Weekend Recap-Results and Analysis

Well, well, well, that was one hell of a rollercoaster in the world of Martial Arts this weekend! We witnessed title fights, jaw-dropping upsets, and the rise of fresh young talents, making it an action-packed weekend.

We had Oktagon MMA's debut show in the UK, a sizzling UFC card under the Brazilian sun in São Paulo, and a thrilling quest for the World Kickboxing title in ONE Championship, where two warriors aimed to claim the coveted title of 2-sport champions. So, no more waiting – let's dive right in and relive the excitement👊 

👊UFC Fight Night - São Paulo🇧🇷 

Kicking off our weekend coverage in the sunny streets of São Paulo, Brazil, where a scorching UFC fight night lit up the city. With a perfect mix of fresh talents and battle-tested UFC veterans, let's jump headfirst into our in-depth breakdown and analysis of this sizzling fight night🔥

🇧🇷Elvis Brenner vs Kaynan Kruschewsky🇧🇷 

And here we go, folks! Our weekend coverage kicks off with a bang, or shall we say a knockout, as we witnessed the "Knockout of the Night" right at the start of the main event. This unexpected knockout treat was brought to you because of a last-minute change. Sadly, Armen Petrosyan fell ill, and as they say, the show must go on 🤷‍♂️ 

Now, onto the action. As the fight began, Kruschewsky wasted no time and took the offensive, pressing Brenner right from the get-go. But here's where the plot twist comes in. Brenner, ever the strategist, quickly spotted Kruschewsky's counter move - every time he threw his right hand, Kruschewsky responded with a left hook. Brenner, being a quick learner, ducked that left hook a few times and threw his left hand, missing twice before landing a knockout blow that sent Kruschewsky into a deep slumber! What a way to ignite the main card!

🇧🇷Gabriel Bonfim vs Nicolas Dalby🇩🇰 

Well, well, well, talk about a big surprise in this one! Heading into this matchup, Gabriel Bonfim was the heavy favorite, and many expected him to secure a convincing win. But, as they say, in the world of combat sports, anything can happen, and it didn't quite go according to the script for the young Brazilian. 😕

The first round started off as a great round for Bonfim, showing his comfort on the feet with some crisp boxing and those nasty low kicks. Dalby, on the other hand, remained unfazed, landing his own solid shots. But here's where the twist came in - as Bonfim took Dalby down, he quickly transitioned to side control and started raining elbows on Dalby's head. Ouch! 😵 At that point, many believed it was over, but Dalby managed to hang on, pushing it to the second round.

As the second round kicked off, Bonfim seemed to be still in control, securing two early takedowns. However, he started to show signs of fatigue under Dalby's relentless pressure and found himself backed against the cage. That's when Dalby began his onslaught, unleashing brutal elbows and knees. One of those knees dropped Bonfim, and Dalby continued with a vicious ground and pound. The referee had seen enough and stepped in to stop the fight. 🤯

As for the Cage Chronicle’s Prediction? we got this one wrong as we went for the young Brazilian to win ❌ 

Not many people expected Dalby to pull off the win, especially given Bonfim's undefeated record, and we were no different as our prediction leaned towards Bonfim. But hey, that's the beauty of MMA - it's full of surprises! Congratulations to Dalby for the incredible victory. 🫡

🇧🇷Jailton Almeida vs Derrick Lewis🇺🇸 

In the heart of São Paulo, the main event unfolded, featuring the promising Brazilian Jailton Almeida against the heavy-hitting Derrick Lewis. This showdown appeared destined for an early finish, given the fighters' track records. Almeida's previous bouts had all concluded in an average of just 3 minutes and 43 seconds, while Derrick Lewis was known for his devastating knockout power, tying the record for the most KO's in UFC history. Yet, the fight took an unexpected turn!

Despite the scheduled 5 rounds, each one played out quite similarly, with Almeida maintaining dominant control over Lewis. It was a ground game showcase, as Lewis struggled to break free from Almeida's relentless grip. Almeida remarkably accumulated 22 minutes of ground control during the 25 minute bout, setting a new record for control time in the heavyweight division🤯 

Derrick Lewis's plan of "JUST STAND UP" didn't pan out as expected, and Almeida convincingly claimed victory in every round. With another win to his name, he wasted no time in calling out Ciryl Gane for his next challenge.

The Cage Chronicle’s team got this one right as we took the Brazilian Almeida to get the W 🧙 

Certainly, this turn of events left a bitter taste in the mouths of some UFC fans who found the fight less thrilling and raised questions about Almeida's ability to finish seasoned MMA fighters. However, we view it as an incredibly impressive victory for Almeida. His dominant performance showcased his exceptional control and strategy, which can be equally impressive in the MMA world.

With this win under his belt, we anticipate that Almeida will soon be matched against a top 5 opponent, setting the stage for even more thrilling clashes in the heavyweight division. The future holds promising challenges and exciting opportunities for this rising Brazilian star 🌟

👊Oktagon 48🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 

Changing over from sunny São Paulo to, emmm, rainy Manchester? for Oktagon MMA 48, where we had an exciting card with a lot of drama and a lot of great moments, including a few title fights. So, let's dive into it 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 

🇨🇿Jaroslav Pokorny vs Shem Rock🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 

Our Oktagon coverage kicks off with a bang, or should we say a brawl?🥊

Pokorny and Shem Rock had been engaged in a war of words long before their fight was even announced. The banter mostly revolved around Rock playfully calling Pokorny a "Pig" because of his day job as a police officer 👮.

