General UFC thread

[shevtheblue]

I felt this was a HUGE improvement in experience! I love it like this, but know it won't stay!

Yeah not sure how i felt about it tbh, sometimes the crowd are just cocks who don't understand what they're watching anyway but atmosphere can sometimes make a fight.

Agreed about his time being done.

I wasn't impressed. Quite bored, actually.

Same, ended up forwarding most of it. I remember thinking the same when he got KTFO'd though and he managed to comeback, However he's 40 odd now, time to pack it in.

So, let me start with the Stipe thing. As I said way back then, that fight was a learning curve. Something he needed and adding to his fight IQ. he's dealt with wrestlers, since then and has shook them off.

As for Jarzinho, I knew he getting taken out. Just knew it but, obviously, not as quick as that!

Ngannou is the next champ and will probably be undefeated from then on. But, I did not like the casual attitude he had at the start of the fight. Highly disrespectful.

He's fought Blaydes twice and starched him, and Cain was just done when he fought him. But Stipe didn't just wrestle him, the gameplan was perfect. Ngannou undoubtedly has made adjustments, but he needs to fight someone like Stipe or even DC, to prove those adjustments will take him to that level.

Yeah, Cerrone's fought too many time over a short distance. Saying that, I don't agree with the decision.

I thought they were virtually even with the strikes, but cerrone's take-downs gave him the edge.

I just thought when Pettis landed it always looked like it hurt Cowboy. Good fight though.

It's semantics about the stoppage. I thought it was the right call. I've seen numerous fighters start getting up only to be caught with a shot that puts them out because the ref 'gave them a chance'.

I thought it was a good call by Dean.

Dominick Cruz isn't just any fighter, he was getting hit but he was moving to try and get out of the position he was in. I think it was a poor decision and most of the media and fellow fighters did as well.

I thought the main event would be a war. Little did I expect it to be so one sided! This was like role reversal in fighting IQ. I've never really been impressed by Gaethje's rock 'em-sock 'em fight style where Ferguson was king.

He grew the fuck up in UFC 249. He used his brain and had to be told about how he lost the last time in that position. Laser guided left shots, moving his head, picking the shots and pacing himself, finally. I'm a fan, at last!

He'll take Khabib out. Of that, I'm sure.

Let's hope he continue to grow his fight IQ. He has all the right tools to reign for a long time!

Same, Gaethje was amazing. I especially liked his level changing into left hook and his counter right that stopped Ferguson dead in his tracks. We already knew about his leg kicks but he mixed them up much better than he ever has done.

HOWEVER, he's getting grinded by Khabib. The styles don't match, Ferguson is there to be hit and always has been, but you can't hit someone like that when they're on top of you or constantly reaching for your feet. Gaethje was an elite wrestler so he'll be harder to takedown for sure, but he commits to punches even when he's not throwing them at full tilt. In those scrambles is when he'll get taken down. I'll take that bet with you, Bigga :D

 

[shevtheblue]

Didn't mind not having any crowd.
Kind of gave me a new respect as to just how hard they punch. In the tony fight, just how loud the sounds were when they were connecting was crazy.
At his age, and a beating like that, could very well be a career changing fight.

Would still like to see khabib tony though as styles make fights.

Tony is a maniac, for some reason he still worked and made weight for the Khabib fight even when it was cancelled and then did it again for this weight in a short period. Given time to recuperate, i'd like to see this fight again with both men in top shape. Considering Tony had been training months but a completely different fighter, i think he did ok. Eddie Bravo had been talking about how obsessed Tony was with the Khabib fight, so this may have been inevitable.

 

[Bigga]

He's fought Blaydes twice and starched him, and Cain was just done when he fought him. But Stipe didn't just wrestle him, the gameplan was perfect. Ngannou undoubtedly has made adjustments, but he needs to fight someone like Stipe or even DC, to prove those adjustments will take him to that level.

I understand your view of Miocic's early game plan, but even in that fight Miocic's face got pulped and that was without Ngnnou's learning of wrestling adjustments. I would fear for Cormier to be the tester. I, simply, just wouldn't want him to do it.

