MMA Discussion Thread- Fight Night/UFC/PPV

[CC_123]

Originally Posted by BestRCs

Those HWs are not good. They are heavy brawlers. If those fighters become the elite of the division you have problems. Also I mentioned the guys you say "on top of". And I'm saying if half of them are gone you're in trouble.

If your bar is Rozenstike and Walt Harris that's great but I'm talking guys like Cain, JDS, Couture, Fedor. DC, Stipe Etc. On a little lesser level but Mir, Brock, CroCop who can carry a division while displaying high level MMA and have people tune in.

I'm not saying Rozenstrik and Harris are marketable fighters, but they have a following right now. Obviously guys like Cain, Dos Santos, Coutore, etc. are legends in the MMA game, but right now, aside from DC, Stipe, and somewhat Ngannou, you don't have anyone that can carry the heavyweight division and you likely won't for years unless Jon Jones makes the jump. Luckily, the rest of the divisions in the UFC are strong so they don't have to rely on having heavyweights headline pay per views more than once or twice a year.

[BestRCs]

Originally Posted by CC_123

I'm not saying Rozenstrik and Harris are marketable fighters, but they have a following right now. Obviously guys like Cain, Dos Santos, Coutore, etc. are legends in the MMA game, but right now, aside from DC, Stipe, and somewhat Ngannou, you don't have anyone that can carry the heavyweight division and you likely won't for years unless Jon Jones makes the jump. Luckily, the rest of the divisions in the UFC are strong so they don't have to rely on having heavyweights headline pay per views more than once or twice a year.

Ahh, right on. Yeah, I agree.

I agree on Jones too. I can't see Jon making the jump anytime soon. I feel like he's just posturing.

I'd like to see him and Alex bulk up properly and slowly make their way up the HW ladder kind of like how Poirer did at LW. i think they'd have a better chance if they did.

[Torralbae1]

Burns just tested positive for Covid-19. Looks like Masvidal is willing to go. Would be in a great bargaining position vs. Dana White. Such a great card and I hope that they can keep Usman as headliner for the Fight Island debut.

[Torralbae1]

So glad they made Usman/Masvidal happen. What the fight should have been all along. Went from a borderline purchase to a must see PPV with this fight. I'd imagine Jorge got close to what he originally wanted for the fight. Always for players/fighters fighting for what they think they're worth. Especially fighters where there is a small window when they can headline main events.

[omega145]

Still have some hoops to jump through with testing before leaving and testing again once arriving in Abu Dhabi.

I see Masvidal getting exposed in this fight but who knows, crazier things have happened. His hype has been unreal with some solid wins but nothing crazy. People seem to forget that hes 35-13. Has he really improved THAT much? I don't think so and think it's more about the competition he's faced. Lets see if he proves me wrong.

[zonacats8]

I don't think Masvidal has a chance here, I know he's been training, but I don't think he's been training to the level of a championship fight. Plus I'm sure cutting weight when it wasn't expected won't be easy on him either, all while going up against a guy who has been training for a 5 rounder this whole time.

All I'm hoping for on Saturday is no rain that night here, some friends and I have been using a projector to put the fights onto someone's garage at probably about a 120" screen size and watching them outdoors lately, it's a ton of fun and really hoping to do it again for this card.

[CC_123]

Usman will likely win, but I will never count Masvidal out. He has the chip on his shoulder that not every fighter has. He has a strong chin, he typically has really solid cardio, and he has KO power to go with accuracy. He is 6-2 in his last 8 fights, which is really solid. The downside is that Masvidal is not a good wrestler, so I am going in with expectations that Usman is going to just lay on him for five rounds like he did with Woodley.

[zonacats8]

Originally Posted by CC_123

Usman will likely win, but I will never count Masvidal out. He has the chip on his shoulder that not every fighter has. He has a strong chin, he typically has really solid cardio, and he has KO power to go with accuracy. He is 6-2 in his last 8 fights, which is really solid. The downside is that Masvidal is not a good wrestler, so I am going in with expectations that Usman is going to just lay on him for five rounds like he did with Woodley.

But will he have that cardio if this gets into the championship rounds?

The guy hasn't had to train for a 5 round fight since 2015 and took this on a week notice.

Those extra 2 rounds are tough on guys who haven't done it before even with a full camp preparing for it, doing it without that camp could be trouble if it gets into those rounds.

