Yeah, I was just coming here to say this. Knuttson is plainly one of the most talented WMMA prospects out there, especially at Strawweight. Between this performance and the one on Road, she has put in a lot of work under the UFC's banner and looked quite dominant and well-rounded for a kickboxing crossover across those 30 minutes. She also hurt her opponent badly multiple times and was often applying pressure.
Meanwhile, Dana saw no issue giving a contract to a dude who was slipping and falling over throwing his strikes and whose opponent basically submitted himself in the Main Event. But I was even more annoyed by the contract being given out to that Welsh dude, whose defining trait in his fight was basically being able to Homer Simpson his way to the scorecards after getting 10-8'd in the second round. He was literally wobbling around like a zombie, out on his feet, for most of the last two minutes eating punches and knees and then got saved by the bell from an armbar before coming back to win the third round with a second wind because his opponent was gassed out from his impromptu heavy bag session in Round 2.
Apparently in addition to scoring quick stoppages over cans, "being difficult to knock out" on its own is also reason enough for the Goof to throw you a contract, lol. I'm not too surprised, though, because Trevor Peek basically got into the UFC under the exact same circumstances: absorbed dozens of unanswered strikes and was getting tuned up and taken to a striking clinic... until Malik Lewis tired from using Trevor's head as a speed bag to the point that he literally could not defend himself as Peek walked him down and clubbed him.
Call me crazy, but displays of "heart and toughness" that legitimately call the fighter's overall skill level relative to fellow regional talent should not get you a UFC contract. At least with dudes crushing cans their skill ceiling is unknown; they could theoretically be a future GOAT, but we just won't know one way or another until they fight better competition. But when guys are getting fucked up in wars with their regional peers and barely making out by the skin of their teeth thanks to having slightly better cardio/durability/heart... why would you ever invest in that as a promoter? You know damn well the tests are only going to get tougher from here and they're only going to get exposed the moment they fight someone who isn't going to give them a chance to make some Rocky Balboa-esque comeback.
