AS ONE HYPE train grinds to a halt, another clicks into gear.
Last night’s UFC Fight Night 88 event in Las Vegas was billed as a platform for three undefeated bantamweights to make a statement.
However, after Aljamain Sterling was dealt his first taste of defeat by crafty veteran Bryan Caraway, it was down to headliners Thomas Almeida and Cody Garbrandt to stake the strongest claim for title contention in the 135lbs division.
As evidenced by the forecasts of the bookmakers and our readers here on The42 who contributed to our pre-fight poll, the majority of those with an interest in last night’s action at the Mandalay Bay fancied Almeida to advance his record to 22-0.
In many quarters, the unranked Garbrandt was dimissed as an extra in this celebration of booming bantamweights. The expectation was that Sterling and Almeida — ranked fourth and seventh respectively — would both continue their winning streaks, perhaps even setting up a number one contender bout between them for the next title shot.
But after Caraway showed that his days are far from done, Garbrandt took less than three minutes to let us know that while his 8-0 record lacked the same substance as Almeida’s, there was certainly no deficiency when it came to skillset.
Garbrandt dictated the pace from early on and displayed the type of hand-speed that has previously been a key to success for Almeida. Allied to his impressive power for a 135lber, the combination allowed Garbrandt to back the Brazilian up against the fence before he delivered a devastating right-cross to secure the stoppage at 2:53 of the first round.
Undefeated since making his professional debut in September 2011, 16 of Almeida’s 21 wins had come inside the first round. The 24-year-old was one of the UFC’s hottest prospects going into last night’s bout, but Garbrandt stopped his progress in spectacular fashion to give his own title aspirations a massive boost.
Having disposed of veterans like Brad Pickett and Yves Jabouin since entering the UFC, Almeida earned all the praise that was showered on him. It wasn’t a case that the Muay Thai specialist was over-rated, but perhaps that Garbrandt was under-appreciated.
As well as his little scuffle with Conor McGregor on The Ultimate Fighter last year, Irish fans may remember Garbrandt’s — admittedly unremarkable — decision victory over Henry Briones at UFC 189 on the undercard of McGregor’s win against Chad Mendes.
Last night’s result took him to 9-0 overall and 4-0 in the UFC. In the bantamweight division, only Raphael Assuncao (7) can boast of a longer run of victories. Garbrandt’s fourth win in the octagon matches the current streak of reigning champion Dominick Cruz.
While there certainly appears to be star potential with Garbrandt thanks to his extensive high school wrestling and amateur boxing background, another win or two will at least be required before his calls for a title shot become too loud to ignore. The likes of John Dodson, Michael McDonald and John Lineker might provide a suitable next challenge for the 24-year-old Ohio native.
These are interesting times for the bantamweight division. He’ll go into this Saturday night’s bout against Dominick Cruz at UFC 199 as a significant underdog, but if Urijah Faber — Garbrandt’s team-mate and mentor at Team Alpha Male — can pull off an upset, it could complicate the picture.
Last week, both Garbrandt and Faber insisted that a fight between the pair is out of the question. However, the same can’t be said of former Team Alpha Male product and recently-dethroned bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw.
Both Garbrandt and Faber are keen to cross paths with their ex-team-mate after his controversial departure from the Sacramento camp last year. Dillashaw begins his journey back to title contention against Raphael Assuncao at UFC 200 on 9 July.
“I feel that with a knockout win over Thomas Almeida, I deserve to get respect,” Garbrandt told FOX Sports. “I wasn’t even ranked in the top 15, but that’s fine. I had to fight a guy to earn my spot and that’s what I’m down to do. Whoever they want to give me next, that’s fine.”
Elsewhere at UFC Fight Night 88, life as a featherweight for former bantamweight champion Renan Barao began with a unanimous-decision loss to Jeremy Stephens in the co-headliner, while there were also big victories for Rick Story, Chris Camozzi, Lorenz Larkin, Paul Felder and Sara McMann on a 12-bout card which featured just four finishes.
