Take a look back on UF
London, from the sloppy opening contest to Alexander Volkov’s shocking win over Fabricio Werdum to announce his arrival as a heavyweight contender.
UFC London proved to be a highly entertaining event for those who took off their Saturday afternoon this past weekend. Though lacking much name value – Fabricio Werdum proved to be the most notable fighter – it wasn’t lacking in action. Two contests ended without a second to spare – literally – and a new heavyweight announced his arrival as a contender in a division desperate for new blood. It could even be argued an old hand at 205 made an announcement of his own, though the viability of Jan Blachowicz as a top tier light heavyweight is questionable. As for Alexander Volkov, his victory over Werdum proved to be his coming out party, much to the chagrin of the former champion.
Here’s a breakdown of every contest on UFC London. I’ll cover the important parts of the fight, some of the techniques I noticed that were either effective or ineffective, and where the fighters appear to be going.
Dmitry Sosnovskiy defeated Mark Godbeer via submission at 4:29 of RD2
Low level heavyweight contests tend to be ugly. Unfortunately, this contest lived up that expectation. Despite Sosnovskiy being the grappler, Godbeer insisted on clinching up and taking the fight to the ground. He did have some success, showing some minor improvements to escape some bad situations. However, it was Sosnovskiy taking his back and snaking in an RNC in the end to take a sloppy victory out of his UFC debut.
Despite the win, Sosnovskiy’s performance wasn’t encouraging. The more reputed wrestler and grappler of the two, it was shocking to see Godbeer, a kickboxer, find as much success as he did on the mat. Its likely fatigue played a part in that as Sosnovskiy looked gassed even before the first round was over. Here’s hoping Octagon jitters played a part in his poor performance.
I did like the improvement Godbeer showed in his own grappling, but I hated his insistence to keeping the fight on the ground. Godbeer is a standup fighter and should have looked to play to his strengths. Instead, he dwelt in Sosnovskiy’s realm for too long and paid the price for it. It’s a wonder if he’ll fight more intelligently in his next contest.
Kajan Johnson defeated Stevie Ray via split decision
After a terrible first round emphasized by Johnson’s deliberate back-and-forth movement, the final two rounds provided some genuinely awesome MMA. The second frame was full of grappling exchanges with neither maintaining control for very long, but also featured Johnson rocking Ray early. Johnson looked tired in the final frame, being controlled by Ray for the most definitive round of the fight going to the Scot. However, two of the three judges deemed Johnson the victor over the first two rounds.
Johnson fought a smart fight, using his length and movement to win the standup in the opening round, avoiding most of Ray’s more powerful strikes. The biggest key ended up being the low kicks. However, his constant movement early tired him out to the point that Ray easily controlled him when the grappling contest had been equal earlier. That doesn’t mean the strategy was poor, but it does mean he’ll need to be aware of it being a potential pitfall in the future. Regardless, Johnson has far exceeded expectations.
Ray didn’t necessarily have a poor performance, but he could have made some adjustments to swing things a bit more in his favor. He was swinging for the fences early when it may have been wiser for him just to touch up Johnson in order to score points. Instead, there was only a single spinning back kick that landed that was his only offense in the round. Despite two losses in a row, Ray is still a fun lightweight, though it appears set in stone he’ll never be a contender despite his improvements in the wrestling department.
Paul Craig defeated Magomed Ankalaev via submission at 4:59 of RD3
Many had been declaring Ankalaev as the best prospect at light heavyweight in quite some time. Thus, he was expected to easily run through Craig. Though he wasn’t quite as dominant as he was expected to be, Ankalaev was in control of the contest from the opening minute. Craig did land the occasional jab and kick, but was unable to put together enough offense to deter Ankalaev. He did successfully prevent Ankalaev from landing his brutal ground-and-pound to it’s full potential as Ankalaev did chip away for the majority of the final frame. As Ankalaev let up in the final 10 seconds, Craig struck with a quick and tight triangle choke without a second to spare to walk away with the victory. Did I mention it likely saved his job too?
