The ordering process for Ultimate Fighting Championship pay-per-views has changed: UFC 248 is only available on ESPN+ in the U.S.
STOCK UP
Weili Zhang: In a surefire hall-of-fame fight, Zhang cemented herself as a worthy women’s strawweight champion with a performance for the ages against former titleholder Joanna Jedrzejczyk in the co-main event. The five-round back-and-forth affair matched Zhang’s devastating power with Jedrzejczyk’s overwhelming technical prowess. A razor-close split decision allowed Zhang to retain her championship, but it was the startling damage she inflicted upon the American Top Team standout’s face and forehead that drew most of the attention. The performance should see Zhang’s popularity soar while she awaits her next challenger, either in a rematch with Jedrzejczyk or a showdown with the winner of the forthcoming battle between Rose Namajunas and Jessica Andrade.
Beneil Dariush: The Kings MMA rep extended his winning streak to four fights and emerged from his firefight with Drakkar Klose with a second-round knockout. After Dariush glued himself to Klose’s back for much of the first round, all eyes were on the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt’s gas tank. Klose rocked him early in Round 2, only to have the Californian return the favor. Dariush leaped in with a left hook that put out the Fight Ready export before he hit the canvas, the performance likely earning him another crack against a Top 15-caliber opponent later this year. For all his faults, Dariush remains a tough out at 155 pounds.
Sean O'Malley: O’Malley proved, at least in his world, that ring rust was little more than a state of mind. The undefeated bantamweight prospect looked better than ever in his return from a two-year layoff, as he took out Jose Alberto Quinonez with a first-round head kick and follow-up punches and reclaimed whatever momentum was lost in his absence. Given O’Malley’s quick finish, UFC President Dana White expressed interest in getting “Sugar Sean” back in the Octagon as soon as possible. All signs point to the promotion having a potential star on its hands, and while it will need guard against giving him too much too soon, his arrow certainly appears pointed in an upward direction.
STOCK DOWN
Yoel Romero: In what may have been the 2000 Olympic silver medalist’s last realistic chance to win a UFC title, Romero avoided putting it all on the line and failed to position himself to dethrone Adesanya in a five-round decision loss to the middleweight champion. Puzzling performances are nothing new for Romero, but the UFC 248 main event ranks among his most bizarre; and while Adesanya played a role in driving down the entertainment value, his challenger’s lack of output was indefensible and downright painful to watch at times. Romero’s actions did not endear him to fans or White, who expressed displeasure with the American Top Team mainstay’s efforts. If Romero does indeed plan on fighting until he is 50, he will likely need to adjust his approach if he plans to do so in the UFC.
Jingliang Li: On the cusp of a Top 15 breakthrough, the Chinese power puncher had no answer for Neil Magny’s length and output in a unanimous decision defeat to “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 16 semifinalist. Li failed to adjust between rounds, refused to set up his punches or takedowns and instead waded into the Elevation Fight Team rep’s stiff jabs, straight rights and a suffocating clinch game. Magny’s pace remained constant across all 15 minutes. If Li wants to take the next step in his development, he will have to show an ability to avoid overreliance on his fight-altering power. As he learned against Magny, not all opponents are going to buckle.
Max Griffin: In falling to 1-4 over his last five appearances, “Max Pain” put his position on the UFC roster in serious jeopardy with his split decision loss to Alex Oliveira. A crushing uppercut from the Brazilian opened a cut on Griffin’s forehead in the second round and allowed him to turn up the heat with clinches, takedowns and ground-and-pound. It was exactly the kind of back-and-forth brawl in which Oliveira thrives. Griffin likely would have enjoyed more success had he leaned on his superior technique and not allowed himself to be drawn into a firefight. As a result, his UFC record now sits at 3-6.