not a good idea yet. But I can see a future where the two face off and the winner becomes the next superstar for the UFC. I just will put my money on Ilia Topuria. Regardless, Sean O’Malley really looked great and should really face Merab Dvalishvili or Cory Sandhagen next.

In the co-main event of UFC 299, Dustin Poirier took on Benoit Saint-Denis in a close fight that saw Poirier jump the guillotine over and over again only to get smashed by the Frenchman. In the end, Dustin Poirier came through for this fellow Louisianan and knocked Benoit Saint-Denis out in round 2. Despite his flaws, I still very much love Dustin Poirier and he’s probably the best fighter to never win the belt.

Michael “Venom” Page made his UFC debut at UFC 299 as well. He took on Kevin Holland and beat him from pillar to post. Holland could not keep up with Michael “Venom” Page and MVP got off on Kevin Holland all night. He styled with exciting kicks, spinning back elbows, and insanely illusive footwork that had Kevin Holland frustrated by the end of the night. All I can ask for now is Michael “Venom” Page versus Ian Garry and/or Stephen Thompson.

Jack Della Maddelena had his coming out party on the night too! He took on the experienced Gilbert Burns at UFC 299 and really had a testing fight. Gilbert Burns, being as technical as he is on the ground, challenged Jack Della Maddelena in areas we have wondered about since his debut on the Contender Series. Now ranked top five and busting up the wrestler’s club at at the top of 170, what is next for the Australian striker?

Opening the main card, Petr Yan looked to snap his 3 fight losing streak against Yadong Song. Yan has struggled in the past and took some time to get going. But he stayed in the fight and eventually started rolling before Yadong Song could really land any damage. Petr Yan got his hands working and we even got to see some of that clinch work that we love so much from the former Russian champion. The takedown, leg sweep thing was just magnificent. Petr Yan really did his best work and seemingly got back on track at UFC 299.

Mar 11, 202423:14

E286 - Francis Ngannou fraud checked by Anthony Joshua

It took Anthony Joshua two rounds to do what Tyson Fury couldn’t: knock out Francis Ngannou. And in spectacular fashion, he did it in the second round. In this episode we will recap the fight between Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou and compare it to Tyson Fury’s body of work against the former UFC champion.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:10 Francis Ngannou fraud checked
2:50 Anthony Joshua: still good at boxing
6:10 Tyson Fury in shambles
8:02 Anthony Joshua vs. Tyson Fury?
11:43 Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira?

We start the episode off by calling the fight what it was: a fraud check. Many were riding high on Francis Ngannou’s fight with Tyson Fury despite him losing, and perhaps rightfully so. But when he took the Anthony Joshua fight, we said that if AJ took this fight seriously, he could run through Francis Ngannou. It was also mentioned that Francis Ngannou could have been taken lightly by Tyson Fury. Regardless, Ngannou may want to be done with boxing at 37 years old.

Then I’ll discuss what I liked about Anthony Joshua. He’s still a very talented boxer and after some lackluster performances and then the two losses to Oleksandr Usyk, may thought Joshua was washed. But his fights with Otto Wallin and now Francis Ngannou give me hope that Anthony Joshua is improved and gotten over that hump that’s been hindering him in the past few years.

Tyson Fury’s win over Francis Ngannou has now aged like milk. Having gone to decision with him and being knocked down in the process, Tyson Fury’s stock has plummeted after Anthony Joshua did it in only two rounds. While styles do make fights, it will be impossible to avoid the comparisons now and a fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua seems imminent once Fury is done with Oleksandr Usyk.

So does Anthony Joshua beat Tyson Fury? With the last couple performances for both, I’m leaning to yes for now. Of course, that’s always changing and if Tyson Fury beats Oleksandr Usyk, it will dump all that on its head.

What’s next for Francis Ngannou? It’s gotta be an MMA fight with Renan Ferreira in PFL. Ferreira just beat Bellator champion Ryan Bader and is the PFL champion. He’s sitting out of the PFL season and now has his sights set on Francis Ngannou.

Mar 11, 202413:30

E283 - Is Brandon Royval actually Max Holloway?

Brandon Royval snagged a sketchy split decision win over former flyweight champion Brandon Moreno this weekend at UFC Mexico. His fight was at elevation and “Raw Dog” put on a torrid pace of volume with a lot of variety. The question now is the following: Is Brandon Royval 125’s Max Holloway?

