UFC Best of 2018 So Far!
2018 is far from over, but so far this year the UFC has left us with some very good fights and memories. What if 2018 ended today? Which fight was the most entertaining? Which event stood out most? Which KO was the most impressive? Who would be the fighter of the year?
It’s time to look at the best of 2018 SO FAR!
EVENT OF THE YEAR: UFC 220- UFC kicked the year off great with their return back to Boston. UFC 220 featured one of the most highly anticipated heavyweight fights in a while, as Stipe Miocic defended his heavyweight title against the scary knockout artist Francis Ngannou. UFC was pushing Ngannou as the next big thing but the heavyweight champ Miocic had other plans. Miocic came in with the perfect game plan and retained his heavyweight strap. Not only did he win, but he broke the record for most title defenses in the heavyweight division. In the co-main event light heavyweight champ Daniel Cormier beat Volkan Oezdemir by TKO in round 2. In the feature bout, we got a very entertaining fight between Shane Burgos and Boston native Calvin Kattar. Not to mention every fighter from Massachusetts won their fight on this card.
FIGHT OF THE YEAR: Manuwa vs Blachowicz 2- This fight was under everyone’s radar, but boy did it deliver. This was a 3 round action packed light heavyweight fight. Blachowicz dropped Manuwa round 1, Manuwa stunned Blachowicz round 2, and round three was going to decide the winner. Blachowicz out struck Manuwa in round three picking him up the win. If you haven’t seen this fight do yourself a favor and look up highlights, you won’t be disappointed.
KNOCKOUT OF THE YEAR: YOEL ROMERO KO’s LUKE ROCKHOLD- If you mention scary fighters Yoel Romero’s name is most likely going to come up in the conversation. The man is 40 years old but some how’s still built like a super hero with the athletic ability of a 22 year old. Romero left us with a memorable KO at UFC 221 when he dropped Luke Rockhold in round 3 followed by a vicious uppercut on the ground. Definitely one of the most brutal KO’s of the year.
UNDERRATED FIGHTER OF THE YEAR: Jeremy Stephens- a veteran in the UFC Jeremy Stephens will hopefully get the recognition he deserves in 2018. The man is on a 3 fight win streak and so far has KO’d both Doo Ho Choi and Josh Emmett in 2018. With a fight against Jose Aldo in the near future, Stephens could set himself up for a title fight by the end of the year.
FIGHTER OF THE YEAR: Brian Ortega- Okay I get that a lot of MMA fans might be mad because of this pick, but Ortega has shown he is the brightest young star in the UFC right now. He has already set himself up for a monster year in 2018 with a title shot coming at UFC 226. Ortega did the unthinkable at UFC 222 by being the first man to finish UFC legend Frankie Edgar. Not only did Ortega finish Edgar but he knocked Edgar out. If Ortega beats Holloway in their title fight at UFC 226, Ortega will definitely be fighter of the year in 2018. In my opinion he’s the fighter of the year so far in 2018.
Stephen Caloggero (@steveo_calo)