Despite A Shocking Defeat, Vintage Ferg Is Back, UFC 274 Was Indeed A Rollercoaster Ride.
Tony Ferguson vs Michael Chandler finally happened and Iron Michael took the victory in what may be one of the most devastating knockouts in UFC history. A powerful and lethal front leg kick brought down the Boogeyman for the first time ever in his career. For Tony fans it was heart-wrenching to see a defining legend of the lightweight class and the sport itself sprawled on the octagon floor. For Chandler fans it was another entertaining yet preposterous victory and a break from a few unfortunate losses.
The Main Card
Tony “El Cucuy” Ferguson Versus “Iron” Michael Chandler
What a spectacle by Tony Ferguson, showcasing that he truly can not be counted out. His confidence in the press conferences, a complete change in his coaching and training team, his performance in the first round, all displayed the return of the Boogeyman. No fighter in the top ten will feel safe in the rankings anymore despite the ruinous loss from El Cucuy.
Meanwhile, Michael Chandler solidified his “Iron” position as the most deadly stand up fighter in the lightweight division. The first round was going entirely the way of Tony. After taking damage to the eye and seeing double, missing and getting blocked on the strikes, and managing a takedown only for it to backfire against him. Michael knew he had to change the game and dug deep in his arsenal for a weapon his opponent hadn’t prepared for. When the bell rang again for the second round Michael saw for a split second a small opening for a straight strike, and he threw a cataclysmic front leg kick that had the power to knock out a small horse.
Phoenix, Arizona fell quite as the Boogeyman slept for the very first time in his 20 year career. After approximately the longest 3 minutes for the health and coaching staff Tony’s eyes opened, his face showed confusion and disbelief, while Michaels hand was raised for victory by knockout. CSO fans however saw the entire fight very differently, they saw a young, rejuvenated and reinvented Tony Ferguson. The CSO fans witnessed El Cucuy in all his glory, back again inside the octagon.
Co-Main Event
After a gruesome knockout by Chandler, the fight between Rose Namajunas versus Carla Esparza left the audience rather underwhelmed and shadowed by the prior fight. The judges scored the fight in Esparza’s favor, making her the new women’s strawweight champion. The women’s strawweight division awaits who will challenge the champion and where this reign will take Carla Esparza.
Main Event
UFC 274 had it all, from the weigh-ins to the main card. With Charles Oliveira, the reigning lightweight champion, being stripped of his belt over 0.22 Kg (or 0.5 lb), during the weigh-in. Despite the setback, The King from Do Bronxx had this to say before the fight : “The champion has a name. His name is Charles Oliveira.” Charles went on to show exceptional technique, heart and skill in the fight in the first round after being dropped twice into the security of his guard position. The third time he brought rank 1, Justin “The Highlight” Gaethje down with him. To his dismay however, Gaethje backed off from grappling the King, though that didn’t stop the champ from getting a knockout out on Gaethje and then following up with a snake-like submission for another win during his reign.
UFC 274 Closes
Another record-breaking night for Dana White with over 17 thousand in attendance and over $6 million gate sales. The Performance of the night was split between the knockouts of Michael Chandler and Andre Fialho. The Fight of the night went to the stellar submission guillotine finish of Brandon Royval against Matthew Christopher Schnell. Brandon, who lost his mother earlier in the week, went to the cameras before the fight and said “I love you mom”.
However, excitement is still in abundance with Michael calling out both the rank 1 and rank 2 contenders in his division and also McGregor at the 170lb welterweight division. Oliveira however did not care who the promotion made him fight next but also asked for a Red Panty Night after his title was (what many think, suspiciously) outweighed from under him.
RDX sends out our support and love to our very own El Cucuy, hoping for a speedy recovery and a complete return to domination all over the fight world.
