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Didn't see a thread for this one. I do favor Rumble but wouldn't count Bader out.

January 30, 2016

UFC FIGHTPASS PRELIMS 3:30PM/12:30PM ETPT, FOX SPORTS 1 PRELIMS 5PM/2PM ETPT, FOX MAIN CARD 8PM/5PM ETPT

MAIN CARD

Ryan Bader vs. Anthony Johnson
Jake Ellenberger vs. Tarec Saffiedine
Josh Barnett vs. Ben Rothwell

UNDERCARD

George Sullivan vs. Alexander Yakovlev
Tony Martin vs. Felipe Olivieri
Alex Caceres vs. Masio Fullen
Iuri Alcantara vs. Jimmie Rivera
Damon Jackson vs. Levan Makashvili
Olivier Aubin-Mercier vs. Carlos Diego Ferreira
Kevin Casey vs. Rafael Natal
Randy Brown vs. Matt Dwyer
Bryan Barberena vs. Sage Northcutt

At pushing 3:1 dog, I for sure favor Bader here. I think its a coinflip fight tbh. Bader has shown he can grind for five whereas Rumble can ktfo Bader.

"Championship rounds" Rumble is a worry, but I think he doesn't have to get a knockout to win. He outstruck Davis for 3 rounds with ease whereas Bader was probably fortunate to get the decision over Davis (yah, I know MMA math ). But I agree the odds are high enough that Bader is worth consideration for a play.

I think both guys are mentally weak (relative to being worldclass mma fighters obviously), but Bader seems to be turning the corner on that.

I feel like I've actually seen Brian Barbarena's name before, and that alone means he's probably worth a play at whatever ridiculous odds they are giving him against Sage Northcutt.

I should make it clear that I'll probably be rooting against Sage his whole career.

There's some objectively decent stuff on this card, top 10 guys fighting each other, some interesting prospects getting work, but for some reason I'm not very into it. The trio of Bader, Ellenberger, Rothwell just bums me out.

REDDzone wrote:I think both guys are mentally weak (relative to being worldclass mma fighters obviously), but Bader seems to be turning the corner on that.

I agree with this... Bader has improved leaps and bounds in every area and he's much more composed. I just think Rumble's animal violence will be too much for Bader-- after the Glover and Bones thumpings, I can't trust him against a monster (his trophy case as of late is loaded with tentative fighters). Hard work is BS because eventually you'll run into a guy with cinder block fists who can jump over a parked car. Then again, that guy got choked out by Koscheck, so who really knows.

I'm a little surprised that Barnett is the favorite. Also in my OP apparently MMA Fighting didn't have the fights listed in the right spot.

Main card is:

Anthony Johnson vs. Ryan Bader
Josh Barnett vs. Ben Rothwell
Iuri Alcantara vs. Jimmie Rivera
Sage Northcutt vs. Bryan Barberena


Maybe I'm getting more casual in my fandom but only the main and co-main have much interest for me.

Really? Barnett looked great in his last fight imo.

I agree that only the main and co-main are worth watching.

REDDzone wrote:Really? Barnett looked great in his last fight imo.

I'm not that impressed with a win over Big Country at this point. But maybe I'm overrating Rothwell.

Rothwell isn't good, but he has the tools for success at HW. Ability to take punishment. Power. That's about it.

Barnett has better skills in every aspect of fighting, but he may very well lose, because HW is stupid.

Not a fan of current, active fighters being analysts (Ex: Cormier on Fox). I'm not saying they're bad at being analysts, I just rather not see it. Seems like everything turns to a promo to hype themselves up rather than the fight itself.

Northcutt keeps loading up on that right hand. BamBam might just time it right.

Damn that turned around quickly.

Dana White's pet project takes the L, he was doing really well but got caught. Pretty soft, tbh.

That RDA-McGregor staredown tells a lot. As soon as Conor McGregor mentioned RDA's kids during the press conference, RDA became a changed man. I truly began to fear for McGregor after that one comment, and that stare-down justifies so much.

RIP Conor McGregor.

CPT wrote:Rothwell isn't good, but he has the tools for success at HW. Ability to take punishment. Power. That's about it.

Barnett has better skills in every aspect of fighting, but he may very well lose, because HW is stupid.

It just feels like the top ten hasn't changed in forever. Outside of maybe three or four guys, the division is exactly the same as it was 2006. HWs age like wine and I hate it. HW is stupid.

That arm triangle on Sage Northcutt was the sketchiest sh*t I've ever seen in mma, seriously. That was NOT in. At least it wasn't assuming that Sage isn't a white belt, which sh*t maybe he is.

omg Sage still had half guard? Unreal. It may come out that he had a broken rib or orbital or something. IDK what else the explanation could be.

REDDzone wrote:That arm triangle on Sage Northcutt was the sketchiest sh*t I've ever seen in mma, seriously. That was NOT in. At least it wasn't assuming that Sage isn't a white belt, which sh*t maybe he is.

Fixed?

Can it be jitsusplained like Shamrock/Kimbo?

...and he makes 3 times the salary of Aljamain Sterling. haha.