"Morning Kombat with Luke Thomas and Brian Campbell" episode 538 recap UFC 297. Interesting topics: Israel Adesanya potentially fighting DDP, the aftermath of Sean Strickland's fight, possible Valentina Shevchenko vs. Raquel Pennington match-up, Mike Malott's loss, Arnold Allen's fight against Movsar Evloev, and other standout moments at UFC 297.
Dricus Du Plessis's split decision victory over Shawn Strickland highlights the competitiveness and talent in the middleweight division.
Dricus Du Plessis demonstrated growth and evolution as a well-rounded fighter, showcasing improved striking, adaptability, and mental toughness.
The potential matchup between Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya generates excitement due to their contrasting styles and animosity.
Shawn Strickland's post-fight behavior and controversial statements raise concerns about professionalism and respect in the MMA community.
Arnold Allen's technical skills are impressive, but he should work on being more aggressive to secure decisive victories and reach the elite category of fighters.
Jillian Robertson's dominant win over Polyana Viana should earn her a ranked strawweight opponent, potentially Carolina Kovalevich, to establish herself as a top contender in the division.
Deep dives
Shawn Strickland vs. Dricus Du Plessis: A Close and Controversial Title Fight
The middleweight title fight between Shawn Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis was a hotly contested battle that ended in a split decision victory for Du Plessis. The judges' scores were close and the fight could have gone either way. Both fighters showcased their skills and had their moments throughout the five rounds. Strickland's defense and jab were impressive, while Du Plessis displayed his power and ability to mix up striking and takedowns. While there was controversy surrounding the decision, the fight highlighted the competitiveness and talent in the middleweight division.
Impressive Evolution of Dricus Du Plessis
Dricus Du Plessis continued to impress with his growth and evolution as a fighter. Despite the close decision, Du Plessis showed improvement in his striking and ability to adapt in the fight. He displayed a wide range of techniques, including body kicks, switching stances, and utilizing ground and pound. Du Plessis' mental toughness and determination were evident throughout the fight, making him a formidable opponent in the middleweight division.
Potential Matchup with Israel Adesanya
Du Plessis' post-fight callout of Israel Adesanya created a lot of buzz and excitement among fans. The potential matchup between Du Plessis and Adesanya would be a highly anticipated and intriguing fight. While Adesanya would likely be favored in a striking battle, Du Plessis has shown his ability to deliver powerful strikes and poses a threat with his submission skills as well. The clash of styles and the bad blood between the two fighters make this a fight that fans would love to see.
Controversy and Criticism Surrounding Shawn Strickland
Shawn Strickland faced criticism for his post-fight behavior and previous controversial statements. His aggressive and disrespectful response to journalist Alexander K. Lee reflected poorly on him as a champion and raised concerns about his conduct. The controversy highlighted the need for professionalism and respect within the sport. While there is a place for open discussion and differing opinions, personal attacks and hate speech have no place in the MMA community.
Arnold Allen should work on being more aggressive and letting his hands go
Arnold Allen has shown great technical skills and well-rounded abilities in his fights. However, one area where he could improve is being more aggressive and letting his hands go. Although he often finishes fights strong, it would benefit him to start the fight with a more offensive mindset. By being more assertive and throwing combinations earlier in the rounds, he can potentially increase his chances of securing decisive victories and breaking into the elite category of fighters.
Jillian Robertson is due for a ranked strawweight opponent, perhaps Carolina Kovalevich
Jillian Robertson's impressive win over Polyana Viana should merit her a ranked strawweight opponent. One potential matchup could be against Carolina Kovalevich. This would be an intriguing fight that pits Robertson's strong grappling skills against Kovalevich's durability and ground defense. A win over a ranked opponent like Kovalevich could be a stepping stone for Robertson to establish herself as a top contender in the strawweight division.
Thoughts on the commentary during UFC 297
The commentary during UFC 297 had its moments of controversy and debate. Dominick Cruz, while often providing technical analysis, made some comments that raised eyebrows and sparked discussions. It's important for commentators to have a deep understanding of the rules and scoring criteria, as well as clarity in their observations. The commentating team should strive for a balance between entertainment and expertise, providing insightful analysis and facilitating informed discussions about the fights.
Shawn Witsen and Sam Peterson stood out on the UFC 297 card
Shawn Witsen and Sam Peterson both stood out on the UFC 297 card. Witsen showcased his unique body type and fought well against Charles Jourdan, while Peterson secured an impressive rear naked choke victory over Yohann Lanesse. Both fighters displayed their skills and potential for future success in the UFC. It will be interesting to see how they continue to develop and perform in their next fights.
Fighters express frustrations with lack of regulation in the UFC
Fighters discuss the need for better regulations and a national sanctioning body in MMA, highlighting the UFC's limited ability to implement changes and improve the sport's rules and judging system.
UFC president Dana White defends free speech for fighters
Dana White emphasizes fighters' freedom of speech and their right to voice their opinions, arguing against any restrictions on what fighters can say or believe.
Boxing matches showcase incredible performances
Highlighting Natasha Jonas and Mikaela Mayer's thrilling welterweight title bout, as well as Chris Cyborg's dominant performance in her third professional boxing match.
On Episode 538 of Morning Kombat Luke Thomas and Brian Campbell recap UFC 297. The guys break down the entire main card, Should Israel Adesanya be next for DDP? What did we learn about Strickland from this fight? Will the UFC try to make Valentina Shevchenko vs. Raquel Pennington? How bad of a loss was Mike Malott’s collapse against Neil Magny? Was Arnold Allen robbed of a fair outcome against Movsar Evloev? Who else stood out at UFC 297? The guys break it all down. As always we close out Monday's with Dm's from Donks and HYSTS.
(00:08:20) - Dricus Du Plessis defeats Sean Strickland
(00:50:30) - Raquel Pennington
(01:02:30) - Mike Malott's Colapse
(01:09:00) - Evloev vs. Allen
(01:22:50) - Rest of UFC 297
(01:28:30) - Dm's from Donks
(01:50:00) - HYSTS
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