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With former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder watching from the audience, the UFC wrapped up the 30th season of The Ultimate Fighter and staged the main event featuring Jamahal Hill and Thiago Santos. Both TUF bouts showcased the raw talent of up-and-coming fighters ready to make a name for themselves once they officially sign new contracts with the organization. For his part, Jamahal Hill put the exclamation point on what was an overall very entertaining night of fights. There is a lot to unpack here; Without further ado, let’s get into it!
Santos 🆚 Hill
The first round between lightweight prospects Thiago Santos and Jamahal Hill was relatively uneventful. Santos attempted a high kick early in the round, but Hill’s ability to block the maneuver prevented him from trying again. Neither person could harm the other significantly; Instead, they jabbed with the intention of landing blows while figuring out the other’s strategy.
In the second round, Santos decided to make level changes and go for takedowns. He could land one punch in the first minute and a half of the round, but Hill quickly struggled to his feet. Towards the end of the round, Hill landed a right hook that stunned Santos. Had he been given more time to execute after the connection, Hill might have been able to get a stoppage in the round. Outside of a takedown by Santos less than halfway through the round, the third round was relatively uneventful.
Until tonight, Jamahal Hill had never scheduled a five-round fight in the UFC. At the start of the fourth round, he aimed to remove doubt about whether he had a conditional exit beyond three rounds. He landed a right hook that stunned Santos early in the round. Santos immediately began backing away, and Hill took advantage of the moment to land a flurry of punches that sent Santos to the mat and forced him to cover instead of fighting back. Referee Herb Dean had no choice but to stop the fight. It was a dramatic turn of events and an emphatic statement from Hill. With this victory, Jamahal Hill established himself as a serious contender in the lightweight division.
Luke 🆚 Neil
After tonight’s fight with Vicente Luque, welterweight contender Jeff Neal says he’s looking forward to facing the UFC’s highest-ranked opponent. He felt an opponent of Luke’s caliber would be the perfect measuring stick to see how well he would fare against the elite middleweights. If tonight’s performance is any indication, Jeff Neal is ready to compete against the organization’s best fighters.
In the first minute and a half of the first round, Neal landed a left that hurt Luke. Luque never regained the strength in his legs after that initial kick, and Neal was able to send him to the mat twice during the round. Neal could land a punch in the second round, but Luke showed great determination and did not stay on the mat for long.
At 3:30 of the third round, Neal landed a big left hook that stunned Luke. He followed up the initial punch with a flurry of uppercuts that would have made Clubber Lang proud. The momentum was too much for Luke to handle; He knelt on the mat, and the referee mercifully stopped the fight. It was an impressive performance by Neil on a day when reigning middleweight champion Kamaru Usman was in attendance. Usman is scheduled to fight at UFC 278 in two weeks, but if he’s thinking ahead about his next opponent, Jeff Neal may have made a compelling case with tonight’s performance.
Usman 🆚 Pauga
Mohammed Usman’s physique rivals Francis Ngannou for the most menacing figure in the heavyweight division. At 32, it’s hard to imagine him making his way into the UFC right now. He was a collegiate football player whose aspirations of playing in the NFL did not come true. Luckily for him, he’s still a talented athlete, and it looks like many men in the heavyweight division have to learn that the hard way.
Zach Pauga tried a high kick to start the first round but couldn’t connect. He and Usman tried to box for the rest of the round, but neither managed to land a significant blow. Early in the second round, Pauga dropped his hands a bit after trying to land a body shot against his opponent. Usman saw an opening and quickly hit a shot to the left that didn’t even amount to a full stretch. The force was enough to knock Pauga out cold in the instant impact.
What’s scarier about Usman’s power is that his opponent was unconscious at the time of the collision. Usman didn’t even land a punch with everything he received. If Usman ever gets into a heated fight and has the opportunity to land a legitimate jab or hook, there will be many more high-ring knockouts in his future. He is a powerfully built man. The rest of the heavyweights are officially on notice; Mohammed Usman is a factor and a prospect worth keeping an eye on.
Walker 🆚 Miller
Ahead of their fight, women’s flyweight prospect Brogan Walker seriously looked in Juliana Miller’s direction. However, it was Miller who could ply her trade inside the octagon. Miller dominated the first and second rounds with takedowns and ground control. In the third round, Miller scored another takedown, taking advantage of Walker’s weakened position with elbows. Ultimately, Walker could not fight back, and the fight was called off. Miller was declared the winner and earned a spot in the UFC. Walker was the more experienced fighter going into the bout. However, in the end, Miller’s line, “you can’t measure heart,” proved true.
Sakai 🆚 Spivak
Heavyweight Sergey Spivac had a dominant performance against Augusto Sakai tonight. Spivac was able to score three takedowns in the first round and make Sakai look visibly worn. Two more takedowns in the opening moments of the second round completely exhausted Sakai. Eventually, Spivak gained the upper hand and began punishing Sakai with repeated hammer fists. Seeing that Sakai was vulnerable, the referee wisely stopped the fight.
McKinney 🆚 Gonzalez
Light heavyweight opponent Terrance McKinney opened the first minute of his fight with Erick Gonzalez with an emphatic high kick. Not long after, he scored a goal; However, Gonzalez could quickly get back on his feet. Unfortunately for Gonzalez, fighting back to his feet didn’t stop McKinney from getting on his back and establishing a chokehold. The two men battled a bit, but McKinney eventually got a tight enough hold to force Gonzalez to tap out. McKinney is known for fast fights; Twelve of his thirteen career wins have come by first-round stoppage. Today’s win was a statement; Terrance McKinney wants to be recognized as an extremely talented lightweight.
Key takeaways Tonight’s win by Jamahal Hill was his third since losing last summer in UFC. It looks more and more like a real competitor. The lightweight division is very talented. However, Hill looks like he has no fear; Anyone who steps into the octagon with him is in a serious fight. There are serious questions as to whether Francis Ngannou will fight again or decide to retire. However, the number one contender for the heavyweight belt should still be Cyril Gane. After Gane, it’s anyone’s guess who the UFC’s best heavyweight is; few people could claim to be elite in the division.
Mohammed Usman is as serious an athlete as heavyweight has to offer. If he puts his mind to it, he could be a contender for the heavyweight belt in the next five or six fights. He is strong, and his technique will only improve with time. What is next? The UFC returns next week when bantamweight stars Marlon Vera and Dominick Cruz square off in the evening’s main event. The event will be held in San Diego, California; The place should be packed, and the atmosphere should be electric. As always, we’ll have all the latest updates on the results of the fights and in-depth analysis available right here at MyStakeSports!