2 – Casey O’Neill
Scotland native Casey O’Neill did race out to a perfect 7-0 record heading into her bout with Antonina Shevchenko, with two of those wins coming in the UFC Octagon, but most expected that she was going to get pushed pretty hard in this one.
And truth be told, Shevchenko had a lot of positive moments early on. But O’Neill was relentless in her attack, and once she began to take over, she didn’t relinquish that command of the fight, ending matters in the second round to keep that record perfect.
View UFC Fight Night: Dern vs Rodriguez Fight Card
WHAT’S NEXT? By the time you read this, O’Neill might have earned a place in the flyweight Top 15, and whether she did or didn’t, a Top 15 foe should be next for her – maybe any of the ladies from 13 to 15 – Maycee Barber, Miranda Maverick or Montana De La Rosa.
3 – Thiago Santos
They can’t all go on the highlight reel. Yes, Saturday’s main event will not be up for Fight of the Year honors, but in beating Johnny Walker with a razor-thin five-round unanimous decision, Thiago Santos snapped a three-fight losing streak and has new life in the 205-pound weight class. And at 37, following a brutal stretch of injuries and losses, “Marreta” needed that. As the great trainer (and boxer) George Benton once said, “Win today, look good next time.”
