Why was the bonus voted for by Crypto.com fans available more than an hour before the event?
When I checked the UFC website around 5:20pm ET on Saturday, I noticed that there was a link to vote for the night’s Crypto.com fan bonus. My interest was piqued, I clicked on it. The link opened up to a page where I could vote for three fighters and I did. I voted and was asked to confirm my email address. I did. I then got the message that “Your vote is in!” This was also more than an hour before the scheduled start of the event. Maybe this was just the first time, but the idea of fans being able to vote on bonuses before the event starts doesn’t inspire confidence in the entire Crypto.com fan bonus system.
UFC Still Paying Fighters $10,000 For Their First Fights?
Following his victory over Mickey Gall, Mike Malott announced that he would be donating his $10,000 show money to GoFundMe, which was set up to contribute to the care costs for the daughter of one of his cohorts on Team Alpha Male while she was on stage 3 fights lymphoma. Malott’s contribution was admirable and his request heartfelt. The outpouring from the MMA community since he asked for help has been overwhelming and positive.
However, I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that the UFC has bragged about raising fighter salaries in recent years while maintaining the base salary for fighters at $10,000. Until the UFC starting salary offers these pro athletes a viable wage, promotion has no room to pat itself on the back. none.
What’s next Kai Hansen?
Kay Hansen won’t be 23 until August. She’s a talented but green fighter who tries to do too much too soon. Hansen learns while working at the best mixed martial arts promotion in the world. That’s unfair to her. In the interests of her development, confidence and future as a fighter — she’s lost three fights after UFC 273 — the promotion should bring her to a competitive level and let her work on her skills, confidence, weight cut and herself for a few Years. The UFC did so in 2016 with Angela Hill for a four-fight stint. The promotion should do the same for Hansen.
What was Aspen Ladd and her team think?
If you’re wondering why Aspen Ladd wasn’t enthusiastically chasing a takedown until the third round of their fight against Raquel Pennington, you’re not alone. Ladd and her team played to Pennington’s strengths for the first 10 minutes of the fight. Ladd lost those rounds. When Ladd went after the takedown – and secured it – in the third round, she won the round.
Ladd’s corner has been flagellated before and they once again deserve criticism for how they handled this fight. Ladd allowed Pennington to dictate and lead in the first two rounds and it cost her any chance of victory.
Ladd is now 1-3 in her last four games and she could be served well if she changes part of the team she’s behind.
is Ian Garri deserve the hype?
The jury is – and should remain – out on Ian Garry. I’m not sure how much of the hype behind the young Irish fighter is based on hope and how much is based on potential upside. At the moment I would say that most of the pressure the 24-year-old is getting is based on hopes that he will become the next Irish star for promotion.
Garry has talent and confidence, but he’s also a work in progress. There are holes in his game and he’s still developing (again only 24) and there’s nothing wrong with that.
What particularly caught my attention was Garry’s post-fight conversation with UFC commentator Jon Anik. During this conversation, Garry said: “It’s experience, but like I said, I’m not perfect yet, I’m getting there. Nobody entered this perfect octagon. It’s work, work, work. With every fight we get better and I will and I’m 9-0 now…”
It seems like Garry has a good mix of confidence and confidence and that leads me to believe the future is bright for this young fighter.
what is Mackenzie Dernis up?
Mackenzie Dern, 29, bounced back from a decision loss to Marina Rodriguez in October with a split decision win over Tecia Torres at UFC 273. Where Dern was once known only for her grappling skills, she has blossomed into a true mixed martial artist develops artists. Dern seems to get better and more confident with each use and that’s really about all you can ask for in a fighter.
Dern’s strike has developed in leaps and bounds. If there’s one thing she needs to work on more, it’s using that punching to set up her grappling attacks. It seems like Dern is about to hit or deal with him. It has to get to where it’s going to hit and hold and do it through muscle memory. Dern has a great coach in Jason Parillo and I suspect we’ll see more progress from her on her next outing.
Why is show and win payment still a thing?
Okay, I know the answer to that question is because the UFC has convinced the dimwitted and deluded that fighters try harder when they get paid more for a win. I also know that this was, is and always will be a lie. No one stands in a locked cage and thinks, “Fuck it, I’m getting a full payday, I’m going to do it halfheartedly against this person who’s out to do a lot of physical harm to my body and brain.” ” Nothing like this has ever happened, although the UFC would have us believe it happens in every single fight.
With that, UFC President Dana White drew some praise as he said he would lend his show to Gilbert Burns and win money for the fight he fought – in a losing effort – against Khamzat Chimaev. That praise was undeserved, instead White and the UFC deserve condemnation for the way they are exploiting the UFC labor pool. The UFC salary structure is a sham based on a lie.
Is the UFC playing with fire with Khamzat Chimaev?
If the pre-fight talk becomes post-fight reality, the UFC will book Colby Covington vs. Khamzat Chimaev in what I believe will be a welterweight title eliminator on ABC. That seems like a risky proposition.
Chimaev may be a big deal in MMA, but he’s still a big deal in MMA right now. If the UFC throws him into a major network main event and some of the big non-MMA media players start addressing Chimaev’s seemingly cozy relationship with Ramzan Kadyrov, it could turn into a PR nightmare for the UFC, ESPN and Disney.
Ready for Aljamain Sterling‘s lap of honor?
I have a feeling Aljamain Sterling’s post fight interview with Joe Rogan was just the beginning of what will be a very loud victory lap for Aljamain Sterling.
Sterling gave his doubters a profane ear after the fight, and rightly so. Sterling has endured a year of BS from fans and fellow contestants since winning the title via disqualification in 2021. On Saturday night, Sterling won a split decision over interim champ Petr Yan to unify the bantamweight titles. That earned Sterling the right to call himself the undisputed champion and by the sound of it, he was aware of most of the slights against him leading up to Saturday night.
Sterling leaned into his haters between his DQ win at UFC 259 and his decision win at UFC 273 – and why not, he wouldn’t influence those people by being nice – I expect he will continue to do so, but with extra strength after his victory.
UFC273 was held at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida. The main card continued to run ESPN+ subsequent prelims on ESPN and early prelims ESPN+.