UFC Edmonton mailbag: Brandon Moreno’s masterclass, Rose Namajunas at 125 and Erin Blanchfield’s ceiling

UFC Edmonton went down this previous weekend and a few very notable outcomes occurred. In the principle occasion, Brandon Moreno broke his shedding streak, dominating Amir Albazi in a sensational efficiency for the previous champion, whereas within the co-main occasion, Erin Blanchfield additionally obtained again within the win column, albeit by eking out a win over former strawweight champion Rose Namajunas.

So with rather a lot to speak about, let’s dive proper in to this week’s questions.

“Ideas on the truth that Moreno placed on a masterclass however didn’t even get a bonus?”

“Masterclass” is the right phrase for what Moreno did to Albazi on Saturday; he received that struggle pillar to publish. Credit score to Albazi who regardless of being clearly outclassed nonetheless hung robust, even surviving a few scares in there, however that was a type of one-sided performances that basically places into perspective the hole between Albazi and the highest tier of the load class.

It was additionally a stark reminder of how small the margins are in MMA. Moreno was on a two-fight shedding streak heading into this weekend and as such was virtually an afterthought. However these losses have been contentious break up selections and in one other universe, Moreno remains to be the UFC flyweight champion. On any given night time he can carry out like the most effective on the planet.

As for not getting a bonus, it’s to be anticipated. Although “efficiency” is open ended sufficient to imply something, the Efficiency of the Night time bonuses are derived from the previous Knockout and Submission of the Night time awards, and the UFC treats them as such, which is ok. Jasmine Jasudavicius, Dustin Stoltzfus, Charles Jourdain, and Youssef Zalal all in all probability could use the $50,000 more than Moreno.

Rose Namajunas

“If ‘Thug Rose’ didn’t get to cocky and try a takedown on the heavier grappler, would Blanchfield’s low Combat IQ lose her the struggle?”

Man, I positive thought it was going to.

It’s no secret that I’ve been extraordinarily excessive on Blanchfield as a prospect. I’ve obtained quite a lot of Take Fairness saved up in her turning into champion in the future. And for 10-plus minutes on Saturday, I used to be calling my Take Dealer to scout choices for dumping my inventory.

Merely put, Blanchfield was atrocious for the primary two rounds of that struggle. I do not know what the plan was, however I merely can not think about the plan was “willingly interact in a long-range, low-volume kickboxing match with Rose” as a result of that may be among the many dumbest recreation plans ever created. And it’s not like Rose was forcing Blanchfield out of her consolation zone, Blanchfield simply didn’t attempt to do something aside from get sniped. It was maddeningly unhealthy, and I nonetheless can not determine why she did it.

HOWEVER, I take problem with the concept Rose “obtained cocky” together with her takedown try. Rose obtained pressured into that takedown try, as a result of within the third spherical, Blanchfield began combating. Namajunas has by no means preferred to be in fireplace fights, and after punting the primary two rounds, Blanchfield determined to begin strolling into the road of fireplace and exchanging. Though she additionally obtained hit a bunch, Blanchfield began touchdown and tagged Rose, main her to search for an escape route with the takedown. I don’t suppose that was essentially unhealthy Combat IQ from Rose, however a very good adjustment from Blanchfield.

That being stated, there was one occasion earlier within the struggle that I’ve re-thought fairly a bit, and whereas I don’t suppose it’s “unhealthy Combat IQ” per se, I do suppose it’s instructive of the place Namajunas is in her profession and up at flyweight.

Within the second spherical, Rose hits a visit on Blanchfield and results in aspect management, however as an alternative of holding the place and dealing, Namajunas instantly stands up and retreats to putting vary. A part of me can perceive the pondering there of not partaking with the grappler, however one other a part of me believes that’s an indication of a reliable problem with Namajunas at this stage of her profession: she doesn’t struggle to win, she fights to not lose.

In case you return and watch the Carla Esparza rematch (don’t try this to your self, it’s horrible) that struggle is actually simply two girls fully unwilling to danger shedding, so neither does a lot of something, and admittedly, that’s no option to be knowledgeable fist fighter. I’m not saying everybody has to develop into Justin Gaethje, however passivity is a lethal sin on this recreation and Namajunas actually appears to have that in her now, particularly when she’s going through somebody who can clearly threaten her.

I don’t know the place Rose goes from right here, but when she will’t get that spark again, I feel we’ve in all probability seen the top of enjoyable Namajunas fights and her title aspirations.

Erin Blanchfield

“She’s nonetheless solely 25, however how lengthy till Blanchfield’s reliance on her toughness versus studying putting protection turns into a priority?”

It’s already a priority, although not the largest one I’ve at this second.

Blanchfield is a horrible striker, full cease. It’s not simply her protection, it’s her offense as effectively. For as comfy and easy as Blanchfield seems on the bottom, she seems bodily uncomfortable and uncoordinated putting. Like a new child child deer stumbling round on legs it’s simply determining are hers, that’s Blanchfield in the case of putting.

