The past UFC Singapore saw Max Holloway sending the Korean Zombie into retirement, Erin Blanchfield winning narrowly over Talia Santos, and Anthony Smith warding off retirement a bit longer.
This past Saturday, UFC Singapore was filled with many historic moments. Max Holloway defeated Korean Zombie by pushing him towards retirement, while Erin Blanchfield narrowly won against Talia Santos. Anthony Smith, on the other hand, managed to hold off his retirement for a bit longer. The exciting events of UFC Singapore have sparked off a sense of anticipation for the upcoming UFC Paris this Saturday.
Zombie’s retirement was a memorable one which many spectators found visually moving. The farewell ceremony began with Zombie entering the octagon for the last time, creating a stirring atmosphere. The emotional intensity reached a peak when Zombie exited the octagon, making it a truly memorable moment. The performance was so impressive that it led to speculations on whether it was one of the best retirement walkouts in UFC history. Although the consensus was that Robbie Lawler’s retirement earlier in the year was the best ever, Zombie’s walkout and sendoff were right up there among the best.
A question that lingered in the minds of some spectators was how different Zombie’s career would have been had he skipped his four-year military service. The general opinion was that it would not have made much difference because although a great fighter, Zombie could never reach the pinnacle. His exciting, yet, imperfection-embracing fighting style stopped him from outdoing Jose Aldo, who probably still would’ve been his greatest challenge. Regardless, Zombie’s thrilling fights would have most certainly made him a fan favorite, and his absence during his prime years is viewed as the primary reason that many new fans are not acquainted with his achievements.
Fans and pundits alike were disgruntled about the treatment Erin Blanchfield received during her fight against Taila Santos. UFC overlooked her, despite her being an indispensable flyweight and a promising young talent. Many felt this was due to Namajunas being more popular and having a track record of attracting more audience, even though Blanchfield arguably outperforms her in several aspects. Furthermore, in the event of a potential fight between Blanchfield and Namajunas, it was perceived that given a fair chance, the former was more likely to attain victory.