UFC 250 results, takeaways: Amanda Nunes is too good for two divisions

UFC 250 results, Amanda Nunes already has her place within the historical past books. She’s going to go down as the best ladies‘s MMA fighter of her time with wins over each notable fighter of the period within the 125, 135 and 145-pound weight divisions. Her return on Saturday evening in the principle occasion of UFC 250 was extra of a sparring match than precise battle as she dismantled Felicia Spencer over 25 grueling minutes, at occasions seeming to only play along with her opponent.

The battle did little so as to add to the resume and accomplishments, however it’s one more former Invicta FC champion in Nunes’ trophy case.

Nunes’ place within the sport, and in each divisions the place she holds championships, is among the important takeaways popping out of the occasion, however it‘s not the one one. The bantamweight division, all of a sudden missing a champion, acquired loads of consideration, and three males made large statements as to their place amongst 135-pound fighters.

Let’s check out three large takeaways from a top-to-bottom thrilling pay-per-view occasion.

Amanda Nunes could be too good: The issue with an all-time nice fighter is that generally the division does not match as much as their greatness. Nunes seems to have that downside throughout two divisions. She has wins over each girl to ever maintain the championship in each the bantamweight and featherweight divisions, and which means she has plowed by anybody within the sport with any diploma of starpower. Now what?

UFC 250 results, takeaways: Amanda Nunes is too good for two divisions; new life found at bantamweight

The battle with Spencer wasn’t compelling on paper. The information that somebody guess $1 million on Nunes to win $166,000 was hardly price a second thought, it was little greater than a pleasant funding alternative. And the motion within the Octagon was solely attention-grabbing in how a lot punishment Spencer was in a position to take and proceed gamely attempting to make one thing occur. These aren’t fights worthy of Amanda Nunes’ expertise. However what else is there? She will hold preventing and dominating the most effective accessible opponents, but when nobody is , that solely results in extra nonsense about her drawing energy as a star. It is the curse of being that a lot better than everybody else within the sport.

Henry Cejudo’s retirement could also be the most effective factor for bantamweight: Cejudo’s vacating of the bantamweight championship got here as a shock. And it is true that this can be nothing greater than a long-game play in a negotiating battle with the UFC. However what the game has been left with is a compelling 135-pound division that feels extra attention-grabbing than it has in years. UFC 250 alone noticed Aljamain Sterling prove himself as a worthy title challenger by operating by Cory Sandhagen in lower than 90 seconds, Cody Garbrandt announce his return as a contender with a surprising knockout of Raphael Assuncao and Sean O’Malley opening the pay-per-view with a brutal knockout of Eddie Wineland.

These three males, together with Marlon Moraes, Jose Additionally and Petr Yan make for a deep, aggressive division with the potential to remain that manner for years. With out the “King of Cringe” within the combine, the division feels extra attention-grabbing and recent than it was with Cejudo “searching legacies” whereas the most effective of the most effective have been left spinning their wheels.

Preserve the small Octagon: If latest weeks have proven something, it is that the 25-foot Octagon is a preventing floor that invitations motion. The dimensions of the UFC Apex facility has pressured the promotion to make use of the smaller Octagon as an alternative of the usual 30-foot cage. The smaller cage has traditionally led to a rise within the quantity of strikes thrown and a rise in motion. That confirmed once more Saturday with nearly each battle on the cardboard delivering strong motion.

Fighters could desire the larger cage as a result of it supplies more room to work approach and apply a strategic strategy, however for fan-friendly fights, the small cage is the best way to go. Possibly after the pandemic, the UFC will persist with the smaller cage that was an enormous give attention to why the WEC was such a beloved promotion amongst battle followers.