Craig is unlikely to develop into anything more than an action-fighting mainstay. I’ll be shocked should he break into the official rankings at any point. Nonetheless, the youngster is tough – though not the most durable – and showed he won’t quit until he’s out cold. A lack of power and athleticism will ensure he won’ advance much further than I already stated. It’s likely this contest will end up being the highlight of his career.
Ankalaev never fully looked like himself, indicating he was suffering from the jitters in his debut. He didn’t dominate in the clinch as he was expected to and was too content to sit in Craig’s guard while he delivered his ground offense. Overall, these are some minor complaints given his overall development, but it was enough to cost him the fight in the end. Expect this to be a valuable lesson about letting up your guard in a fight.
Danny Henry defeated Hakeem Dawodu via submission of RD1
One of the top prospects at featherweight, Dawodu was expected to pick apart Henry as Henry’s defense has always been problematic. Dawodu opened with a few low kicks… and nothing else. Henry hurt him with a big right hand which stumbled the Canadian. Henry immediately began looking for a choke as Dawodu attempted to scramble away. Dawodu made a sound effort to escape, but was unable to do so and eventually fell asleep in Herny’s tight squeeze.
Unfortunately, I don’t believe too much stock can be put in this contest. Yes, Henry showed better killer instinct than anticipated, but his aggressiveness wasn’t something anyone was unawares of. Neither is his toughness. Dawodu is your typical young prospect who still has plenty of holes in his defense, meaning him getting caught off-guard isn’t a huge surprise either. It might be too much to call him chinny either as he didn’t go out, he was simply stumbled and Henry caught his neck and refused to let go, making adjustments until he cinched in the choke. Henry is better than we thought, but I don’t know if Dawodu is worse than we all believed. Unless a pattern begins to develop, we may have to chalk this up to him simply being caught, something that happens to everyone one young and old.
Danny Roberts defeated Oliver Enkamp via KO at 2:12 of RD1
While a 3-2 UFC record isn’t anything to scoff at, Roberts has been a disappointment thus far in his UFC career. He hasn’t been the force on the feet that many expected him to be and he has shown a habit of getting rocked in just about every contest. Not only did he avoid getting the stanky leg in this contest, he delivered the brutal stylings of offense everyone expected him to be when he landed a brutal left counter to send Enkamp sprawling to the mat. The ref didn’t even give Roberts a chance to follow up with any further offense as Enkamp was.
The counter wasn’t the only thing that was positive for Roberts. He successfully stuffed a takedown from Enkamp, encouraging as Roberts’ takedown defense has been very questionable. The finishing shot wasn’t the only nice left hand Roberts landed either. Perhaps this contest can serve as a turning point for him, perhaps not. Whether it is, this was easily Roberts’ most impressive performance in the UFC and hopefully it proves to be something he can build upon.
Though Enkamp flashed a lot of potential in his UFC debut against Nordine Taleb, I struggle to see anything worthwhile to take out of this contest. He telegraphed the double-leg and didn’t have a deep enough arsenal to chain anything else after the initial shot faltered. I have no doubt he’ll get another chance to prove himself, but there was nothing in this contest that signified he’s going to be a long-term fixture.
Charles Byrd defeated John Phillips via submission at 3:58 of RD1
I’m unawares of anyone who had Byrd on their radar a year ago as a UFC prospect. Well… prospect may be a bit too strong of a word as he is now 34, but even making it to the UFC would seem to be a far-fetched dream at this time a year ago. Now, he is the proud owner of one of the most one-sided beatdowns for a debutant in UFC history. Phillips scored zero meaningful offense as Byrd secured a power-double seconds into the fight and never let the Welshman get back to his feet before Byrd secured an RNC.
