OT: Official MMA discussion thread pt 3 UFC 319: DDP vs Chimaev, Aaron Pico vs Lerone Murphy

[GONYK]

Damn, Izzy ain't what he used to be.

3 years ago, a fighter lunging in with his head down like that would have been a 2nd round KO.

Now Izzy is gassed in the third and not managing distance the way he used to.

He was solid on the feet but the assassin never really showed up.

[Jkam31]

Damn, Izzy ain't what he used to be.

3 years ago, a fighter lunging in with his head down like that would have been a 2nd round KO.

Now Izzy is gassed in the third and not managing distance the way he used to.

He was solid on the feet but the assassin never really showed up.

Only time he KO anyone is when he shows up with gyno

[j4remi]

Damn, Izzy ain't what he used to be.

3 years ago, a fighter lunging in with his head down like that would have been a 2nd round KO.

Now Izzy is gassed in the third and not managing distance the way he used to.

He was solid on the feet but the assassin never really showed up.

Yeah, Dricus' style is ugly as all hell and exactly the type of sloppy crap that Izzy used to pick apart. I was pissed when Izzy landed a couple of hard inside leg kicks, but abandoned it completely. His lead hand isn't popping like it used to and his footwork hasn't been at peak form since the Costa fight years ago.

I kinda get it though. The man has a LOT of fight mileage. 6 pro boxing fights, 80 Kickboxing fights, and 28 MMA fights with more than half in the UFC against high-caliber opponents. His fall off is a great example of why I value longevity at the top over everything else. Gimme DJ, GSP, Silva, Jones, and Aldo over Khabib all-time or any of the two division champs that barely defended their titles.

[GONYK]

Damn, Izzy ain't what he used to be.

3 years ago, a fighter lunging in with his head down like that would have been a 2nd round KO.

Now Izzy is gassed in the third and not managing distance the way he used to.

He was solid on the feet but the assassin never really showed up.

Yeah, Dricus' style is ugly as all hell and exactly the type of sloppy crap that Izzy used to pick apart. I was pissed when Izzy landed a couple of hard inside leg kicks, but abandoned it completely. His lead hand isn't popping like it used to and his footwork hasn't been at peak form since the Costa fight years ago.

I kinda get it though. The man has a LOT of fight mileage. 6 pro boxing fights, 80 Kickboxing fights, and 28 MMA fights with more than half in the UFC against high-caliber opponents. His fall off is a great example of why I value longevity at the top over everything else. Gimme DJ, GSP, Silva, Jones, and Aldo over Khabib all-time or any of the two division champs that barely defended their titles.

The Costa fight was the exact fight I had in mind when I was watching last night. Izzy just drew his rush out hit and him on the button.

I knew Izzy was in trouble when he couldn't get a read on how DDP was telegraphing his lunges. On the TV, you could see him load up before his burst (I think DC even called it out), but Izzy was probably more concerned about the takedowns since his reaction time is noticeably slower now.

Like you said, Izzy had a great peak, but I think Father Time has claimed another one.

[j4remi]

The Costa fight was the exact fight I had in mind when I was watching last night. Izzy just drew his rush out hit and him on the button.

I knew Izzy was in trouble when he couldn't get a read on how DDP was telegraphing his lunges. On the TV, you could see him load up before his burst (I think DC even called it out), but Izzy was probably more concerned about the takedowns since his reaction time is noticeably slower now.

Like you said, Izzy had a great peak, but I think Father Time has claimed another one.

Yeah fam, Costa and Whitaker are two fights that show Izzy at his best. He made his reads and drew out their worst habits before knocking them out. You could even see Izzy slowing down by the rematch with Whitaker.

Adesanya’s reaction time has slowed just a bit, but that’s the difference between pivoting out of danger and getting caught by it. Dricus literally fell on his face and turned it into a takedown at the ankle.

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=c7eg_0vf10KosEyBJaEgQw

Dricus gotta have the ugliest striking I’ve seen, but it baffles technically proficient strikers routinely.

