UFC 232-Jones and Nunes put on world class performances to win titles

Late move to California from Las Vegas

After the Las Vegas commission refused to host UFC 232 because it was found that Jon Jones had tested positive for a miniscule amount of Oral Turinabol on the 9th December.

The metabolite found in his body was the same found 17 months ago and resulted in his suspension. However, it’s known that Oral Turinabol lasts a long time within the body, and it’s been determined by USADA that he hasn’t re-ingested it again because it would have been impossible to do so due to its size.

The amount of Oral Turinabol found was around the measurements of a picogram. As explained by Jeff Novitzky (UFC VP of Athlete Health and Performance), a picogram is the same “as putting a grain of salt on the table and splitting it up into 50,000,000 pieces”.

USADA cleared Jones of it because there’s no evidence it would enhance his performance.

Due to the Las Vegas commission having little time to get up to speed with the issue because of Christmas and the fact that the California fight commission have already dealt with Jones’s previous suspensions meant they instead were up to speed; therefore, they could allow UFC 232 to be held at The Forum in The Golden State.

The Main Card

Before UFC 232 began, it was being hailed as the best card of the year. You’ve got a brilliant rematch between arguably the best mixed martial artist in the world (Jon Jones), against a man who many believe beat him in 2013 (Alexander Gustafsson).

Both have near enough identical physiques and everyone knows the pair will perform exceptionally, but they have also had long breaks from competing, so it will be interesting to see if any suffer from ‘ring rust’.

That alone is enough to sell a pay per view, but the co-main event is just as good in my opinion. Cris Cyborg vs Amanda Nunes-UFC veteran Cyborg is on a 21 unbeaten fight streak and looks unstoppable. However, her opponent Amanda Nunes is on a winning streak of her own. Both fighters are looking to become the 3rd in UFC history to hold two titles.

Furthermore, the other fights on the card consist of Carlos Condit vs new welterweight fighter Michael Chiesa, llir Latifi faces Corey Anderson in the light heavyweight division and Chad ‘Money’ Mendez is up against ‘The Great’ Alexander Volkanovski.

UFC 232 Fight Card

Alexander Volkanovski defeats Chad Mendes via KO

Going into the fight, Chad Mendes had recently made a return to the UFC after having 3 years away from MMA, where he defeated Myles Jury. Mendes is widely known throughout

MMA due to his fights against Jose Aldo, Conor McGregor and Frankie Edgar.

On the other hand, his opponent Alexander Volkanovski isn’t widely known. The Australian was on a 15-fight win streak and proved in California that reputation doesn’t win you fights.

The underdog exclaimed in an interview with the UFC that he’s “impossible to hold down” and that was why he wanted to fight Chad Mendes. What better way to get the division to notice you by ultimately stopping the main aspect of a UFC veteran’s game plan (Mendes has the 2nd most takedowns landed in the UFC’s featherweight history-42).

Mendes had 3 successful takedowns in the fight, but every time it only took a few seconds for Volkanovksi to get up and to restart his striking again.

Usually, fighters preparing for opponents who take the fight to the ground a lot, work tirelessly at takedown defence-but Volkanovski has clearly spent a lot of time on his transition from the ground to his feet. Extremely impressive to do it so easily against Mendes.

As a result of Mendes being unable to achieve any work on the ground, Volkanovksi had a clear edge standing up and landed 54 significant strikes to Chad’s 28.

Even though Mendes did land some good powerful shots, the energy used to take Volkanovksi to the ground meant he tired and lead to Alexander ‘The Great’ to unleash a barrage of venomous punches to the body and head, conclusively ending the fight as Mendes fell to the canvas.

Corey Anderson wins a unanimous decision against llir Latifi

I wasn’t too sure who would win in the fight because the pair are in good form. Latifi submitted fellow light heavyweight Ovince Saint Preux by submission in round 1, where as Anderson had impressive victories over Glover Teixeria and Patrick Cummings, both by decision.

In the first round Latifi looked the more promising of the two. He attacked the calf of Anderson multiple times, with one even causing the American to wobble quite badly at one stage. Anderson was doing okay but lacked the different variety of strikes in his stand up, and Latifi was comfortable for stopping them.

However, Swedish fighter Latifi had tired drastically in the second round-so much so he had his hands on his hips midway the round.

Anderson saw this as a clear chance to make up for the lost round and unleashed a few roundhouse kicks to his opponents’ body, causing him to take bigger and longer breaths.

A minute left in round 2 and Latifi had attempted 7 takedowns, but all of them were stopped by Anderson. In addition to that stat, Anderson hadn’t attempted a single one-unusual for someone who’s known for bringing the fight to the canvas.

The third round was similar to the second. Anderson pressuring Latifi, forcing him to move and tire and 5th ranked light heavyweight on the UFC roster replied with occasional power shots-he even connected with a superb spinning heel kick.

Anderson was the clear winner with 55-31 significant strikes. His performance just showed how much work he clearly puts in for his stamina and emphasised his hardworking mentality.

Michael Chiesa submits Carlos Condit

The fight between Chiesa and Condit would be Chiesa’s first in welterweight as he moved up from lightweight. It was quite surprising he ever made weight at lightweight because he was even bigger than his opponent Condit.

