Presented in partnership with the UFC 241 on ESPN+
Still not sure what you’re doing on the evening of August 17? In case you haven’t been following along these last few days, the answer is simple: sitting down and ordering the UFC 241 Pay Per View main card on ESPN+.
We’ve been through the storylines and we’ve covered many of the major players. It’s a big time fight card with a heavyweight title fight and a highly anticipated bout between Nate Diaz and Anthony “Showtime” Pettis. There are veterans. There are prospects. And there are a hell of a lot of finishers on the UFC 241 fight card, and finishers are worth tuning in for.
So in case you’re not familiar with fighters like UFC heavyweight champion Daniel “DC” Cormier, Stipe Miocic, and Yoel Romero, continue reading to check out some of their finest work inside the Octagon. These finishes should be evidence enough to convince you to throw down a cool $59.99 for a few hours of high-pace action and heavy-handed knockouts.
Enjoy…
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Daniel Cormier Knocks Out Stipe Miocic
Again, for those not too familiar with UFC 241, or mixed martial arts in general, Daniel Cormier is the reigning, defending heavyweight champion, first winning the belt last July, when he knocked Stipe Miocic out with a perfect right hook coming out of the clinch.
The knockout, which elevated Cormier to champ champ status, set up this rematch at UFC 241. It’s a fight that many believe Cormier will run away with; however, there’s a large faction that believe it was a lucky punch that ended Miocic’s night last time around.
See for yourselves and decide …
Stipe Miocic Levels Everybody
For a guy who set the UFC record for most heavyweight title defenses, Stipe Miocic has managed to stay relatively anonymous.
Perhaps it’s because no one can properly pronounce his name. Perhaps it’s because he hasn’t fought since he lost his belt to Cormier in July 2018. Perhaps it’s because he prefers his day job as a life saving firefighter to doing press rounds and making appearances on late night talk shows, but when it comes to fist fighting inside the Octagon, Stipe Miocic is quite simply one of the best heavyweights to ever do it.
An elite wrestler and former Golden Gloves champ, Miocic is known mostly for his boxing and the set of ham hocks he calls fists.
Prior to losing the title to Cormier, Miocic was on an absolute tear, winning six straight, including five fights by knockout.
Here’s a little taste of the type of power Miocic can generate with his 6’4,” 245-pound frame.
Nate Diaz Surprises Everyone, Except Himself
The return of Nate Diaz continues to be the biggest storyline of this UFC 241 fight card. Despite fighting Anthony Pettis in the co-main event, he’s easily the main attraction on the Pay Per View main card on ESPN+. Afterall, it has been three years since Diaz last fought inside the Octagon, and as the first fighter to beat Conor McGregor in the UFC, he’s achieved a certain level of cult status.
While Diaz is an excellent boxer, throwing punches in volume, tagging dudes with accuracy and speed, he’s the type of fighter who uses his boxing to set up the submission game. He beats his opponents up so badly on the feet that they’re desperate to go to the mat, thinking that they’ll take less damage. Of course that’s not the case, and Diaz has an excellent arsenal of chokes.
For a guy with 15 fight night bonuses, nine UFC submissions, and a pair of knockouts, Diaz’ career highlight remains his second round submission of Conor McGregor. The submission is even more impressive considering that Diaz took the fight on two weeks notice and had no proper training camp, but just in terms of performance, the first McGregor fight perfectly demonstrates how Nate Diaz fights MMA.
Anthony “Showtime” Pettis is Straight Fireworks
Much like Diaz, Anthony Pettis can finish a fight anywhere to action goes.
A wild Taekwondo specialist and inventor of the Showtime Kick, Pettis is known for his vicious kicks and slick submission game, but in his most recent performance against Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson, Pettis showed a new wrinkle in his game, delivering a spectacular highlight reel knockout, thrusting off the cage to land a perfect hook, in an almost Superman punch style. Even more impressive, Pettis did it at welterweight, fighting at 170 pounds for the first time.
Again competing at welterweight for this fight against Diaz, Pettis is looking to add to his collection of scalps. And with a perfect style to complement his opponent, Pettis is certain to deliver action on the UFC 241 PPV card.
With too many highlights to select just one, check out this reel of some of his finest moments inside the Octagon (and before that the WEC).
Yoel Romero Loves His Flying Knees
If you’re on the newer side of UFC fandom, you may think that flying knees happen all the time.
While the flying knee is one of the more aesthetically pleasing finishes in the Octagon, they’re actually quite rare. It just so happens that 2019 has been a banner year for the technique, as evidenced by Jorge “Gamebred” Masividal’s recent stunner over Ben “Funky” Askren.
Now, if a guy or girl lands a single flying knee finish in their entire UFC career, that’s already a huge badge of honor, but for UFC 241 featured fighter Yoel Romero, he has the distinction of landing two flying knee finishes. That’s a big deal. Huge, in fact. And it’s evidence that a Yoel Romero fight is never to be missed, especially because he has a way of losing the first couple of rounds and then coming back when you think he’s already out of the fight.
He’s one frightening Cuban …
UFC 241 Pay Per View Main Card on ESPN+ (7 p.m. PST / 10 p.m. EST)*
Daniel Cormier vs. Stipe Miocic (Main Event)
Anthony Pettis vs. Nate Diaz (Co-Main Event)
Yoel Romero vs. Paulo Costa
Gabriel Benitez vs. Sodiq Yusuff
Derek Brunson vs. Ian Heinisch
UFC 241 Prelims*
Raphael Assuncao vs. Cory Sandhagen
Drakkar Klose vs. Christos Giagos
Manny Bermudez vs. Casey Kenney
Devonte Smith vs. John Makdessi
Kyung Ho Kang vs. Brandon Davis
Sabina Mazo vs. Shana Dobson
Hannah Cifers vs. Jodie Esquibel
*Bout Order Subject to Change
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