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=c7eg_0vf10KosEyBJaEgQw

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=c7eg_0vf10KosEyBJaEgQw

The MW division is down bad right now. Prime Silva, Weidman, and Izzy steamroll this guy. So does prime usman imo.

[j4remi]

Watch on YouTube

CJI hit a home run this weekend. This was a great match, and the Tackett, Ruotolo Bros, and Rodriguez matches are all worth a watch along with some other wrestler vs BJJ ace match-ups.

[Jkam31]

Usman and Izzy a garbage human beings that are clear racists and Izzy is a bitch every time he wins he’s Celebes trying to embarrass the opponent. Humps costa, mocks a kid, and dances around Whittiker what happens when he loses dude begs DDP not to talk begs Strickland not to bring up him sexually assaulting his dog. Imagine if Izzy beat DDP him throwing N bombs would’ve been rampant

And Marty from Nebraska is unreal he told Colby he was more American than him but dricus can’t bring up that he fights from Africa

https://youtu.be/K0YVJx57GXw?si=tVEOki0cOBA2O5pJ

[Ghetto Gospel]

can we just keep it to only mma. this is one of my favorite threads on realgm for a variety of reasons, let's not make this weird

[Jkam31]

can we just keep it to only mma. this is one of my favorite threads on realgm for a variety of reasons, let's not make this weird

True just don’t like them being racist for no reason why is dans allowing this

[j4remi]

Back to fights. I was on vacation but lucked up and managed to catch a pair of a GREAT fights on this past weekend's Fight Night.

Angela Hill vs Tabitha Ricci was phenomenal. They fought at a sprinting pace with Ricci pressing forward and Hill sliding and countering. There were some great scrambles in the mix, and no breaks for either fighter. Ricci got the decision, but it was close, and I coulda given Hill the second and third easily.

Hill also became the first female fighter to reach 2000 significant strikes landed in the UFC. She's only the third fighter to reach that accomplishment. Hill has 2036, Sean Strickland has 2069, and Max Holloway has a ridiculous 3378.

Caio Borralho and Jared Cannonier followed that up with a GREAT fight. Borralho probably could have taken an easier path by mixing in grappling, but he decided to stand and strike with one of the hardest hitters in the division. They went back and forth for the first few rounds but Caio's speed helped him pull away and eventually score a KO. He's firmly established himself as a threat to the top dogs in the division.

We'll get a break week, then another top-heavy Fight Night card, before the UFC at the Sphere happens. That's topped by Sean O'Malley vs Merab Dvalishvili and Alexa Grasso vs Valentina Shevchenko, and Dana White is making big promises about how the spectacle will be. But I think the card loses steam beyond the top three fights.

[Ghetto Gospel]

We'll get a break week, then another top-heavy Fight Night card, before the UFC at the Sphere happens. That's topped by Sean O'Malley vs Merab Dvalishvili and Alexa Grasso vs Valentina Shevchenko, and Dana White is making big promises about how the spectacle will be. But I think the card loses steam beyond the top three fights.

yeah, i was looking at the future cards and feel the same way about 306: basically 3 fights.

for 307, i guess you don't really need anything else to sell this if alex is on there, but that 308 card is juiced to the gills. it'll be by far the best one since 300

[j4remi]

We'll get a break week, then another top-heavy Fight Night card, before the UFC at the Sphere happens. That's topped by Sean O'Malley vs Merab Dvalishvili and Alexa Grasso vs Valentina Shevchenko, and Dana White is making big promises about how the spectacle will be. But I think the card loses steam beyond the top three fights.

yeah, i was looking at the future cards and feel the same way about 306: basically 3 fights.

for 307, i guess you don't really need anything else to sell this if alex is on there, but that 308 card is juiced to the gills. it'll be by far the best one since 300

307 is looking like a "we don't need much because Utah only gets one big event every few years, so they'll show up" scenario. 308 is a monster, and 309 is guaranteed to be stacked since it's at MSG. It'll most likely be Jones vs Stipe at the top.

