UFC 319 - Stillknocks v BORZ for the Middleweight Title

[Clav]

There exist cards, and there exist Cards with a capital C. This is the latter. Please enjoy.

D. Du Plessis vs. K. Chimaev
185 lbs

Lerone Murphy vs. Aaron Pico
145 lbs

Geoff Neal vs. Carlos Prates
170 lbs

J. Cannonier vs. Michael Page
185 lbs

Tim Elliott vs. Kai Asakura
125 lbs

King Green vs. Diego Ferreira
155 lbs

G. Meerschaert vs. M. Oleksiejczuk
185 lbs

J. Andrade vs. Lupita Godinez
115 lbs

A. Hernandez vs. Chase Hooper
155 lbs

Edson Barboza vs. Drakkar Klose
155 lbs

N. Ruziboev vs. Bryan Battle
185 lbs

Karine Silva vs. Dione Barbosa
125 lbs

Alibi Idiris vs. Joseph Morales
125 lbs



High lvl of anticipation for me - the MW title should be a great fight. Chimaev looks unstoppable at times. The only 'slow' moments for him were his ?? unsure injury / Covid related stuff, and a big weight cut to 170. Even at 170, early on he looked unstoppable. This fight is at 185 and in his previous 185 bout, Chimaev crushed Bobby Knuckles. DDP also KO'd Whittaker and wins against odds (he is an underdog). Is this where the reign ends for DDP ?

Rest of the Card has a bunch of great matchingmaking and important fights too! see ya next weekend!

[Dupp]

Khamzat title fight is all I’ve ever wanted

[Clav]

You got your wish, and more if he wins!

[jc23]

im excited!

[Clav]

my picks...for a few fights


D. Du Plessis vs. K. Chimaev
185 lbs
- I'm picking DDP KO5, and I have jumped on the DDP fan train since he was a guy I watched his first UFC fight and he wom. I thought hey he might be exciting to follow, let's see what happens. [he hasn't lost in the UFC yet lmao]. Didn't think Borz would move up to MW, but here we are for a title match. Khamzat has looked cool and cold all week, and he was very dangerous vs Whittaker at his 185 fight. Makes me see no reason that he dominates DDP to a SUB or KO early on. The weird thing, though, is that DDP defies expectations nearly everytime, somehow. I'm picking my guy DDP KO5, idk friends, DDP could lose in every round but still win the fight with a finish because he refuses to lose the fight It doesn't have to make sense for me. Logic says Borz ITD easy. Going against the grain for this one.

Lerone Murphy vs. Aaron Pico
145 lbs
- Pico making his long anticipated UFC debut, but Murphy is my pick for the DEC win to spoil it. Should be a banger and I hope the winner is matched against Volkanovski for a title fight. Pico is a solid striker but is getting a pretty big leg up vs the undeafeated Murphy as a newcomer to the promotion. Movsar pulled out of the fight so it is possible he lost a chance to get his name in the title shot for a few months / loser gets Movsar thing. Murphy is a patient fighter but has great striking and distance management. If he uses that to his adv this is his fight to lose.

Geoff Neal vs. Carlos Prates
170 lbs
- Prates KO2, but I do see a pathway for Neal to land hits and change the course of the fight. However, Neal is shorter, working with a range disadvantage, older, and hasn't looked as sharp in recent fights. Neal's last fight was stopped due to RDA knee injury, and he lost the previous two before that. Prates lost a decision to Garry who thoroughly worked him, but has handled UFC competition pretty handily if not for that loss. I love this matchup tho!

J. Cannonier vs. Michael Page
185 lbs
- big fight at 185, expect a pretty nice striking matchup, and I know they like to throw but both are smart fighters. I see this convincingly going to DEC, and I'm picking Page. Cannonier needs to clinch to win. MVP needs to dodge and point fight to win. It would surprise me if they grapple at all.

Tim Elliott vs. Kai Asakura
125 lbs
- Scrappy fight here. Asakura lost in a title fight to Pantoja, but he's a very clean striker and I believe he'll outpoint Elliot (or KO him). Asakura DEC

King Green vs. Diego Ferreira
155 lbs
- Bobby Green is now named King, btw. He's been hit hard and put out multiple times in the past 3 years. Even with a few wins, I'm not confident in the chin of Green at all. Ferreira KO1.

