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The UFC Fight Night in Sacramento, Calif., On Saturday presented the return of the "California Kid" ageless to Urijah Faber, as well as the reemergence of former champion featherweight Germaine Randamie and several new arrivals. first round of Team Alpha Male of the city.
What's the next step for Faber, Randamie, Aspen Ladd and the other big names this weekend? Here ESPN take.
Germaine de Randamie, bantamweight
Result: Defeated Aspen Ladd by first round, TKO
following: Amanda Nunes
This is the fight that Randamie has wanted to lead for years – and she deserves it. Even when she won 145 pounds to fight for the UFC's inaugural title in 2017, she always said that she wanted to return to 135 at one point, fighting Amanda Nunes. The two met in 2013. Nunes won by knockout in the first round.
Put aside all the criticisms you might have about how Randamie handled this "featherweight, Cyborg Cree" situation and simply look at the facts. She won five times in a row. She passed the Brazilian candidate Ketlen Vieira in the standings. She is dangerous on the feet, enough to represent a threat for the double champion. She is next online.
Aspen Ladd, bantamweight
Result: Lost against Germaine de Randamie via TKO in the first round
following: Marion Reneau
Saturday's UFC Fight Night card in San Antonio will feature two welterweights aiming to enter the title photo and the next test for former NFL star, Greg Hardy. Rafael Dos Anjos, who had a skid in two bouts in May, and Leon Edwards, winner of seven consecutive bouts, will meet in the main event. Hardy will also be on the main map while he faces Juan Adams.
UFC Fight Night: Dos Anjos vs. Edwards
• Saturday, July 20, San Antonio
• The preliminaries: ESPN 18:00 ET
• Main card: ESPN 21:00 ET
Subscribe to ESPN + get UFC exclusive live events, weighing and more; Ariel and the bad guy; Dana White Contender Series; and more exclusive MMA content.
The stop was held early, but the opportunity in general for Ladd, 24, was also there. It's easy to say now, but for the record, I've also said it before the fight. It was too much, too early. De Randamie has been fighting for almost 20 years. Ladd's ceiling is high, but she continues to learn. You can not learn on the fly, against a seasoned kickboxer, under pressure from a UFC main event. It was a recipe for a loss.
All is well, however. Ladd is still young and mature for his age. It seems that she will handle the loss well. She faced the media. She was kind to Randamie and referee Herb Dean. Bring her back a bit. Book it against a ranked opponent, but much more manageable, in Marion Reneau. She will be back.
1:28
Urijah Faber looks back on his knockout win over Ricky Simon in Faber's home town of Sacramento and challenges Henry Cejudo. For more UFC, sign up here for ESPN + http://plus.espn.com/ufc
Urijah Faber, bantamweight
Result: Beat Ricky Simon by the TKO in the first round
following: Rob Font
I've covered MMA for over 10 years and Faber's victory over Ricky Simon is a moment that will remain for me forever. Unbelievable.
This is not supposed to happen. A 40-year-old sports pioneer is not expected to come back from a two-and-a-half-year layoff and start a promising 26-year prospect in the first round. We are used to seeing this situation go the other way. As an objective journalist, I do not know if I'm supposed to say that … but I'll say it anyway. I was really happy for Faber. The whole night was fantastic to watch.
That said, you are crazy if you think that Faber should skip the bantamweight line and fight to defend double champion Henry Cejudo. Cejudo must defend not one, but two belts for the moment. He has a lot of challengers waiting for him. I understand that Cejudo wants (and deserves) the greatest possible fights … and I certainly do not blame Faber for calling his shot … but this confrontation makes no sense. If Faber really wants to run, do it. Climb the ranks. Rob Font in October in Boston is the play.
0:43
Josh Emmett hits Mirsad Bektic with a left-handed blow, then unleashes a flurry of hammer blows. For more UFC, sign up here for ESPN + http://plus.espn.com/ufc
Result: TKO in the first round, defeated by Mirsad Bektic
following: Zabit Magomedsharipov
Apparently, Josh Emmett woke up Saturday, feeling unsafe. He's clearly established as one of the biggest hitters in the division, but what I love most about what Emmett does, is that he do not just chase your head. He dropped Bektic with a jab in this fight. He uses feints and a footwork to get in shape, and we know that he is a powerful wrestler, because of his academic background.
The UFC will travel to Moscow on November 9th. According to reports, Zabit Magomedsharipov is leading the bill. Who will he fight? Even though I think he's ready for the title, Alex Volkanovski is still in front of him and this card is not a pay-per-view. I want to see Magomedsharipov against an opponent able to introduce him into adversity in the form of a single punch. And that's Emmett.
Result: Beat Sheymon Moraes by first round, TKO
following: Shane Burgos
I'm not ready to anoint Fili the next featherweight champion, but it's a guy you want to keep an eye on now. He signed with the UFC in 2013 under a good dose of fanfare. Fili's potential has been high for a long time. It took him a minute to realize it. He comes from an unstable background, and he was lucky enough to grow up even after signing with the UFC. It looks like he's done it.
Team Alpha Male is extremely high on Fili right now. Guys like Faber and wrestling coach Danny Castillo are excited about his work ethic. He had the habit of not training. Now he is the first one there. His confidence is high. This is a talented attacker who possesses the scrambling ability of the TAM trademark. I would like to see him against another featherweight that is close to my heart: Shane Burgos.
Julianna Peña, bantamweight
Result: Defeated Nicco Montaño following a unanimous decision
following: Ketlen Vieira
2 related
Peña had a slow start in his first bout in two and a half years after losing the first round to Nicco Montaño. After that, it was pretty much the vintage Peña. Yes, she has been gone for two years, but I do not see why Peña would not have taken the same path in terms of ranking. She was just there for the title when she took her break. His only loss in UFC was won by flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko.
Vieira has not beaten since March 2018, but she remains very well ranked. She is unbeaten. It is already felt that Nunes is cleaning up the division. She is a champion who needs challengers. De Randamie fits this description for me. And if Peña and Vieira had to fight, whoever wins will also match that description.
Result: Defeated Darren Elkins by unanimous decision
following: Jeremy Stephens
It's not easy to find Hall fights. We know it since he won The Ultimate Fighter in 2015. Since then, he has only fought three times because of a combination of potential opponents who have him. rejected and the type of opponent Hall is willing to accept. Hall will never be that guy who jumps into the featherweight pool and accepts all the fights on offer. He believes he is world class and is now looking for one of the top 10 opponents.
And if it depended on me, I would give it to him. Love or hate his fighting style (personally, I'm very intrigued by this one), Hall has been watching a class over the competition that he's been fighting up to now. He wants to fight at the UFC Fight Night event scheduled for Dec. 9 in Washington, DC. This makes it a little harder to find an opponent now, since there are only five months left, but Jeremy Stephens seems reasonable to me. Stephens has been part of the UFC since 2007. He fought against everyone. He has fought several generations of fighters at this stage. And he is still only 33 and ranked in the top 10. But he also lost twice. I think there would be something to gain for both in this game.
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