General UFC thread

[shevtheblue]

Let me just state for the record I think Brian Ortega will be king of the 145/ 155 division.

You heard it here!

Ortega is good but i just love Max Holloway, he's an absolute monster.

 

[shevtheblue]

Talking of Johns... Jon Jones back for UFC 232.

Takes Gustafsson on for the vacant belt.

Dunno if I'm bored with this match up again.

I don't know how anyone can be bored of this fight, the first was amazing and i personally though Gus shaded it. I'm really looking forward to this fight tbh.

 

[shevtheblue]

I thought I'd post John Kavanaugh's interview with Ariel Helwani.

Can't believe how nice this guy is and how revealing his thoughts are on what's happened and what's to come.

I think he agrees with us both!



If I'd fought I'd have liked him in my corner!

I've been thinking about this rematch and a few things Khabib has said in recent Russian interviews, i'm convinced he thinks he's a better striker than he actually is now because he dropped Connor. Put it this way, if he believes his hype and stands with Connor he's getting sparked but if he keeps the same plan i think he'll win in the same fashion tbh.

Yeah Kav is a great guy and i think the way he handles his fighters in the corner is much better than Greg Jackson. If i had Greg in my corner i think i'd have told him to stfu by now.

 

[dannyboy29]

I've been thinking about this rematch and a few things Khabib has said in recent Russian interviews, i'm convinced he thinks he's a better striker than he actually is now because he dropped Connor. Put it this way, if he believes his hype and stands with Connor he's getting sparked but if he keeps the same plan i think he'll win in the same fashion tbh.

Yeah Kav is a great guy and i think the way he handles his fighters in the corner is much better than Greg Jackson. If i had Greg in my corner i think i'd have told him to stfu by now.

Also, did he really drop him, looked more like a stumble then he hit Khabib with a good knee straight after so its not like he was hurt either.

 

[Bigga]

I've been thinking about this rematch and a few things Khabib has said in recent Russian interviews, i'm convinced he thinks he's a better striker than he actually is now because he dropped Connor. Put it this way, if he believes his hype and stands with Connor he's getting sparked but if he keeps the same plan i think he'll win in the same fashion tbh.

Yeah Kav is a great guy and i think the way he handles his fighters in the corner is much better than Greg Jackson. If i had Greg in my corner i think i'd have told him to stfu by now.

Just to underline what you said re: Nurmagomedov, I heard he's called out Mayweather!

Is he doing a McGregor parody or is he serious?

If he's serious, that would violate his own MMA code of 'honour' and 'dignity' to the sport, surely?

And, as an aside, Mayweather won't toy with him, like he did McGregor, he'd knock him out fairly early.

 

[Machiavelli]

Mayweather should fight 50 Cent.

 

[shevtheblue]

Just to underline what you said re: Nurmagomedov, I heard he's called out Mayweather!

Is he doing a McGregor parody or is he serious?

If he's serious, that would violate his own MMA code of 'honour' and 'dignity' to the sport, surely?

And, as an aside, Mayweather won't toy with him, like he did McGregor, he'd knock him out fairly early.

Don't think he's serious TBH, he knows what he is. Over the last two days i've read to very interesting quotes from DC and Khabib's uncle:

DC: “That first takedown, I was like wow, he really made [Nurmagomedov] work for this takedown,” said Cormier as transcribed by Shaun Al-Shatti for MMA Fighting. “Because this is what we say at AKA — we try to get you lost in the sauce. ... Like, when we’re on a leg, we want to give you one [takedown attempt]; okay, you’ll defend; two, you’ll defend; three, then you start going, ‘Okay, wait a minute,’ then you start to get lost. You get lost in all the different transitions, from move to move to move, and eventually we get you down. And once we get you down, obviously it’s very difficult to get back up.

“[McGregor] didn’t get lost in it. Like, Khabib had to go to level four to get that first takedown. He went high crotch, he went crackdown, he went ‘try to get the angle,’ he tried to run the pipe, then he actually had to go to his knees, look across the back to get to a double just to get Conor down the first time. Conor didn’t get lost. He really did a good job, and that’s why if you’re Team McGregor, there’s cause for concern, because I don’t know if he could do that any better and he still got beat in the way that he got beat."

“He did a good job and I don’t know if he could do it any better … because then [Nurmagomedov] is going to go to level five, and he going to go to level six, and he’s going to just keep putting different things behind each other until eventually you kinda can’t keep up"

Khabib's uncle:
What were your plans for Khabib after the fight with McGregor? Have they changed now?

