UFC 282, the ultimate pay-per-view of 2022, is within the books. Whereas the occasion gained’t go down as one of many 12 months’s finest, it did characteristic loads of enjoyable finishes. Positive, UFC 282’s two headliners didn’t finish in violence, however that didn’t matter as many of the different fights did, leading to loads of bonuses being given.
So with knockouts, submissions, and utter dominance on provide, who pulled off the most effective stoppage final night time? Listed below are the 5 finest finishes of UFC 282: Jan Blachowicz vs. Magomed Ankalaev.
#5. Chris Curtis – defeated Joaquin Buckley in a UFC middleweight bout
Considered one of UFC 282’s most interesting-looking preliminary bouts pitted middleweights Chris Curtis and Joaquin Buckley towards each other. Each males have been answerable for some nice finishes in recent times, leaving hopes excessive for an additional right here.
Within the early going, it appeared like Buckley was the one to supply it. He teed off on ‘Motion Man’ within the first spherical and within the early components of the second, and Curtis didn’t appear to have a lot of a solution. Actually, he was seemingly barely able to maintaining with ‘New Mansa’, who gave the impression to be cruising to a win. Extremely, although, within the second, it appeared as if Curtis had been taking part in possum all alongside.
Buckley was nonetheless being extra energetic, however he wasn’t touchdown fairly as a lot. It appeared like Curtis had labored out his timing, and positive sufficient, when ‘New Mansa’ threw a unadorned kick, ‘Motion Man’ capitalized. He nailed Buckley with a brutal left hand that primarily knocked him foolish after which completed him off brutally on the bottom.
If something, the battle may’ve been stopped barely earlier had referee Jason Herzog chosen to step in. It was a wonderful win for Curtis, transferring him to 4-1 within the UFC total. After this, he needs to be thought-about one of many middleweight division’s most underrated fighters.
#4. Ilia Topuria – defeated Bryce Mitchell in a UFC featherweight bout
It’s debatable that UFC 282’s most spectacular efficiency belonged to featherweight prospect Ilia Topuria. Booked in what appeared like a troublesome bout to name towards fellow unbeaten prospect Bryce Mitchell, ‘El Matador’ made issues look simple. Extra to the purpose, whereas he may simply have cruised to a choice after dominating virtually each second of the battle, he as an alternative selected to complete Mitchell in probably the most spectacular means attainable.
Mitchell had rapidly change into often known as some of the intense grapplers within the featherweight division in his quick octagon profession. He’d even pulled off the second tornado submission within the promotion’s historical past. Nonetheless, after dismantling him within the stand-up recreation, Topuria took him down, slapped on a fairly tight arm-triangle choke and compelled him to submit within the second spherical.
Provided that three of his first 4 octagon wins have come by way of knockout, it’s exhausting to minimize the importance of this submission win, notably given who it got here towards. Put merely, Topuria is a title contender at 145 lbs.
#3. Santiago Ponzinibbio – defeated Alex Morono in a UFC catchweight bout
Santiago Ponzinibbio was initially alleged to face Robbie Lawler final night time. Whereas ‘Ruthless’ is on the downswing of his profession, many followers would nonetheless contemplate him extra of a menace than Alex Morono, who changed him on late discover.
Nonetheless, that concept didn’t fairly add up. Morono took the battle to ‘The Argentine Dagger’ and dropped him in each the primary and second rounds, however by the third, it was clear that he was drained. Ponzinibbio, in the meantime, was a lot more energizing and confirmed that he hadn’t misplaced an excessive amount of of his sturdiness. Sensing that ‘The Nice White’ was each drained and harm, he got here ahead and landed an enormous mixture that ended with a proper hand.
Morono crumpled with the shot and crashed right down to the bottom. Moments later, referee Jason Herzog dived in to rescue him.
This was not solely among the finest finishes at UFC 282 but in addition among the finest comebacks of 2022. Had the bout lasted one other two-and-a-half minutes and gone the space, Morono undoubtedly would’ve gained. Because it was, Ponzinibbio not solely picked up his first win since June 2021, however he additionally claimed a pleasant $50k bonus for his efforts.
#2. Raul Rosas Jr. – defeated Jay Perrin in a UFC bantamweight bout
UFC 282 noticed 4 fights finish in submission, however the most effective of the bunch was produced by 18-year-old debutant Raul Rosas Jr.
‘El Nino Problema’ used a nasty rear-naked choke/neck crank mixture to faucet veteran Jay Perrin within the first spherical of their bantamweight conflict. Not solely did the win give Rosas Jr. a $50k bonus, but it surely additionally meant that he now stands because the youngest fighter to ever win a bout within the octagon.
The win was primarily a flawless victory for {the teenager}. Perrin got here out aggressively along with his strikes, however as soon as Rosas Jr. took him down, it was clear that he was out of his depth regardless of being the extra skilled fighter. It didn’t take ‘El Nino Problema’ lengthy in any respect to safe again management, and from there, he slapped on the fight-ending maintain and cranked it whilst Perrin tried to face. The tutorial tapout adopted quickly after.
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Provided that Perrin had by no means gained a UFC battle previous to this in two makes an attempt, it’s probably that this was concerning the best battle Rosas Jr. may’ve requested for in his debut.
Given his younger age, it’s essential that the promotion treats him fastidiously and doesn’t throw him to the wolves. However he clearly has star potential, and if he can hold pulling off finishes like this, he could also be destined for the highest of the bantamweight mountain.
#1. Jairzinho Rozenstruik – defeated Chris Daukaus in a UFC heavyweight bout
The quickest and arguably most violent end of UFC 282 belonged to heavyweight contender Jairzinho Rozenstruik. He wanted simply 23 seconds to show the lights out on Chris Daukaus in a battle that was by no means prone to go the space.
Provided that each males have a complete of 10 finishes mixed, it was solely a case of who would land one thing nasty first. The suspicion was all the time that ‘Bigi Boy’ was the extra technical striker and would discover a strategy to join, and positive sufficient, these suspicions have been proper.
Daukaus landed first with a proper hand, however that solely allowed Rozenstruik to fireplace again on the counter. The native of Suriname stung Daukaus with a left hand, then caught him off stability with a knee, sending him down.
Daukaus bought again to his toes, however from there, Rozenstruik was throughout him. ‘Bigi Boy’ swarmed with a mixture and principally continued to land bombs till Daukaus lastly wilted. Fairly the place Daukaus, who has now misplaced three in a row, goes from right here is anybody’s guess. Rozenstruik, then again, ought to nonetheless be thought-about a really harmful heavyweight title contender.
With a bit of luck, the UFC could make one other enjoyable match for him quickly, as on account of this fast end, he’s prone to be very prepared.