But because they're gonna save talent for that end of year run, I think we'll be riding a lot of subpar cards in the lead-up.

[HarthorneWingo]

UFC 217 being replayed on YouTube. Thug vs. Joanna 1 about to start. A great moment in sports. Rose’s footwork was outstanding.

Watch on YouTube

[HarthorneWingo]

This video provides an update on Cain Velasquez’s legal problems.

Watch on YouTube

[j4remi]

This video provides an update on Cain Velasquez’s legal problems.

Watch on YouTube

Unfortunately, it sounds like Cain's kinda screwed. His reaction was always understandable, but he's not winning in court.

[HarthorneWingo]

This video provides an update on Cain Velasquez’s legal problems.

Watch on YouTube

Unfortunately, it sounds like Cain's kinda screwed. His reaction was always understandable, but he's not winning in court.

I can see why he needs to be convicted. I just don’t see the need to give much jail time due to the unusual circumstances. Why not 5 years probation?

[j4remi]

So this weekend's fights are lead up to the big UFC 306 card at the Vegas sphere. The Sphere saga might be worth a write-up of its own, because the story is wild. The UFC spent 20 million dollars on production in the most innovative venue possible for a big Mexican Independence Day card...but the main event does not feature a Mexican fighter, the rest of the card is lukewarm, the giant production fees meant initial ticket asks were $3000 for nosebleeds, and they're competing with a Canelo Alvarez fight. The potential for an unmitigated disaster has so many people clamoring that even Luke Thomas has stopped up to say "relax with the hate, it might be pretty cool."

But that's a story for next week. This week we have a surprisingly good card. It's a little light on name-value, but there are a bunch of exciting fighters that can turn this into a highlight reel of a card. We get an up and comer against one of the best Welterweights to never win the belt, a women's MMA knockout machine vs a woman on an 11 fight win-streak, and some undercard fighters who just plain like to scrap. Here's some highlights:

Main Card's got BANGERS:
Sean Brady vs Gilbert Burns:
This is a gem of a fight. Sean Brady is REALLY good, people forget how hyped he was as a prospect because Belal knocked him out...but Belal KO'ed Brady after Sean gassed himself out trying to finish the fight in round one. Sean was beating the champ up initially. Burns gave Usman a hell of a fight for the belt, and has given tough fights but lost to Chimaev, Belal, and JDM. Those are all contender level talents or better. So this is a great test for Brady, and a chance for Burns to avoid the "he fell off" label.

Style wise it's kinda epic. Brady's a better technical striker and wrestler. Burns is more explosive and powerful, with Jiu Jitsu good enough to have an argument as the better grappler. These guys are closely matched regardless of where the fight goes, and they both look for finishes. I'm leaning toward Brady, because I think Burns has lost a step, but it's a tight match-up.


Jessica Andrade vs Natalia Silva:
This is similarly, a falling contender vs a rising prospect fight. Jessica Andrade is a FINISHER who briefly held the title at 115 lbs..She's won her past 2 fights, but lost 3 in a row prior, and didn't look great against Marina Rodriguez. Silva is an entertaining striker, who hasn't lost in the UFC. She's got two KO's off kicks in 5 UFC appearances.

Prime Andrade gets this fight done. But the version that fought Rodriguez might get KO'ed or submitted. It's rare to have two women compete where they both have more finishes than decisions on their records, which gives this a good shot to be a banger.

Steve Garcia vs Kyle Nelson:
Kyle Nelson was supposed to fight Calvin Kattar, which was a mismatch but a fun fight. Steve Garcia is no Kattar, but he'll make this a fun fight nonetheless. Nelson started slow in the UFC, but he's hit a nice stride and looks like he can compete with better talent. Garcia is 5-2 in the UFC, and all his wins are KO's. He's been to decision once since joining the UFC and that was against a giant in Luis Pena (Violent Bob Ross, great nickname).