Given his age, there is no reason not to throw Byrd into the deep end of the pool. Given his dominant performance here, Byrd shouldn’t struggle if he’s given a reasonable step up in competition. There wasn’t much to critique with his performance. It took him a while to secure the choke… hardly a valid criticism. Maybe losing the mount was a valid criticism? Bottom line: Byrd has established himself as an intelligent fighter – only a recent development — proving well-rounded enough to attack his opponent’s weakness.
Phillips needs to be matched up with an opponent willing to stand and trade with him if the UFC wants to get any sort of use out of him. His escape from beneath the mount was the only thing that was good, but he was unable to get to his feet or gain any type of advantageous position from that. It isn’t like we were all unawares of his struggles on the mat either. Phillips can be a fun action fighter… the UFC just needs to be wise in who they match him with.
Leon Edwards defeated Peter Sobotta via TKO at 4:59 of RD3
Though Edwards was a clear and deserved favorite, there was an underground movement in favor of Sobotta. The German showed why early on, threatening with an armbar in the first round and utilizing his slick grappling to arguably take the second round. However, he wore down under Edwards’ constant top pressure and ground-and-pound in the final round, the fight being stopped with a single second left on the clock.
There wasn’t anything that immediately catches the eye about Edwards’ performance. It was a very much by-the-book performance. His left hand continually found a home – even knocking Sobotta to the ground in the first – and effectively proved he can grind an opponent into the mat. Far from the type of showing anyone expected from him when he first entered the UFC as a lanky striker. The knockdown showed he hasn’t lost his ability to stand and trade, though there is cause for concern should he end up facing a volume striker as Edwards is still reluctant to throw more than just a few strikes a minute. Nonetheless, he continues to progress and was wise to call out Darren Till in the manner he did. Should Till not accept the contest – a distinct possibility – Edwards can declare that Till is running from him whether it’s true or not.
Sobotta has come further than anyone expected he would when he returned to the UFC in 2014. His first run consisted of three losses without any victories. Heading into this contest, he’d picked up four wins in five tries. However, it appears he has bumped into his ceiling. Edwards was the first above average wrestler he faced in his UFC run and though Sobotta’s guard proved to be effective, he simply doesn’t have the physicality to become a top tier welterweight. Nonetheless, he’s a savvy and durable out who should remain a solid gatekeeper to the official UFC rankings.
Tom Duquesnoy defeated Terrion Ware via unanimous decision
After his disappointing loss to Cody Stamann, Duquesnoy had a lot to prove in his contest with Ware. Though he walked out of London with a W, Duquesnoy didn’t exactly prove what he needed to for everyone to believe he’s still the can’t-miss prospect we all expected him to be when he entered the UFC. Though the opening round was encouraging, he began to tire when he couldn’t put the durable Ware away and it could be argued Ware took the fight over the last two rounds with his constant pressure finally wearing down the Frenchman. Alas, the judges scored in favor of Duquesnoy.
Duquesnoy is still on pace to a top ten action fighter, but he doesn’t yet have the look of the world beater whom everyone expected to develop into a contender. Perhaps expectations were too high. Perhaps we expected too much too soon as he is only 24-years old. Regardless, no one is looking to rush Duquesnoy to the top as they once were. His aggressive attack of Ware’s legs proved to be highly efficient, but his inability to effectively implement his vaunted clinch offense is what kept the contest so close. The reasonable hope is that his continued physical development will allow him to grow stronger and better carry himself in close quarters.
Ware has been dealt a tough hand in the UFC thus far. His loss to Duquesnoy came after losses to Stamann and Sean O’Malley. While losing all of them doesn’t reflect well, he wasn’t finished by any of his opposition and there was reason to believe he was the victor in this contest. Given he has three losses in three attempts, it’s probable the UFC releases him. Fortunately, there is a strong likelihood that doesn’t happen as he has put on entertaining performances with every contest thus far. That he showed improvements in his wrestling here too serves as further reason to keep him around.
