Overall, the night didn't live up to the hype, but still a lot to talk about came from it.
Jan's run is pretty crazy and as Luke Thomas always brings up, he lost 4 of his first 6 fights in the UFC. I think that's important to remember when we talk about 'hype trains getting derailed'. Some guys stay undefeated and shoot right to the top like Izzy did. Some guys take some L's along the way like Jan. Just a cool story. Speaking of cool stories, Glover's got next. That should be a good one.
I think it's also important to not bury Izzy. He took a chance and lost a close fight (the 10-8's were bullshit IMO). It didn't work out this time, but it doesn't mean he's never going to be able to do it or that he's now going to lose at MW. If Izzy has a weakness in the striking department, it might be too much patience. It looks great when you're getting guys to bite on every feint like Jan was doing and then you get the read and KO the guy. But when you don't get the KO and you're feinting more than you are landing strikes, you're leaving it up to the judges with not much to score on. Those first 3 rounds were there for the taking. He just didn't do enough. April is going to be a telling month for the MW division with Whittaker-Costa and Vettori-Till. Whittaker deserves the shot now IMO. Beating Costa would remove any argument. Vettori is the only other one that I think deserves a shot with a win.
OK, not much to talk about with the co-main.
Yan-Sterling, it sucks for both guys, but that was the right call. I said before the fight I hope it's a good fight and we get to see a rematch down the road. Not what I had in mind. It sucks too because Yan was winning that fight. Not sure what Sterling is going to be able to do in the rematch differently, but now we have to hold up the division while they fix this. Who knows, maybe Sterling will conserve his energy better and get a legitimate win, but I think we got the answer of who's the better fighter and it wasn't the guy who's walking away with the belt. I guess Sandhagen-TJ in the mean time?
Islam dominated. Hopefully he stays active and they can find him a ranked opponent willing to take that fight. Maybe try to make RDA-Islam again? RDA struggles with wrestlers, so I think Islam would wipe him out, but RDA's a decently big name and obviously game to take that fight even if it's not in his best interest. Maybe if Kevin Lee is healthy? I think they had some back and forth in the past. Or shoot him all the way to the top and give him Oliveira or Chandler.
Kind of boring win for Rakic. With Glover getting next, I think next after that depends on Reyes-Jiri. Could definitely see Jiri winning in spectacular fashion and jumping Rakic. If Reyes wins, probably secures Rakic getting next.
All good wins for Cruz, Phillips, Askarov, and KKF in the prelims. Askarov probably gets the winner of the Fig-Moreno rematch.