Agreed. I was impressed by some of the individual performances. Some nice victories. Good to see Buys get back on track. Nice clean headkick when her opponent lifted off the canvas. Very impressive calm approach (and cardio) from Strickland in the main event.
I hear you re: Montano. Someone said it best the other day on an MMA site ... "I want to be a fan of hers. But it's tough with all the delays at this point. Too inconsistent ..."
Here's some info from Wiki -
Montaño was expected to fight
Sijara Eubanks for the inaugural
UFC Women's Flyweight Championship at
The Ultimate Fighter 26 Finale on December 1, 2017.
[10] However, Eubanks was pulled from the fight for kidney failure while trying to make weight, and was replaced by
Roxanne Modafferi.
[11][12] Montaño won the fight via unanimous decision and claimed the inaugural UFC Women's Flyweight Championship title.
[13] This win also earned her the
Fight of the Night bonus.
[14] At the post fight interview, Montaño revealed her financial struggles prior to her win and her appreciation for the prize money she was about to receive:
[15][16]
Montaño was scheduled to face Valentina Shevchenko on September 8, 2018 at UFC 228.[17] However, prior to the weigh-ins for the event, Montaño was transported to a hospital due to the effects of weight cutting and the bout was cancelled.[18] Montaño was subsequently stripped of the UFC Women Flyweight title.[19]
It was reported that on April 23, 2019, Montaño was suspended by USADA for 6 months for testing positive for ostarine from an out-of-competition test conducted on October 25, 2018. Suspension retroactive from November 15, 2018. She is eligible to fight again on May 15, 2019.[20]
Montaño was expected to face Sara McMann in a bantamweight bout on July 13, 2019 at UFC on ESPN+ 13.[21] However, McMann pulled out of the bout citing an injury and was replaced by Julianna Peña.[22] She lost the fight via unanimous decision.[23]
Montaño was scheduled to face Macy Chiasson on February 15, 2020 at UFC Fight Night 167.[24] However, Montaño was forced to pull from the event due to injury and she was replaced by Shanna Young.[25]
Montaño was scheduled to face Julia Avila on August 8, 2020 at UFC Fight Night 174.[26] However, due to Montano's coach John Wood testing positive for COVID-19, the bout was reschedule to UFC Fight Night 176.[27] However, Montaño tested positive for COVID-19 and the bout was moved to UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. Aldana.[28] Subsequently, on September 3, it was announced that Montaño withdrew from the bout due to travel restrictions. In turn Avila was rescheduled to face Sijara Eubanks at UFC Fight Night 177 on September 12.[29]
Montaño was scheduled to face Karol Rosa on February 6, 2021 at UFC Fight Night 184.[30] However, for undisclosed reason, she was pulled from the bout and was replaced by Joselyne Edwards.[31]
Montaño was scheduled to face Wu Yanan on July 31, 2021 at UFC on ESPN 28.[32] Due to Montano’s overage at 143 pounds, or seven pounds over the maximum 136 pounds allowed for non-title bantamweight fights, the Montano vs. Yanan fight was cancelled.[33]