John
Makdessi appears to be aging gracefully as he meanders through
the twilight phase of his career.
The Shotokan karate black belt will return to the
Ultimate Fighting Championship stage for the first time in more
than a year when he confronts
Nasrat
Haqparast in a three-round
UFC Fight Night 209 lightweight showcase on Saturday at Accor
Arena in Paris. Makdessi has rattled off four wins across his past
five assignments. The 37-year-old Halifax, Nova Scotia, native last
appeared at UFC on ABC 2, where he was awarded a split decision
over
Ignacio
Bahamondes on April 10, 2021.
In advance of Makdessi’s forthcoming battle with Haqparast at 155
pounds, a look at a few of the rivalries that have helped chart his
course to this point:
His spear tipped by gnarly leg and body kicks, the
World Extreme Cagefighting veteran cruised to a unanimous
decision over Makdessi as part of the UFC 145 undercard on April
21, 2012 at Philips Arena in Atlanta. All three cageside judges
scored it 30-27. Outstruck for the first time in his career,
Makdessi found himself cut off by a 7.5-inch reach disadvantage and
rarely managed to move into range. Njokuani short-circuited his
counterpart with thudding kicks to his lead leg and midsection
while mixing in the occasional shot upstairs. He also connected
with the most significant punch of the fight in the first round,
where he wobbled the sturdy Makdessi with a counter left hook. By
the time it was over, Njokuani had landed nearly twice as many
significant strikes (73) as the Canadian (39). When coupled with
Makdessi’s inability to make weight, the setback established a
clear ceiling for the Firas Zahabi protégé at 155 pounds.
Effective aggression combined with a stiff jab, some exquisite body
work and airtight takedown defense carried Makdessi to a unanimous
decision over “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 15 graduate in their
three-round UFC 158 lightweight prelim on March 16, 2013 at the
Bell Centre in Montreal. Scores were 29-28, 29-28 and 29-28.
Cruickshank never got in gear, and the longer the bout went, the
more his opponent’s confidence grew. Makdessi blasted the flashy
taekwondo black belt with jabs, counterpunches and combinations,
integrating a vast array of standup techniques to keep the American
off-balance. After a competitive first five minutes, he outlanded
Cruickshank by significant margins in the second and third
rounds.
The Hawaiian action hero eked out a contentious split decision over
Makdessi as part of the UFC 194 undercard on Dec. 12, 2015 at the
MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. All three members of the
cageside judiciary struck 29-28 scorecards: Marcos Rosales and
Lester Griffin for Medeiros, Sal D’Amato for Makdessi. All three
rounds were close, with Medeiros pecking away with single strikes
from the outside and his adversary answering with a variety of
kicks and punches. The Team Hakuilua representative authored the
fight’s most decisive blow late in Round 3, where he knocked down
Makdessi with a tightly wound left hook and followed up with
punches. In a match that felt too close to call, it could have
provided the difference.
Makdessi rebounded from back-to-back losses when he took a split
verdict from the onetime Resurrection Fighting Alliance champion in
a three-round UFC Fight Night 90 lightweight prelim on July 7, 2016
at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The judges rendered
29-28 scores across the board: D’Amato for Baghdad, Junichiro
Kamijo and Tony Weeks for Makdessi. Baghdad was the busier fighter
throughout the 15-minute match, stinging the Canadian with leg
kicks and two- and three-punch combinations. The notoriously
difficult-to-hit Makdessi was more efficient, blending feints and
deft footwork with effective counters. Baghdad had him reeling for
a brief moment in the third round, where an overhand right and
knees upstairs did the damage. Makdessi recovered—an ill-advised
flying armbar attempt from his opponent aided his cause—and
eventually buckled the Algerian with a right hand before swooping
into top position and riding out the remaining seconds.
The
Jackson-Wink MMA export knocked out Makdessi with a sensational
first-round wheel kick as part of the UFC 206 undercard on Dec. 10,
2016 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. Vannata brought it to a
close 1:40 into Round 1, banking a $50,000 “Performance of the
Night” bonus for his efforts. Makdessi engaged the Greg Jackson
disciple on the feet and worked behind a sneaky jab. However,
Vannata closed the distance with two sidekicks to the thigh, forced
the Canadian to move to his right and clipped him on the chin with
his heel. Makdessi hit the canvas unconscious, the unwitting victim
in one of the year’s best finishes. No follow-up shots were
necessary.