UFC Fight Night: Nicolau vs. Perez had plenty of noteworthy storylines on Saturday. From one fighter’s sheer dominance to lots of knockouts, the card was filled with noteworthy topics. As always, Dana White’s promotion is delivering on all fronts.
With that comes the upcoming UFC 301 fight with a Brazilian flavor. It’s set to go down on May 4 in Rio de Janeiro and is another dive into the international market. It’s also a dive into one of MMA’s fighting hotbeds, with numerous names like Anderson Silva and Rafael dos Anjos coming from there.
However, there are some takeaways from this card. Some of these are good, while some are absolutely horrendous. Which fighters stood out for the night, boosting their credibility? What was the total vibe for the card on Saturday night?
Uros Medic Puts the Welterweight Division On Notice
Uros Medic had a heck of a night on Saturday, disposing of Tim Means in the first round. The “Doctor” showcased his skills, defeating the Oklahoma fighter with a swift uppercut. But his uppercut victory wasn’t what was fascinating.
What was intriguing was how he delivered the punch. Medic delivered a punch that didn’t seem too powerful, yet it felled Means in one blow. The Serbian fighter showed he could take on all comers in the division, displaying his incredible skills.
Matheus Nicolau Was Limited
Matheus Nicolau was vastly limited in his main event against Alex Perez. Perez gave the Brazilian fighter no openings, leaving him to try and counter Perez. In turn, his offense was limited, putting him at a disadvantage. Coincidentally, he was knocked out by Perez in the second round.
While Nicolau landed some right-handed overhands, Perez picked up on his strikes and countered accordingly. It was a guide on beating the Brazilian fighter, giving opponents a 101. He’ll need to find some new offense in the fight to become a force, also mixing up his strikes.
Lots of Knockouts
Nicolau vs. Perez wasn’t the only fight on the main card that saw a knockout. Three other fights also had knockouts in their fights, including Medic taking care of business in the first round. Aside from Medic’s first-round knockouts, the rest of the knockouts were in the second round.
As fighters start using more body jabs instead of going for the kill, the shift in UFC is also leading to more knockdowns. It should be more entertaining coincidentally, bringing more eyeballs to the Las Vegas-based promotion.
Dana White should be happy with the result, bringing more excitement to the product. With more knockouts comes more superstars, and more superstars equals more marketing. It’s a perfect marriage for White and the UFC.
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