UFC on ESPN 24 had a long and winding round to finally reaching its final card lineup. Before fight week even started, fighters were injured, one retired, Diego Sanchez and Joshua Fabia had the latest installment in their reality show on mental decline, and the expected main event of TJ Dillashaw versus Cory Sandhagen fell threw. And three more fights were lost in the final 24-hours before the event went live. Yet, the show must go on and the Ultimate Fighting Championship delivered a solid card with some interesting narratives to discuss. Including where the promotion goes next with aging legend Donald Cerrone.
How much rope will the UFC give Donald Cerrone?
https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1391217884911833095
The UFC has a bit of a predicament on its hands. Cerrone is one of the promotion’s most beloved talents. He isn’t a crossover star that will pull in major pay-per-view buys like Conor McGregor, but he is a name that has always been one that can be popped into any main card spot to add interest to an event. Just like the organization did last night by placing him in the co-main event of UFC on ESPN 24. Even though bouts like Neil Magny versus Geoff Neal and Gregor Gillespie and Diego Ferreira had more division relevancy and talent involved to make them deserving of the position.
Read More: Alex Morono scores career win and stops Donald Cerrone in the first
Cerrone’s co-main event spot endured despite original opponent Sanchez getting himself released from the company and an unranked talent in Alex Morono being the replacement on a weeks’ notice. The UFC clearly holds “Cowboy” and his name value in high regard. However, last night should be a sharp reality check for all involved. Cerrone is a month removed from turning 38, he’s not won a fight in his last six Octagon appearances, and four of his five losses in that time came by technical knockout. Granted, most of his losses were to top-shelf talent. But being dispatched by an unranked fighter in Morono in less than a round seemed a watershed moment in Cerrone’s age-based decline.
https://twitter.com/espnmma/status/1391239245579313153
The Colorado native has 52 fights under his belt, 15 years of mixed martial arts training that’s depleted his body, and eight knockout losses on his resume. Half of which of all came over the last two years. Chuck Liddell was pushed out after a 1-5 run and all knockout defeats. Wanderlei Silva won three of his last six before the UFC chose to curtail booking him. While BJ Penn received yards of rope in going 1-9-1 at the end of his UFC tenure and getting knocked out in a street fight was the greater cause for his eventual release. The question is, how does the UFC handle Cerrone going forward? Like Liddell or Penn?
Gregor Gillespie cashes in on big night
My goodness, how about Gillespie’s relentless wrestling pace last night? For much of the first round of his bout with Ferreira, “The Gift” seemed like a fighter desperate to avoid a stand-up fight, while also was being denied at every turn to turn things into a wrestling match. Ferreira seemed perfectly ready for his opponent’s grappling and offered a tremendous submission threat to every takedown. Yet, the New York Native stuck with the strategy and the levee broke in round two.
https://twitter.com/espnmma/status/1391196453004062720
The onslaught of takedowns and scrambles turned the Brazilian from a willing grappler to a man drowning in world-class wrestling. In beating the higher ranked Ferreira by technical knockout in under two rounds, the 34-year-old earned the biggest win of his career, got back in the win column after his first loss in 2019, and scored a US $50,000 performance bonus from UFC brass. In addition, he pocketed 30% of his opponent’s purse after Ferreira missed weight on Friday, and as his foes fight of the night bonus after Ferreira was ineligible because of the weight miss.
It was a night to remember for Gillespie in taking on the risk of fighting a much heavier man and cashing in to the tune of over US $100,000.
Is Marina Rodriguez versus Joanna Jedrzejczyk the fight to make?
https://twitter.com/espnmma/status/1391226465996484614
UFC on ESPN 24 was a breakthrough night for sixth-ranked strawweight Marina Rodriguez. Injuries gave the Brazilian her first main event slot, and she delivered with a fight of the night level performance against a stalwart of the division’s top-ten in Michelle Waterson. The 34-year-old has won two straight over ranked opponents and seems primed for an opportunity at a title eliminator fight next.
Third-ranked Yan Xiaonan and fourth-ranked Carla Esparza are booked for a pivotal bout against each other in a couple of weeks. However, fifth-ranked MacKenzie Dern and second-ranked strawweight legend Joanna Jedrzejczyk have open dance cards. Rodriguez versus Dern is fitting in a battle of new blood Brazilians proving who is the true rising star of South America. However, Rodriguez against Jedrzejczyk is a far more interesting pairing stylistically. Especially, after last night’s announce team compared Rodriguez to the Polish superstar. It would be a perfect fight night main event or PPV co-main to welcome back Jedrzejczyk from her long hiatus. As well as a fight with massive division ramifications.
Bonus checks cashed
https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1391238248257650689
Fight of the night bonus: Gregor Gillespie and Diego Ferreira (ineligible after missing weight)
Performance bonus: Alex Morono
Performance bonus:Carlston Harris