Dominick Cruz isn't just any fighter, he was getting hit but he was moving to try and get out of the position he was in. I think it was a poor decision and most of the media and fellow fighters did as well.

Agree to disagree then. I know fighters are proud people, but one cannot legislate for the punch to end their career and that's why a good ref will save them from themselves.

Same, Gaethje was amazing. I especially liked his level changing into left hook and his counter right that stopped Ferguson dead in his tracks. We already knew about his leg kicks but he mixed them up much better than he ever has done.

HOWEVER, he's getting grinded by Khabib. The styles don't match, Ferguson is there to be hit and always has been, but you can't hit someone like that when they're on top of you or constantly reaching for your feet. Gaethje was an elite wrestler so he'll be harder to takedown for sure, but he commits to punches even when he's not throwing them at full tilt. In those scrambles is when he'll get taken down. I'll take that bet with you, Bigga :D

Ooo, now I'm a new fan of Gaethje and he has shown new maturity and IQ to win, not enjoy the bang. Now, to analyse KN's fight style is interesting for me. You say Ferguson is there to be hit, but so is Nurmagomedov as Iaquinta and McGregor has shown.

You've correctly identified the leg kicks of JG along with the laser precision punches, mixed with a very good level of wrestling. I, personally, don't think KN's chin stands up like TF's and that's why he shoots for take-downs.

Based on that, I might be willing to take that bet, Shev!!

:)

 

[shevtheblue]

I understand your view of Miocic's early game plan, but even in that fight Miocic's face got pulped and that was without Ngnnou's learning of wrestling adjustments. I would fear for Cormier to be the tester. I, simply, just wouldn't want him to do it.

Stipe's face gets smashed in most fights tbf, but there's no doubting Ngannou is an absolute animal. I'd be interested in seeing that played back.

Agree to disagree then. I know fighters are proud people, but one cannot legislate for the punch to end their career and that's why a good ref will save them from themselves.

I suppose every time you are getting up from a takedown you're at risk of being sparked out, especially when you're being ridden by one of the greatest wrestlers we've ever seen! But Cruz has never been stopped, i'd like him to have been given an opportunity to show what he's done in every fight hes ever fought. HOOOOWEVER, he's been out of the cage so long, maybe it's gone.

Ooo, now I'm a new fan of Gaethje and he has shown new maturity and IQ to win, not enjoy the bang. Now, to analyse KN's fight style is interesting for me. You say Ferguson is there to be hit, but so is Nurmagomedov as Iaquinta and McGregor has shown.

You've correctly identified the leg kicks of JG along with the laser precision punches, mixed with a very good level of wrestling. I, personally, don't think KN's chin stands up like TF's and that's why he shoots for take-downs.

Based on that, I might be willing to take that bet, Shev!!

There's a difference though, when Khabib is hit it's usually either when he's worn down fighters and he's either trying to take a round off, or he's been complacent. The proof is in the pudding, Connor has laser beams on his firsts and generally if he catches you you're getting sparked. But going into that 3rd (or was it 4th?) when he caught KN i few times, the pep wasn't in the punches. Laquinta is a big puncher too, but he was fucked as well. The only time he's been rocked is against Johnson, but it was just a complete lack of respect shown to MJ's striking talents IMO. In comparison with Tony, he gets hit very early in his fights but ends up powering through in the second round to push his will onto the other fighter, but JG made some nice adjustments in the 3rd and the remaining parts of the fight. For him to win this fight he'd need to constantly circle, which takes away power.

Hehe yeah maybe, but i think he shoots for takedown's because that's where he knows he's superior to nearly everyone.

Let's see if KN can actually make it to fight week before we start thinking about bets :D

 

[Bigga]

Stipe's face gets smashed in most fights tbf, but there's no doubting Ngannou is an absolute animal. I'd be interested in seeing that played back.

I believe I analyse a LOT of MMA fights and have been doing so since the UFC conception. I 'feel' if I've followed a fighter enough I can see a win or loss. So, let me tell you surprised I was that Miocic came away with a win against Ngannou! I didn't factor in fights styles as FN had just been bludgeoning his prey. The one thing I noticed in defeat was FN's fear of engagement with a certain style of fighter fearing another loss.

