Cormier adds another big bout to his legacy
Heavyweight champion disposes of Lewis to highlight UFC 230 card
Unlike the UFC’s first two trips to Madison Square Garden, it’s unlikely we’re going to look back on UFC 230 and talk about history being made.
It was a fun card, to be sure, but there was nothing like Georges St-Pierre returning to the octagon after a lengthy semi-retirement to claim the middleweight crown in 2017, and certainly nothing on par with Conor McGregor becoming the first fighter to hold championship belts in two different divisions in 2016.
But if you’re a fight fan, it still largely delivered. There were competitive, fun fights. Israel Adesanya confirmed he’s a star, while Daniel Cormier proved once again that he’s as good as it gets in the fight game.
So no, this never reached the heights of the UFC’s previous forays into MSG, but it was only a month ago that we were watching the highest-selling payper-view in MMA history when McGregor fought Khabib Nurmagomedov. There are only so many blockbusters to go around.
Here are five important takeaways from Saturday’s card:
1. AS GOOD AS IT GETS
Daniel Cormier made it look easy in the main event against Derrick Lewis.
That’s not to say anything about the process of becoming both the UFC’s heavyweight and lightheavyweight champion is easy, or what Cormier did was simple.
It was obviously the product of years of hard work, but Cormier is simply so far ahead of the pack that he can roll into MSG on short notice and completely negate an opponent’s strengths by taking him down and beating him up.
Because he’s lost twice to Jon Jones, it’s hard to make the argument that Cormier is the best MMA fighter of all-time, but the guy should probably be No. 2 on everybody’s list.
2. NEXT TO STEP UP
Cormier only has time for one more fight before he retires in March on his 40th birthday.
He wants that fight to be against Brock Lesnar, the former heavyweight champion who is a superstar in the WWE. The UFC wants it to happen, too.
If Lesnar isn’t available, Cormier wants to go back down to lightheavyweight and fight Jones, assuming Jones beats Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 232.
If Jones loses, though, Cormier’s not fighting Gustafsson, as he clarified that he’d prefer to defend his heavyweight title against former champion Stipe Miocic in a rematch of their fight from July.
Some people might have complaints about some of that, but at least we know what he’s thinking.
3. ON THE RISE
Israel Adesanya has fought four times in 2018, and he’s looked better every time he’s walked into the octagon.
Saturday was his best showing so far, as Adesanya stopped multiple takedown attempts from established veteran Derek Brunson and then finished the fight with a legitimately thrilling sequence of strikes.
What was impressive about the finish was that Adesanya didn’t simply rush in and go wild with punches after he hurt Brunson. He patiently unloaded kicks, punches and knees while staying out of danger.
It was genuinely beautiful, and confirmed Adensanya as the UFC’s next big thing.
4. NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART I apologize for being ever-soobvious, but sometimes MMA is just cruel.
Former middleweight champion Chris Weidman was so close to earning a shot to get his belt back coming into Saturday and looked so strong for two rounds against Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza.
The two middleweights were putting on an absolute classic, but Souza ended the fight with one perfect punch that put Weidman on his back in front of the hometown crowd. Referee Dan Miragliotta allowed the fight to go on for a few more seconds, but that was malpractice.
Weidman has now been knocked out both times he’s fought at MSG, the arena he lobbied for so long to fight at.
He’s still an elite fighter, but Saturday was a reminder that the fight gods are just mean sometimes.
5. STAR POWER
Ben Askren came back to the media room to introduce himself on Saturday night, and the welterweight definitely made an impression.
Long considered the best fighter at 170 pounds. not fighting in the UFC, Askren was acquired by the UFC in a “trade” with ONE Championship for former flyweight king Demetrious Johnson.
While some in the media are more convinced than others that Askren is going to be a transcendent star in the UFC, there’s no question he’s a charismatic guy and a dangerous fighter.
Expect a big-name opponent for him to be announced very, very soon.