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Gets KOed by brutal head kick
Manuwa lost to Aleksander Rakic via KO (head kick) at 0:42 seconds of Round 1 at UFC Fight Night 153 in Stockholm, Sweden on Saturday.
ANALYSIS
This one was over before it started for Manuwa, who didn't protect himself while sliding back to avoid punches, which resulted in a crushing head kick that rendered him unconscious. It wasn't all that long ago that Manuwa was threatening to break into the top of the division, but the 39-year-old has now lost four consecutive fights (three by KO) which forces one to wonder how much longer he can stay in a division full of young, athletic prospects. He falls to 17-6 in professional MMA as a result of the loss.
This one was over before it started for Manuwa, who didn't protect himself while sliding back to avoid punches, which resulted in a crushing head kick that rendered him unconscious. It wasn't all that long ago that Manuwa was threatening to break into the top of the division, but the 39-year-old has now lost four consecutive fights (three by KO) which forces one to wonder how much longer he can stay in a division full of young, athletic prospects. He falls to 17-6 in professional MMA as a result of the loss.
Next fight booked
Manuwa will take on Aleksander Rakic in a light heavyweight matchup at UFC Stockholm on June 1.
ANALYSIS
Manuwa has now lost three fights in a row against several of the division's top contenders, so he'll take a step back and square off with a 27-year-old prospect that hasn't lost since his very first professional fight in 2011. Rakic is 3-0 under the UFC banner, with victories over Francimar Barroso, Justin Ledet and Devin Clark. None of those opponents are anywhere near the title picture, and Manuwa will represent the toughest test to date for the Austria native. While Rakic has a fight with three takedowns, it's more likely this one is played out on the feet, with both men sporting strong striking numbers. Manuwa will enter with a slight reach advantage, while Rakic is three inches taller.
Manuwa has now lost three fights in a row against several of the division's top contenders, so he'll take a step back and square off with a 27-year-old prospect that hasn't lost since his very first professional fight in 2011. Rakic is 3-0 under the UFC banner, with victories over Francimar Barroso, Justin Ledet and Devin Clark. None of those opponents are anywhere near the title picture, and Manuwa will represent the toughest test to date for the Austria native. While Rakic has a fight with three takedowns, it's more likely this one is played out on the feet, with both men sporting strong striking numbers. Manuwa will enter with a slight reach advantage, while Rakic is three inches taller.
Finally falls to Thiago Santos in classic bout
Manuwa lost to Thiago Santos via KO (punches) at 0:41 of Round 2 at UFC 231 on Saturday in Toronto.
ANALYSIS
Manuwa deserves some credit despite the loss. He ate probably two dozen shots from Santos that would have finished any mere mortal and he landed more than his own fair share of damaging blows. Ultimately however, as has been the case in the past, Manuwa's chin didn't hold up. While he is entertaining as all heck, Manuwa is a one-dimensional power puncher who is terrible defensively. A loser of three straight fights and set to turn 39 years old in February, it is likely to only get worse for Manuwa moving forward.
Manuwa deserves some credit despite the loss. He ate probably two dozen shots from Santos that would have finished any mere mortal and he landed more than his own fair share of damaging blows. Ultimately however, as has been the case in the past, Manuwa's chin didn't hold up. While he is entertaining as all heck, Manuwa is a one-dimensional power puncher who is terrible defensively. A loser of three straight fights and set to turn 39 years old in February, it is likely to only get worse for Manuwa moving forward.
Draws Thiago Santos at UFC 231
Manuwa will fight Thaigo Santosa in a light heavyweight bout at UFC 231 on December 8.
ANALYSIS
Manuwa was scheduled to fight Thaigo Santos at UFC Sao Paulo in September, but was forced to pull out after suffering a torn hamstring. With another two months on the shelf, Manuwa will presumably be recovered and ready for a spot on the pay-per-view card. Manuwa will enter this fight with height and reach advantages over the former middleweight fighter, but momentum lands on the side of Santos. Manuwa is coming off consecutive losses, and landed just 37 significant strikes in his last fight -- a unanimous decision loss to Jan Blachowicz. Santos, on the other hand, finished Eryk Anders in the makeshift Sao Paulo main event, giving him two consecutive victories.
Manuwa was scheduled to fight Thaigo Santos at UFC Sao Paulo in September, but was forced to pull out after suffering a torn hamstring. With another two months on the shelf, Manuwa will presumably be recovered and ready for a spot on the pay-per-view card. Manuwa will enter this fight with height and reach advantages over the former middleweight fighter, but momentum lands on the side of Santos. Manuwa is coming off consecutive losses, and landed just 37 significant strikes in his last fight -- a unanimous decision loss to Jan Blachowicz. Santos, on the other hand, finished Eryk Anders in the makeshift Sao Paulo main event, giving him two consecutive victories.
Pulls out of UFC Sao Paulo
Manuwa withdrew from his Sept. 22 matchup with Thiago Santos at UFC Sao Paulo after recently suffering a torn hamstring, Ariel Helwani of ESPN reports.
ANALYSIS
Eryk Anders was added to the card and will fill in for Manuwa in the headline fight, marking the second time the UFC has had to adjust the main event after Santos was previously added as a replacement for the injured Glover Teixeira (shoulder). According to Helwani, Manuwa sustained the hamstring injury while going for a run shortly after he landed in Brazil in advance of the fight. Manuwa is expected to need six weeks to make a full recovery from the injury, leaving the door open for a potential return to the Octagon before the end of 2018.
Eryk Anders was added to the card and will fill in for Manuwa in the headline fight, marking the second time the UFC has had to adjust the main event after Santos was previously added as a replacement for the injured Glover Teixeira (shoulder). According to Helwani, Manuwa sustained the hamstring injury while going for a run shortly after he landed in Brazil in advance of the fight. Manuwa is expected to need six weeks to make a full recovery from the injury, leaving the door open for a potential return to the Octagon before the end of 2018.