Now he was comes to terms with that and regained belief, he just looks on another level. I, too, would like to see this fight played back.

I suppose every time you are getting up from a takedown you're at risk of being sparked out, especially when you're being ridden by one of the greatest wrestlers we've ever seen! But Cruz has never been stopped, i'd like him to have been given an opportunity to show what he's done in every fight hes ever fought. HOOOOWEVER, he's been out of the cage so long, maybe it's gone.

I know what you mean and I agree Cruz's lay off may have played into Dean's thinking with the stoppage.

There's a difference though, when Khabib is hit it's usually either when he's worn down fighters and he's either trying to take a round off, or he's been complacent. The proof is in the pudding, Connor has laser beams on his firsts and generally if he catches you you're getting sparked. But going into that 3rd (or was it 4th?) when he caught KN i few times, the pep wasn't in the punches. Laquinta is a big puncher too, but he was fucked as well. The only time he's been rocked is against Johnson, but it was just a complete lack of respect shown to MJ's striking talents IMO. In comparison with Tony, he gets hit very early in his fights but ends up powering through in the second round to push his will onto the other fighter, but JG made some nice adjustments in the 3rd and the remaining parts of the fight. For him to win this fight he'd need to constantly circle, which takes away power.

Hehe yeah maybe, but i think he shoots for takedown's because that's where he knows he's superior to nearly everyone.

Let's see if KN can actually make it to fight week before we start thinking about bets :D

Ha! Yes, let's wait until fight week. I'm super excited about it. It kind of reminds of how Emelianenko was feted as 'unstoppable'. He wasn't a fighter on my radar, for some reason, but when I did watch a couple of fights, I wasn't overly impressed and thought he's open for a KO and shortly after that happened.

I kind of feel the same with Nurmagomedov. I feel he's open and it'll take the right fighter to expose him and Gaethje is the man to do that. He has all the right tools if he can keep his IQ to dismantle the opponent fight style.

Best conversation I've had in a while. Wednesday is the next fight day and then Friday Night?

 

[shevtheblue]

I believe I analyse a LOT of MMA fights and have been doing so since the UFC conception. I 'feel' if I've followed a fighter enough I can see a win or loss. So, let me tell you surprised I was that Miocic came away with a win against Ngannou! I didn't factor in fights styles as FN had just been bludgeoning his prey. The one thing I noticed in defeat was FN's fear of engagement with a certain style of fighter fearing another loss.

Now he was comes to terms with that and regained belief, he just looks on another level. I, too, would like to see this fight played back.

I never thought Stipe could be a champ tbh, but he has impressed me a lot. However, i thought he was losing the second DC fight as well, so Francis might be catching it at a good time. At the moment, i don't think there's is a legit big enough threat to FN until JJ decides to come up. JJ who feels challenged by another fighter is the most dangerous version of JJ.

I know what you mean and I agree Cruz's lay off may have played into Dean's thinking with the stoppage.

I know Cruz was making a big thing about ring(cage) rust not being a real thing, but it is when you face elite level fighters. And it's not just rust, it's age as he has been fighting for a long long time. I remember watching him fight in WEC against Uriah, the guy has been around in the sport for a decade and a half and has had huge injuries too.

Ha! Yes, let's wait until fight week. I'm super excited about it. It kind of reminds of how Emelianenko was feted as 'unstoppable'. He wasn't a fighter on my radar, for some reason, but when I did watch a couple of fights, I wasn't overly impressed and thought he's open for a KO and shortly after that happened.

I kind of feel the same with Nurmagomedov. I feel he's open and it'll take the right fighter to expose him and Gaethje is the man to do that. He has all the right tools if he can keep his IQ to dismantle the opponent fight style.

Best conversation I've had in a while. Wednesday is the next fight day and then Friday Night?

