by UFC 331 took place tonight from Crypto Arena in LA as several scores were settled, number ones contenders were created and hype trains were halted. Let’s get right to the Main Card take aways.
Alonzo Menifield defeats Iwo Baraniewski
In a fight that was supposed to be a slugfest with someone getting knocked out in round one, turned into a 3 round chess match that saw Alonzo Menifield escape with about as narrow of a win as you’re going to find.
Sean Sharaf stuns Gable Steveson with 12 second knockout.
Sharaf came in at 4-2 but 0-2 in the UFC and a major underdog as Steveson held -2400 betting odds. Sharaf didn’t buy into the hype train and ended it with one punch to the wide open chin of Steveson.
For Gable Steveson, this is just the lates setback after failing in Pro Wrestling and the NFL. Will he keep with it or will he simply move on to the next possible career?
Patricio Pitbull knocks out Choi Doo-Ho in 3:28 of the very first round.
Doo-Ho had absolutely zero answers for the striking power of Pitbull. Doo-Ho came I a heavy favorite but showed next to know standing skills and got systematically destroyed. Pitbull reminded everyone tonight why he was a force in Bellator for several years. His UFC career is off to a tough start at 2-2 but now the 39 year old has a reason for a possible late career resurgence.
Arman Tsarukyran knocks out Marcio Ruffy in the first round
No one is shocked the red hot Tsarukyran won this fight, what they are shocked about is the 4:56 second knockout. Tsarukyran was heavily favored to use his vaunted ground game to neutralize the high powered striker in Ruffy. Instead, it was he who used superior striking to end this one early.
Joshua Van retains the UFC Flyweight Championship with a UD win over former champ Alexandre Pantoja
I had it 49-46 with the only round going to Pantoja being round four. Van dominated this fight on his feet and nearly submitted the former champ twice. Van is going to be the Flyweight Champ for a very long time to come.