[CC_123]

Originally Posted by zonacats8

But will he have that cardio if this gets into the championship rounds?

The guy hasn't had to train for a 5 round fight since 2015 and took this on a week notice.

Those extra 2 rounds are tough on guys who haven't done it before even with a full camp preparing for it, doing it without that camp could be trouble if it gets into those rounds.

Masvidal looked like he was going strong in the Diaz fight before it being called. But, even though he has been training, he likely hasn't had a 5 round fight in mind, meaning that if the fight is on the feet, he will be going to a KO in the first three rounds. Plus, if Usman just lays on him round after rounds like he did Woodley, that will definitely take a toll on Masvidal. Again, I will never count Masvidal out just because of his talent and where he came from, but like I said previously, his wrestling is below-average, which will hurt him in this fight.

[LakeCityDepot]

Masvidal was training with Bo Nickal in May.

Saying his wrestling is below-average is crazy.

His wrestling is up there with Covington. Cardio is worse. Striking is better. Chin is better. More experience.

Masvidal in Round 4 by TKO.

[LakeCityDepot]

Masvidal was training with Bo Nickal in May.

Saying his wrestling is below-average is crazy.

His wrestling is up there with Covington. Cardio is worse. Striking is better. Chin is better. More experience.

Masvidal in Round 4 by TKO.

[CC_123]

Originally Posted by LakeCityDepot

Masvidal was training with Bo Nickal in May.

Saying his wrestling is below-average is crazy.

His wrestling is up there with Covington. Cardio is worse. Striking is better. Chin is better. More experience.

Masvidal in Round 4 by TKO.

I'm a Masvidal fan and I hate Covington, but Masvidal isn't near the wrestling talent that Covington is IMO. There is a reason Usman didn't take the Covington fight to the ground, but you can bet your ass that he is going to take Masvidal to the mat. And again, this is coming from a Masvidal fan who wants Masvidal to win.

[omega145]

Originally Posted by CC_123

I'm a Masvidal fan and I hate Covington, but Masvidal isn't near the wrestling talent that Covington is IMO. There is a reason Usman didn't take the Covington fight to the ground, but you can bet your ass that he is going to take Masvidal to the mat. And again, this is coming from a Masvidal fan who wants Masvidal to win.

Exactly, I can't stand Covington but he's a collegiate level wrestler. To say that Masvidal is a better wrestler then him is crazy talk. Its not like he's proven it either in his fights.

[BestRCs]

I think Mas has good wrestling too but yeah I don't think its Covington level either. Colby has quite a bit amateur wrestling experience and that's been his bread and butter too.

Good thing this isn't a wrestling match though. Masvidal just needs to keep this fight on the feet as much as possible. His TDD is pretty good and he can get back to his feet pretty well too but if Maia was able to take him down i have a hard time seeing better results against Kamaru.

Still a win win situation for Mas. IMO.

I'm curious to see how Max deals with the leg kicks.... i feel like Max has a pretty heavy lead leg style.

[ballhawkdawk]

Usman - Too much beast. Masvidal has solid wrestling defense, but stopping Usman is like stopping GSP... it's just a different level. Usman is also relentless and incredibly durable. Even if Mas can hurt him, I don't think he can put him away. Usman via UD or TKO.

Volkanovski - I love Max, my favorite active fighter, but I'm not sure what he does differently this time to win it. The leg kicks took their toll and I expect more of the same, but will be hoping for a different outcome. Volkanovski via UD.

Yan - Superior boxer, solid chin, less wear. I think Aldo's tendency to get reckless is his downfall here again. Yan via UD.

Should be three very solid fights, and I really wouldn't be too surprised to be wrong on all three.

[BestRCs]

Here are my predictions...

Usman via UD. Typical Usman BMF (boring MF'in) fight IMO. Lot of high crotch takedowns, lot of neutralizing "action" and some GNP. I'll be rooting for a 2nd rd TKO/KO for Mas though.

Volkanovski. I have a weird feeling Max might get TKO'd by the third. I'll be rooting for Max big though.

Aldo via UD. I think his experience against high level dudes will be the key.

Rose over Andrade UD.

I think Ribas BAE <3 going to put a thrashing on my ex BAE Paige.

[Torralbae1]

Really hoping they can get Chimaev on that UFC 252 card. Interested to see what kind of matchup they're gonna go for. Watching that Brunson v Shahbazyan fight really shows the step up in talent once you get into the Top 15. Chimaev's got the style and persona that can make him a huge star. With O'Malley already on that card it could be huge showcase for the future of the UFC.