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:10 Brandon Royval’s volume
5:55 Brandon Moreno isn’t the same anymore
10:55 Brian Ortega’s big comeback
14:12 Yair Rodriguez doesn’t have a gas tank
16:13 Raoni Barcelos is the best cheater

In this podcast we will be discussing Brandon Royval and how he utilized his length to give the “better boxer” Brandon Moreno trouble. We will also talk about why he didn’t gas at UFC Mexico despite it being at elevation. Hint: Brandon Royval trained at even higher elevation. Now Brandon Royval is the number one contender but will that give him a third fight against Alexandre Pantoja, the champion, despite him losing to Pantoja twice?

Brandon Moreno has changed since his fights with Deiveson Figueiredo. He no longer punches straight and looked for looping shots over the top against Brandon Royval all night at UFC Mexico. Moreno isn’t big enough to go to 135 so he’s unfortunately stuck. That kinda sucks because I really enjoy when Brandon Moreno fights. He’s exciting.

Next, Brian Ortega was back and took on Yair Rodriguez. Ortega isn’t a good wrestler despite needing to wrestle to get to his top level jiu jitsu. He showed that either A: he has been working on his cage wrestling ahead of UFC Mexico, or B: Yair Rodriguez was gassed. Brian Ortega still has many of the same problems he always has like being too comfortable with his hands despite getting hit way too much. But this fight returned a Brian Ortega who is a grappler first, not a reinvented boxer. Keep him away from Ilia Topuria tho.

Yair Rodriguez has the same old problems. He has the gas tank of a weed eater and despite nearly finishing Ortega at UFC Mexico, he gassed himself out, spent round two on the bottom and got promptly choked out in round three. How tired do you have to be to let Brian Ortega take you down? Only Yair Rodriguez knows.

Last for UFC Mexico, we talk about Raoni Barcelos’ cheating spree against Christian Quinonez. A fence grab, a wedgie, and downed knee were all on display. But Raoni Barcelos is still the man and got the finish so I’m happy!

Feb 27, 202417:54

E282 - Ilia Topuria is your new 145 king | UFC 298: Ilia Topuria vs. Alexander Volkanovski recap

Ilia Topuria is your new king of the featherweight division. He knocked out the long-reigning champion Alexander Volkanovski in round two to take home the title to his native country of Spain. Let's talk about the fights!

Chapters
0:00 Intro
0:57 Ilia Topuria is the king of 145
11:37 Bobby Knuckles violence
15:10 Ian Garry stunk up the joint
18:46 Merab the machine!
20:17 Other outs and ins

Ilia Topuria absolutely stole the show at UFC 298. Knocking out a fighter the calibre of Alexander Volkanovski is phenomenal in it's own right. To see that made my jaw drop. So what is next for Ilia Topuria? Max Holloway? Movsar Evloev? Volkanovski 2? You be the judge.

Robert Whittaker and Paulo Costa had a fantastic fight. Costa almost put Robert Whittaker away with a spinning heel kick but Whittaker, who has done this time and time again, survived and dominated the rest of the fight. This means we need to get Robert Whittaker and Sean Strickland next, right? Former champion vs. former champion!

Ian Machado Garry stunk up the place. He allowed Geoff Neal to get him to the fence and clinch up with him for extended periods of the night. What happens if Colby Covington or Shavkat Rakhmonov get you there? You die. Ian Machado Garry is a fantastic fighter but this fight was just underwhelming and I need to see more from a fighter with the talent he has.

Merab Dvalishvili defeated Henry Cejudo by doing exactly what Cejudo does best: wrestling. Cejudo hung up the gloves again and gave a good account of himself. But he is 37. It's time to be done. He showed that he can still do things but these young guns, Merab Dvalishvili specifically, are not who he can keep up with anymore.

We also get into the weeds on Fluffy Hernandez, Amanda Lemos vs. Mackenzie Dern, Rinya Nakamura and more from UFC 298.

Feb 19, 202426:54

E281 - Is Volk too old? | UFC 298 Preview: Alexander Volkanovski vs. Ilia Topuria

Alexander Volkanovski must be what, 80 by now? The talk going into UFC 298 has been that Volkanovski is too old. He’s over 35, the curse for champions. He faces Ilia Topuria this weekend and the matchup couldn’t be tougher.

