UFC 277 takeaways – Amanda Nunes leaves little question who the GOAT is, Moreno-Figueiredo rivalry is on once more

In an evening the place two fighters reclaimed championship gold and rising stars made their circumstances for title pictures, what have been the largest moments at UFC 277? Jeff Wagenheim, Marc Raimondi and Brett Okamoto provide up their takeaways from a highlight-packed occasion in Dallas.

The world is as soon as once more regular on its axis, gravity has regained its pull, and oxygen has returned to the environment. All is regular on this planet. The beforehand declawed GOAT of girls’s MMA is again to being The Biggest of Proper Now.

Amanda Nunes battered and bloodied Julianna Peña for 5 brutally one-sided rounds on Saturday night time to regain her women’s bantamweight championship in the principle occasion of UFC 277 at American Airways Heart in Dallas. Thus Nunes, who is also a featherweight champ, is again to her standing as a uncommon champion reigning concurrently in two weight courses.

Nunes, who left American Prime Crew after her December loss to Peña and started her own gym, confirmed off a brand new wrinkle in her sport and displayed her well-established Octagon smarts. Paired along with her bodily expertise and toughness, Nunes’ poise and command contained in the cage made her the most effective within the sport.

The brand new look was Nunes preventing virtually completely as a southpaw, and it efficiently made Peña hesitant along with her advances. That allowed Nunes to function from a distance the place she may harm her opponent — which she did on a number of events, together with three knockdowns in Spherical 2 — whereas not placing herself in pointless hazard.

Nunes obtained into such a circulation that after utilizing Peña for goal follow throughout a number of stretches, she switched issues up by taking the struggle to the canvas, the place Nunes landed huge elbows from prime place to make Peña a bloody mess.

Peña saved preventing just like the champion that she was. She regularly tried submissions, and she or he seemed to be near locking one thing in on just a few events. However Nunes defended effectively every time, and after each escape, she landed a punishing elbow or punch as payback. It was a virtuosic efficiency, gritty and swish.

At age 34, Nunes nonetheless is a fearsome pressure. And after 26 professional fights, she nonetheless is motivated.

“I really feel like I can develop much more,” Nunes stated within the Octagon after the win.

Be careful, prime 135-pound ladies. And also you, too, 145-pounders.

Amongst Nunes’ accomplishments on this night time, she did one thing few former UFC champions have. She was the thirteenth to lose a title and get a right away rematch, and 10 have didn’t regain the belt. Earlier than Nunes climbed again on prime of the world this weekend, solely Deiveson Figueiredo and Randy Couture had seen that success.

“Making historical past once more!” Nunes stated afterward. “Double champ once more, child. Let’s go!” — Jeff Wagenheim

---

Figueiredo vs. Moreno rising as one among UFC’s greatest rivalries

Kai Kara-France is a wonderful fighter. A championship-quality fighter. He has all of the instruments to succeed, together with some lovely putting and one of many world’s greatest gyms behind him in Metropolis Kickboxing. However he could not get in the best way of future: Figueiredo vs. Moreno 4 was meant to occur.

It ought to have all alongside, if not for Figueiredo’s hand accidents after their third struggle in January. And now it’s going to, in earnest, possible on the finish of this 12 months or the start of subsequent 12 months. Moreno even stated he’d do it in Figueiredo’s residence nation of Brazil.

Let’s speak about that third struggle for a second. Figueiredo gained a detailed choice, and it may have gone both manner. Many thought Moreno gained. However almost everybody agreed they need to run it again. What number of instances has that ever occurred? After a trilogy, there was a lot enterprise left unfinished that it was almost unanimous that they needed to get again on the market for an additional potential 25 minutes.

It is insanity. And it is reputable. Figueiredo and Moreno are the 2 greatest flyweights on this planet, and each struggle they’ve had has been action-packed. From their 2020 draw that sparked all of it, to Moreno choking out Figueiredo in 2021 to change into the primary Mexican-born champion in UFC historical past, or Figueiredo getting his revenge within the tightly contested bout at UFC 270 in January.