I lean toward Garcia, because I love the finishing rate. But Nelson has more UFC experience, particularly against high caliber talent. So it's a pick 'em.

Matt Schnell vs Cody Durden:
The cool thing about this fight is that both of these guys lose fights in spectacular fashion. Schnell is a glass cannon. Zero defense, and all his chips are in the "violence" category. Durden has no grappling defense, but respectable striking.

Schnell seems to be falling off, but the UFC has had him fight KILLERS. His last fight was Steve friggin' Erceg. Durden has a better recent record but against weak competition. So it's a bit of a pick 'em though I take Schnell bc Durden isn't very good and is also an unlikeable PoS.

Prelims got some prospects:
Zhu Rong vs Chris Paddilla:
I'm not sure about these guys. Zhu Rong won road to the UFC, which has talented prospects rather than UFC proven guys. Paddilla only has one UFC fight, though he won it...also, his nickname is apparently Taco. I'd like Rong to make a run, but no real pick here.

Felipe Dos Santos vs Andre Lima:
Dos Santos has one career loss, and that's to Manel Kape. Lima is 9-0 with great energy and famous for winning a fight when his opponent was disqualified for BITING...he got the bitemarks tattoo'ed after Dana gave him a bonus, and Dana gave him a second bonus for it...the guy's got charisma.

Anyway, they're both really solid prospects with exciting and fast-paced approaches that should serve them well.

Isaac Dulgarian vs Brendon Marotte:
Both these guys have extensive amateur records that have them sorta fast tracked in the UFC. That backfired for Marotte when he lost to Terrence Mckinley. But both guys are new to the UFC and could make fast rises if they live up to their success in lower levels. Marotte has more proven success, but Dulgarian has 100% finish rate in his wins.

[HarthorneWingo]

Free on TV = Excellent card!

On ESPN+ = This card sucks!

[j4remi]

Welp...it's a big fight week, though the UFC 306 card has been more about the production values at the Sphere than the fights. The UFC is leaning into the BOXING tradition of having big fights on Mexican Independence day. They loaded UFC 306 with Latin talent, including some of the best fighters out of Mexico. Then they add some star power with Suga Sean O'Malley at the top. Let's look at the fights worth discussing:

The big ones:
Sean O'Malley vs Merab Dvalishvili:
The irony of this fight is that the UFC is relying on O'Malley's star power to carry the card, but pitting him against one of his worst match-ups style-wise who also happens to be a boring fighter in general. In 12 UFC fights, Merab has ONE finish and he's not the most technically sound in any area. He's put together his impressive record with cardio...he just outworks everyone.

Merab closes distance in a hurry, and then hangs on to opponents. His striking builds off fear of being taken down, and he's a very linear fighter (moves in straight lines). But his opponents haven't been able to keep up with his pace, and even if he gets hurt early, he's always recovered enough to win rounds late. You guys know O'Malley; some of the best footwork in the sport, great fighting at distance, and excellent finishing instincts.

This is much more pick 'em than anyone wants to admit. O'Malley's got great anti-wrestling, but he CAN be taken down. Merab wears on opponents over time, but he can get clipped. My only bold take for this fight is that I wouldn't be shocked if O'Malley takes a decision. Merab doesn't land many consequential strikes even when he wins rounds, and O'Malley could steal rounds with a handful of big moments, even if he's stuck in clinch-work for the majority of the fight.

I lean toward O'Malley by TKO inside of the first three rounds...I think Merab's linear style will get him caught before he can break through Sean's footwork. But Merab could give us another Leon vs Belal.

Alexa Grasso vs Valentina Shevchenko:
So, after 9 rounds of relatively competitive fighting, Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko are meeting for the third time. Grasso got a surprise submission win in their first fight, and the second was a draw. Grasso's disciplined boxing and patience has given Bullet Shevchenko problems, because Valentina likes to wait and counter. I've seen Valentina fight rematches, and I don't trust her to adjust.

