UFC 242 (9/7, Abu Dhabi): Khabib vs. Poirier

[High 5]

Dustin said ‘I can’t get him off me’ inbetween rounds.
He gave up in the third and wanted out. He was broken.

Khabib needs a challenge. I pretty much don’t care about any of his wins and the guy is a vying for Goat territory
He needs to get names or ramp up the volume big time.
Tony, Cowboy, Nate would be interesting fights.
Tony for overall talent, cowboy for pure size and KO ability, and Nate because his cardio, ground game and ability to take a beating and keep coming are off the hook.

GSP is of course the key fight but the longer we wait the less likely it is and should be.

I love Cowboy, but I'm pretty sure Dustin was a tougher test than he would be. Even more so for Nate. Tony's really the only fight that matters at this point.

[cowboyronnie]

I was going to make a smug comment about Poirier STILL deserving to keep the interim belt cos he's so earnest and hard working. But that post-fight interview was heart-wrenching...and poignant and beautiful. What a guy.

[cowboyronnie]

Cowboy just got destroyed by Tony. And has moved like crippled for years. He can prove himself still relevant next weekend but, IDK, I think he is way too shopworn.

[cowboyronnie]

Style-wise, Gaetje is actually the most competitive. IMO. He keeps his hands low and so is able to defend the shot, has a ridiculous sprawl reflex, one-punch KO power and esp in his uppercuts (best in the sport). His clinch striking is awesome too.

That said, I understand that Khabib has a unique wrestling style that relies on pushing you into scrambles rather than just Kevin Randlemanning you. So that might change things...IDK about grappling.

[REDDzone]

Style-wise, Gaetje is actually the most competitive. IMO. He keeps his hands low and so is able to defend the shot, has a ridiculous sprawl reflex, one-punch KO power and esp in his uppercuts (best in the sport). His clinch striking is awesome too.

That said, I understand that Khabib has a unique wrestling style that relies on pushing you into scrambles rather than just Kevin Randlemanning you. So that might change things...IDK about grappling.

We've collectively discussed this before but Khabib is a freestyle wrestler as opposed to the American style folkstyle wrestler. Do you see how quickly Khabib jumps on Dustin's back and sink his hooks in and starts working for a choke as opposed to...DC or Jon Fitch or whoever? Those guys will stay on top at all costs regardless of the potential finish. They won't try to armbar because of the 20% chance the guy reverses to the top, and Khabib will. Khabib is more of a true grappler as opposed to a top heavy wrestler only. It's more scrambly in the sense that 1) going for the back and any position other than top side control can potentially allow opponent more opportunity to escape and also escape to the top, but also 2) he probably doesn't have the sheer top pinning pressure that a DC or Woodley has due to that not being his goal AS much in his training on sambo/judo/freestyle.

[Duke4life831]

Tony vs Khabib is the easy fight to make. Will be Khabib's toughest fight as well. Tony is very active off his back and is very unorthodox with his striking, plus that dude just doesn't get tired. Also if Im Dana, Im calling Jordon Burroughs and offering him good money if that man spends the next year and a half training hands.

[REDDzone]

Tony vs Khabib is the easy fight to make. Will be Khabib's toughest fight as well. Tony is very active off his back and is very unorthodox with his striking, plus that dude just doesn't get tired. Also if Im Dana, Im calling Jordon Burroughs and offering him good money if that man spends the next year and a half training hands.

I would be more confident in Tony if he didn't get mounted by Kevin Lee lol.

[MystikSpiral]

Fight won't happen, Dana's already setting the narrative for not giving him the fight...saying the fight is his "If he accepts it", which basically means "Here's 10 bucks, Tony. Go fight Khabib. O you don't want to, guess we have to give it to Conor and claim you turned down the fight..."

[Duke4life831]

On a side note, I thought that was a very boring card. I thought a lot of the fights were boring, I dont know if the mic setup was different or just the vastly different kind of crowd, but thought the crowd seemed very quiet compared to other cards. And Cruz as the only color commentator just doesn't work. Way too much dead air in my opinion.

Honestly the more I listen to Cruz, the less I enjoy him as a commentator. The dude has a hell of a mind for the sport, Im just not sure commentating is it. Cant carrying the broadcast when he is the only commentator, seems to step on the other color commentator's toes when there is another one with him.

If I was the UFC, I would look to expand Hardy's responsibilities some. I enjoy his commentating and I would give Cruz a full time analyst job. He is very articulate and is a fantastic face for the sport from a media perspective. I would also think it would be a good idea to see him and Hardy kind of debate a little on a fight breakdown. Hardy is also fantastic at breaking down fights. A special of them having an open discussion/debate on a breakdown would be cool.

[cowboyronnie]

Cruz at the desk makes so much more sense. Give the man some time to prepare, he's ("literally") a deer in the headlights trying to react in the moment. He needs the formality and direction of the desk.

I don't know how I feel about Hardy. I hate the pretentious technical analysis with the Xs and Os on the floor-to-ceiling screen. LOL. What a dork. All the stylization of his YouTube stuff is also ridiculous. Relax.

[REDDzone]

I feel like Hardy is always openly rooting for the Euro dude whenever he calls fights. And since he commentates Euro cards, it's usually Euro dude vs American/Brazilian/Asian dude.

[duppyy]

I said Dustin would get demolished by Khabib after he beat Holloway and some people got mad at me for saying that on here lol.

[REDDzone]

I said Dustin would get demolished by Khabib after he beat Holloway and some people got mad at me for saying that on here lol.

I'm still furious tbh.

[Duke4life831]

I'm curious if we see Khabib fight in the US again. 242 reportedly was watched by 26 million people (no ppv) in Russia alone.

I'm curious if the UFC just steer into that demographic and have Khabib fight over in that time zone so he can get the Russia and big Muslim countries to tune in.

[REDDzone]

Does Khabib go full authoritarian/totalitarian tour after winning this fight? I'm thinking Kadyrov for sure, MAYBE Putin. IDK if beating the likes of Poirier gets you Erdogan though.

Everyone mark off Putin on your bingo cards!