G. Meerschaert vs. M. Oleksiejczuk
185 lbs
- If you nail a pick on GM3 here, he's a big time dog. Meerschaert is always dangerous on feet or submissions, but he's hittable and Olek hits on target. Picking KO1 Olek.

J. Andrade vs. Lupita Godinez
115 lbs
- A close fight tbh, good matchup in the division. I am learning youth with Loopy. Andrade is a very hit or miss pick in fights and of late hasn't been as fresh it seems. The miles have added up and she is no longer the title contender of years past. Loopy DEC

A. Hernandez vs. Chase Hooper
155 lbs
- Hooper has looked a lot better of late, and he's a huge threat for a submission here ITD. Hernandez is a massive underdog, so if this goes late, it could be in his favour. Hooper SUB2 is my pick.

Edson Barboza vs. Drakkar Klose
155 lbs
- sneaky fight for Barboza who I picked DEC win and he's the true veteran for sure, he's 39, Klose is 37. Uncs unite.

N. Ruziboev vs. Bryan Battle
185 lbs
- picking Ruzi DEC here because he's a very talented wrestler. Good matchup of styles.

I'm picking favs in first 2 fights. [Idiris DEC and Silva DEC]

[Clav]

My DDP pick is so sus.

Borz looked like a killer, crowd was behind him at the presser. Surprisingly DDP booed relentlessly lol. He looked surprised and off guard. Yeah, pretty sure my DDP pick is **** but I'm not gonna change it and backtrack now, just stating I've made a mistake

[Dupp]

I don’t think any of that **** matters. Ddp clearly has a strong mental will. I’d probably say that’s his biggest strength.

He’ll lose because khamzats a demon. Nothing mental gonna play a role.


Both made weight. Khamzat came on pretty light.


Battle moved up and missed weight. Bad bad look.

[GoRapstheoriginal]

Great fights so far tonight! Really exciting!

[Dupp]

Spinning ****



Let’s go. Finally khamzats title time

[jc23]

lol, naw congrats to the new champ, that was a dominant performance.

Not sure what DDP could do to change the outcome. if you cant get Kamzat to tire himself out with a strong guard or take down defense then you have no chance.

[Dupp]

DDP stayed safe somehow. Ah well he still won. Pretty boring. Goddard tried to cheat too

[Clav]

Borz is a demon lol good fight!

[benson13]

DDP stayed safe somehow. Ah well he still won. Pretty boring. Goddard tried to cheat too

Khazmat definitely won. It was total domination.

That said, we saw 500+ strikes by landed by Chimaev of which fewer than 40 were significant. He wasn't doing any actual damage to Du Plessis, even with a crucifix. Standing fighters up is a thin line to walk. Borz earned those takedowns. Why should he have to give that up? But he got also got the scoring that comes from that and maintaining control. So I get why Rogan objected but also why Goddard did it.

[kdawg32086]

Lots of hate coming from casual fans right now, about Khamzat taking him down and dominating him instead of standing up with him. Kinda feel like those people should go watch Glory if they want only striking.

[Dupp]

The thing is DDP wasn’t trying to get up. He was just holding on trying to be safe, which he did a good job of.

[Mehar]

Lots of hate coming from casual fans right now, about Khamzat taking him down and dominating him instead of standing up with him. Kinda feel like those people should go watch Glory if they want only striking.

It is called MMA for a reason. Cannot believe the number of people complaining the fight was boring (LOL). The haters should definitely go watch Kickboxing instead. Credit to Khamzat for delivering one of the most dominant performances ever by a challenger in a title fight. I expected DDP to put up a better fight, but Khamzat mauled him every round and seconds into the fight. Never seen DDP dominated like that. Much respect to Khamzat for silencing all the critics last night, who worried about his 5 round cardio against a solid champ like DDP.

[Clav]

dominant win, even if the casual fans (like my friends over) were not thrilled. Borz had chances to get KOs but DDP was resilient in limiting damage. That being said he did nothing to warrant a rematch really, should probably fight the loser of Borralho/Imavov, or Shara Bullet.