The UFC Apex saw fight action once again with 13 fights taking the main stage last night. Headlined by a middleweight class that pitted two of the division’s newest contenders against one another, as Nassourdin Imavov defeated Roman Dolidze in a bizarrely scored majority decision. Moving forward we look at the biggest winners from UFC Fight Night: Dolidze vs. Imavov.
Molly McCann
The attention Molly McCann gains every time she competes would far exceed expectations many had for the Liverpool-born fighter. She quickly became a fan favourite and one of the highlights of the women’s flyweight division. However, with the good attention came the bad.
After tasting back-to-back defeats highlighting a potential weakness in her grappling. Fans began to turn on The Meatball. Going back to the drawing board. McCann would undergo huge changes ahead of her bout with Diana Belbiţă. Dropping ten pounds, moving to strawweight and focusing on improving her grappling, this fight was make or break for McCann.
Coming to the octagon in the shape of her life. McCann put on her greatest UFC performance from a technical standpoint. Not her biggest win in terms of notoriety. Her composure and clearly improved BJJ were on display from the offset. Dominating round one. McCann picked up the victory with a devastating armbar with one second remaining in the first. Breaking her two-fight skid and announcing herself as a threat at strawweight in the process. We make McCann our first of three winners from Dolidze vs Imamov.
Charles Johnson
Another competitor looking to buck the trend on a losing streak was Charles Johnson. The definition of anyone anywhere. Despite his short tenure with the UFC, Johnson has competed for the company seven times as of last night. With fights against Muhammea Mokaev, Zhalgas Zhumagulov and Cody Durden to name a few.
With stiff competition already on the resume. Johnson found himself entering last night’s fight on a three-fight slide and his job potentially on the line. What most fighters might do in this situation is take a step back and access the best options on paper. What Johnson did was take on a 17-0 Azat Maksum.
As the odds stacked against him, both figuratively and literally Johnson looked to be in trouble early. Losing round one, tasting the canvas multiple times. Maksum was in total control. After rallying in the second and coming into full flow in the third, Johnson would begin finding his offence and troubling Maksum. Digging deep Johnson won the fight via unanimous decision 29-28 across the board. Making Charles Johnson one of the biggest winners from UFC Fight Night: Dolidze vs. Imavov.
Themba Gorimbo
Themba Gorimbo found himself in the eyes of the world after his last fight. Defeating Takashi Sato via unanimous decision. Gorimbo would take to the mic in his post-fight interview and declare he only had 7 dollars in his bank account. With the struggles and journey of Gorimbo gaining the attention of Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. The man from Mozambique’s fortunes were changed forever.
In a now-viral clip, Johnson would surprise Gorimbo and raise ‘The Answers’ profile in the process. With a renewed attitude Gorimbo needed to capitalise on this newfound fame once in the cage.
Manifesting a first-round knockout, it came true in just 32 seconds. Uncorking a deadly overhand right hand, landing it flush on the chin of Pete Rodriguez. Gorimbo swarmed in and finished the fight in spectacular fashion when the most eyeballs were on the welterweight. Moving his record to 12-4.
Who were your biggest winners from UFC Fight Night: Dolidze vs. Imavov?
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
