UFC Vegas 80: Five things we learned
UFC Vegas 80 was an interesting card. The event had a few solid fights and impressive performances, but it will not be remembered as an all-time great card. Still, the card taught us a few important lessons. Let’s dive into the UFC Vegas 80 results and discuss the biggest lessons we learned.
Bobby Green pulls off an upset
The UFC Vegas 80 main event only lasted 33 seconds. Bobby Green landed a straight left that knocked Grant Dawson out. This was a massive victory for Green who was a sizeable underdog.
Green could not have asked for a better result at UFC Vegas 80. This was a blatantly obvious striker versus grappler matchup. The wrestling did not even come into play as Green was able to finish the fight before Dawson attempted a takedown. It does not get cleaner than that.
This performance will push Green up the UFC lightweight rankings. Before the fight, Dawson was the No. 10-ranked lightweight. Once the rankings are updated, Green will find himself close to the top 10.
Joe Pyfer will take the easiest path to victory
In the UFC Vegas 80 co-main event, Joe Pyfer got a second-round submission victory over Abdul Razak Alhassan. Throughout the bout, the knockout specialist showed the layers of his skill set.
At UFC Vegas 80, Pyfer elected to take the easier route to victory. This can be seen in his takedown-heavy game plan. Pyfer landed several takedowns before eventually finishing the fight with an arm triangle. Furthermore, on the feet, he was cautious and did not get overaggressive. This game plan allowed Pyfer to stay safe and avoid Alhassan’s power.
It was great to see Pyfer take the intelligent route in this fight. The path to victory was evident and Pyfer took advantage. That is a great thing to see from a rising prospect.
Joaquin Buckley continues to impress at welterweight
At UFC Vegas 80, Joaquin Buckley picked up a decision victory against Alex Morono.
Buckley controlled the majority of this fight. The power, speed and athleticism difference between the two were clear and Buckley leveraged his advantage to get inside and land big shots. Buckley hurt Morono on several occasions and mixed in body shots, resulting in Buckley pulling ahead in the third round, which allowed him to pour on even more damage.
This bout was Buckley’s second fight at welterweight. In his first bout, he picked up a win over Andre Fialho and proved he belonged in the weight class. He has added to that with an impressive performance over Morono. It seems safe to say Buckley is a legit welterweight.
Drew Dober gets back on track
At UFC Vegas 80, Drew Dober and Rick Glenn were looking to get back in the win column. This bout was massive for both fighters as they were each looking to bounce back from the first knockout loss in their career. Dober was the fighter who was able to accomplish that as he earned a first-round knockout.
Dober’s power was on full display for as long as this fight lasted. It seemed like every time he landed a punch it hurt Glenn. As a result, it did not take long for Dober to finish this fight.
Dober will be able to begin climbing towards the lightweight rankings. Dober has consistently been ranked while occasionally slipping just outside the top 15, and a win allows him to return to that status.
Bill Algeo does enough to beat Alexander Hernandez
The UFC Vegas 80 main card opened with a featherweight bout between Bill Algeo and Alexander Hernandez. Algeo was able to edge out Hernandez and get a decision victory.
Algeo did just enough to earn the result that wanted at UFC Vegas 80. In the first round, he utilized his length to keep the shorter Hernandez at bay. In the second round, Hernandez was able to get inside and land some massive shots, but Algeo won the round because he landed a hook that dropped Hernandez. With two rounds banked, the competitive third round did not affect the scorecards. Still, Algeo won the round.
Algeo now has a 5-3 record in the UFC. This win ensured he stayed above the .500 mark and will push him forward in the flyweight division.
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