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UFC on ABC 4 has come and gone and we’re not going to waste any time getting into the nitty gritty of the details. After all, this is the Rapidfire Recap. Just a few sentences on every fight, no fluff. Let’s get into it:
UFC on ABC 4 Main Card
Jairzinho Rozenstruik may have stuffed the first takedown from Jailton Almeida, but he couldn’t stop the second. It was elementary from there. Almeida surgically worked his way to finding the back of Rozenstruik to sink in a RNC and extend his UFC winning streak to five. Good chance he fights for gold sometime in 2024.
It used to be that Johnny Walker created all sorts of excitement with his explosive attacks. He’s matured to the point where he takes what is given to him, chewing up the leg of Anthony Smith to the point the vet was on wobbly legs the final half. Walker has finally matured into a contender. Smith is looking old; his days as a contender are done.
His brashness will ensure Ian Machado Garry will always have his haters. Given the way Garry systematically picked apart Daniel Rodriguez for a first round finish will have those who are honest with themselves admitting he’s good. Very good. The hope is the ease of the win doesn’t encourage the UFC to pick up the pace in which they push him.
Given his lack of experience, it’s been nice to see the UFC bringing Carlos Ulberg along slowly. Ihor Potieria was a favorable matchup for him and Ulberg did what he was expected to do with the first round KO. However, the ease in which Ulberg accomplished it indicates he may be ready for a notable step up in competition. Four consecutive wins says the same thing.
Alex Morono and Tim Means put on an entertaining scrap, as expected. Means was getting the timing on Morono, scoring a blitz of offense to end the first and landing a pair of perfectly timed takedowns. Unfortunately for him, Morono set him up, sinking in a fight-ending guillotine. Despite the loss, Means still has something to offer at 39.
UFC on ABC 4 Prelims
Matt Brown didn’t need a huge opening for his power to do it’s thing. Court McGee was wisely pursuing a grinding affair, pushing the 42-year-old Brown against the cage. Unfortunately, he couldn’t do that for the entirety of the fight. Brown killed McGee’s will to fight with a clean shot to the forehead late in the first round, tying Brown for the record for most KO’s in UFC history at 13.
Karl Williams has talent; he just needs to figure out the intricacies of the game. Not having those nearly allowed Chase Sherman to steal the final two rounds. Despite coming up short, it may have been enough for Sherman to keep his job despite his ghastly 4-11 UFC record.
The judges didn’t screw over Cody Stamann, but the referee may have. Even though it was Douglas Silva de Andrade who threw an illegal upkick, Stamann lost the dominant position on the mat. Aside from that, de Andrade outvolumed Stamann comfortably over the first two rounds to take the decision.
Mandy Bohm and Ji Yeon Kim started as a competitive, back-and-forth contest. It ended up being a complete trash fire, Kim delivering illegal strikes and Bohm showing her acting chops. Referee shouldn’t have taken the point after the fight was called, which created all the confusion at the end. Bohm saves job only because Kim decides she doesn’t want to fight in the UFC anymore.
Given Gabe Green appeared to be the more skilled boxer entering the fight, I don’t know why he opted to turn his fight with Bryan Battle into a brawl. It may have cost him his UFC employment, getting KO’d in 14 seconds. Battle proved his previous KO of Takashi Sato wasn’t a fluke.
Tainara Lisboa proved she isn’t just a Muay Thai fighter. Takedown defense and get up ability compliments her stinging strikes perfectly. Jessica-Rose Clark is likely to receive her walking papers after third consecutive loss, all submissions.
Themes of the Night of UFC on ABC 4
Youth movement is full effect as each of the fighters with a clearly defined higher upside won each of their contests.
Excellent night for Brazilians, all four of them emerging victorious.
Bad night for referees. I don’t hate the stoppage with Bohm and Kim, but the point shouldn’t have been taken after the stoppage. It’s worth saying twice. Potentially cost Stamann a win too.
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