Despite commemorating Mexico’s sovereignty, fighters of Mexican descent did not find much success during the Noche UFC 2 (UFC 306) which took place on 14th September. On this day, out of seven bouts, only one was won by a Mexican-born combatant.
The showdown hosted a total of ten fights at Sphere Las Vegas, peaking with two memorable championship matches. In one of these clashes, Alexa Grasso, originally from Mexico, forfeited her flyweight champion title following a tri-match with Valentina Shevchenko.
The undercard hosted a variety of fights including a thrilling battle between Edgar Chairez and Joshua Van. This three-round nail-biter ended with Joshua’s narrow defeat leaving Edgar, the Mexican contender, on the losing side.
Next up, Yazmin Jauregui found herself on the mat, unconscious after getting strangled by Ketlen Souza. This clearly demonstrated the intensity and the high-flying spirit of these athletes.
In a subsequent fight, Ignacio Bahamondes struck a flawless right hook to Manuel Torres, dropping him to the floor. Bahamondes didn’t miss the opportunity to capitalize on this and quickly executed a double-up move that resulted in a first-round TKO.
Irene Aldana, another Mexican-born fighter, suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Norma Dumont in a featured prelim. In what can only be described as a savage encounter, Aldana received one of the most severe cuts seen in UFC history.
Early in the main card, Mexican fighter Ronaldo Rodriguez triumphed against Ode Osbourne. Rodriguez’ victory was not without controversy, as he struggled greatly in the beginning, nearly passing out from the opening offensive strikes and submission manoeuvres.
Daniel Zellhuber, known as the ‘Golden Boy’, found himself on the losing end of a tight decision against Argentina’s Esteban Ribovics. Despite his defeat, this showdown between the two fighters undoubtedly goes down as one of the most thrilling and memorable ones of the year.
The night’s co-main event saw Alexa Grasso face off against Valentina Shevchenko for the third time, in a bid to defend her title. The match ended in heartbreak for Grasso, however, as she was dominated by Shevchenko, ultimately losing her championship title.
Persistent reminders of the brutal nature of MMA were omnipresent throughout UFC 306. The event, which was a bold venture for the promotion house, invested heavily in the Sphere location to honor Mexican Independence Day.
However, it was ironic to see that the very fighters who represented the core demographic for the event – Mexican fighters, didn’t experience the success they might have hoped for. A number of losses were racked up by these fighters throughout the event.
But one has to admire, the setting of the event at the Sphere venue, which despite the outcome for Mexican fighters, turned out to be a grand splendour. It will undeniably be remembered as one of the most majestic locations in the annals of combat sports.