Pundit Arena Because Sport Is Everything
The MMA world reacts to UFC 218, a card that managed to turn into one of the most insane nights of the year so far.
How good was that!
UFC 218 was tasked with following up the now-legendary Madison Square Garden fight-card that was UFC 217 and though perhaps it was a night that was lacking the glitz and glamour that, of course, came with having three different titles contested in one sitting, the resulting event was stacked top-to-bottom with vicious finishes, all-out wars and pretty much everything else that makes this sport so special.
A late contender (and some might argue, front-runner) for the Fight of the Year award was contested between Yancy Medeiros and Alex Oliveira before the main-card even began, and though it was the Hawaiian Medeiros whose hand was raised, ‘Cowboy’ Oliveira proved his mettle beyond any doubt and will be remembered for quite some time for his part in what was a truly unique contest.
Shoots brah, Yancy Medeiros with one of the greatest displays of heart and determination. What a win. What a comeback. Somewhere I’d imagine his braddah Max Holloway is fired up right now.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) December 3, 2017
? awesome fight!!!!! @ymedeiros
— Dana White (@danawhite) December 3, 2017
So much heart from both guys ?? #UFC218
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) December 3, 2017
Hawaii stand up! @ymedeiros you animal! True warrior! Straight beast! So pumped for you! Cheeeeee! #teamHAWAII @ufc #UFC218 FOTN right there!
— Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) December 3, 2017
YANCY MEDEIROS IS A GODDAMN MAN
— Luke Thomas (@lthomasnews) December 3, 2017
Dude!!!!!! ???? what a war!! https://t.co/jxn0fHHbvw
— #OnAmission4Gold (@KelvinGastelum) December 3, 2017
It’s funny how many had written off any other Fight of the Night candidates as soon as that epic encounter was through, but in the ‘people’s main event’, Justin Gaethje and Eddie Alvarez both gave absolutely everything they had to deliver a showdown that had all of the guts, gore and grit necessary to pretty much force the UFC to bring out another FOTN bonus, something that both of these guys completely deserved.
Justin is having trouble hurting Eddie so he can’t stop him from pressuring him. Unreal fight
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) December 3, 2017
Damn #UfcDetroit #Crazy
— Platinum Mike Perry (@PlatinumPerry) December 3, 2017
The #UFC218 Hype was real! These fights have been ?
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) December 3, 2017
Gaethje vs Alvarez buckle up now before you get a ticket! #UFC218
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) December 3, 2017
Alvarez has a bump that looks the size of a baseball on his lower face. Incredible. That loss at 205 could have broken him for good but now here he is. Poirier rematch time?
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) December 3, 2017
Eddie Alvarez vs. Justin Gaethje was like being a kid anticipating Christmas and then waking up and finding out you got all the presents you wanted.
— Dave Doyle (@davedoylemma) December 3, 2017
Only things certain….death, taxes and Gaethje v Alvarez being an absolute barn burner
— Mick Maynard (@Mickmaynard2) December 3, 2017
If there were two certainties going into last night’s event that you would feel comfortable betting your house on, the first would be that the aforementioned lightweight showdown between Gaethje and Alvarez would deliver on every level and the second would be that the heavyweight title-eliminator between Alistair Overeem and Francis Ngannou would be brutal, and boy was it brutal.
Omggggggggg @francis_ngannou !!!!!
— JIMI MANUWA (@POSTERBOYJM) December 3, 2017
The scariest man on Earth, and the #1 @ufc heavyweight contender @francis_ngannou. #Repost… https://t.co/77untq2PAv
— Joe Rogan (@joerogan) December 3, 2017
That might be the scariest guy on the planet @ufc
— Jake Ellenberger (@EllenbergerMMA) December 3, 2017
What A Crazy Knockout!!! ???@francis_ngannou #UFCDetroit pic.twitter.com/c7tw2fgoBS
— Tony Ferguson (@TonyFergusonXT) December 3, 2017
That’s it ngannou can no longer fight humans, it’s not fair and someone might die. #ufc218
— Ray Borg (@tazmexufc) December 3, 2017
Holy mother of god
— Mick Maynard (@Mickmaynard2) December 3, 2017
Y'all wanna see a dead body???????
— Mike "Biggie" Rhodes (@TeamRocBiggie) December 3, 2017
And then finally, in the main-event of the evening, Max Holloway managed to put his status as the 145lb champ beyond all doubt and in doing so, has made a pretty strong argument for himself as the greatest featherweight to ever do it. It was a beautifully put-together performance from the Hawaiian and with this latest victory, he manages to push his win-streak to twelve, putting him in an elite category that is home to only the likes of Jon Jones, Georges St-Pierre, Demetrious Johnson and Anderson Silva.
Max is so good. And so Big. Such great cardio. Max is the man!!!!!
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) December 3, 2017
Max Holloway is one of the fighters forming the vanguard of elite talent.
Aldo had two tries at Holloway and was stopped both times. Not even Conor McGregor can claim that prize.
— Luke Thomas (@lthomasnews) December 3, 2017
Wow. Aldo did not want out of there even a little bit, but Holloway just has his number.
— Ben Fowlkes (@benfowlkesMMA) December 3, 2017
@josealdojunior is a warrior and will always be a Legend, congrats @MaxHollowayGOAT great stuff
— Rafael dos Anjos (@RdosAnjosMMA) December 3, 2017
Fuck that was hard to watch. That was a beat down!! Holloway is the best !!
— JIMI MANUWA (@POSTERBOYJM) December 3, 2017
Holloway got Aldo to brawl and kept a steady pace. Aldo's head movement was excellent but just didn't move his feet enough to stay safe and reset. Max's pressure didn't help. The Max era indeed. #UFC218
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) December 3, 2017
Overall, there were a lot of talking points that emerged from last night and though again, UFC 217 was something that was a completely unique and special, UFC 218 managed to provide us with some of the most memorable moments we’ve seen all year.
#UFC218 delivered the round of the year, the fight of the year, the knock out of the year, Eddie Alvarez handing Justin Gaethje his first loss and Max Holloway cementing his place as the man at 145lbs hitting the repeat button on Jose Aldo. What a freaking card. Get in.
— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) December 3, 2017
Cillian Cunningham, Pundit Arena
