UFC Struggle Evening 255 takeaways: Can Carlos Ulberg beat Magomed Ankalaev or Alex Pereira?

What many pinpointed as the toilet break of the undercard ended up being the spotlight of the prelims when Shauna Bannon staged a exceptional comeback in opposition to Puja Tomar of their strawweight bout.

It doesn’t matter what occurs all through the rest of the 12 months, Bannon (7-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) will at minimal be an honorable point out within the 2025 Comeback of the Year discussion. She was left for useless on the canvas after Tomar floored her with an ideal head kick, however then one way or the other turned the tables and snatched up an armbar to win the battle.

This outcome was definitely a product of the mixed ability stage concerned. Superior fighters would’ve both completed it after the top kick, or prevented getting tapped from the armbar. Regardless, it was much-needed pleasure amid a sluggish begin to the occasion, and for that, each ladies deserve reward.

After derailing a possible heavyweight on the rise with a unanimous decision victory over Mick Parkin, longtime octagon veteran Marcin Tybura revealed he’s now a free agent after ending his promotional contract.

With 22 appearances and 14 wins, Tybura finds himself all around the divisional document books and has been a mainstay of the load class for years. He’s a recognized commodity, however it relies upon if the UFC brass discover him to nonetheless be serviceable at this level.

Tybura (27-9 MMA, 14-8 UFC) hasn’t landed a standing knockdown in his complete UFC profession, and though he has submission and ground-and-pound capability, it’s not often fairly. He could be a good check for somebody like a Tom Aspinall on the rise after they met in a primary occasion, however how helpful is it to the UFC when he beats Parkin the way in which he did?

These are actual inquiries to ponder. If the UFC cares about having the very best on the planet no matter combating fashion, then Tybura ought to be locked as much as a brand new deal shortly, as a result of he’s nonetheless clearly high 15. Sadly, it ought to shock nobody if, regardless of all his service and getting his hand raised right here, his subsequent battle finally ends up elsewhere.

Molly McCann introduced her retirement from MMA after a first-round submission loss to newcomer Alexia Thainara, and truthfully, her reasoning was sound.

McCann (14-8 MMA, 7-7 UFC) couldn’t resist the bottom arsenal of Thainara and located herself tapping to a rear-naked choke within the opening body. Not solely was it a loss, however it was a loss to a far much less skilled foe who accepted the battle on simply eight days’ discover. McCann craves greatness, and stated it’s exhausting to justify persevering with what felt like a definitive setback.

Though she by no means reached championship stage, McCann did contribute one thing significant throughout her practically seven-year window underneath the UFC banner. She turned the primary British feminine to win contained in the octagon and achieved a stage of notoriety each inside and out of doors her personal nation that the majority within the sport might solely dream of.

Maybe most significantly of all, McCann did it the proper approach. She all the time handled folks across the sport kindly, and she or he ought to exit along with her head held excessive.

Carlos Ulberg’s profitable streak continued to construct in opposition to his most noteworthy opponent but. He bought the unanimous decision victory over former mild heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz, however it wasn’t precisely probably the most memorable battle.

Ulberg (11-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) and Blachowicz spent the higher a part of quarter-hour peppering one another with leg kicks with the occasional placing exchanges. The commentary crew was on the verge of begging them to decide to riskier exchanges, however then time ran out, and Ulberg was the winner.

He called for a title shot in opposition to the Magomed Ankalaev vs. Alex Pereira rematch winner, however the temperature from that followers on that appears low. The streak appears to be like good on paper in case you overlook about how the precise battle seemed, although, and that’s to Ulberg’s benefit irrespective of how issues play out.

Can Ulberg get a title shot after this battle, or yet one more win? Actually. Did this battle in opposition to Blachowicz have anybody pondering he’s the division’s outstanding risk to the belt? He’s bought some work to do in that regard.

Sean Brady is deserving of all of the reward for getting into the principle occasion and changing into the firs tot end Leon Edwards in MMA with a fourth-round submission, however the actual story after the occasion is the previous champion.

Edwards’ (22-5 MMA, 14-4 UFC) fall from grace within the welterweight division has been fast. He was the champion roughly 9 months in the past, however a lackluster displaying in his title battle loss to Belal Muhammad, adopted by a efficiency in opposition to Brady that had few redeeming qualities, is a troublesome capsule to swallow.

Given it took a 10-fight unbeaten streak and plenty of breaks in his favor for Edwards to get his first title shot, it’s exhausting to go searching and see the positives if he needs to climb again to gold. Furthermore, it appears he’s misplaced of plenty of the religion of his British followers after back-to-back flops on house soil, and it’s going to take some work to rebuild that sentiment, as properly.

Edwards has overcome a lot in his life and larger obstacles than this. However when it comes to his combating profession, it is a outstanding second of adversity that he should dig his approach out of.

For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC Fight Night 255.