UFC Fight Night has been delivering some fantastic cards recently, making it no wonder that UFC Vegas 57 was trending on Twitter Saturday night. While the majority of the card may not have had the explosive fireworks of recent weeks (especially after last weekend’s record-setting UFC Austin card), #UFCVegas57 was still quite the show from start to finish. Read below for some of the best moments from the UFC’s return to Las Vegas.
Demopoulos – “Do The Thing Again”
It is one thing to get the victory inside the Octagon, but some of the most memorable moments come after the winner is announced. That was the case for Vanessa “Lil’ Monster” Demopoulos who collected another win, and executed what is becoming her signature celebration, jumping into the arms of the post-fight interviewer Michael Bisping. It was the second time this year that she had performed the celebration, first doing so at UFC 270 in January after winning her first UFC bout. Then, it was Joe Rogan on the receiving end – literally – while interviewing her inside the Octagon after her win over Silvana Gomez Juarez.
For the brutality of the sport, this is light-hearted and fun and is nearly impossible not to smile while witnessing it. Hektic_One on Twitter had a little fun with the moment too, perfectly capturing the universal reaction to the celebration.
"do the thing again" #UFCVegas57 pic.twitter.com/mYffagnKKH
— Hektic_One (@hektic_one) June 25, 2022
Premature Declaration
The UFC has been paying out Performance of the Night bonuses out to every finisher in recent weeks, seemingly motivating some of the best stoppages fans have seen all year. So when Cody Durden TKO’d JP Buys in the first round at UFC Vegas 57, he thought he’d be in line for the additional $50,000, declaring as much during his post-fight interview. When the bonuses were announced after the evening, however, Durden’s name was not on the list of recipients, surely to his disappointment. He tweeted, “I didn’t get the bonus” on Saturday night, following it up with another tweet on Sunday saying that the snub will only motivate him.
I didn’t get the bonus ☹️
— Cody Durden (@Cody_Durden) June 26, 2022
Speaking From Experience
Shavkat Rakhmonov is one of the best rising talents in the UFC’s welterweight division, and he displayed just why at UFC Vegas 57, submitting Neil Magny late in the second round of the main card bout. Middleweight challenger Derek Brunson knows first-hand just how good Rakhmonov’s ground game is, tweeting Saturday about his experience training with him. “Shavkat Rakhmonov is for real,” he said. “I was shocked how good he was in all positions when training with [him]!” After calling out Nate Diaz, Jorge Masvidal, and Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson following his victory, more fighters will surely experience what Brunson already knows.
Shavkat Rakhmonov is for real . I was shocked how good he was in all positions when training with ! #UFCVegas57
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) June 26, 2022
It’s All In the Family
Expectations are high when you’re coached by a legend in any sport, and they’re only increased when you’re further related to the icon. This is the challenge of Umar Nurmagomedov, cousin and student of 2022 UFC Hall of Fame inductee Khabib Nurmagomedov. Umar is still undefeated in his MMA career after notching another win on Saturday, improving to 15-0 professionally. UFC fan “Pauli” on Twitter wasn’t impressed, tweeting, “Another Nurmagomedov, another snooze fest. Sniffing their way to a decision.” UFC fighter Mike Jackson had a similar notion that had a lot less bite, tweeting, “Nurmagomedovs are going to Nurmagomedov.” Love them or hate them, the Nurmagomedovs know how to collect victories in the UFC. Isn’t that what matters most?
Nurmagomedovs are going to Nurmagomedov. #UFCVegas57
— Mike Jackson, Esq. (@TheTruthJackson) June 26, 2022
Bang Away Big Boys!
Fans of the UFC come from all walks of life, and it isn’t uncommon to find another athlete tweeting about a UFC card, if not attending in person. The San Francisco Giants third baseman Evan Longoria was watching Saturday’s event and was obviously watching the main card bout between Josh Parisian and Alan Boudot. “The big boys are bangin away!” he tweeted, being sure to hashtag #UFCVegas57. Parisian earned one of just three TKO victories of the night and the only one on the main card. For his part, Parisian was honored with one of the $50,000 Performance of the Night bonuses.
The big boys are bangin away! @ufc @espn #UFCVegas57
— Evan Longoria (@Evan3Longoria) June 26, 2022
Now THAT is Tough
The main event is the headliner for a reason, and at UFC Vegas, the battle between Arman Tsarukyan and Mateusz Gamrot surely delivered. One of the blows of the night came when Tsarukyan delivered a spinning back fist to Gamrot’s face that the recipient just absorbed and carried on fighting. That was perhaps the moment that UFC welterweight Michael Chiesa was referring to when he tweeted, “Gamrot is tougher than a $2.00 steak,” though there were plenty of others he could’ve been talking about.
Gamrot is tougher than a $2.00 steak. #UFCVegas57
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) June 26, 2022
Khabib Wanted More
One of the key elements of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s legacy in the Octagon is surely his legendary wrestling and grappling ability. In the main event at UFC Vegas 57, Tsarukyan and Gamrot put on a ground display that left the Hall of Fame-er wanting more. “I want [to] watch 5 more rounds,” Khabib tweeted following the main event.” What a great fight, wow,” before commending the UFC’s Sean Shelby for matchmaking the contest. Surely nobody would’ve argued with another round or two, well, with the exception of Tsarukyan and Gamrot of course.
I want watch 5 more rounds.
What a great fight, wow👏
Great matchmaking @seanshelby— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) June 26, 2022
UFC Vegas 57: Tsarukyan vs Gamrot Results
Main Card
- Mateusz Gamrot defeated Arman Tsarukyan – Unanimous Decision
- Shavkat Rakhmonov submitted Neil Magny by guillotine – Round 2
- Josh Parisian TKO’d Alan Baudot – Round 2
- Thiago Moises submitted Christo Giagos by rear naked choke – Round 1
- Umar Nurmagomedov defeated Nate Maness – Unanimous Decision
- Chris Curtis defeated Rodolfo Vieira – Unanimous Decision
Preliminary Card
- Carlos Ulberg TKO’d Tafon Nchukwi – Round 1
- Shayilan Nuerdanbieke defeated TJ Brown – Unanimous Decision
- Sergey Morozov defeated Raulian Paiva – Unanimous Decision
- Cody Durden TKO’d JP Buys – Round 1
- Mario Bautista submitted Brian Kelleher by rear naked choke – Round 1
- Vanessa Demopoulos defeated Jinh Yu Frey – Split Decision