So to keep this moving along, I'm a strong-lean toward Grasso. Her pre-fight interviews have indicated that she recognizes Bullet's weakness, and she's been the better of the two so far.

Diego Lopes vs Brian Ortega:
Last time I talked about this fight, Brian Ortega looked TERRIBLE. His weight-cut looked horrendous and he was talking like he's given up on the division. He seems MUCH more locked in this time, and I'm rethinking my skepticism about his chances. Lopes is aggressive as all hell, but Ortega has weathered storms. With a healthier weight-cut and elite finishing skills, Brian's chances to catch Lopes look much better than they did before.

None of that is to say "I pick Ortega," but I'm watching the betting lines to see if it's worth dangling low-risk money on Ortega by finish. He may have finally gotten dropped by Yair, but he also sprained his ankle during his walkout. I'm really curious to see what happens if he drags Lopes into deep water. My strong faith in a Lopes win has shifted...it's a 50/50, and I'll only bet if Ortega's odds get too good to ignore.

Some other good stuff:
Ronaldo Rodrigues vs Ode Osbourne:
I don't have too much to say on this one. Rodrigues is a genuine prospect, and Osbourne has more losses than wins in the UFC. It looks like a showcase for Rodrigues.

Daniel Zelhuber vs Esteban Ribovics:
If there's a FOTN candidate other than Lopes vs Ortega, this is it. Ribovics is aggressive as hell and it throws opponents off. He's got 12 finishes in his 13 wins, and just murder kicked Terence Mckinley (a pretty good LW). Zelhuber is more technically sound, and pretty damned big for LW. He'll have a height and reach advantage that should really help against Ribovics' aggression.

The thing is, it's really hard to get Ribovics' attempted homicides in the octagon out of my mind. The numbers and styles seem to favor Zelhuber, but I'm a sucker for guys that fight like they're John Wick and the other dude kidnapped their dog. So, I'll lean Ribovics even though I might be biased.

Prelim goodies:
Irene Aldana vs Norma Dumont:
This is a cool fight because these women have only lost to the best in recent history. Aldana's last two losses are to prime Holm and prime Nunes. Dumont's only lost a close split-decision to Macy Chiasson, a top contender. Aldana's boxing is super clean, but the rest of her game isn't as developed. Dumont is well-rounded without a go-to skill.

This one's a lean toward Dumont. Dumont is a good leg kicker and Aldana's boxing leaves her heavy on the lead leg. To make matters worse, Dumont's still in her prime while Aldana is 36 and has already slowed down a bit.

Manuel Torres vs Ignacio Bahamondes:
This has a good shot to be a banger. Torres is a great prospect. He's been a buzz saw in the UFC, and throughout his career. He's been to decision once in 17 fights. Bahamondes doesn't back down either, and has fought a deeper talent pool. So this is a step up for Torres, but one that I think the UFC chose specifically to keep his run going.

I'm a firm lean toward Torres, but it's realistically more of a 50/50 due to the big step up in competition.

Raul Rosas Jr vs Qileng Aori:
The UFC wants Rosas to be a star, and his grappling is the reason but he's shown growth and development elsewhere. But I'm frustrated because the UFC screwed up and threw Rosas into a tough fight that he lost early, so now they're giving him opponents that won't prove much. He should steamroll Aori, and we won't know much more about him after...but he's a big prospect and I'm sure his post-fight Chiwiwis will get the crowd hype.

[NoStatsGuy]

what an amazing event.

Im not into the UFC like i used to be, skipping most fightnights, etc. but last night was a blast, i liked the setting and how everything was set up. they truly nailed it.

i gotta rewatch the fights lol
was watching with a group of friends and the fights are super late over here and im not sure, if the things i saw are correct haha. im a bit dissapointed tho. im a huge grasso and ortega fan, so its a bit of a bummer.

im still wondering what the hell herb dean did in the main event. since when are refs giving pep talks while officiating? that was odd