With the last UFC Pay-Per-View of 2020 behind us, there were plenty of takeaways from the card. Here, we discuss the biggest talking points of the main card and how it will shape the future of the UFC:
Junior dos Santos Drops Fourth Straight Bout, Ciryl Gane Remains Undefeated
To start off the main card of UFC 256, veteran Junior Dos Santos was tasked with the undefeated Ciryl Gane. Santos (21-9) has now lost four consecutive fights dating back to June of 2019. Meanwhile, Gane (7-0) has now recorded three finishes via KO/TKO. The finishing strike by Gane may have appeared illegal at first, but ultimately wasn’t ruled as such. This was Gane’s biggest victory to date, while dos Santos’ UFC career remains in question. At the age of 36, it may be time to consider retirement.
Kevin Holland Extends 2020 Win Streak Over Jacare Souza
After a four-fight win streak this year alone, Kevin Holland managed to secure his fifth win of 2020 over a veteran in Jacare Souza. The fight began with Souza (26-9) taking control on the ground, but Holland’s (21-5) trash talk was ultimately backed up by multiple strikes from the ground. In the post-fight interview, Holland admitted to Joe Rogan that he would be willing to fight Khamzat Chimaev on December 19th; a seven-day turnaround.
Mackenzie Dern Edges Out Virna Jandiroba Via Unanimous Decision
While both fighters were primarily skilled in wrestling, the first takedown didn’t come until Jandiroba secured one in the later stages of the second round. Dern (10-1) secured the first round due to efficient striking and setting the pace, while Jandiroba (16-2) won the following round after controlling the ground game. The final round was down to the wire, as both fighters had their bright moments. Ultimately, Dern hung on to secure the 29-28 victory from all three judges.
Charles Oliveira Dominates Ground Game, Upsets Tony Ferguson
In somewhat of a mismatch, #7-ranked Charles Oliveira managed to have his way with #3-ranked Tony Ferguson. In the second round, Oliveira (30-8) managed to hyperextend Ferguson’s (26-5) left arm. At no point did this bout appear back-and-forth, as Oliveira secured his biggest victory to date. With a shakeup of rankings in the Lightweight division, this will be the second consecutive fight in which we question what Ferguson has left in the tank.
Deiveson Figueiredo, Brandon Moreno Contend For Fight of the Year
In the Flyweight Championship fight, both Figueiredo and Moreno displayed bright moments. Despite a lack of striking/takedown defense, it will an aggressive pace set by both fighters in what was an exciting spectacle. Despite having a point removed for an illegal strike, Figueiredo managed to hold onto the title via majority draw. However, this will likely be a fight that requires a rematch in 2021.
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