[Torralbae1]

Holy @h!t. Chimaev mania about to blow up. I was curious to see how he could possibly top his 1st 2 UFC fights. Unbelievable

[CC_123]

Originally Posted by Torralbae1

Holy @h!t. Chimaev mania about to blow up. I was curious to see how he could possibly top his 1st 2 UFC fights. Unbelievable

Chimaev has barely been touched in his three fights in the UFC. Feed him a top 5 fighter. I think he could beat Whittaker, Romero, and Cannonier with relative ease.

[Noles939913]

Originally Posted by CC_123

Chimaev has barely been touched in his three fights in the UFC. Feed him a top 5 fighter. I think he could beat Whittaker, Romero, and Cannonier with relative ease.

Let’s pump the breaks a bit. He’s beaten three scrubs. Word on the street is he’s getting Demian Maia next.

[BestRCs]

Chimaev opening up as a -500 favorite against #7 Maia.

If he can get past Maia, the next match up at WW is going to be interesting.....

Also Tyron "let me just get my back up against this cage and time my right hand" Woodley....is so disappointing. I know that's beeeeeen his thing but yeah.

[CC_123]

Originally Posted by Noles939913

Let’s pump the breaks a bit. He’s beaten three scrubs. Word on the street is he’s getting Demian Maia next.

He has beaten three fighters that aren't elite, yes. But he has also only absorbed 2 significant strikes in three fights. The UFC can't sit and protect him like they did O'Malley. Look at what happened there. Feed him a top 5 fighter and see how he does. He clearly can hold his own with those guys. Plus, his hype is strong. People don't want to see him destroy Maia. Give him a real fight.

[BestRCs]

I wasn't into the Izzy vs Jones thing at first for a lot of reasons but that's turned into the fight I want to see now.

I have a hard time seeing the fight materializing but if Whittaker beats Jared then I think you especially have to TRY and make that fight. Izzy says he wants it and if you dont make it now then that's the last realistic chance before it's too late (both past their prime ish yrs). IMO

I think that's the "money fight" rn. Just make the fight with no titles, no nothing. Just a one off and win lose or draw both just continue on their way. Izzy back to MW and Jones to HW.

[CC_123]

Originally Posted by BestRCs

I wasn't into the Izzy vs Jones thing at first for a lot of reasons but that's turned into the fight I want to see now.

I have a hard time seeing the fight materializing but if Whittaker beats Jared then I think you especially have to TRY and make that fight. Izzy says he wants it and if you dont make it now then that's the last realistic chance before it's too late (both past their prime ish yrs). IMO

I think that's the "money fight" rn. Just make the fight with no titles, no nothing. Just a one off and win lose or draw both just continue on their way. Izzy back to MW and Jones to HW.

Personally, I think Jones would destroy Adesayna. The problem with Isreal is he isn't very big (in terms of his build) and he isn't very broad. If they fought at LHW, Jones would be way too big. Adesayna doesn't even walk around at 200lbs (claim he walks around at 203, but I doubt it), Jones walks around at 230. After the weight cut and then the re-bulk, Jones would be too big for Adesayna.

Also factor in the fact that all Jones would have to do is take Isreal down for the fight to be over. I would obviously watch the fight (I rarely miss fights), but its honestly not a fight I really want to see personally as I think it would be incredibly lopsided. I just don't think it would be a smart move for Adesayna, especially because Jones would take that fight in a heartbeat because it would be an easy win for him.

[Noles939913]

Originally Posted by CC_123

He has beaten three fighters that aren't elite, yes. But he has also only absorbed 2 significant strikes in three fights. The UFC can't sit and protect him like they did O'Malley. Look at what happened there. Feed him a top 5 fighter and see how he does. He clearly can hold his own with those guys. Plus, his hype is strong. People don't want to see him destroy Maia. Give him a real fight.

This post makes no sense. The UFC didn’t protect O’Malley; they built him up appropriately including with an ex champ in Eddie Wineland. Believe it or not Vera isn’t an easy fight for anyone. Your logic is how you get young guys thrashed and make sure they never reach their true potential. See: Thatch, Brandon or Vera, Brandon. And it looks like they’re matching him up with Dos Anjos next which is the right move. Just like Wineland he’s an aging yet still capable ex champ with a name.