Aspen Ladd stepped in on short notice Saturday night to replace an injured Holly Holm against a rising star in the featherweight division, Norma Dumont. It’s the sort of opportunity not normally afforded to a fighter who blew weight just two events prior, but desperate times and all.

Ladd fell ill due to her weight cut two weeks ago, though she would later insist Chiasson had turned down a catchweight fight. After some backlash, Ladd put all that negativity and noise behind her and took a fight at featherweight against  Norma Dumont to save the UFC Vegas 40 main event.

Dumont, on a two-fight win streak to start the night, welcomed the bantamweight Ladd to the division, and a rude welcome it was. Although a fight and a win over a big name and former champion like Holly Holm would have raised Dumont’s stock in a hunt for a title shot, the victory over Ladd could very well have the same result in the end. Especially given the scarcity of contenders for Amanda Nunes at 145lbs.

After five rounds at UFC Vegas 40, the fight went to the judges’ score cards. It looked like Aspen Ladd needed a finish the entire fight, as Norma Dumont seemed to have a sizeable lead after each round, playing defence with a disciplined jab. Ladd’s corner pleaded with her in between rounds to get something going, but it was a little too late because after five rounds the judges gave Norma Dumont the unanimous decision victory.

PROS GIVE THEIR TAKE

Check out how pros reacted to the UFC Vegas 40 main event below. Perhaps the biggest reaction was regarding Ladd’s coach, who chewed her out between rounds.

Level change, feints, and angle changes. Just a few ways to break the rhythm of a jab. #UFCVegas40

— Vince Morales (@vandetta135) October 17, 2021

Dumont gives a little hope to the 145 category, and you can run as a future contender for amanda #UFCvegas40 @ufc

— Juan Espino El Guapo (@juan_espino_ofi) October 17, 2021

https://twitter.com/GroovyLando/status/1449549680157757447?s=20

This guy is James Krause when you order from wish

— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) October 17, 2021

Glad I’m not the only one to see it https://t.co/BKtB5mNL6B

— Miesha Tate (@MieshaTate) October 17, 2021

Very well done 🇧🇷👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

— Ariane Lipski Da Silva (@Ariane_lipski) October 17, 2021

How y’all feel about that ‘coaching’ in the main event?! #ufc

— Kevin Holland (@Trailblaze2top) October 17, 2021

“ idk what your doing” the exact words from @TheAspenLadd corner poor choice of words but I feel his frustration. @ESPNPlus

— Bam Morris (@Bam_jungleking) October 17, 2021

The post The Pro Take: Norma Dumont Continues Win Streak, Ladd’s Coach Draws Ire appeared first on Cageside Press.

For UFC Vegas 40 we will take a look at some fighters with only a few (5 or less) fights in the UFC, rather than those fighters that are long-time UFC veterans with a bunch of finishes with the promotion.

Manon “The Beast” Fiorot (7-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC)

Total Number of Pro MMA Finishes: 7

Via KO/TKO: 7

Via Submission: 0

Total Number of UFC Finishes: 2

Via KO/TKO: 2

(Victoria Leonardo, Tabatha Ricci)

Via Submission: 0

Manon Fiorot is a veteran of the Interantional MMA Federation where she won the world championships in 2017 as an amateur. Fiorot is also a veteran of the South African based EFC promotion and the Dubai based UAE Warriors promotion where she faced excellent competition.

Manon stays dangerous outside of the first round and has absolutely vicious striking combinations that are crisp and have little wasted movement.

5 of Manon’s 7 KOs/TKOs have come outside of the first round. 

https://twitter.com/HardlineTakes/status/1351903063959863297?s=20

The post Finishing the Fight: UFC Vegas 40 appeared first on Cageside Press.

Erick “The Ghost Pepper” Gonzalez
Standing at 5’11″
Fighting at 155 lbs (lightweight)
29-years-old
Fighting out of Los Angeles, California, US
Training out of Fight Science MMA
A pro record of 14-5
8 KO/TKOs, 1 Submission

How will Erick Gonzalez fare in the UFC:

From an entertainment standpoint, Gonzalez is a great addition to the UFC. From a skill perspective, he’s not likely to make too much of an impact. Gonzalez doesn’t have a win over anybody high level, but has fought and lost to good fighters. Losing to Rafa Garcia and Andrés Quintana is no shame at all. While Mexico doesn’t have a lot of elite fighters they have a lot of very though guys so at the very least he’s battle-tested.

What Gonzalez does well is, he’s always going to be in the fight. He doesn’t really excel in any one area, but is just someone you can’t be too relaxed against. Where he’s proved to be more capable of making an impact is when he solidifies a good top position. From there, Gonzalez throws some nasty elbows, as he has knocked opponents out before and cut guys wide open, leaving them in a pool of their own blood. On the feet, he has deceptive power but when he connects it’s often off of a lucky shot. He fights with his hands low and when he strikes it’s from his waist. Sometimes it’s hard to tell what he’s going to throw but usually, he’s extremely sloppy and telegraphed. Although sloppy, “Ghost Pepper” is dangerous when he comes forward with the output he throws from different angles.

More times than not Gonzalez will change levels and get the takedowns. Like his striking, his takedown attempts are not set up and he often just shoots in sloppy. He’s dangerous on the mat with his ground and pound but his jiu-jitsu is average at best. Off his back, he does struggle but at least is always moving trying to get up. He does wind up on his back quite often. His takedown defense is awful, easily letting guys in on his legs. Sanchez is fun and tough but that will only take you so far in the UFC.

Striking: C
Kickboxing: C
Clinch: C
Wrestling: C
Grappling: C
Striking Defense: D
Takedown Defense: D
Cardio: C-
Biggest Strength: Tough
Biggest Weakness: Defense

How he matches up with Miller:

Even though Miller isn’t the same guy he was years ago he’s not completely shot. In the last few years at least this is the biggest step down in competition Miller has faced. That said, it’s always a concern when it gets to the later rounds for Miller. This time he’s going against someone with a gas tank even worse than his, which is something he hasn’t seen since 2016. I like Miller to just take Gonzalez down and submit him. Gonzalez’s best bet is to take it to Miller early and knock him out. Miller though hasn’t been stopped by strikes since 2018 to Dan Hooker. Gonzalez is no Hooker and should be a simple test for Miller. Miller should easily beat Gonzalez here.

Bet I’d recommend is Miller ITD

The post Welcome to the UFC: Erick Gonzalez appeared first on Cageside Press.