Five Biggest Takeaways From UFC 215
While UFC 215 may have appeared weakened by the loss of its main event, the show went on and ended up being an entertaining card from top to bottom.
Stunning knockout upsets, a close title fight, the emergence of a former lightweight champion in the welterweight division… UFC 215 gave us a lot to work with.
Check out the five biggest takeaways from UFC 215!
5. Kajan Johnson Knocks Out Adrian Martins In Biggest Upset Of The Night
Martins was the rightful favorite going in to his lightweight tilt against Johnson, who’s MMA record belied his ability.
With a record of 22-12, Johnson was a massive underdog against Martins last night, but apparently did not get that memo beforehand.
Johnson leveled him with a punch against the cage in the third round, and in doing so notched the biggest victory of his career.
The Canadian managed to do so in spite of a two year layoff, and is now riding a respectable three fight winning streak.
An unlikely turnaround for Johnson, but a memorable one nonetheless.
4. Henry Cejudo Is The Second-Best Flyweight
When Olympic wrestler Henry Cejudo signed with the UFC, many fans believed he could be the man to dethrone flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson.
That didn’t exactly pan out, as “Mighty Mouse” obliterated Cejudo with a body shot in the first round of their UFC 197 title fight.
A follow up decision loss to Joseph Benevidez further pushed back Cejudo, but he righted his ship on Saturday with a beautiful second round knockout over Wilson Reis, who had just fought a competitive fight against the champ.
This was a much-needed win for Cejudo, and he exacted it in spectacular fashion.
With Cejudo back in the flyweight picture, a fight with Dustin Ortiz makes sense, as a win for either man could put them back into title contention.
Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images
3. Amanda Nunes CAN Go Five Rounds
No one questions Nunes punching power or aggression, but the one knock against the women’s bantamweight champion has been her conditioning and stamina.
Nunes dispelled those concerns on Saturday after a grueling five round war with Valentina Shevchenko. Nunes conserved her energy, picked her shots, and made good use of her fighting arsenal to not just get through a five round fight, but also win one.
It’s almost a rite of passage for champions to undergo that five round, 25 minute fight. Nunes proved the naysayers wrong while retaining her belt.
A well-conditioned Amanda Nunes will likely hold the belt for quite some time as she closes in on Ronda Rousey‘s title defense record for the women’s 135 pound title.
2. Valentina Shevchenko Would Wreck The Women’s Flyweight Division
Shevchenko lost a close and tough decision to Nunes in Saturday’s main event, but her stock did not fall too far.
With two losses to the current champion, the newly created women’s 125 pound division will likely be Shevchenko’s home, and she should rule that division with an iron fist.
Many female fighters have been waiting for this weight class to come into fruition for year and now that they have a women’s flyweight division, expect Shevchenko to wreck shop.
1. RDA Is A True Welterweight Contender
Having won his second welterweight fight in a row, the former lightweight champion looked phenomenal against Neil Magny on Saturday night.
Dos Anjos may be a bit short and stocky for a welterweight, especially when paired against Neil Magny, but that didn’t stop the former lightweight champ from scoring a first round submission over the taller, rangier fighter.
170 pounds seems like the perfect home for RDA, and another victory at welterweight could put him on a short list of contenders for Tyron Woodley‘s belt.
