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Brett Okamoto
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Brett Okamoto
ESPN Body of workers Author
- Brett Okamoto has reported on blended martial arts and boxing at ESPN since 2010. He has lined all the largest occasions in struggle sports activities all over that point, together with in-depth interviews and contours with names comparable to Dana White, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Georges St-Pierre. He was once additionally a manufacturer at the 30 for 30 movie: “Chuck and Tito,” which regarded again on the careers and competition of Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz. He lives in Las Vegas, and is an avid, below-average golfer in his spare time.
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Andreas Hale
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Andreas Hale
ESPN
- Andreas Hale is a struggle sports activities reporter at ESPN. Andreas covers MMA, boxing and professional wrestling. In Andreas’ unfastened time, he performs video video games, obsesses over track and is a White Sox and 49ers fan. He’s additionally a number for Sirius XM’s Struggle Country. Prior to becoming a member of ESPN, Andreas was once a senior creator at DAZN and Wearing Information. He began his profession as a track journalist for shops together with HipHopDX, The Grammys and Jay-Z’s Lifestyles+Occasions. He’s additionally an NAACP Symbol Award-nominated filmmaker as a manufacturer for the animated brief movie “Bridges” in 2024.
Apr 13, 2025, 03:05 AM ET
Alex Volkanovski defeated Diego Lopes through unanimous choice to win the featherweight championship at UFC 314 on the Kaseya Heart in Miami on Saturday. After 5 rounds, Volkanovski gained through scorecards of 48-47, 49-46 and 49-46.
Within the co-main match, Paddy Pimblett ruled Michael Chandler in a third-round TKO and confirmed he is an issue for the light-weight department, particularly as a result of he is more youthful than all of the best contenders.
Additionally at the card, Yair Rodriguez revived his profession with an outstanding efficiency to damage Patricio Pitbull’s UFC debut. When Rodriguez is on the best of his recreation, the already difficult featherweight department is best than ever.
Brett Okamoto and Andreas Hale percentage their ideas on those fights.
The dominion Volkanovski reigns over appears to be like other this time round
“Previous Guy Volk” is champion as soon as once more however the department is so much other than the only he reigned over when he was once champion from 2019 to 2023. Sure, it has simplest been two years, however a have a look at the panorama at 145 kilos unearths that the department has observed an overhaul during the last 24 months. Max Holloway and Ilia Topuria have moved directly to the light-weight department and there are new names that were not knocking on the door on the lookout for a name battle.
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Volkanovski’s preliminary featherweight name reign noticed him spend greater than part of his 145-pound name fights towards Holloway. Chan Sung Jung has since retired whilst Brian Ortega has struggled with a 1-3 document in his previous 4 fights. This run might be observed as way more difficult for the reason that 36-year-old will probably be examined through a brand new breed of featherweights that come with Movsar Evloev, Lerone Murphy and Jean Silva, who put in combination a blistering demolition of Bryce Mitchell at the leading card. There also are fresh signees Aaron Pico and Patricio Pitbull. And even if the latter fell brief towards Yair Rodriguez, it is not outdoor the world of chance that he works his approach up the ladder.
Stylistic matchups and the formative years of his warring parties may just provide moderately the mountain for Volkanovski to conquer. Then again, if he manages to make a few a success name defenses, Volkanovski has a possibility to split himself from opponents like Holloway and José Aldo as the best featherweight in UFC historical past.
What we do know is this is likely one of the private, maximum gifted featherweight divisions in fresh reminiscence. Volkanovski has his paintings reduce out for him, however it’s going to be a deal with to look at in accordance with his Saturday efficiency. — Hale
Pimblett is a large downside at light-weight, particularly as a result of his formative years
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‘What now?!’ Paddy Pimblett celebrates after dominating win
Paddy Pimblett surrounds Michael Chandler with a flurry of offense and celebrates in electrical type within the co-main match of UFC 314.
If this seems like a backhanded praise, it is actually no longer. Pimblett’s talents are official, and he’d be a handful for any light-weight in his top; however the reality he is wading into the deep finish of the light-weight waters at a time when the ones waters are full of opponents within the twilight in their careers without a doubt does not harm.
Pimblett, 30, is assured, gifted and an overly bad finisher. He has already fought Tony Ferguson (41), King Inexperienced (38) and Chandler (38). He is now concentrated on Charles Oliveira (35), Justin Gaethje (36) and Dustin Poirier (36). Once more, I’m really not taking anything else clear of Pimblett — however it is OK to indicate this out. He’s getting into his top at the most productive time conceivable for this department.
If Pimblett can stay this going, we might be taking a look at a UFC celebrity. And let’s be truthful, the game wishes as many as it may get presently. The UFC is fairly star-starved at the present time, when you evaluate it to different eras. That is cyclical and it is going to come round, and Pimblett might be some of the key opponents to show the tide.
Pimblett is the true deal; he is aware of he is the true deal, and the gauntlet of absolute killers on the very best is (most commonly) opponents who’re beginning to decelerate. He has an amazing alternative forward of him. — Okamoto
A “excellent” Rodriguez is so excellent for this department
Yair Rodriguez, proper, defeated Patricio Pitbull through unanimous choice at UFC 314 on Saturday. Picture through Megan Briggs/Getty Photographs
The featherweight department is in a forged position, however it’s so a lot more fascinating and higher with a really perfect Rodriguez. And no longer simply a really perfect Rodriguez, however a fired up one.
When he’s on, he is not anything in need of dazzling. That 2018 knockout of “Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung within the ultimate 2nd was once the best knockout in UFC historical past — till Max Holloway knocked out Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 remaining yr. The spinning assaults, the flying assaults, the choke of Josh Emmett for the intervening time championship at UFC 284 in 2023 — Rodriguez can do issues that others merely can’t do. His very best moments towards Pitbull on Saturday got here when he was once underneath fireplace and in peril. Rodriguez generally is a threat from time to time, and it might be so welcome if he all the time might be one.
Do not get me incorrect, his losses have come towards elite ability, however I will’t assist however assume I nonetheless have not observed Rodriguez at best pace. I wish to see him emotionally invested, if that is what it takes. I would not thoughts seeing him battle Diego Lopes when they went at it all over this week’s press convention. Rodriguez has been nice in flashes, however he is additionally been inactive from time to time, together with when the UFC just about reduce him in 2018. I am nitpicking a bit of, however I simply wish to see what Rodriguez seems like with a little bit of swag. A little bit of that conceitedness other folks accused him of getting sooner than he misplaced within the UFC for the primary time to Frankie Edgar again in 2017.
The 145-pound department would get advantages very much from that Rodriguez. — Okamoto