Chapters
0:00 Intro

Alexander Volkanovski is a master at switching from southpaw to orthodox. In this video we will look at a few examples of how he does just that in the middle of the cage, going backwards and coming forwards. We will talk about Alexander Volkanovski and his age and past loss to Islam Makhachev just four months ago. Will Alexander Volkanovski remain champion at UFC 298?

Ilia Topuria, on the other hand, is looking for destiny at UFC 298. He will look to keep his undefeated record on the line against Alexander The Great. Topuria boasts a fantastic striking game with incredible footwork, combination work, and head movement. He is among the best in boxing. We will look at some of the combinations Ilia Topuria utilizes, specifically from the Bryce Mitchell and Josh Emmett fight. We will also talk about Ilia Topuria’s use of the shoulder roll and his holes. He’s not a perfect fighter.

Who wins the main event of UFC 298: Alexander Volkanovski or Ilia Topuria?

Feb 16, 202419:07

E280 - Joe Pyfer was not fraud checked | UFC Vegas 86: Jack Hermansson vs. Joe Pyfer recap podcast

Jack Hermansson is a tough fight for anyone. Some come and rise to the occasion (Sean Strickland, Jared Cannonier) and some fall short (Kelvin Gastelum, Chris Curtis). Joe Pyfer fell short. 0:00 Intro 0:17 Joe Pyfer was not fraud checked 4:34 Jack Hermansson is a trap fight 8:16 Dan Ige earns his 50K 10:14 Loma Lookboonmee is always fun Jack Hermansson came out and boxed Joe Pyfer's head off at UFC Vegas 86. He showed that he may not have power but he does make up for it with smart volume. After surviving the initial onslaught, Jack Hermansson really started to put Joe Pyfer on the back foot and get his work in. A late takedown in round five really sealed the deal. Joe Pyfer is the odd man out. He wasn't fraud checked but after talking all the trash in the world on the Joe Rogan Experience, he was surely humbled. This was a learning fight for him and Joe Pyfer will come back better (hopefully.) Dan Ige also showed out at UFC Vegas 86. He beat Andre Fili with a fantastic knockout. So is he ready for an actual good fight that he can win? Lastly, I struggle to say "Lookboonmee" like Dominick Cruz wants me to say it.

Feb 14, 202412:48

E279 - Teofimo Lopez is so frustrating | Teofimo Lopez vs. Jamaine Ortiz recap

Teofimo Lopez is good until he's not. For such a talented fighter, he consistently under performs against lesser competition, especially that loss to George Kambosos Jr. His win over Jamaine Ortiz last

Thursday was exactly that: under performing. 0:00 Intro 0:13 Teofimo Lopez has a focus problem 7:51 Will Jamaine Ortiz ever be champion? 11:24 Keep Teofimo Lopez away from Crawford 14:52 Is Keyshawn Davis ready for 135 elite? While I thought Teofimo Lopez won the fight, I can understand the scorecards for Jamaine Ortiz. But to call it a robbery is silly. With all that said, Teofimo Lopez did consistently struggle with Jamaine Ortiz when it came to hand speed and size. He bullied Vasyl Lomachenko around. He was faster than Josh Taylor. Jamaine Ortiz took those advantages away. I do believe that Jamaine Ortiz will be champion one day. Looking at the state of 140, it's possible he gets the fight with Rolly Romero and Isaac Cruz' winner. But after that loss it may take a win or two. We will discuss how Ortiz really used his size to not let Teofimo Lopez bully him around as he's done to other southpaws in the past. Should Teofimo Lopez fight Terence Crawford? Absolutely not. He couldn't handle the slight technical work from Jamaine Ortiz. You mean to tell me he would do fine against a tactician bigger than him? Should Terence Crawford fight Teofimo Lopez? Absolutely. That's an easy body. Lastly, we talk about Keyshawn Davis. He took on Jose Pedraza and looked fantastic. Keyshawn Davis is fast, aggressive, and puts his combinations together well. He's also very good in the pocket with those sick uppercuts. But I do not believe that Keyshawn Davis is ready for the top of the 135 division yet. Vasyl Lomachenko, Gervonta Davis and Shakur Stevenson all make him look like what he is: inexperienced.

