Despite not being chock full of big-name talent, UFC Vegas 33 offered an entertaining main card buffet of fights with some impressive performances. Several talents had nights to remember, and others had failures they will look back on with regret. Here are the UFC Vegas 33 winners and losers.
UFC Vegas 33 winner: Sean Strickland
If there were any doubters on Sean Strickland’s recent hot streak, he quieted them last night at UFC Vegas 33. In his first UFC main event opportunity, he took on a former training partner in Uriah Hall and rarely found himself in difficult situations over 25 minutes with the eighth-ranked middleweight. “Tarzan’s” pressure, output, and jab proved to be problems the New York native had no answers for. Strickland is certainly an unusual individual, but yesterday at the UFC Apex, he firmly established himself as a real problem for the rest of the top-10 at 185 pounds.
UFC Vegas 33 loser: Uriah Hall
The main event of UFC Vegas 33 was a chance for Hall to make good on the potential fans and media have always felt he’s had. At 37, it was now or never if he wanted to become a serious contender for middleweight gold. And a fifth straight win against another surging ranked foe in the main event slot would have gone a long way in solidifying that.
Similar to his losses against Paulo Costa and Gegard Mousasi in their rematch, “Primetime” was given a chance to demonstrate he was an elite middleweight, and it just didn’t pan out for him. He remains a talented and skilled fighter in the division, but his window of title contention may have closed permanently yesterday.
UFC Vegas 33 winner: Cheyanne Buys
Because of several unexpected bout cancellations, Cheyanna Buys and Gloria de Paula had the unique opportunity of being in a UFC co-main event when that was not something their status in the promotion deserved just yet. Florida native Buys made the most of that spotlight and crushed “Glorinha” to the tune of the fourth-fastest finish in UFC strawweight history. It was the perfect bounce back from her surprise debut loss in March and returns the Eric Nicksick and Xtreme Couture product to her place as 115-pound prospect fans need to keep an eye on.
UFC Vegas 33 loser: Kai Kamaka III
On a pure optics and points scoring level, Kai Kamaka III beat Danny Chavez at UFC Vegas 33. However, when you have various fouls and are vehemently warned points will be lost with one more miscue, then the only person he can be mad at for his majority draw outcome is himself. If a competitor feels they are ahead on the scorecards or not when point deductions are in play, certain weapons in the arsenal have to be put away and a cautious approach is necessary. Because one lost point is so damaging in a fight, and it cost the Hawaiian a win bonus last night.
The 26-year-old lost little in terms of reputation and status, but the bout was a difficult learning experience in his continued development as a talented prospect in the UFC’s featherweight division.
UFC Vegas 33 winner: Jared Gooden
https://twitter.com/espnmma/status/1421657126678695938
You have to feel happy for Jared Gooden following UFC Vegas 33. The 27-year-old came into this bout on short notice and with a 0-2 record in the Octagon. It was a must-win scenario taken up in a less than optimal way, and the Georgia native totally stuck the landing. “Nite Train’s” first Octagon win, and eighth career knockout, will be one he will remember for the rest of his life.
UFC Vegas 33 winner: Melsik Baghdasaryan
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In his UFC debut, 29-year-old Melsik Baghdasaryan impressed viewers in a fairly one-sided knockout win over Collin Anglin. With just seven pro mixed martial arts bouts under his belt, he showed a deep toolbox of strikes that seemed well beyond his experience level. As well as speed, and pop in his strikes, that made Anglin’s promotional debut a nightmare at times. Baghdasaryan’s showing earned him a performance bonus and a whole lot more interest from fans following UFC Vegas 33.