Fedor always used to get hit, but he always managed to take huge punishment and still get through it against absolute killers. The thing that made him the best was that he would engage opponents at their strength, which is something that KN rarely does as his dad has pretty much forbid it. A couple Fedor fights stand out for me when talking about this (and going off topic of course):
When he fought Big Nog and the consensus was to beat him you need to keep him on the feet, he spent the whole fight in his guard. When he fought Cro Cop when he was injected with special serum and the consensus was you don't stand with Cro Cop, he fought the whole fight standing and took a high kick from him. When he got picked up and suplexed onto his head by Randleman and swept him then submitted him. Fuck, those were good times.

Yeah Smith Vs Glover on Wed and then Ubereem vs Smith.

Weight class Method Round Time Notes
Light Heavyweight Anthony Smith vs. Glover Teixeira [a]
Featherweight Billy Quarantillo vs. Gavin Tucker
Women's Flyweight Cynthia Calvillo vs. Antonina Shevchenko
Lightweight Evan Dunham vs. Michael Johnson
Lightweight Roosevelt Roberts vs. Matt Frevola
Middleweight Andrew Sanchez vs. Zak Cummings
Welterweight Anthony Rocco Martin vs. David Zawada
Featherweight Peter Barrett vs. Danny Henry
Lightweight Alan Patrick vs. Frank Camacho
Light Heavyweight Ovince Saint Preux vs. Ion Cuțelaba [c]
Heavyweight Rodrigo Nascimento vs. Don’Tale Mayes [d]
Middleweight Karl Roberson vs. Marvin Vettori [e]
Women's Strawweight Mackenzie Dern vs. Hannah Cifers


Heavyweight Alistair Overeem vs. Walt Harris
Women’s Strawweight Cláudia Gadelha vs. Angela Hill
Featherweight Dan Ige vs. Edson Barboza
Middleweight Eryk Anders vs. Krzysztof Jotko
Featherweight Song Yadong vs. Marlon Vera
Preliminary Card (ESPN/ESPN+)
Welterweight Matt Brown vs. Miguel Baeza
Middleweight Anthony Hernandez vs. Kevin Holland
Featherweight Mike Davis vs. Giga Chikadze
Women's Flyweight Cortney Casey vs. Mara Romero Borella
Featherweight Darren Elkins vs. Nate Landwehr
Heavyweight Rodrigo Nascimento vs. Don’Tale Mayes

 

[shevtheblue]

I just watched the main event again, in round 3 (i think) Tony throws a kick that i can only explain as being like the sweep from Mortal Kombat/Street Fighter that takes JG off his feet. When i was watching it live i should WOOOOAH and had forgotten about it, when i just watched it back now i had the same reaction. Fucking amazing.

What you guys make of that stoppage? I thought it was dead on the money, having that go on was in the interest of nobody. Fuck me what a beatdown.

 

[Bigga]

I never thought Stipe could be a champ tbh, but he has impressed me a lot. However, i thought he was losing the second DC fight as well, so Francis might be catching it at a good time. At the moment, i don't think there's is a legit big enough threat to FN until JJ decides to come up. JJ who feels challenged by another fighter is the most dangerous version of JJ.

There's no way Jones will go to heavyweight whilst Ngannou is the mix for the belt. Every/ any other fighter? Yes, undoubtedly. Jones doesn't slip punches like he used to and he doesn't avoid rushes that well depending on the speed of opponent. Can't ever see him going at this point and will, most likely, retire at light heavy.

Fedor always used to get hit, but he always managed to take huge punishment and still get through it against absolute killers. The thing that made him the best was that he would engage opponents at their strength, which is something that KN rarely does as his dad has pretty much forbid it. A couple Fedor fights stand out for me when talking about this (and going off topic of course):
When he fought Big Nog and the consensus was to beat him you need to keep him on the feet, he spent the whole fight in his guard. When he fought Cro Cop when he was injected with special serum and the consensus was you don't stand with Cro Cop, he fought the whole fight standing and took a high kick from him. When he got picked up and suplexed onto his head by Randleman and swept him then submitted him. Fuck, those were good times.

I will have to seek out some old FE fights and take it in.