UFC Fight Night 88 results
- Cody Garbrandt def. Thomas Almeida via KO (punches) after 2:53 of round one
- Jeremy Stephens def. Renan Barao via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Rick Story def. Tarec Saffiedine via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
- Chris Camozzi def. Vitor Miranda via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Lorenz Larkin def. Jorge Masvidal via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Paul Felder def. Josh Burkman via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Sara McMann def. Jessica Eye via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Abel Trujillo def. Jordan Rinaldi via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Jake Collier def. Alberto Uda via TKO (punches and spinning back-kick) after 1:06 of round two
- Erik Koch def. Shane Campbell via submission (rear-naked choke) after 3:02 of round two
- Bryan Caraway def. Aljamain Sterling via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Adam Milstead def. Chris De La Rocha via TKO (punches) 4:01 of round two
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Always willing to work hard for the cause.
Still the Goat Jonny.
Fact. It was the reason why Rice changed his allegiance. No brainer.Hard to blame him. Archaic set up with a coach that was effin and blindin. St George’s park? Or a a field next to a hotel?
I’m sure some journalists will use this to say “it was the atmosphere that caused rice to defect”.
Great servant. But he was as English as Declan rice to be fair
@Cryptoalcho: obviously not, doh!
@Aidan Prior: if he had been good enough to get a call up for England, he would have chose England to play with
@Cryptoalcho: I’m fairly sure Walters has an Irish parent where as Rice doesn’t, so not the same at all.
@The Bloody Nine: Correct. Walters’ Mum was from Dublin. Rice’s Ireland qualifications were through having grandparents from Cork.
@Cryptoalcho: have a look at the clip on the article
@Cryptoalcho: never even listened to the clip i betya
@James Clancy: Douglas, I think.
@samstheman: Arah lads. U think if England came calling he would have chose Ireland….. Tut tut
@Cryptoalcho: Yes, obviously ya dope!
@Cryptoalcho: trolling much? He already mentioned above, anytime he wasn’t in school, he was in ireland seeing family, therefore felt Irish first and foremost. There are many, many 2nd gen lads brought up that way in england. Fai should concentrate on them instead of wasting their scarce resources on chasing 3rd generation rats like rice and Grealish, whose heart was never really in it from the outset
@Facundo: true. But how do we differentiate between lads who want to play for Ireland and want to play for England?…. I’m sure rice and grealish were saying they’d play for ireland seniors while playing underage.. first sniff from England and they’re gone…. Maybe they should just focus on Irish born players for underage only.. I still haven’t heard anything that would change my mind that Walters would be playing England instead Ireland if England came sniffing… Financially it makes sense and tbh all them lads Born in England probably want to be play for England. Irelands plan B
@Cryptoalcho: you’ve a lot to say about this topic. You’ve made your opinion clear. I’m watching Switzerland vs Georgia while I type this . We need all the help we can get. But let me ask you your opinion on Éamon Zayed playing for Ireland at youth level but then playing for lybia. What’s your take on this ? And what do you think the Libyans are saying about it ?
@Cryptoalcho: well sure, Irish born would be ideal, but until irish fans and fai get more proactive about financially supporting their own teams, leagues and structures, instead of bankrolling englands…. then 2nd and 3rd gen was always be default first option. 2nd generation os a safe bet, if they’ve been going to Ireland all their life then it’s safe to say they will probably want to play for ireland… Like those dublin born lads in Ireland underage who will probably jump at the chance to play for Nigeria first opportunity they get. Identity is where the heart is
@Facundo: there is still a crop of Irish born decent footballers who would gain copious amounts of experience if they are given the jersey instead of turncoats…. Let them get the expierence and let the lads who qualify for us under “the granny” rule come at senior level. Develop the youth we have here and they may get the opportunity to progress in life and career
@Ronan McDermott: he played the system well for himself
@Cryptoalcho: and what do you think the lybian football fans are saying about it ? In fact are you not horrified by this ?
Keane a thug