This rivalry is not the largest attract UFC historical past, certainly. Flyweights have struggled to promote traditionally. Trash speak has been uttered, largely from Figueiredo’s aspect. However the two appeared to make peace within the Octagon on Saturday night time.

None of that issues, although. This sequence of fights highlights the abilities each possess and shall be checked out fondly for years to return. Figueiredo and Moreno shall be inked collectively within the annals of UFC historical past. There’s one thing cool about not only a quadrilogy or a grudge match; this can be a true generational rivalry.

Heck, allow them to do a best-of-seven sequence. Why not? — Marc Raimondi

---

Who’s subsequent for the standout fighters after UFC 277?

So who’s up subsequent for the titleholders and prime contenders? How does the UFC ebook Magomed Ankalaev shifting ahead? Brett Okamoto performs matchmaker.

Amanda Nunes, bantamweight champion

Who needs to be subsequent? Ketlen Vieira

You are able to do a 3rd Nunes vs. Julianna Peña struggle immediately. Completely you’ll be able to. The sequence is 1-1. Each fights have been tremendous entertaining. So, why am I suggesting we transfer on? I am suggesting we transfer on for proper now. Throughout her bantamweight and featherweight title runs, we waited lengthy to seek out somebody who may come near being Nunes’ equal. Now, once we lastly discover one, we will make the identical struggle thrice in a single 12 months? I believe it could be a rush to take action.

Full credit score to Peña for successful the primary struggle and full credit score to her for making the second aggressive, however Nunes clearly gained the rematch. There isn’t any controversy right here. Let this story breathe for a minute. Construct up anticipation for a 3rd struggle, moderately than presumably feed fatigue of the matchup by reserving it instantly. The champ now appears human and has realized she’s not invincible. Let’s give the following girl up an opportunity.

Wild card: Julianna Peña

As I stated, you’ll be able to completely do the trilogy subsequent and I will not complain. However personally, it is not what I’d do. I believe there’s a 100% probability we’ll see this struggle a 3rd time. It makes an excessive amount of sense for it by no means to occur once more. I believe it could profit from a little bit of time to construct up.

---

Brandon Moreno, interim flyweight champion

Who needs to be subsequent? Deiveson Figueiredo

You hardly ever see a scenario the place the game needs to see the identical two fighters sq. off 4 instances in lower than three years, however that is the scenario we discover ourselves in at 125 kilos. This was the struggle to make even earlier than Saturday. Pretty much as good and as deserving as Kai Kara-France was of that chance, the premier matchup of this weight class is Figueiredo vs. Moreno. And regardless that they’ve fought thrice, unfinished enterprise remains to be right here. The final struggle was shut. I would not say it was a theft in any respect. I scored it for Figueiredo. However it left unanswered questions. It left us unhappy as to the place the rivalry stood. Run it again. And January in Brazil sounds phenomenal.

Wild card: Alexandre Pantoja

If one thing surprising occurs with Figueiredo’s damage or contract, there’s a good (terrific, really) backup possibility in Pantoja. In fact, this can be a distant second relating to what ought to occur. It must be Figueiredo vs. Moreno to unify the belts. However once more, if one thing have been to occur, Pantoja is coming off a first-round win over Alex Perez on Saturday, he is obtained a previous win towards Moreno from 2018 and he is gained three in a row.

---

Magomed Ankalaev, mild heavyweight

Who needs to be subsequent? Glover Teixeira

All of it will depend on what route the UFC takes with its champion, Jiri Prochazka. Prochazka has requested to run again a struggle towards Teixeira instantly.

I might moderately see him struggle Jan Blachowicz subsequent. If that occurs, you’d possible be one other struggle for Teixeira, and I like this matchup. Some would possibly accuse me of throwing Teixeira to the wolves, as Ankalaev appears to be like like a tricky matchup for anybody. However I am performed underestimating Teixeira simply because he is in his early 40s. The person has repeatedly proved that he is nonetheless obtained it, and he is presently ranked No. 2 within the division behind the champ. It is a honest struggle for each.

Wild card: Jan Blachowicz

If the UFC opts to ebook Prochazka vs. Teixeira 2, then Ankalaev vs. Blachowicz as a No. 1 contender struggle makes excellent sense.