UFC 224 Review
UFC 224 was last night and it’s time for the review. The card on paper wasn’t the strongest and UFC 225 is much stronger but that doesn’t mean it’s going to be a bad show. It’s time to start the review.
Victor Belfort Vs. Lotto Machida (Middleweight)
Round 1: Nothing happens for the first thirty seconds or so. Machida gets a straight body kick but that’s the first move. A minute in and nothing so far. The crowd is starting to show their disliking with a few boos. Belfort hasn’t flung a strike. Belfort goes for a punch but doesn’t. Machida does a good kick and tries to follow it up but doesn’t. Machida almost gets a headkick but barely touches him. Belfort attacks Machida with a flurry of punches but quickly stops. There’s a little bit of scrapping towards the end but they’re not going to kill each other.
My Thoughts: A slow round with little to no action.
Round Winner: Lotto Machida
Round 2: Hopefully this round will be better. Belfort doing more this round than the round previous. But that’s not saying much. Machida lining him up and CATCHES HIM UP WITH A STRAIGHT HEAD KICK. THAT WAS PICTURE PERFECT.
Winner: Lotto Machida (Round 2; KO)
My Thoughts: A slow round with little to no action.
Round Winner: Lotto Machida
Round 2: Hopefully this round will be better. Belfort doing more this round than the round previous. But that’s not saying much. Machida lining him up and CATCHES HIM UP WITH A STRAIGHT HEAD KICK. THAT WAS PICTURE PERFECT.
Winner: Lotto Machida (Round 2; KO)
John Lineker Vs. Brian Kelleher (Bantamweight)
Round 1: Lineker gets a good punch into Kelleher. Kelleher avoids a strike there. Lineker gets a great punching combo to the body. Kelleher gets a good right hook and Lineker has recovered. Lineker getting a good punching combo to the head and knocks him down and tries to finish him on the ground but Kelleher avoids it, he’s got such a good ground game. Kelleher lands a spinning back fist but falls over which is bad for him as he could’ve did more if he was still standing. Lineker gets some good shots. This has definitely been Lineker’s round.
My Thoughts: Great round for both fighters. Good stuff.
Round Winner: John Lineker.
Round 2: Lineker gets some shots at the beginning of the round. He gets some good combinations, Kelleher is in danger. Lineker does some good hits. Lineker is surely a future champion, he’s a really good striker. He could PROBABLY make the jump to boxing. Kelleher is punching without timing.
My Thoughts: Another good round for Lineker. Bad round for Kelleher.
Round Winner: John Lineker.
Round 3: It’s the final round now. Lineker has the massive advantage. Kelleher attempts a takedown but it backfires while Lineker goes for the guillotine. Kelleher gets a decent body kick in. They wxchange strikes but Lineker hits some great punches and eventually TKO’s him with a MASSIVE left hand.
Winner: John Lineker (Round 3; TKO)
My Thoughts: Great round for both fighters. Good stuff.
Round Winner: John Lineker.
Round 2: Lineker gets some shots at the beginning of the round. He gets some good combinations, Kelleher is in danger. Lineker does some good hits. Lineker is surely a future champion, he’s a really good striker. He could PROBABLY make the jump to boxing. Kelleher is punching without timing.
My Thoughts: Another good round for Lineker. Bad round for Kelleher.
Round Winner: John Lineker.
Round 3: It’s the final round now. Lineker has the massive advantage. Kelleher attempts a takedown but it backfires while Lineker goes for the guillotine. Kelleher gets a decent body kick in. They wxchange strikes but Lineker hits some great punches and eventually TKO’s him with a MASSIVE left hand.
Winner: John Lineker (Round 3; TKO)
Mackenzie Dern Vs. Amanda Cooper (Women’s Strawweight)
Round 1: This should be a decent fight. They share some good punches. Dern gets a ground and pound and locks in a rear naked choke and the fight is over.
Ronaldo Souza (Jacare) Vs. Kelvin Gastelum (Middleweight)
Round 1: Souza goes for an early diving takedown but doesn’t get it. They clinch against the cage. Souza has hold of on leg but can’t get Gastelum down. He eventually does and goes in side control. Souza adjusts himself into the top mount position and tries to pull the right leg. Gastelum looks to be in trouble near the end of round one.
My Thoughts: A good first round, the majority of which was spent on the ground. Souza didn’t quite get in the position he wanted.
Round Winner: Ronaldo Souza
Round 2: There’s some good strikes at beginning of round 2. Gastelum avoids a takedown this time. Souza catches Gastelum with a good punch. Some good action in this round. Gastelum gets a great knockdown and ground and pounds him. Souza gets a good left hook onto Gastelum but Gastelum quickly retaliates.
My Thoughts: A very close round, hard to judge.
Round Winner: Kelvin Gastelum
Round 3: Gastelum hits a punch but then he eats a BIG punch but doesn’t react. Gastelum is a very calm fighter. Good headkick aswell. They exchange some good punches. The feels like a much slower fight but they must be exhausted. Souza gets a good shot and tries to take Gastelum down. He does but Gastelum gets up and starts swinging.
