The results of the two title bouts at UFC 315
could ultimately affect several weight classes.
On his weekly podcast, “Papo de Luta,” UFC Fight Pass Brazil
commentator Carlos
Barreto noted the direct impact caused by Valentina
Shevchenko and Jack
Della Maddalena’s victories at UFC 315. Barreto admitted that
he was surprised by both results, which could impact as many as
four divisions.
Advertisement
“I expected an extremely aggressive Manon [Fiorot] to surprise
Valentina with her good speed, greater reach and tactical
understanding, but it ooks like the trilogy with Alexa rekindled
the best Valentina,” Barreto said. “She came back renewed,
dominated Fiorot and showed once again that she is among the
greatest of all time.”
Barreto also thought that Muhammad would take away Maddalena’s
space for striking by mixing up his attacks.
“The [Gilbert] Burns fight was very good for Maddalena to correct
gaps (mainly takedown defense),” Barreto said. “Belal surprised me
by fighting tactically within the Australian’s specialty. Maddalena
deserved to win.”
Barreto now expects there to be some long-ranging implications in
the UFC as a result of those fights.
„Based on the posts exchanged between [Weili] Zhang and Valentina,
everything indicates that the UFC will hold a super fight between
the two champions. So if Zhang moves up, Virna
Jandiroba will have to wait to fight for the strawweight belt
or, perhaps, have another fight. The same goes for Natalia
Silva, who after her beautiful victory over Alexa
Grasso became No. 1 in the rankings and, with Valentina
fighting Zhang, will have to wait or perhaps fight the winner of
Maycee
Barber and Erin
Blanchfield,” he said.
The situation is similar to Maddalena’s impact on the men’s
lightweight and welterweight divisions.
„Everything indicates that Makhachev will move up to fight
Maddalena, while Charles
Oliveira and Ilia
Topuria should fight for the interim lightweight title,”
Barreto said. “It’s been a long time since I remember an event that
had such an impact on so many divisions.”