The Fight #85 LNT

UFC 327 was a wild one. We recap Cub Swanson’s storybook retirement knockout, the judging issues in Reyes vs. Walker, the war between Hokit and Blaydes, Paulo Costa’s late finish, and the striking battle between Ulberg and Jiri. Real damage, real stakes, and a card full of fights worth talking about. Tap in for the recap.

Transcript

Cold Open And Card Setup

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It's Layton LA. The fight episode 85 Life and Times Network UFC 327 delivered like a midwife. Delivered like a C section. Delivered like Papa John's like Paco Bell. It wasn't the giorno. It wasn't homemade. This is a banger card, top to bottom. Let's get into the first fight. Cubs Swanson. This is his last rodeo. Get him cowboy. Takes out Nate in round one. One and done. Very much. This is the fairy tale way any fighter wants to stop fighting. Go off into the sunset on a knockout. On a younger opponent. Show the world that you're retiring, not because you're outdated, but because you are just done with the sport. Incredible career. Always a contender, always a fighter, always exactly what you thought he was going to be when he stepped into that page. Now, shout out to Cubs Swanson. Shout out to his career. Shout out to his family. They were all there. Getting that knockout in front of your family, in front of your kids, in front of your wife, right before you retire. There's no sweeter ending for a fighter. Shout out to Cubs Swanson. Now, this card had all bangers. Honestly, when the strikes are so little and the damage is so little, give both of these, just give them a draw and call it a day. We need more draws and fighting and officiating because how am I supposed to judge the little bit of damage Reyes did and the little bit of damage that Johnny Walker did? This is not amateur boxing, kickboxing, karate, any of those systems where points is what we're looking for. If these guys can't create damage or they're too worried about damage, did they get a draw? And they should get half their fucking pay. I'm sorry. Like looking at this fight was the most unentertaining piece of shit I've ever seen. And I'm not saying the fighters are trash. I'm just saying the fight was trash. Let him cook. Johnny Walker is not known for that. Dominic Reyes is not known for that. This is kind of like a Frankenstein uh Francis Nganu, Derek Lewis situation where the guys are worried about the power so much that we don't get too much action. They give the fight to Dominic Reyes. He looks still shaky from his loss against Carlos Uberg by vicious round one KO. But let's get to the rest of the card. We had Josh Hokitt and Curtis Blades go to war. 29-28, very close fight, very much a pick-em fight. Very much who is going home with less of themselves fight. Both Josh and Curtis Blade gave us their pound of flesh. Josh looked more spry. Josh looked like he could do this longer. He has a wrestler's cardio and an MMA fighter's heart and spirit. Curtis Blades is an older fighter. And I want people to understand that. He has been through so many wars. The scar tissue on his body is so calcified. It's so crazy that he survived all the damage and punishment that he took. In the amount of damage and punishment that he gave at this stage of his career. Want to shout out Curtis Blade fighter. I I really wish he hangs them up after taking this much damage. When a guy can stuff your takedowns like that and he's forcing you to fight a fight you're just not as good at, your hands just aren't as fast. You are going to get bloodied and beaten. And Curtis Blade, even through all that, even through all of Josh Hokett's advantages, he still got his pound of flesh from that man. Both of these guys were close to getting KO'd every single round. This is exactly what saves the card after the Dominic Reyes Johnny Walker fight. And then we get another ward, Paula Acosta versus Azamat. He gets the KO in round three after it was looking like Azamat was going to cruise to easy UD. Paula Acosta digs it out of the fire, gets the round three TKO and puts himself back in position in the middleweight division. This is the second up and comer that he has turned away and hurt. Drop. The last guy he didn't finish, but this guy he did. Shout out to Paulo Acosta. I think he's really evolving. I think he understands where he needs to be at. Great to see him just get a win. Unlike certain middleweights and legends, we know this guy is adapting to the times and he just has the toolkit to succeed in the sport. Shout out to Paulo Acosta. Now, Carlos Uberg versus Jerry was one of the craziest fights. One of the craziest seesaw fights I've ever seen in my life. Yiri looked powerful, damaging, and Carlos Uberg was exactly what I thought he was: a sniper with high-level striking. And that's the problem. Carlos Uberg, his striking is high level. He is with the City kickboxing crew. This is their third champion in the UFC. They know exactly what they're doing. And when their strikers are in their prime, this is like a prime Izzy. You're gonna be shit out of luck beating this guy if you just strike. You cannot give this man any chances. You can't give a fighter like Callis Uber any chances or any mercy. Deary showed mercy. I don't care what anybody says. He should have blitzed and spermed those left kicks when that ACL injury happened. It's kind of similar to the Joshua Vann situation. We don't care. Make him unable to fight, and you will win. Paulus Uber digs it out of fire with Gary Pahaska stalking him against the cage. Just like how Alex Pereira was stalking Izzy against the cage. There is a lot of training going on in City Kickboxing. And I believe as long as their strikers are in their prime, meaning physically, emotionally, and mentally, they can stuff the takedowns and be a problem, a championship problem level fighter anytime. Carlos Uber turns it around with the injured leg, with the injured ACL or MCL. He tore something he could barely walk. Bang, left hand, drops Yerie, finishes Yeary. And that's what that was the problem. Yerie had to take a risk to come in, and Carlos was happy to give him just due. He made it a bad neighborhood. He crowded him. And every time Yerri wanted to press the attack, he had to pay for something. And that's why Carlos Uberg is the champion. Shout out to the EOC 327. This is the fight, episode 85. Tap in it's Lena Lee the fight. Like the children's network.