Johnny Eblen was victorious over Fabian Edwards in Bellator 299, Rafael Fiziev may be out for some time due to injury from UFC Vegas 78, Ben Davis failed to secure a win at Misfits Boxing, and the author speculates about future paths for Michelle Waterson-Gomez in this week’s review.
Hello, enthusiasts of combat sports! There’s quite a lot to talk involving the recent fights. Johnny Eblen demonstrated remarkable prowess against Fabian Edwards at Bellator 299. Despite suffering a severe cut on the eyebrow, Eblen’s performance remained outstanding, setting quite the debate about his standing as possibly the best middleweight in the world right now. Rafael Fiziev, on the other hand, seems to have encountered a setback, potentially tearing a ligament at UFC Vegas 78. And thirdly, Ben Davis was not fortunate enough to pull off a win at Misfits Boxing.
A fresh examination at Eblen’s fightstatus brings up an array of observations. The middleweight division has experienced messy shifts over the years. With Anderson Silva’s reign ended and the supposed stability brought on by Israel Adesanya disrupted, the recent upheaval of Alex Pereira to the title sent the segment into disarray. Many thought Pereira had stylistic limitations and that there were many who could potentially outmatch him. Now, there are three contenders in sight: Sean Strickland, Dricus du Plessis, and Eblen. The latter seems to be emerging as the top of the pack.
Eblen is, of course, not without flaws. His bold approach during the fight against Edwards showed his limitations as a striker, yet his exceptional cardio, durability, and potential to hold his own across different phases signify promise. Taking into account the current turbulence in the middleweight division, I think Eblen is a favorite over any standing middleweight, save potentially for Adesanya. However, this could change if du Plessis demolishes Strickland to claim the belt in the forthcoming months.
On to Rafael Fiziev’s situation—while it’s speculative, I suspect he has possibly torn ligaments in his knee given the look of it during the match. It’s unfortunate as the fight was shaping up to be quite an encounter, but his potential absence from the ring for almost a year is a significant setback for him. His lightweight status could further hinder his prospects for a title shot. On another note, Michelle Waterson-Gomez seems to be on the decline, with considerable injuries from her successive fights. It’s likely best for her to concentrate on life outside of the cage and sustain her wellbeing. Lastly, Ben Davis, despite his defeat at Misfits Boxing, deserves appreciation for stepping into the ring despite him not being a professional fighter.