Welcome to another edition of Monday Round-Up, where you can find a summary of the key events that happened from this weekend’s sport.
For this week’s Monday Round-Up, we look at the Premier League, particularly the incredible West Ham vs Arsenal match.
We’ll also look at the UFC, where Derek Brunson defeated the loud-mouthed Kevin Holland, as well as England’s, once again, poor display in the Six Nations.
Finally, this week’s Monday Round-Up will conclude with the boxing, where Lawrence Okolie knocked out Krzysztof Glowacki to win the WBO World Cruiserweight championship.
Premier League Football
To start this week’s Monday Round-Up, we’ll begin with the Premier League.
Despite there only being 3 games, there was an absolute thriller of a Premier League game in East London when West Ham hosted Arsenal.
With West Ham taking – what looked like – a comfortable and commanding 3-0 lead in this Premier League fixture, Arsenal managed to make a dramatic comeback to draw the game 3-3, with some arguing they could’ve gone on to win the game.
Although Arsenal will be somewhat relieved they didn’t lose, their performance was baffling.
Sam Dean from The Telegraph summarised it perfectly, saying “if ever a single match could encapsulate the modern Arsenal […] it is this one.”
I couldn’t agree more. A questionable starting XI plus starting the first 35 minutes as if they didn’t leave the team bus, Arsenal fans were right to think this Premier League game could’ve got incredibly embarrassing.
However, after West Ham’s third, they suddenly switched gears, and looked a constant threat – why don’t they just play like this from the first whistle?
😤 "I'm very disappointed because I cannot accept my team playing the way we did."
🗣 Mikel Arteta was frustrated with Arsenal's defending against West Ham but praised his players for their desire after salvaging a point. pic.twitter.com/rzBKYV5bvj
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 21, 2021
UFC
Continuing on with Monday’s Round-Up, we jump across the pond to the UFC.
This weekend saw a UFC middleweight bout between Derek Brunson and Kevin Holland, with the former getting the victory by unanimous decision.
Although the fight wasn’t the most thrilling, it’s always fun listening to Kevin Holland talk to his opponents and himself during the fight.
Or is it? UFC light heavyweight Rashad Evans mentioned how watching Holland during this fight made him “frustrated” and that “at some point, you have to hit that switch”.
In other words, Evans wanted Holland to stop focusing on trash-talking and being friendly with his opponent and fight!
Whilst I do enjoy Holland’s comedic talking throughout his fights, when you’re clearly losing the fight, I think it looks a bit stupid.
If you’re winning, then by all means, you have the right to talk trash to your opponent and take the mic.
But when you’re losing? You need to focus on the fight rather than trying to be the class clown.
Kevin Holland is asking Khabib Nurmagomedov for advice after the first round! 😂#UFCVegas22 pic.twitter.com/f0AvJJYh9e
— UFC on BT Sport (@btsportufc) March 21, 2021
Six Nations Rugby
Next on Monday’s Round-Up of this weekend’s sport, we look at the Six Nations Rugby.
In particular, England’s abysmal performance against Ireland in their final game of what has been a terrible Six Nations for England.
Ireland defeated England 32-18 and fully deserved it, with Jack Conan and Keith Earls scoring Ireland’s tries and Johnny Sexton kicking 22 points.
Although Ireland “produced by far their best performance of the Andy Farrell era” (according to BBC’s Michael Morrow) all attention will be on England’s shoddy performance.
In fact, the whole of this Six Nations has been poor for England, finishing 5th and losing to Wales, Scotland and Ireland in a single competition for the first time since 1976.
England just never looked on the front foot, even when Ireland’s Bundee Aki was sent off in the 64th minute, they didn’t look like they would make an inspired comeback to somewhat redeem their blushes from this Six Nations.
Simply put, I agree with what Stuart Barnes from The Times said – “It is Jones’s team. It is his fault. Time to go.”
The RFU will decide whether to trigger a break clause in Eddie Jones’s contract when it launches a review into England’s dismal Six Nations campaign.
Jones believes he is still the right man to lead England through to the 2023 World Cup | @AlexMLowe https://t.co/5yVFMAMuFi
— Times Sport (@TimesSport) March 22, 2021
Boxing
Finally, Monday’s Round-Up concludes with the boxing, where Britain’s Lawrence Okolie knocked out Krzysztof Glowacki in the 6th round to become the WBO World Cruiserweight champion.
This victory meant it was the 28-year-old’s first title. An incredible feat considering he was working at McDonalds less than a decade ago.
Although this was an impressive performance no doubt, some fans on social media started blaming Glowacki’s 21 months away from boxing for his loss, as well as the fact the Polish international had Covid-19 during that time.
But as BBC’s Luke Reddy said, “the poise Okolie showed, the ease with which he handled the occasion and the destructive finish served up all point to a fighter going places.”
And I couldn’t agree more. To defeat Glowacki – a guy that had only been beaten twice in his career prior to this fight – in the manner that Okolie did is remarkable, especially when he’s still relatively new in the boxing limelight.
Okolie should get the praise he deserves, and hopefully, a bright future awaits the Hackney boxer.
Lawrence Okolie's 'scary' power and sharper skills can overcome any of the world's top cruiserweights after he claimed the WBO title, says promoter Eddie Hearn.
— Sky Sports (@SkySports) March 21, 2021
Arsenal comeback stuns West Ham in 3-3 thriller – Premier League result
Brunson suffocates Holland, gets unanimous victory at UFC Vegas 22 – so what’s next?
