Every now and then I encounter someone online who tries to suggest that mixed martial arts is fake.
It’s so stupid that it doesn’t even warrant a reply.
But for anyone who has accidentally stumbled upon this page and thinks that, with all the trash talk and drama that sometimes surrounds UFC fights, the action isn’t real. I offer Exhibit A, from last night: Mike Perry’s nose.
PaddyPower.com’s odds are a knockout
“Platinum” Perry is one of the most exciting fighters in the UFC’s welterweight division because the man simply doesn’t know when to back down and always puts his body on the line.
Unfortunately for the extrovert American, he was facing an assassin in the form of rising Brazilian contender Vicente Luque.
The fact that Luque did this to Perry, yet still wasn’t able to finish him speaks volumes for the sheer toughness of “Platinum”. But the manner of Luque’s hard-earned split-decision win against one of the -hardest campaigners in the division means the Brazilian is guaranteed an even bigger fight in his next outing.
As for Perry, we hope he gets his nose fixed, rests up and comes back as entertaining as ever.
Shevchenko shines in main event
Reigning UFC women’s flyweight champion of the world Valentina “Bullet” Shevchenko stamped her class all over the main event – and the rest of the flyweight division – with a complete and total domination of Liz Carmouche as she retained her title in style in Montevideo.
Shevchenko won all five rounds on all three of the judges’ scorecards to register scores of 50-45, 50-45, 50-45 to claim a landslide unanimous decision victory and defend her crown.
After the victory she said she’s willing to take on all comers at flyweight, and also hinted at a possible move back up to bantamweight for a third fight with former foe – and two-division queen – Amanda Nunes.
That’s a fight that surely has to happen next year.
Oezdemir bounces back with knockout win
Swiss finisher Volkan “No Time” Oezedemir desperately needed a win in his light heavyweight bout with Swedish tank Ilir Latifi, and the former title challenger got what he wanted with an impressive second-round finish.
A huge left hook closed the show as he sent the Swede crashing to the canvas in the final minute of the second round for an impressive knockout finish, and confirmed to the world that he is still very much a factor in the UFC’s light-heavyweight class.
Volkan Oezdemir at his best 🙌
Two big lefts and it's all over 💥💥#UFCUruguay pic.twitter.com/dtyHLaMOZQ
— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) August 11, 2019
You can be sure he’ll want a rematch with Dominick Reyes – the man who was controversially given a decision win against him in London earlier this year – but with the UFC’s 205-pound division started to look pretty busy these days, there shouldn’t be a problem for the UFC matchmakers as the look to find the Swiss ace a top-level opponent.
Brendan and Bisping recap the night
To wrap it all up, why not listen to the two men who called the action in Montevideo on Saturday night, as Brendan Fitzgerald and Michael Bisping recapped the top performances of the night.
Get the latest odds for the biggest bouts on PaddyPower.com