UFC 296 Reactions

Irene Aldana sets up a title eliminator, but Karol Rosa not far behind talent-wise. 
Irene Aldana picked up a decision victory on the UFC 296 prelims, but #9 Karol Rosa showed that she can stand with the top of the division- case in point, you know you have a tougher-than-nails fighter when the winning fighter (Aldana) is the one in the hospital bed and the losing fighter (Rosa) isn't. 
With second-ranked Raquel Pennington facing third-ranked Mayra Bueno Silva in a couple weeks for the vacant belt, I'd like to see Aldana face Julianna Pena. Meanwhile, Rosa can face someone like Holly Holm (#6), Pannie Kianzad (#7) or Yana Santos (#8) to see if she can really hang with the top of the division. 

Ariane Lipski sets herself up for a big 2024.
Lipski moved into the top fifteen following her submission victory over Casey O'Neill, her third straight win (but first finish in that span and a return to her Queen of Violence form). There are any number of fights that make sense for her next- Viviane Araujo (#8), Amanda Ribas (#9), or Natalia Silva (#10) come to mind. 

Father Time is undefeated.
Remember Tony Ferguson's twelve-fight win streak? 
El Cucuy was slated to fight for undisputed lightweight gold as of April of 2020.
Nearly three-and-a-half years later he's lost seven straight which includes getting KOd by a front kick to the face, getting submitted twice and losing three unanimous decisions where he lost all nine rounds.
Father Time comes for everyone, including someone who was regarded just three years ago as one of the best lightweights on the planet.   

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