Another busy weekend of combat sports is in the books, but the results only tell part of the story.
Teofimo Lopez added another championship to his résumé, Amanda Serrano reached a historic career milestone, Gregory Rodrigues forced his way into the UFC middleweight conversation, Cris Cyborg continued to prove that age has done little to diminish her, and one of boxing’s brightest young prospects delivered another statement.
Here are five things Fight Week learned from this weekend’s fights.
1. Teofimo Lopez Is a Legitimate Player at Welterweight
There were questions about whether Teofimo Lopez belonged at 147 pounds.
He answered the most important one Saturday night.
Lopez defeated WBA welterweight champion Rolando “Rolly” Romero by majority decision, winning by scores of 116-112 and 115-113, while the third judge scored the fight 114-114. The victory makes Lopez a world champion in a third weight class after previously winning titles at lightweight and junior welterweight.
It was not a spectacular fight. Romero spent long stretches waiting for counterpunching opportunities while Lopez remained busier, worked behind his jab and attacked the body.
Romero had his best moment in the fifth when he caught Lopez with a left hook and briefly hurt him, but he failed to capitalize. Lopez returned to controlling the pace and doing enough work to win rounds.
The bigger story is what happens next.
Welterweight now gives Lopez an entirely new group of potential opponents, and owning a world title immediately makes him part of the division’s championship picture.
What we learned: Teofimo Lopez may not have produced a highlight-reel performance, but “The Takeover” has officially arrived at welterweight.
2. Amanda Serrano Can Still Win the Hard Way
Amanda Serrano was expected to beat Lucrecia Manzur.
Few expected Manzur to make her work this hard for it.
Serrano earned the 50th victory of her professional career with a majority decision, retaining her WBA, WBO and Ring featherweight championships after 12 competitive two-minute rounds. Judges scored the fight 116-112 twice for Serrano and 114-114.
Manzur continually came forward and refused to allow Serrano to settle into an easy rhythm. Instead of cruising through another title defense, Serrano had to dig deeper as the fight progressed.
That may actually tell us more about Serrano than another quick knockout would have.
At 38, Serrano remains technically sharp, experienced and capable of making adjustments when a fight becomes uncomfortable. But Manzur also showed that Serrano can be pressured and forced into competitive rounds.
The victory also came in the first unified women’s world championship fight scheduled for 12 two-minute rounds, adding another historical marker to Serrano’s remarkable career.
What we learned: Serrano remains the champion, but opponents willing to pressure her may see a path toward making things interesting.
3. Gregory Rodrigues Just Changed the UFC Middleweight Picture
Gregory “Robocop” Rodrigues entered UFC Sacramento with an opportunity.
He left with a completely different career trajectory.
Rodrigues defeated Anthony Hernandez by unanimous decision after five demanding rounds, winning 49-46 and 48-47 twice. The victory was his fourth straight and came against a fighter who entered the weekend firmly established near the top of the middleweight division.
What made the performance particularly impressive was how Rodrigues handled Hernandez’s pressure.
Hernandez repeatedly tried to turn the fight into the grinding, exhausting battle that usually favors him. Rodrigues survived those stretches, defended takedowns, attacked the legs and eventually began forcing Hernandez to fight more in the center of the Octagon.
Then Rodrigues finished strong.
Instead of fading against a fighter known for breaking opponents late, Rodrigues won the later exchanges and closed the fight with an excellent fifth round.
Afterward, he called for former champion Dricus du Plessis and made it clear that his sights are now on a title opportunity.
What we learned: Rodrigues is no longer simply a dangerous middleweight. He is becoming a legitimate title contender.
4. Cris Cyborg Is Still One of the Toughest in Women’s MMA
The Cris Cyborg era refuses to end.
Cyborg defeated Ketlen Vieira by unanimous decision in Tampa, earning scores of 49-46, 49-46 and 48-47 after five competitive rounds. Vieira had missed the featherweight limit by seven pounds, leaving her ineligible to win Cyborg’s PFL championship.
It was not vintage Cyborg destruction.
It might have been more revealing.
Vieira had success, forced Cyborg to adjust and made the longtime champion work throughout the fight. Cyborg responded by mixing takedowns with her striking and doing enough to earn another major victory.
Cyborg is now riding a 10-fight winning streak and enters free agency with her options wide open. She also used the post-fight spotlight to again mention possible fights involving Claressa Shields and Kayla Harrison.
Those possibilities may be difficult to make, but one thing remains obvious: Cyborg is still relevant in almost any discussion involving the biggest fights available in women’s combat sports.
What we learned: Anyone waiting for Cyborg to simply fade away may be waiting a while longer.
5. Jahmal Harvey Is Becoming a Prospect Fight Fans Need to Watch
Jahmal Harvey entered the weekend as one of Most Valuable Promotions’ most intriguing young fighters.
He left with another reason for boxing fans to remember his name.
The U.S. Olympian improved to 4-0 with three knockouts by stopping Hammet Keb in the second round. Harvey broke his opponent down with combinations before finishing the fight with a powerful right hand at 2:48 of the round.
Harvey is still very early in his professional career, so there is no reason to rush him into the deepest end of the lightweight division.
But performances like this make patience increasingly difficult.
The hand speed is there. The combinations are becoming more polished. Most importantly, Harvey is beginning to show the finishing ability that can turn an accomplished amateur into an exciting professional attraction.
What we learned: Jahmal Harvey is not ready for the elite at 135 pounds yet—but he may be moving toward that conversation faster than expected.
Fight Week Fighter of the Week: Teofimo Lopez
Teofimo Lopez is the Fight Week Fighter of the Week.
The performance itself may not make anyone’s Fight of the Year list, but the accomplishment is difficult to overlook.
Lopez moved into the welterweight division, defeated WBA champion Rolly Romero and became a world champion in a third weight class.
That achievement adds another layer to an already impressive résumé and gives Lopez something even more important moving forward: options.
He can defend his new championship, chase another major name at welterweight or use the belt as leverage to pursue one of boxing’s biggest fights.
Amanda Serrano’s 50th professional victory deserves serious consideration, as does Gregory Rodrigues’ breakthrough performance against Anthony Hernandez.
But this weekend belonged to the new three-division champion.
Fight Week Fighter of the Week: Teofimo Lopez.
