MMA Fighting’s Alexander K. Lee takes a look back at recent overlooked battles, a combat jiu-jitsu bout ending via strikes, a phantom submission, an ice hockey fighter scoring a Knockout of the Year candidate, and more!
The Weekend in Scraps: UFC Fight Night 118, Bellator 185 and the Eddie Bravo Invitational
Every Monday, the Combat Press staff gathers its thoughts on the previous weekend’s fights and fight news. This feature isn’t a recap and it isn’t an editorial, but rather a bit of both worlds. We’ll scour the best from the combat-sports landscape and deliver it, with some commentary, right here. Let’s get started…
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Although many will point to Darren Till’s first-round finish of Donald Cerrone at UFC Fight Night 118 as the biggest story of the weekend, there was something else that took place in Gdansk, Poland, that deserves some attention. Both the main and co-main event featured significant size discrepancies between the fighters in the cage. No, this isn’t a rant about the issues with weight-cutting (that’s for another time), but rather a plea for the UFC to adopt the additional weight classes that the ABC has approved as well as some of those that already exist wome
Former UFC, Invicta FC fighter Pearl Gonzalez signs with BKFC
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Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships (BKFC) has acquired some new talent.
On Thursday evening, the promotion announced the signing of former UFC and Invicta FC fighter, Pearl Gonzalez to a multi-fight deal. Her debut is expected to be at an upcoming event in Miami, FL currently scheduled for May 21. Details on an opponent and weight class have not been revealed at this time.
Gonzalez took to social media to confirm the news.
“I’ve officially signed with [Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships] and I will be fighting in Miami on May 21!,” wrote Gonzalez. “I made the biggest sacrifice of my life, packed up everything and moved to Brooklyn, New York permanently to train with the greatest female boxer in the world, [Amanda Serrano]. I promise to dedicate my life to becoming the next BKFC World Champ and couldn’t be happier to start this new chapter in my life!”
Oliver Taza just to name a few.
Despite the COVID pandemic, we have experienced for the majority of the year, these events have proven that jiu-jitsu athletes are resilient and are able to evolve during adversities. They found a way to keep their skills and competition training relevant. Although we don’t know what 2021 will have in store for us, one thing is for sure, if there are BJJ events, athletes will continue to bring the heat. Now, if they could all end in submission victories – rather than playing into OT – that would just be the icing on the cake.