Carlos Condit was currently on a 4-loss streak and was looking to break his bad run with a win against Chiesa, but that was not the case.

Condit had good moments within the fight showing his vast experience, from attempting a heel hook to a really close armbar-but Michael Chiesa was far superior.

He took Condit to the ground with ease on a number of occasions and transitioned to full guard where he dealt some significant damage.

Although it was round 2 where Chiesa finished the fight a he submitted Condit using a Kimura. It was an unusual technique though. As he pushed off using his hips, he outstretched Condit’s left arm only using one arm himself.

With Chiesa looking very healthy at this new weight class for him, maybe he could pose a threat to Tyron Woodley’s reign as champ.

Amanda Nunes KO’s Cris Cyborg in Round 1

Well, who saw that coming! Amanda Nunes has just raised the question, is she the best female MMA fighter ever?

The Lioness ended the former UFC featherweight’s 21 unbeaten fight streak and did it in some style.

Both fighters were throwing heavy punches from the start, but Nunes’s speed and power was too much for Cyborg as she picked her apart with a flurry of vicious punches.

The final 1,2 combination dropped Cyborg 51 seconds into the fight.

UFC commentator Joe Rogan reiterated throughout the rest of the evening that she’s, “the best ever after tonight” and that she “shocked the world.”

Nunes has become the 3rd simultaneous two division champion, but surely there will be an immediate rematch?

Jon Jones is victorious against Alexander Gustafsson through KO

The first fight between the two at UFC 165 was one of the best ever hosted by the UFC let alone 2013, but unfortunately the fight at UFC 232 couldn’t replicate the drama we saw 5 years ago.

Nothing, though, should be taken from Jon Jones’s performance. He turned up as the champion he is and delivered another world class fight.

Clear game plan to damage Gustafsson’s lead leg, which slowed his movement and boxing down. But in the first round Gustafsson threw too many faints and overall wasted the round in my opinion.

Dominick Cruz, former two-time UFC bantamweight champion, was co-commentator for the card and even said it himself that, “Gustafsson needs to let his hands go and needs to get in boxing range.”

His corner must have told him something similar because he started to throw more strikes and forced Jones to go backwards for parts of the round.

But this is Jon Jones people. Unless you are on the top of your game, he will get the better of you, and that’s exactly what he did.

A range of elbows, knees and kicks were too much for Gustafson to handle. Jones finished the round with a hard-inside leg kick causing Gustafsson to limp towards his corner.

Before the third round began, it was hard to see how the Swedish fighter could get back in the fight-at least the fight hasn’t been taken to the ground yet…

32 seconds in the third, and Jones decided to kill his prey by getting a single on Gustafsson’s limping leg and quickly got into half guard. From there he moved into a variety of positions and even looked like he could pull off a rear naked choke, however as Alex sprawled, he gave his back up and Jones pounded his left fist into his head. Brutal, effective finish.

Gustafsson just didn’t do enough on the feet and never threatened Jones as much as he should have. With Cormier at heavyweight, I can’t see anyone know at light heavyweight who could offer a real challenge to Jones. He’s a different class.

What’s next for the fighters?

Chad Mendes will likely still be a top 10 fighter, and I’m sure he will come back strong, but I think the UFC will use him to build a platform for other upcoming fighters.

Alexander Volkanovksi basically called out Max Holloway, but Max is too skilled after seeing the two fight in different fights, recently this year. Frankie Edgar would be difficult test, but if he was to win, Volkanovski has a clear route to the featherweight title.

Corey Anderson is also likely to be in the top 8 for his division, but he if he fought the way he did at The Forum, against Jones there’s no way he’s winning the fight. Skill gap is too much, but he’s only 29 years old and has a lot of time to make the improvements.

His hard work and determination has got him near the top already, I think in the near future he will be in a title fight for the light heavyweight belt. For now, a rematch with Englishman Jimi Manuwa would be interesting, and I’m sure Anderson will want revenge for the KO.

Michael Chiesa has just asserted himself in the welterweight division as a one to watch, but for Carlos Condit it’s just getting worse and worse. Since he’s been out of fighting, the skill in the fighters has increased significantly and I don’t think he’s realised how good some of the younger fighters are.

Chiesa called out Neil Magny, so the UFC will try to get that sorted as I’m sure Dana will want to get someone fresh to move Tyron Woodley from his throne.

Fellow welterweight Curtis Millender looks like a future UFC star, and would love to have a fight against ‘The Natural Born Killer’. Plus, it would promote how good Curtis is if he manages to beat Condit.

Millender fought on the card in the Early Prelims and showed some impressive technique against his opponent in his unanimous decision win.

Amanda Nunes will surely have a rematch with Cyborg because of how quick the fight was-similar to the Rose Namajunas and Joanna Jedrzejczyk first fight where Rose shocked the world of MMA.

Lastly, Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier is the only fight that makes sense for the pair of them. Brock Lesnar and DC is a lost cause, especially if this drug scenario is likely to happen for lots of other fighters because it will halt any potential fight Brock wants to participate in.

But there may be some light for Gustafsson because I believe Jones will fight at heavyweight for the DC fight, win for the third time and I think he will stay at heavyweight because there isn’t much challenge for him at his current division.

Therefore, Gus has a likely chance at an interim title if Jones fights Cormier.

What a time to be an MMA fan!