We planned to have a fight with Tony Ferguson. They expected to hold this fight in April-May. And after this battle, they planned to end Khabib's sports career. But after the fight with Conor, our fighter Zubair Tukhugov was unjustly punished, who was supposed to fight October 27 [vs. Artem Lobov]. After all, it was McGregor who started this conflict, and we just finished it. I believe that there should be no conflict. Khabib had to pull himself together. I in no way justify him for jumping over the fence after the fight. Khabib reacted calmly to a possible fine of $250,000 - yet the purse for the fight was much higher. But when Zubair was pulled, he said that he would refuse the purse and leave the UFC. We do not exclude that this can happen in reality. But if they keep Tukhugov, then in April-May we will fight Ferguson. We would be interested in this fight. Ferguson is a good fighter.

Who is to blame for this situation: Conor or Khabib?

I believe both. We can not say that Conor is the only one to blame. This is stupid and not serious. Yes, there were moments when Conor touched on faith, parents. My opinion - it is impossible to touch, given our mentality, our views on life. But even so, after the end of the battle, Khabib had to shake his opponent’s hand. I myself told him that he had to go up to Conor, hug him, thank Irish fans, regardless of who was for him and who was against. This is my opinion as his uncle. Sport should unite.

It was necessary to say to Conor: "We have forgotten everything that happened until this minute. From this minute we are friends. You are a great country Ireland, we are a great country Russia. Let's live together." And what he will do later is already on his conscience. What example do we set for those who look at us? Do not punish Khabib - others will repeat the same. Therefore, the fine is right, but the dismissal of Tuhugov is not. I believe that the UFC began to infringe the interests of the fighters from Russia. They see that every day they are progressing, getting better and winning more and more.

Have you communicated with Khabib in this regard?

He called me. I said: "Habib, I cannot justify your behavior. You did not have the right to jump into the arena. Be higher, smarter than Conor. By this you would show that you are a true leader and a fighter. And I was ashamed of your unsportsmanlike behavior." And his father scolded him, and [uncle] Nurik.

Did you expect the fight itself to play out as it did?

I knew it would be like that. He knew that if Khabib had a chance to end the fight earlier, he would not do that. He told me that he would break Conor or make him give up, no matter what. He said he would not end the fight in the first or second round. I told him that he should not pay attention to people and end the fight earlier if there was a chance. And Khabib answered: "No, I will fight, and I will finish in the fourth round." For him it was important. He was very angry with Conor.

In general, I believe that what happened is the fault of security. Where were they looking? Yes, he did not control himself, but why did you let him go? You saw what was happening. Skirmishes, swearing did not end. I think there is fault by Dana White. If he did not want a fight, he had to put handcuffs on the fighters and take them out of the hall, and then send them by two planes to different states. One hundred percent the event needed more security. But Khabib is also to blame. In general, this is not his behavior. He always behaves modestly, always scolding others for unsporting behavior. For example, the children of Nurik. They here, in Poltava, also do judo. We bet on them. Let's see how their career develops. They are 19 years old.

 

[Bigga]

Don't think he's serious TBH, he knows what he is. Over the last two days i've read to very interesting quotes from DC and Khabib's uncle:

DC: “That first takedown, I was like wow, he really made [Nurmagomedov] work for this takedown,” said Cormier as transcribed by Shaun Al-Shatti for MMA Fighting. “Because this is what we say at AKA — we try to get you lost in the sauce. ... Like, when we’re on a leg, we want to give you one [takedown attempt]; okay, you’ll defend; two, you’ll defend; three, then you start going, ‘Okay, wait a minute,’ then you start to get lost. You get lost in all the different transitions, from move to move to move, and eventually we get you down. And once we get you down, obviously it’s very difficult to get back up.

“[McGregor] didn’t get lost in it. Like, Khabib had to go to level four to get that first takedown. He went high crotch, he went crackdown, he went ‘try to get the angle,’ he tried to run the pipe, then he actually had to go to his knees, look across the back to get to a double just to get Conor down the first time. Conor didn’t get lost. He really did a good job, and that’s why if you’re Team McGregor, there’s cause for concern, because I don’t know if he could do that any better and he still got beat in the way that he got beat."

“He did a good job and I don’t know if he could do it any better … because then [Nurmagomedov] is going to go to level five, and he going to go to level six, and he’s going to just keep putting different things behind each other until eventually you kinda can’t keep up"

Khabib's uncle:
What were your plans for Khabib after the fight with McGregor? Have they changed now?

