The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) recently lit up Las Vegas again. This time, at the Apex for UFC on ESPN 53. The Apex, a sort of halfway house for the UFC, has become quite the spot. Despite lacking big names, the event was anything but dull. “UFC Vegas 89” boasted a hefty 13-fight card. Seven of those ended in unanimous decisions. The main card? It started with a bang, featuring four finishes.
Post-event, it’s matchmaking time for those who didn’t get their hands raised. Let’s dive into potential next steps for the main card fighters who faced setbacks at UFC on ESPN 53.
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Luis Pajuelo, meet Fernando Padilla. Padilla, after a hiccup in his last fight, came back strong against Pajuelo. Early in their bout, Padilla’s left hand found its mark. When the fight hit the mat, he looked for a finish but switched gears to a D’arce choke instead. Pajuelo tapped, marking a rough start to his UFC journey. Yet, there’s hope. A fight against Manolo Zecchini, another debutant who stumbled, could be just what Pajuelo needs.
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Billy Quarantillo’s recent record? A mixed bag, sitting at 4-4. Youssef Zalal, on the other hand, stormed back into the UFC with a win. Zalal set the pace early, landing a damaging knee and nearly snagging a choke. He didn’t let up, securing a rear-naked choke victory in the second round. Quarantillo now finds himself in need of a rebound. Pat Sabatini, coming off a loss himself, seems like a logical next opponent.
Cameron Saaiman’s night didn’t go as planned, thanks to Payton Talbott. Awarded Performance of the Night, Talbott was a force from the start. A knee and a flurry of punches had Saaiman reeling. Talbott didn’t stop, finishing the fight early in the second. Saaiman, young and on a two-fight skid, still has time. A bout against Serhiy Sidey could be the perfect chance for both to shine.
A.J. Dobson’s UFC journey has been rocky, to say the least. Edmen Shahbazyan, looking to bounce back from a tough stretch, found his moment against Dobson. Caught off guard early, Shahbazyan rallied to land a decisive blow in the first round. Dobson, now 1-3 in the UFC, needs a turnaround. Punahele Soriano, with a similar record, could be an explosive matchup.
Justin Tafa and Karl Williams gave us a tale of two strategies. Williams, surviving Tafa’s stand-up power, used his wrestling to control the fight. Despite Tafa’s best efforts, Williams’ grappling secured him the win. For Tafa, the question is what’s next. A fight against Shamil Gaziev, both coming off losses, could be intriguing.
Amanda Ribas faced Rose Namajunas in a closely contested main event. The fight, a striking battle, saw neither fighter land a decisive shot. Namajunas managed to counter Ribas’ judo, gaining the upper hand with top control. Ultimately, Namajunas ended her losing streak with a win. Ribas, floating between divisions, might revisit a bout with Tracy Cortez. Scheduled before but cancelled, it’s a fight that still holds interest. Cortez, fresh off a win, would no doubt welcome the challenge.