I will have to remember some of the fighters and styles and pick out wins/ losses. Some I just won't know as they're upcomers/ newbies:

Weight class Method Round Time Notes
Light Heavyweight Anthony Smith vs. Glover Teixeira -- Smith win. GT is past it now. Stoppage.
Featherweight Billy Quarantillo vs. Gavin Tucker -- Not sure. May have seen BQ fight once
Women's Flyweight Cynthia Calvillo vs. Antonina Shevchenko -- Calvillo's my girl, but it will depend on height differential and confidence for her to make any inroad. Shev's not her sis, so this is a tight one.
Lightweight Evan Dunham vs. Michael Johnson -- Two fighters with heads straight up. Johnson's the better puncher, so he edges it for me.
Lightweight Roosevelt Roberts vs. Matt Frevola -- I like Frevola for this one. Pts.
Middleweight Andrew Sanchez vs. Zak Cummings -- Cummings is grinder, but I think Sanchez for this one. Welterweight Anthony Rocco Martin vs. David Zawada -- Seen DZ fight a couple of time, so have to pick him. Featherweight Peter Barrett vs. Danny Henry -- Both new to me.
Lightweight Alan Patrick vs. Frank Camacho -- AP Brazilian? Seen him fight before. Pts win.
Light Heavyweight Ovince Saint Preux vs. Ion Cuțelaba -- OSP is Chinny. IC by KO.
Heavyweight Rodrigo Nascimento vs. Don’Tale Mayes -- Not sure as don't know enough about either.
Middleweight Karl Roberson vs. Marvin Vettori -- Not seen KR fight before and MV acts like 'Ironman', but have to give it him based on fighting style.
Women's Strawweight Mackenzie Dern vs. Hannah Cifers -- MD edges it for me. HC doesn't move enough. She's there to be hit.


Heavyweight Alistair Overeem vs. Walt Harris -- Gonna be EMOTIONAL for WH, so hard to call.
Women’s Strawweight Cláudia Gadelha vs. Angela Hill -- AH is my GIRL! Real pitbull, but this might be a BANGER! Aaargh, I have to edge CG.
Featherweight Dan Ige vs. Edson Barboza -- EB by stoppage.
Middleweight Eryk Anders vs. Krzysztof Jotko -- I like Anders for pts.
Featherweight Song Yadong vs. Marlon Vera -- SY has bricks for hands. Can't look past him.
Preliminary Card (ESPN/ESPN+)
Welterweight Matt Brown vs. Miguel Baeza -- Didn't MB retire? Can't call it.
Middleweight Anthony Hernandez vs. Kevin Holland -- If KH moves better, he wins. KH stoppage.
Featherweight Mike Davis vs. Giga Chikadze -- Pick'em/ pts.
Women's Flyweight Cortney Casey vs. Mara Romero Borella -- Don't know either.
Featherweight Darren Elkins vs. Nate Landwehr -- NL stoppage. DE cuts like paper.

I don't usually try and call it so early as the fights are variable on condition of mentality on the day. Just going of past knowledge of style and form.

 

[Bigga]

I just watched the main event again, in round 3 (i think) Tony throws a kick that i can only explain as being like the sweep from Mortal Kombat/Street Fighter that takes JG off his feet. When i was watching it live i should WOOOOAH and had forgotten about it, when i just watched it back now i had the same reaction. Fucking amazing.

What you guys make of that stoppage? I thought it was dead on the money, having that go on was in the interest of nobody. Fuck me what a beatdown.

Oh yeah that breakdance foot sweep! Class!! TF still has game!

I think TF would have been carried out if it had gone on further.

I, actually, feared/ fear brain damage.

 

[shevtheblue]

There's no way Jones will go to heavyweight whilst Ngannou is the mix for the belt. Every/ any other fighter? Yes, undoubtedly. Jones doesn't slip punches like he used to and he doesn't avoid rushes that well depending on the speed of opponent. Can't ever see him going at this point and will, most likely, retire at light heavy.

What a shame that would be, the greatest ever talent we've ever seen in MMA who has the physical attributes to be dominant in both devisions.

Weight class Method Round Time Notes
Light Heavyweight Anthony Smith vs. Glover Teixeira -- Smith win. GT is past it now. Stoppage.
Yup, i fully expect Smith to run through Glover.