We planned to have a fight with Tony Ferguson. They expected to hold this fight in April-May. And after this battle, they planned to end Khabib's sports career. But after the fight with Conor, our fighter Zubair Tukhugov was unjustly punished, who was supposed to fight October 27 [vs. Artem Lobov]. After all, it was McGregor who started this conflict, and we just finished it. I believe that there should be no conflict. Khabib had to pull himself together. I in no way justify him for jumping over the fence after the fight. Khabib reacted calmly to a possible fine of $250,000 - yet the purse for the fight was much higher. But when Zubair was pulled, he said that he would refuse the purse and leave the UFC. We do not exclude that this can happen in reality. But if they keep Tukhugov, then in April-May we will fight Ferguson. We would be interested in this fight. Ferguson is a good fighter.

Who is to blame for this situation: Conor or Khabib?

I believe both. We can not say that Conor is the only one to blame. This is stupid and not serious. Yes, there were moments when Conor touched on faith, parents. My opinion - it is impossible to touch, given our mentality, our views on life. But even so, after the end of the battle, Khabib had to shake his opponent’s hand. I myself told him that he had to go up to Conor, hug him, thank Irish fans, regardless of who was for him and who was against. This is my opinion as his uncle. Sport should unite.

It was necessary to say to Conor: "We have forgotten everything that happened until this minute. From this minute we are friends. You are a great country Ireland, we are a great country Russia. Let's live together." And what he will do later is already on his conscience. What example do we set for those who look at us? Do not punish Khabib - others will repeat the same. Therefore, the fine is right, but the dismissal of Tuhugov is not. I believe that the UFC began to infringe the interests of the fighters from Russia. They see that every day they are progressing, getting better and winning more and more.

Have you communicated with Khabib in this regard?

He called me. I said: "Habib, I cannot justify your behavior. You did not have the right to jump into the arena. Be higher, smarter than Conor. By this you would show that you are a true leader and a fighter. And I was ashamed of your unsportsmanlike behavior." And his father scolded him, and [uncle] Nurik.

Did you expect the fight itself to play out as it did?

I knew it would be like that. He knew that if Khabib had a chance to end the fight earlier, he would not do that. He told me that he would break Conor or make him give up, no matter what. He said he would not end the fight in the first or second round. I told him that he should not pay attention to people and end the fight earlier if there was a chance. And Khabib answered: "No, I will fight, and I will finish in the fourth round." For him it was important. He was very angry with Conor.

In general, I believe that what happened is the fault of security. Where were they looking? Yes, he did not control himself, but why did you let him go? You saw what was happening. Skirmishes, swearing did not end. I think there is fault by Dana White. If he did not want a fight, he had to put handcuffs on the fighters and take them out of the hall, and then send them by two planes to different states. One hundred percent the event needed more security. But Khabib is also to blame. In general, this is not his behavior. He always behaves modestly, always scolding others for unsporting behavior. For example, the children of Nurik. They here, in Poltava, also do judo. We bet on them. Let's see how their career develops. They are 19 years old.

Very interesting read, thanks.

What Cormier said confirms what my eyes saw. I think people thought Conor got taken down at will, but I didn't see that until he truly gassed. This is why I think he can and will improve, the next time they meet. He doesn't need to be top notch, just needs to create time to fire back in Nurmagomedov's weak/ vulnerable moments.

I like the honour that the Nurmagomedovs (sans Khabib) seem to portray. I don't know whether that's a facade, but it sounded good.

 

[shevtheblue]

Very interesting read, thanks.

What Cormier said confirms what my eyes saw. I think people thought Conor got taken down at will, but I didn't see that until he truly gassed. This is why I think he can and will improve, the next time they meet. He doesn't need to be top notch, just needs to create time to fire back in Nurmagomedov's weak/ vulnerable moments.

I like the honour that the Nurmagomedovs (sans Khabib) seem to portray. I don't know whether that's a facade, but it sounded good.

Kind of agree, but i also lean towards the next part of DC's quote where he says it should be cause for concern. Khabib defo has different levels to go to in grappling, i think if there was a rematch Coach Kav would concentrate on keeping Khabib at a distance. One thing i would be looking at if i was Kav is timing Khabib when he comes in, he nearly always has an initial rush (although his first shot in this fight wasn't a rush). To make up the ground so that he can get his hands on you he rushes in with chin high, counter that while moving backwards and staying away from the cage and you have a good shot at taking him out IMO. But that first shot that Khabib used was really simple but effective, not sure Connor can dodge that for a whole round tbh.

 

[Bigga]

Wow!

When it was mooted that Derrick Lewis would fight Daniel Cormier in UFC 230, I called bullsh*t.

It was too soon and Lewis needed to up his cardio to have a shot...

Imagine my surprise that this is actually what's happening!! Nov 3rd!! That's a MONTH after his Volkov win!

This says to me that Lewis has no more than all out two rounds to KO Cormier and take that belt as he is 'dead in the water' after that!

So, what happened to Lewis' 'broken hand'...??