UFC
Top 7 UFC fights of 2022 so far
7. Molly McCann vs. Luana Carolina
Molly McCann (right) lands a clean spinning elbow. Photo: UFC Europe Twitter
The fight between Molly McCann and Luana Carolina was for sure a good one, but it was the clean and shocking finish that really made it stand out. In the third round, McCann landed a picture perfect spinning elbow that made Carolina’s lights go out on impact.
This is by far McCann’s most memorable win to date, and it will be more than interesting to see her fight Hannah Goldy on London on July 23.
6. Calvin Kattar vs. Giga Chikadze
Calvin Kattar (left) Giga Chikadze (right). Photo via Instagram (@calvinkattar) and Viaplay
The very first UFC main event of 2022 sat the standard for the fights to come.
In a brutal five round featherweight fight, underdog Calvin Kattar gave rising star Giga Chikadze all kinds of hell. With a barrage of knees, elbows and punches, Kattar was able to secure a unanimous decision win (50–45, 50–45, 50–44).
“The first fight of the year and a ‘Fight of the Year’ candidate already,” UFC president Dana White said at the post-fight press conference. ”That’s the way to start it. That’s the way to start the year.”
5. Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Brandon Moreno 3
Brandon Moreno (left) and Deiveson Figueiredo (right). Photo: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
In their third fight, Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno delivered five epic rounds of action and then some. Moreno was landing more strikes, but Figueiredo’s takedowns ended up being a big factor for the judges who scored the fight 48–47, 48–47, 48–47 in favor of the Brazilian.
Figueiredo regained the UFC flyweight title, and became the first two-time flyweight champion in UFC history, but the rivalary between the flyweight kings seems far from settled.
4. Aljamain Sterling vs. Petr Yan 2
Photo: Jeff Bottari/Handout Photo via USA TODAY Sports
After their first controversial fight, there was a lot of bad blood between bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling and interim champion Petr Yan.
If Yan controlled the first fight (until the infamous illegal knee) their second fight, at UFC 273, was way more even.
Sterling was strong in round two and three, with more than seven minutes of ground control, but Yan clearly had the fourth and fifth. The first round was up for grabs, and in the end, the judges scored the fight 48-47, 48-47, 47-48 in Sterling’s favour.
“I thought that the judges blew that one,” UFC president Dana White said at the post-fight presser. “I had it 3-2 the other way. I don’t know how you guys scored it. I guess it’s all in how you score that first round.”
3. Bryan Barberena vs. Matt Brown
Photo via Instagram (@bryan_barberena)
On March 26, welterweight veterans Bryan Barberena and Matt Brown fought one hell of a fight and got standing ovations from the entire MMA world.
After an epic three-round war where both fighters were bloodied, pummeled and exhausted, Barberena stood as the winner by split decision.
2. Marlon Vera vs. Rob Font
Rob Font. Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
The bantamweight fight between Marlon ”Chito” Vera and Rob Font was for sure an intense one.
Font got a good start, but it was Vera that landed the heavier shots and floored his opponent several times. Even though Font landed a crazy amount of significant strikes throughout the bout, he was the one who was cut and bruised.
In the end, Vera took a unanimous decision win, entered the bantamweight top five, and walked away with an extra 100 000 dollar in bonus money, since Font missed weight. A good day at the office for the Ecuadorian.
1. Khamzat Chimaev vs. Gilbert Burns
At UFC 273, welterweight veteran Gilbert Burns and rising star Khamzat Chimaev put on the best fight of the year so far.
Both fighters had their moments during the bloody and intense bout. ”Borz” dropped Burns in the first round, only to be sent to the canvas by the Brazilian in the second round. In the end, Chimaev remained unbeaten and passed the greatest test of his career when he defeated ”Durinho” via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
”I am happy. This stage is what I have been waiting for a long time,” Chimaev said after the fight. ”I wanted to be 11-0 with 11 finishes. But I love this stage.”
Being one of the most hyped prospects in the history of UFC, the tough and even bout actually raised Chimaev’s stock even more, since he now proved that he has the heart and chin of a champion, in addition to his skill and physique.
Read more: Still undefeated: Who is next for Khamzat Chimaev?
See Khamzat Chimaev prepare for UFC 273
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