Saturday’s Ultimate Fighting Championship event epitomizes the calm preceding the storm set to take over Las Vegas in the upcoming monumental UFC 300 week. Set against the backdrop of the Apex Facility, UFC Fight Night 240 presented a tightly curated lineup of fiercely contested bouts, adorned with the rise of promising talents seeking to make their mark in the organization. At its centerpiece was a main event showdown, featuring a gripping rematch in the middleweight division.
Court McGee
Alex Morono and McGee delivered a compelling performance in the prelim showcase that set the tone for the main card bouts. As the fight progressed, Morono proved to be the better fighter in the opening stanza, displaying trademark speed and fluidity. As McGee tried to swing the momentum in his favor in the second round, Morono stuck to his gameplan and continued his strategic approach. The final round saw both fighters trading blows in open space, with Morono walking away with the better of those exchanges. When the scores were tallied, Morono emerged victorious by unanimous decision scores of 29-28 on all judges’ scorecards.McGee has only won three fights in his previous 10 Octagon outings. It goes without saying that he must be struggling to maintain his spot on the roster and is walking on eggshells considering the pressure he faces to deliver results. Once a promising prospect who has defeated the likes of Josh Neer and Robert Whittaker, McGee is potentially looking for work elsewhere.
Alexander Hernandez
Damon Jackson and Hernandez went to war in the co-main event that culminated with “Action” walking away with a split decision win. Hernandez was the early aggressor and even scored a knockdown in the third round. Yet, Jackson powered through with resilience and stuck to his grappling prowess to scrape out the decision with relentless pressure and well-timed strikes. Jackson managed to navigate the fight and walk away with a win that snaps his two-fight losing skid.Meanwhile, Hernandez’s reeling path worsened with now four losses in five fights. Many in his age group and career phase have been forced to explore options outside the UFC.