My Thoughts: Great fight. Hope Gastelum has a big fight soon.
Round Winner: Kelvin Gastelum
Winner: Kelvin Gastelum (Split Decision)
My Thoughts: A good first round, the majority of which was spent on the ground. Souza didn’t quite get in the position he wanted.
Round Winner: Ronaldo Souza
Round 2: There’s some good strikes at beginning of round 2. Gastelum avoids a takedown this time. Souza catches Gastelum with a good punch. Some good action in this round. Gastelum gets a great knockdown and ground and pounds him. Souza gets a good left hook onto Gastelum but Gastelum quickly retaliates.
My Thoughts: A very close round, hard to judge.
Round Winner: Kelvin Gastelum
Round 3: Gastelum hits a punch but then he eats a BIG punch but doesn’t react. Gastelum is a very calm fighter. Good headkick aswell. They exchange some good punches. The feels like a much slower fight but they must be exhausted. Souza gets a good shot and tries to take Gastelum down. He does but Gastelum gets up and starts swinging.
My Thoughts: Great fight. Hope Gastelum has a big fight soon.
Round Winner: Kelvin Gastelum
Winner: Kelvin Gastelum (Split Decision)
Amanda Nunes (C) Vs. Raquel Pennington (Women’s Bantamweight Championship)
Round 1: Pennington goes down but quickly after a leg kick. gets up. Nunes fighting in her home country. Nunes throws some good jabs but Rocky throws some of her own. There’s some good strikes in this round. This has been a standing fight, most of the fight being punches.
My Thoughts: A great start for Nunes, bad start for Pennington. Pennington’s leg is sore.
Round Winner: Amanda Nunes
Round 2: It’s a good round 2. Pennington attempts a takedown but doesn’t get what she wants. Nunes hits a spinning body attack which got Pennington. Pennington almost takes down Nunes. Pennington takes Nunes down and gets straight into side control. Nunes hits a good round two.
My Thoughts: Another good round, hard to judge.
Round Winner: Raquel Pennington.
Round 3: Nunes gets some good offence in. Pennington tries to match it. Nunes gets a good takedown. Nunes still in the mount position but she’s maintaining the position. She’s wearing down the energy of Pennington. They finally get back up. Pennington goes for a takedown because she did so good on the ground last time.
My Thoughts: A good round for both fighters, both did some good work as they work towards round 4.
Round Winner: Amanda Nunes
Round 4: Pennington goes for some good punches. Nunes hits a leg kick, Pennington’s leg is already in pain. Nunes is on top of Pennington now. They get back up and nothing happens for a while. Nunes gets a good knee to the head. Pennington and Nunes clinch to end the round.
My Thoughts: Not much happening in this round. Pennington’s nose looks shattered.
Round Winner: Amanda Nunes
Round 5: Nunes hitting some aggressive punches. Pennington goes for a straight body kick. Nunes takes Pennington to the ground, Nunes is 3/6 with takedowns while Pennington is 1/11. Nunes flings punches and there’s a lot of blood. The fight is called off and Nunes retains her title.
This was a good PPV with some great knockouts. Next time we’ll see Amanda Nunes is probably December or January. November is a possibility but we’ll see. Maybe we’ll see a fight against Cyborg but we’ll see. I’ve been Josh from All Things Combat, join me tomorrow (possibly) for the Bellator 199 review.
My Thoughts: A great start for Nunes, bad start for Pennington. Pennington’s leg is sore.
Round Winner: Amanda Nunes
Round 2: It’s a good round 2. Pennington attempts a takedown but doesn’t get what she wants. Nunes hits a spinning body attack which got Pennington. Pennington almost takes down Nunes. Pennington takes Nunes down and gets straight into side control. Nunes hits a good round two.
My Thoughts: Another good round, hard to judge.
Round Winner: Raquel Pennington.
Round 3: Nunes gets some good offence in. Pennington tries to match it. Nunes gets a good takedown. Nunes still in the mount position but she’s maintaining the position. She’s wearing down the energy of Pennington. They finally get back up. Pennington goes for a takedown because she did so good on the ground last time.
My Thoughts: A good round for both fighters, both did some good work as they work towards round 4.
Round Winner: Amanda Nunes
Round 4: Pennington goes for some good punches. Nunes hits a leg kick, Pennington’s leg is already in pain. Nunes is on top of Pennington now. They get back up and nothing happens for a while. Nunes gets a good knee to the head. Pennington and Nunes clinch to end the round.
My Thoughts: Not much happening in this round. Pennington’s nose looks shattered.
Round Winner: Amanda Nunes
Round 5: Nunes hitting some aggressive punches. Pennington goes for a straight body kick. Nunes takes Pennington to the ground, Nunes is 3/6 with takedowns while Pennington is 1/11. Nunes flings punches and there’s a lot of blood. The fight is called off and Nunes retains her title.
This was a good PPV with some great knockouts. Next time we’ll see Amanda Nunes is probably December or January. November is a possibility but we’ll see. Maybe we’ll see a fight against Cyborg but we’ll see. I’ve been Josh from All Things Combat, join me tomorrow (possibly) for the Bellator 199 review.