Proper now, the one motive Blanchfield’s putting may be efficient is, as you identified, as a result of she’s fairly robust and she or he’s keen to take one to provide one. However that kind of brawling mentality goes a great distance, particularly in a weight class the place there are perhaps a half-dozen individuals who can actually crack. Actually, if I have been teaching her (and let me stress this: I’m not a coach, I’m a moron) I’d work on constructing her offense as a result of that’s a extra vital piece of the puzzle proper now. Give Blanchfield some actual weapons she will depend on on the ft and the protection can get sorted out later.

However the factor that the majority considerations me about Blanchfield proper now could be how disjointed her recreation is. Blanchfield is a good grappler and a strong wrestler and athlete, however none of it really works collectively. She doesn’t mix the martial arts, she engages in them individually at every stage and so each are lessened dramatically by that. No one would ever confuse Khabib Nurmagomedov with an elite striker, however he had sufficient instruments there to compete and his putting recreation was fully catered to serve his grappling. That’s what Blanchfield wants and as an alternative she has an ideal Plan A and restricted methods to impose it.

The higher bounds of girls’s flyweight has individuals who can match the physicality Blanchfield brings to bear. We noticed that within the Manon Fiorot struggle, and to some extent, we noticed that on Saturday. Blanchfield just isn’t the kind of hyper-athlete that may simply run over even the most effective fighters, so she must get a cohesive offensive sorted out sooner reasonably than later or she’ll by no means win the title.

Callout

“Asking as a Blanchfield fan, how does a struggle in opposition to Alexa Grasso go for her? Was that the appropriate callout?”

In case you missed it, Blanchfield known as for a struggle with Alexa Grasso subsequent, and I whereas I initially preferred it, I’ve cooled on the concept with extra time to consider it, at the very least promotionally.

Fiorot has the subsequent shot at Valentina Shevchenko, however after that, the title image is fairly empty. A win over Grasso would undoubtedly put Blanchfield in line for the subsequent title shot, but when Grasso wins and so does Shevchenko, now the UFC simply killed off a contender for a struggle that we actually don’t have to see once more.

As a substitute, Blanchfield ought to struggle Maycee Barber. That is clearly depending on Barber being wholesome sufficient to compete, and for the second, that seems like it may not be the case. But when she will resolve no matter points she’s going through, Blanchfield vs. Barber makes essentially the most sense as a no-doubt-about-it No. 1 contender struggle.

That being stated, if Barber doesn’t work out and the Grasso struggle is what occurs, that’s not a horrible comfort prize. And I’m genuinely within the matchup. Traditionally, Grasso is a foul defensive wrestler, which traces up effectively for Blanchfield, however Blanchfield is so one-track at this level, that ought to assist Grasso put together and make issues robust on Blanchfield. Valentina Shevchenko took Grasso down a billion occasions as a result of she’s a bodily monster AND she’s harmful on the ft. Blanchfield doesn’t have that very same risk so Grasso has an excellent probability in opposition to her.

Youssef Zalal

“How good is Youssef Zalal? I admit I didn’t pay a lot consideration to his 1st run within the UFC however 3 subs in his final 3 fights is spectacular, together with the actual fact he took Ilia Topuria the space again in 2020…who would you ebook him in opposition to subsequent?”

Appears fairly good!

Zalal is a lock for making the 2024 All-Violence Team with three finishes and two bonuses in three fights, and it simply goes to indicate that typically the most effective factor for a profession may be to depart the UFC. Growth isn’t linear and it’s not the identical for each fighter, and the regional circuit may be extraordinarily good for constructing a fighter again up after a troublesome run. Simply take a look at Zalal.

As for who he ought to struggle subsequent, let’s go along with the winner of the Nate Landwehr vs. Doo Ho Choi struggle at UFC 310.

LONG TIME

“UFC playing cards really feel like they’re getting longer, and in some circumstances, they’re. Your resolution?”

Per the nice Mike Bohn, UFC Edmonton ended with 3:06:38 of complete struggle time, the third-longest in UFC historical past. And I’ll be sincere, it felt like that.

Fights have been on for seven hours and Saturday frankly, components of it felt like an eternity. It’s not essentially anybody’s fault however quite a lot of that card was competent but unmemorable. It’s like that line from Ocean’s 11 the place Brad Pitt tells Matt Damon the bad guy needs to like you after which overlook about you instantly. The UFC Edmonton undercard was the Linus of struggle playing cards.

And in my thoughts there are solely two methods to “repair” this. The primary is to convey pageantry again into the manufacturing to interrupt issues up and maintain it feeling recent. However we all know that’s by no means going to occur, so the opposite possibility is to have fewer fights.

13 fights is quite a lot of fights. Hell, it’s quite a lot of something (other than rice). 10 fights is a pleasant spherical quantity that’s laborious to really feel unhealthy about. A part of the explanation I like Contender Sequence a lot is that it’s 5 fights, and we’re carried out. Within the absence of pageantry, effectivity guidelines. And on Saturday, I used to be undoubtedly wishing for a bit extra effectivity.

Thanks for studying, and thanks for everybody who despatched in tweets (Xs?)! Do you’ve got any burning questions on issues at the very least considerably associated to fight sports activities? Then you definately’re in luck, as a result of you’ll be able to 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.