We all know the complaints of UFC oversaturation at this point, which makes a mid-day card available exclusively on Fight Pass live from Dublin, Ireland and featuring not a huge degree of star power seem pretty easy to skip. If you did indeed do something else with your Saturday and skipped the Fight Night: McGregor vs. Brandao card but want to know what to watch to get caught up, Bloody Elbow has you covered.
Here’s your guide on what to watch from UFC Fight Night: McGregor vs. Brandao.
First, a disclaimer. This was, for pure fun value, arguably the card of the year. So seriously, you probably should watch the entire thing, start to finish. Do it. But, let’s just assume you are stingy with your time and give you the highlights.
Fights You Need to See
Conor McGregor vs. Diego Brandao – It wasn’t the most competitive fight ever, and despite all the talk about McGregor he did have some gaps he showed, but this was a star making performance if there ever was one. McGregor was greeted like the returning hero and he turned in a performance to match that reception. He’s still developing as a fighter, but he also has that intangible quality that makes him a fascinating figure, and that’s worth a lot.
Brad Pickett vs. Ian McCall – My pick for Fight of the Night, McCall vs. Pickett was everything you want in MMA. Dana White talks about the UFC as the place where the best fight the best, and this felt like that kind of fight. Two clear top 10 guys going at it with a fast pace and great technique. Really, really fine example of mixed martial arts.
Gunnar Nelson vs. Zak Cummings – Speaking of fighters on the rise, here’s Gunnar Nelson winning once again in the Octagon. This victory did not come easily, as Cummings did well for himself for quite some time. But as soon as he slipped up, Nelson found the hole, got Cummings down, and used his superb jiu jitsu to seal the deal. Not his most dominant performance, but it showed how this up and comer deals with adversity, which is vital in seeing a fighter mature.
Cathal Pendred vs. Mike King – Not the most technical fight of all time, but if you like comebacks, this one of for you. Not since Brock Lesnar vs. Shane Carwin has a fighter looked so completely dead after round 1 only to come back and win. As was the case for most of the night, the insane crowd only added to the special feel. (As an aside, this is the 3rd fun fight with a finish from the TUF 19 cast since the show ended – where was this during filming?)
Neil Seery vs. Phil Harris – Maybe I’m alone in this, but I loved this fight. Take everything I said about Pickett vs. McCall and apply it here as well, though this time Seery was more clearly the superior fighter out of the gates. Great performance from him that establishes him as a fighter to watch at 125.
That’s it for my Must Watch category, though you could easily put a bunch more up here. In all honesty, there’s only one outright skipable fight on the entire 10 fight card. So if you’re curious and you have the time, here’s why you might want to watch the rest of the card:
- Watch Patrick Holohan vs. Josh Sampo to hear the single loudest crowd I have ever heard for an opening prelim fight. There are crowds that don’t get this excited for a title fight main event. Just incredible. Fun, short fight too.
- Watch Nikita Krylov vs. Cody Donovan to see an enjoyable, sloppy one round back and forth fight. And because you want to see what The Al Capone does this time.
- Watch Ilir Latifi vs. Chris Dempsey if you want to see a tank roll over a Volvo. Seriously, Latifi looked massive and just smashed Dempsey here.
- Watch Norman Parke vs. Naoyuki Kotani if you want to see how real the hype behind Parke is. Also if you want to see some nasty elbows, and who doesn’t love those?
- Watch Tor Troeng vs. Trevor Smith if you want to see every single fight from the best card of 2014.
What’s your take BE faithful – what are the must watch fights from this Fight Pass card?
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