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#2 Best: Vicente Luque’s amazing run continues
In one of last night’s most exciting fights, Welterweight contender Vincente Luque picked up his 12th UFC win by TKOing Randy Brown. Incredibly, of those 12 wins, just one has gone the distance. ‘The Silent Assassin’ has finished all of his other foes in violent fashion, and Brown was no exception.
Despite giving up some height and reach, Luque never looked to have any trouble with ‘Rude Boy’. The Brazilian targeted his foe’s leg early on, breaking him from the bottom up. And despite Brown surviving the first round due to a takedown, Luque overwhelmed him in the second.
The final barrage saw him land a picture-perfect knee to the head that put Brown down. From there, a series of punches had the Jamaican out, forcing an end to proceedings.
Luque currently sits at #11 in the UFC’s Welterweight rankings, and after last night, it’s clear he needs a step up. Demian Maia, Rafael Dos Anjos, or Michael Chiesa would all make good opponents for him.
Either way, ‘The Silent Assassin’ remains a must-see fighter in the UFC – up there with the likes of Niko Price and Drew Dober for guaranteed excitement every time.
#2 Worst: Calderwood’s UFC title hopes go up in smoke
UFC Flyweight title contender Joanne Calderwood was supposed to take her shot at champion Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 251. But unsurprisingly for such a strange year, that fight went by-the-by back in March when the champion suffered a leg injury.
Calderwood probably could’ve sat out and waited for her opportunity, but needing a paycheque desperately, she instead risked it all. When Viviane Araujo was sidelined following a positive COVID-19 test, former Invicta champion Jennifer Maia needed a new opponent on last night’s show. And ‘Jo-Jo’ decided to step in.
It turned out to be a huge mistake. Calderwood was simply outgunned by the Brazilian. And despite securing a takedown, she soon found herself submitting to a tight armbar with seconds to go in the opening round.
The Scotswoman’s night then went from bad to worse when she passed out backstage following the loss and had to be taken to hospital. Hopefully, she’s okay, but overall the decision to fight last night will probably be looked upon as a mistake. She’ll probably never secure another UFC title shot – and that’s just sad.
#3 Best: Is Maia now Shevchenko’s greatest threat?
When the UFC announced Joanne Calderwood as Flyweight queen Valentina Shevchenko’s next title challenger, it sounded like business as usual for ‘The Bullet’. But following last night’s show, Shevchenko may be faced with a much greater threat.
Former Invicta champion Jennifer Maia has largely flattered to deceive since arriving in the UFC in 2018. Last night though, she stepped up – big time – and displayed all of her skills to take out Calderwood in the first round.
Maia lit ‘Jo-Jo’ up on the feet with some clean boxing, and once the fight hit the ground, she stayed calm on the bottom before securing a beautiful armbar for the tap out.
The win puts Maia 3-2 in the UFC and while that doesn’t sound too impressive, in a thin division it should be enough to net her a title shot.
More to the point though, she should be able to provide Shevchenko with her toughest test to date. Maia appears to be a better striker than Liz Carmouche, and a better grappler than Jessica Eye and Katlyn Chookagian.
Will that be enough to overcome the champion? Most likely not, as Shevchenko is probably the best pound-for-pound female fighter in the UFC. But she’s definitely earned her shot at the champion now, and hopefully, the UFC gives it to her in the near future.