Jan Blachowicz defeated Jimi Manuwa via unanimous decision
Nobody cared to see this contest again. Their first contest three years ago was a grinding affair against the cage that proved to be an effective cure for insomnia. Fortunately for everyone who watched, the second contest may have been the best fight of 2018 thus far. Blachowicz came dangerously close to finishing Manuwa in the first round while Manuwa hurt Blachowicz badly in the second. Manuwa’s gas tank failed him in the final frame as Blachowicz countered Manuwa’s continued attempts to land a big blow to finish off the durable Pole. Manuwa’s offensive efforts proved unsuccessful and Blachowicz avenged his earlier loss.
Nobody saw this coming out of Blachowicz. He was sitting at 2-4 in the UFC less than a year ago, coming off a loss to Patrick Cummins. Now he’s potentially a single victory away from getting a shot at the title. Blachowicz has worked hard on all phases of his wrestling, the biggest key to his career revitalization. He hasn’t been taken down in any of his last three contests while subsequently landing his own in each. He’s always been a kickboxer capable of competing with an overwhelming majority of the division, throwing slick combinations with a stiff jab. Now that he can remain standing on his feet, he’s been able to put it all together. His lack of athleticism does limit his effectiveness somewhat, but he’s still one of the better technical strikers at 205.
Manuwa’s chances of receiving a title shot have likely slammed shut. They were slim enough as it was after he lost to Volkan Oezdemir, but a second loss in a row makes it near impossible as the Brit is now 38-years old. Granted, the light heavyweight division’s lack of depth makes it easier to turn things around than it would be in any other division, but his inability to put together consistent success against higher level opposition makes it doubtful. Perhaps what hurt him the most against Blachowicz was his lack of volume. Blachowicz threw almost twice as many strikes as Manuwa. Manuwa’s jab has become a viable weapon, but he still doesn’t use it enough, nor does he try to supplement his offense with low kicks. Plus, he isn’t much of a wrestler. Unless he’s getting a finish, Manuwa isn’t going to win any high-level contests with his low output.
Alexander Volkov defeated Fabricio Werdum via KO at 1:38 of RD4
Werdum was a sizeable favorite due to his track record. He was the champion just two years ago after all and looked exceedingly sharp in his last contest against Marcin Tybura. He started out strong enough against Volkov, getting the big Russian down and keeping him grounded for most of the opening frame. However, when Werdum did let Volkov back to his feet at the end of the frame, he looked slow. That was the story of the contest. Volkov pieced up Werdum to the point the former champion was looking mangled and ragged before picking the right time to follow Werdum to the ground and deliver the finishing blow to launch himself into title talks.
While most believed Volkov was UFC caliber when he joined the UFC late in 2016, no one foresaw him launching himself into title contention. Remember, this is the same guy who dropped back-to-back contests to Tony Johnson and Cheick Kongo just three years ago. He’s finally using his length appropriately and displayed some excellent defensive grappling as Werdum was unable to come close to securing any sort of submission. However, Werdum was able to get Volkov to the ground whenever he wanted before he gassed. Volkov still hasn’t fixed his takedown defense. Does anyone think he can beat Stipe Miocic or Daniel Cormier without addressing that? While I’d say that’s a definitive no, he has made rapid strides to get where he is now in other areas. I’m not putting it past him that he can’t find a way to improve in that department.
Werdum’s decline from his performance against Tybura in November to now is disturbing. Keep in mind he used his cardio as a weapon against Cain Velasquez just four years ago too. Werdum had slowed before the first round was over. He ended up resorting to his piss poor strategy of flopping to his back that he utilized in his second contest with Alistair Overeem. Did he fall of a cliff thanks to his age or did he not prepare properly for this contest? That question won’t be answered until his next contest. Regardless, the loss signals the end of his days as a contender. He can serve as a gatekeeper, but it’s likely he can only remain effective for a few years tops. He is already 40 and Father Time is undefeated… even in the heavyweight division.