But things took a heated turn at the Oktagon weigh-in on Friday night. During their face-off, the tension escalated, and Shem Rock threw a kick at Pokorny's ribs, sparking a full-blown brawl between the two fighters. Security had to step in to break them up.

Unfortunately, the drama took an unexpected turn as Pokorny had to withdraw from the fight on medical advice due to the rib injury sustained during the brawl. This left Shem Rock without an opponent for the event. Many have called for Rock's contract to be terminated because of this incident and previous issues. However, it's unlikely that Oktagon will let go of their biggest draw in the UK, as Rock brings a substantial fan base to their events. He's a key figure in building up the hype for future shows in the UK.

Clip the Instagram link below to see the weigh-in drama 👇️ 

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿George Staines vs Denis Frimpong🇮🇪 

Let's dive into one of the most thrilling fights of the evening – the England vs Ireland Oktagon Challenge final. This bout was special because it had been brewing with rivalry ever since the series began. Denis Frimpong had been the prankster of the show, constantly pulling jokes and pranks on the entire England team. In contrast, George Staines was the silent, reserved contender who believed in letting his fighting skills do the talking.

Over the course of the four rounds this fight lasted, George Staines maintained the upper hand. He understood that if Frimpong was going to win, it would likely be on the feet. To neutralize this threat, Staines consistently took Frimpong down, and the majority of the fight was spent with Staines in the dominant position, unleashing a barrage of ground and pound. Surprisingly, Frimpong didn't seem too concerned about getting back to his feet. Instead, he opted to strike from the bottom, making an unexpected tactical choice.

However, as the pressure mounted, Frimpong eventually left himself open in the fourth round. It was in this moment that George Staines seized the opportunity, locking in a tight guillotine choke that forced Frimpong to tap out. With this victory, George Staines was crowned the Oktagon Challenge champion 🏆️

The Cage Chronicle’s team hit this one on the head as we predicited a George Staines victory by Submission 🧙 

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿Jake Quickenden vs Paul Smith🎥 

This was a clash between a TV star and a comedian, and despite their relatively short MMA journeys – both having started just a year ago for this charity event – it turned out to be an exciting matchup.

The fight didn't last long, with Jake Quickenden showcasing sharp striking skills. His punches looked lethal, and it was only a matter of time before one of them found its mark, ultimately knocking out the comedian, Paul Smith, in the first round.

Both men deserve tremendous credit for stepping into the octagon, a feat not many would dare to attempt. Doing it for charity is truly commendable and reflects their commitment to a good cause. 🥊

As for the Cage Chronicle's prediction, it was spot on, as we correctly foresaw Jake Quickenden emerging victorious. 🧙

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿Aaron Aby vs Elias Garcia🇺🇸 

The main event in Manchester featured a highly anticipated battle for the Flyweight title in Oktagon MMA. It pitted Welshman Aaron Aby, riding a strong 2-win streak, against Elias Garcia, a former UFC fighter who had been on an impressive unbeaten run since his UFC losses.

The first round kicked off with a flurry of fast strikes from both fighters, landing some significant shots. However, things took a turn when Aby was caught with a big knee just above the eye, leading to a massive cut that caught the attention of the referee and doctor. Fortunately, the fight continued, but Aby knew he had to finish it quickly to avoid a stoppage, so he took Garcia down and unleashed a barrage of ground and pound. Ouch!

Moving into the second round, despite the gaping cut, Aby was allowed to continue. Garcia seemed to grow in confidence, showing more comfort on his feet and getting creative with his strikes. Aby, however, was still searching for the finish. Unfortunately, just before the end of the round, the cut opened up again, impairing Aby's vision. During the break, the doctors decided to stop the fight due to the severity of the cut.

This granted Garcia the title and the win, though many expect a rematch given that Aby appeared to be ahead in those two rounds. It's a cruel facet of the fight game, where success can be undone by an unforgiving cut. 🤕

As for the Cage Chronicle's prediction, this one didn't pan out as expected, as we had Aby winning by decision. ❌

🇹🇭ONE Fight Night 16🏆️ 

Transitioning from rainy Manchester to the vibrant city of Bangkok, Thailand, we found ourselves immersed in ONE Championship's Fight Night 16. This event offered an electrifying mix of Muay Thai, Kickboxing, MMA, and submission grappling – a true testament to ONE's commitment to delivering top-notch action. With so much excitement on the horizon, let's dive right into the action! 🥊

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿Jonathan Haggerty vs Fabricio Andrade🇧🇷 

This was a thrilling battle of the Bantamweights, a clash of titans as Muay Thai Bantamweight world champion Jonathan Haggerty faced off against MMA Bantamweight world champion Fabricio Andrade. Both warriors were on a quest to add the Bantamweight kickboxing world title to their collection, setting the stage for an epic showdown. 🥊

The first round saw an intense exchange of blows, with both fighters landing solid shots. Haggerty's precision gave him a slight edge, likely earning him the round.

As the second round kicked off, Haggerty unleashed a left high kick that sent Andrade stumbling. Seizing the opportunity, Haggerty applied relentless pressure, delivering powerful boxing combinations against the ropes. Just when it seemed Andrade might regain his footing, Haggerty connected with a clean right hand that sent him to the canvas. The referee promptly waved off the fight as Andrade struggled to rise.

With this victory, Haggerty claimed the title of a two-sport world champion, adding to his already impressive Muay Thai world champion accolade. He wasted no time in calling out Andrade for an MMA match, aiming to achieve the remarkable feat of becoming a three-sport world champion. What an incredible performance! 🏆🏆️ 

As for The Cage Chronicle's prediction, we confidently foresaw Jonathan Haggerty securing the win by KO against Andrade. 🧙‍♂️