Featherweight Billy Quarantillo vs. Gavin Tucker -- Not sure. May have seen BQ fight once
Tucker fought on the Holloway vs Edgar card, he's decent so i'll go for him as ive not seen BQ.

Women's Flyweight Cynthia Calvillo vs. Antonina Shevchenko -- Calvillo's my girl, but it will depend on height differential and confidence for her to make any inroad. Shev's not her sis, so this is a tight one. AS is a bit of a letdown, she doesn't use her height advantage and technically she doesn't have the proficiency of her sister, I expect Calvillo to take this one.

Lightweight Evan Dunham vs. Michael Johnson -- Two fighters with heads straight up. Johnson's the better puncher, so he edges it for me.
I've never been impressed with Dunham tbh, he's been fighting for so long though. But i Expect MJ to take this one, i think he's the better rounded fighter.

Lightweight Roosevelt Roberts vs. Matt Frevola -- I like Frevola for this one. Pts.
This one could go either way i think, but Frevola is a Longo guy so i'd probably favour him.

Middleweight Andrew Sanchez vs. Zak Cummings -- Cummings is grinder, but I think Sanchez for this one. Yeah same on this one.

Welterweight Anthony Rocco Martin vs. David Zawada -- Seen DZ fight a couple of time, so have to pick him. Rocco is a decent fighter, he KTFO'd LaFlare a while back, gotta take him for this.

Featherweight Peter Barrett vs. Danny Henry -- Both new to me.
Same, no idea about this one.

Lightweight Alan Patrick vs. Frank Camacho -- AP Brazilian? Seen him fight before. Pts win.
Camacho got subbed by Dariush last time, i think Patrick has got this too.

Light Heavyweight Ovince Saint Preux vs. Ion Cuțelaba -- OSP is Chinny. IC by KO.
Yeah i've never liked OSP but i think he's got this one tbh.

Heavyweight Rodrigo Nascimento vs. Don’Tale Mayes -- Not sure as don't know enough about either.
No idea who these are..

Middleweight Karl Roberson vs. Marvin Vettori -- Not seen KR fight before and MV acts like 'Ironman', but have to give it him based on fighting style.
Vettori wasn't that bad against Adesanya, gotta give this to him.

Women's Strawweight Mackenzie Dern vs. Hannah Cifers -- MD edges it for me. HC doesn't move enough. She's there to be hit. I dont really like MD tbh, but Cifers isn't very good.


Heavyweight Alistair Overeem vs. Walt Harris -- Gonna be EMOTIONAL for WH, so hard to call. Yeah very emotional, but i think Ubereem is on the way out. He's always been chinny, but moreso now.
Women’s Strawweight Cláudia Gadelha vs. Angela Hill -- AH is my GIRL! Real pitbull, but this might be a BANGER! Aaargh, I have to edge CG. Sometimes Hill looks brilliant, othertimes she looks average. I think Claudia has got this one by UD.

Featherweight Dan Ige vs. Edson Barboza -- EB by stoppage. Ige is getting lit up in this one.

Middleweight Eryk Anders vs. Krzysztof Jotko -- I like Anders for pts. Could go either way this one, i'd probably go with Anders as well.
Featherweight Song Yadong vs. Marlon Vera -- SY has bricks for hands. Can't look past him.
Yeah i like Song, hes a good fighter.

Preliminary Card (ESPN/ESPN+)
Welterweight Matt Brown vs. Miguel Baeza -- Didn't MB retire? Can't call it. Brown is one of my fave fighters, hes got this one.

Middleweight Anthony Hernandez vs. Kevin Holland -- If KH moves better, he wins. KH stoppage. Dunno about this one.
Featherweight Mike Davis vs. Giga Chikadze -- Pick'em/ pts.
No idea on this one either.

Women's Flyweight Cortney Casey vs. Mara Romero Borella -- Don't know either.
Two average fighters tbh, i think Borella might edge it.
Featherweight Darren Elkins vs. Nate Landwehr -- NL stoppage. DE cuts like paper.

I don't know anything about Landwehr but Elkins has been round the houses.