Feb 10, 202420:55

E276 - Dricus Du Plessis defeats Sean Strickland, what’s next? | UFC 297 recap podcast

UFC 297 was a card that happened. It wasn't a great card, really not even a good card. But it happened. The main event saw Dricus Du Plessis edges Sean Strickland over five rounds and take the UFC middleweight title. This sets up that long(ish)-awaited matchup with two time former champion Israel Adesanya. Dricus Du Plessis is the second fighter born in Africa to win a UFC title after Francis Ngannou. His run in the UFC has been meteoric. At 7-0, he is now the middleweight king. Who do you want to see Dricus Du Plessis to fight after UFC 297?

Next on the card was Raquel Pennington's win over Myra Bueno Silva for the vacant women's bantamweight title. If there was a fight that encompassed UFC 297, this was it: a stinker. But at the end of the day, Raquel Pennington became champion and has big crosshairs on her back.

Neil Magny also showed up in rare form at UFC 297. He took on Mike Malott, the surging up and comer, who really gave Magny a hard time. But the 29-11 experience came through as Neil Magny pounded out Mike Malott as time expired in the third round to win the fight via TKO.

Chris Curtis, teammate of Sean Strickland, also returned. He took on Marc-Andre Barriault in a relatively fun fight. We talk about Curtis hitting the body and how I don't get why fans hate him. I find Chris Curtis to be quite an entertaining fighter.

Speaking of entertaining, Movsar Evloev is not that. He defeated Arnold Allen via unanimous decision but it wasn't an exciting one. If it wasn't for Myra Bueno Silva and Raquel Pennington, this would have been stinker of the night. Regardless, Movsar Evloev snagged the win at UFC 297 and will now see a top five berth.

Other fights we talk about are Sean Woodson beating Charles Jourdain, Gillian Robertson being awesome and knocking out Polyana Viana, and Jasmine Jasudavicius defeating number one cheater Priscila Cachoeira.

What did you think about UFC 297? Is Dricus Du Plessis long as the middleweight champion? Will Ronda Rousey return to claim the title from Raquel Pennington?

Jan 22, 202427:07

E273 - Ismael Barroso KOs Ohara Davies in one | Vergil Ortiz vs. Fredrick Lawson recap

Ismael Barroso is the old man we all want! This weekend, he took on Ohara Davies and put him away in the first round. He reminded everyone that he may be 40, ancient in the sport of boxing, but he's got the mythical old man strength. With the win, Ismael Barroso captured the interim WBA World Super Lightweight title and possibly a rematch with Rolando Romero. Of course that is possibly up to whatever Ryan Garcia decides to do. Regardless, Ismael Barroso had a spectacular performance and it was fantastic to see.

In the main event, we had Vergil Oritz returning, this time at 156 against Fredrick Lawson. It showed us that not all first round knockouts were created equal and his was disappointing. After hurting Fredrick Lawson, Vergil Ortiz pounced on Lawson and referee Tony Weeks called the fight off. Fair or foul? Weeks responded on social media that he saw that Fredrick Lawson had two scans tell them he had a brain aneurysm. Then a third doc was brought in to change all that. Now we're looking down the barrel of Vergil Ortiz vs. Tim Tzyu, and that's a fight we all can appreciate.

What did you think of Vergil Ortiz and Ismael Barroso on DAZN?

Fight Finders 002 is out now on YouTube now: youtu.be/bdR36vvPADs

Check out my latest article, The Art of the Ninth Limb: How the headbutt changes a fight. It includes interviews with Dave LeDuc, Bas Rutten, Phil Dunlap and Mark Kerr on the topic: fight-library.com/2023/12/20/the-art-of-the-ninth-limb-how-the-headbutt-changes-a-fight/

Follow me on X and reach out about Fight Finders! Let me know what you thought.

Twitter: x.com/@BlaineHenryTFL

Subscribe to the free Substack newsletter where I do fight analysis on a weekly basis!
Substack: fightlibrary.Substack.com (free!)

Fight-library.com

Thanks for listening!

Jan 09, 202410:20

E270 - Joseph Parker defeats Deontay Wilder, ruins Christmas

Joseph Parker defeated Deontay Wilder and ruined everyone’s most wanted Christmas present that is Anthony Joshua vs. Deontay Wilder. The performance from Joseph Parker was nothing short of fantastic and Parker deserves all the praise and big name fights he gets going forward. Not to take away from Jospeh Parker but Deontay Wilder looked like HOT GARBAGE! It also makes sense that Joseph Parker trains with Tyson Fury, the only other man to beat Deontay Wilder.

