(ALSO SEE: Sean Shelby’s Shoes: What’s next for Alistair Overeem after UFC on ESPN+ 34 win?)
Augusto Sakai was unable to take the next leap into title contention on Saturday when he lost to Alistair Overeem in the UFC on ESPN+ 34 main event.
Sakai (15-2-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) came into his first UFC headliner with four consecutive wins to start his octagon tenure, and for more than a moment it seemed he was going to further make his name at Overeem’s (47-18 MMA, 12-7 UFC) expense in the heavyweight contest, which took place at UFC Apex in Las Vegas and streamed on ESPN+.
Instead, though, Overeem allowed Sakai to wear himself out in the early rounds, then took over to secure a TKO in the fifth and final frame. It felt as though Sakai somewhat let a big moment slip through his fingers, but it will surely serve as a learning lesson moving forward.
What does the loss mean for Sakai? Watch the video above for thoughts and analysis on his future after UFC on ESPN+ 34.
Sean Shelby’s Shoes: What’s next for Augusto Sakai after UFC on ESPN+ 34 loss?
