Combat roundup: Gilberto Ramírez had no chance
Bivol took down Ramírez, Neil Magny took care of business, and the fight world prepares for Adesanya vs Pereira in this week's combat roundup.
Photo credit: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing
This weekend had me fighting for my life! It was a busy fight weekend that I had been so excited for, but my undefeated prediction record took its first L as all my guys were droppin’ left and right. Ramírez! Rodriguez! Qué pasó?!
Here are the stories that caught my eye this past week, and what to look for in the week ahead.
Boxing
Bivol dominated Zurdo Ramirez and Canelo is left unavenged
Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez, the great Mexican hope, had us all rooting for him when he said he was fighting on behalf of Mexico and all Latinos, and that he would avenge Canelo’s loss to Bivol by winning the fight. I knew it was a lofty goal as he’s never been paired with an elite fighter and never predicted this as a W, but man, did I want it to happen with all of my might!
Onslaught 🔥 #BivolRamirez
— BOXRAW (@BOXRAW) November 5, 2022
But no surprises here: Bivol rocked him to retain the WBA light heavyweight title. This fight was the Bivol Show through and through, proving why Bivol is one of the best in the world. Avenging Canelo will have to wait, and now we need Bivol vs Beterbiev.
MMA
Neil Magny finishes D Rod with a nasty D’arce choke at UFC Vegas 64
With a third-round submission at 3:33 (go off, angel numbers) via d’arce choke on the ground, Neil Magny now has the most wins in UFC welterweight history after I wrongly predicted that Daniel Rodriguez would take the fight. Whoops.
Neil Magny Submits Daniel Rodriguez #UFCVegas64 pic.twitter.com/TEIYxP1Ls8
— Pure Finishes (@PureKnockouts) November 6, 2022
Well to be clear, I thought it could go either way and I knew the experts favored Magny, but I thought the underdog Rodriguez might just be hungry and talented enough to pull this off. But while Magny may be similar in age and years of experience, he’s had SIXTEEN more professional fights and ten more wins than Rodriguez, and that expertise really showed by the second round on Saturday.
What to watch this weekend
UFC 281: Adesanya vs Pereira
On Saturday, November 12 we have a championship main event between current middleweight champ Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira at UFC 281. Fight fans are invested since these two are former kickboxing rivals and Pereira has beaten Adesanya twice in the ring, but the two have never met in the octagon until now. I have predicted Pereira to win, and I’m going to be right this time–watch and see.
Israel Adesanya is set to defend his middleweight title against Alex Pereira at #UFC281 in MSG 🗽 pic.twitter.com/9bOC6AxT2A
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) August 5, 2022
UFC 281 will take place at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Watch live at 6 pm ET on ESPN+.