In addition to Deontay Wilder losing to Joseph Parker, we will talk about Anthony Joshua beating Otto Wallin better than Tyson Fury did. Anthony Joshua has got much criticism for looking bad since the Andy Ruiz loss. But this fight marked a return of sorts. But I won’t be so quick to say AJ is “back” per se. I want to see that from him in his next couple fights before I can say that he’s back. Regardless, it was a throwback performance from Anthony Joshua with the fifth round finish of Otto Wallin. What’s next for the former heavyweight champ?

Lastly, we talk everyone’s favorite decision merchant: Dmitry Bivol. He took on Lyndon Arthur and looked great. Dmitry Bivol dominated the fight from bell to bell but lacked that killer instinct that we all love from him. Bivol is great but what did it cost us? All 12 rounds of 1-2’s and 1-1-2’s. Does Dmitry Bivol face Artur Beterbiev next?

What did you think of Joseph Parker defeating Deontay Wilder, Anthony Joshua returning to form and Dmitry Bivol cruising to the win?

Fight Finders 002 is out now on YouTube now: youtu.be/bdR36vvPADs

Check out my latest article, The Art of the Ninth Limb: How the headbutt changes a fight. It includes interviews with Dave LeDuc, Bas Rutten, Phil Dunlap and Mark Kerr on the topic: fight-library.com/2023/12/20/the-art-of-the-ninth-limb-how-the-headbutt-changes-a-fight/

Follow me on X and reach out about Fight Finders! Let me know what you thought.

Twitter: x.com/@BlaineHenryTFL

Subscribe to the free Substack newsletter where I do fight analysis on a weekly basis!
Substack: fightlibrary.Substack.com (free!)

Fight-library.com

Dec 26, 202320:32

E269 - Colby Covington is a FRAUD

UFC 296 featured two title fights in Leon Edwards vs. Colby Covington and Alexandre Pantoja vs. Brandon Royval as well as the return of Shavkat Rakhmonov. We will discuss all this on today's episode.

In the main event of UFC 296, Leon Edwards cruised to a decision over perennial number 2 Colby Covington. We will talk about why Leon Edwards was so effective over Colby Covington including a lot of his anti-wrestling techniques. As good as Edwards looked, I will pick at some gripes I had near the end of the fight. All in all, Leon Edwards dominated his second title defense and Colby Covington had nothing for him.

In the co-main event, Alexandre Pantoja defeated Brandon Royval. That fight was an entertaining five rounder with Pantoja defending his newly captured flyweight title. Brandon Royval did have a good showing and proved that he's a force to be reckoned with.

Shavkat Rakhmonov cometh. The Kazakh fighter took on Stephen Wonderboy Thompson at UFC 296 and dominated. We will discuss Shavkat Rakhmonov's gameplanning and why he had to grapple with Wonderboy.

Paddy Pimblett defeated Tony Ferguson and that was depressing. Josh Emmett murdered Bryce Mitchell. Cody Garbrandt won his second straight.

All that and more on this episode! Enjoy.

Dec 17, 202319:18

E268 - Jesse Rodriguez is must watch boxing!

Jesse Bam Rodriguez is the best boxer that most of you don't know. The casual boxing fan tends to ignore the smaller fighters. But Jesse Rodriguez is one you have to hop on now! Last night on DAZN, he dominated Sunny Edwards with a ninth round RTD that unified his reign at flyweight. Now the next challenge may be back at his higher weight class against Junto Nakatani. Jesse Rodriguez put his WBO belt on the line to Sunny Edwards' IBF title. Rodriguez put him away in round nine. The fight was a masterpiece of Rodriguez winning, having trouble with Sunny Edwards switching to southpaw, and working that out to give him nowhere to run. At the end of the day, Jesse Rodriguez remained undefeated and could be eyeing a move back up to super flyweight. Fight Finders 002 is out now on YouTube now: https://youtu.be/bdR36vvPADs Check out my latest article on the the anti-wrestling of Leon Edwards: https://fight-library.com/2023/12/13/leon-edwards-anti-wrestling-technique/ Follow me on Twitter and reach out about Fight Finders! Let me know what you thought. Twitter: x.com/@BlaineHenryTFL Subscribe to the free Substack newsletter where I do fight analysis on a weekly basis! Substack: fightlibrary.Substack.com (free!) Fight-library.com Thanks for watching!

Dec 17, 202316:20