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

[Guano]

jones is never getting in the ring with aspinall. but I hope he isn't good with his money so he has to end up taking that fight cause tommy boy would give him that work.

[j4remi]

jones is never getting in the ring with aspinall. but I hope he isn't good with his money so he has to end up taking that fight cause tommy boy would give him that work.

I think he's looked slow at HW. Maybe he could get a hold of Tom and score a submission because Jones is rolling with the best (Gordon Ryan). But I'd probably put some money on Aspinall to win.

I think Jones will hold out and hope that some injuries back UFC into a corner, and they pay him big money or give him a late replacement spot against a Pereira or someone else he has a big edge over.

Honestly, if the UFC is jumping into BJJ (they just signed Mikey Musumeci for a BJJ deal), I think it'd be huge if they got Jones to compete with some famous BJJ players. If the UFC does events like the Craig Jones Invitational, they could really blow the sport up. They have the money to blow everyone away since ADCC has been shortchanging everyone but the top guys.

[Guano]

jones is never getting in the ring with aspinall. but I hope he isn't good with his money so he has to end up taking that fight cause tommy boy would give him that work.

I think he's looked slow at HW. Maybe he could get a hold of Tom and score a submission because Jones is rolling with the best (Gordon Ryan). But I'd probably put some money on Aspinall to win.

I think Jones will hold out and hope that some injuries back UFC into a corner, and they pay him big money or give him a late replacement spot against a Pereira or someone else he has a big edge over.

Honestly, if the UFC is jumping into BJJ (they just signed Mikey Musumeci for a BJJ deal), I think it'd be huge if they got Jones to compete with some famous BJJ players. If the UFC does events like the Craig Jones Invitational, they could really blow the sport up. They have the money to blow everyone away since ADCC has been shortchanging everyone but the top guys.

Jones looked slow to me, too. that is why I think tommy starches him. jones is a really really smart fighter and has exceptional athleticism and ground game. but father time is undefeated so if he locks horn with the young beast he is going out.

i think he knows it too. which is why he isn't angling for the fight. he is looking at fighters that he is bigger or are poor wrestlers. smart for a guy his age with his legacy.

i'm not super savvy with the bjj world. it would be interesting to see how well it would do in the ufc world. i'm skeptical cause i think a lot of casuals might not be sold on it.

[j4remi]

UFC is in Macau today. So, I barely woke up in time for the co-main and main event.
Yan Xiaonan just completely shut out Tabitha Ricci, and called out Zhang for a rematch.

Now Yan vs Figuieredo is competitive through 2...slight edge to Figgy's power but Yan's volume to the legs could take rounds. Edit: Yan has completely brought back momentum with his variety. This is a really good fight.

[Guano]

Well damn. I really wanted to watch that main event. They're both extremely talented and entertaining. Neither has been in a boring fight.

The Conor news that dropped yesterday was horrendous and in a civilized world we would never hear from or about him again.

[j4remi]

After some pretty weak cards, we're getting an event that might as well have been booked directly for me. Alexandre Pantoja doesn't have boring fights, and he's fighting one of my favorite fighters from outside the UFC. Kai Asakura was a Rizin champ, and has power at 125 that I've only seen topped by Figuieredo.

Then we get the guy I've been saying will be a champ since before his debut...Shavkhat Rakhmonov vs a prospect who's super talented but also hated in Ian Garry. These guys and JDM are the best prospects at 170 imo. Belal dropped out of this fight with an injury, but he'll probably have to fight the winner or relinquish if he waits too long.

After that, we get two top striking HWs in Gane vs Volkov; two elite grapplers with bad striking in Bryce Mitchell vs Kron Gracie; and two journeymen that are really exciting fighters in Nate Landwher vs Korean Super Boy Doo-Ho Choi.

I've got a Men's League game tonight plus a Knicks recap to write, so I may not be able to do fight expectations and thoughts...but I'm gonna try because I love this card and hope that others can pick up my enthusiasm. This should be a really good card.

[HarthorneWingo]

Buckley vs Covington tonight. Should be a banger.

[HarthorneWingo]

If one fighter scores a knockdown can the other fight still win the round with better overall striking numbers?

[HarthorneWingo]

Joel Alvarez is a problem.

[j4remi]

If one fighter scores a knockdown can the other fight still win the round with better overall striking numbers?

Not generally, since the Knockdown represents close to fight-ending damage in most cases. The other fighter would have to score a knockdown back, in all likelihood.

Shout out to Michael Johnson for that nasty KO too. His handspeed at lightweight still hits.

[HarthorneWingo]

If one fighter scores a knockdown can the other fight still win the round with better overall striking numbers?

Not generally, since the Knockdown represents close to fight-ending damage in most cases. The other fighter would have to score a knockdown back, in all likelihood.

Shout out to Michael Johnson for that nasty KO too. His handspeed at lightweight still hits.

Cub Swanson should just go full handlebar mustache.

[HarthorneWingo]

I’m going to predict - and hope - that Buckley finishes Colby in epic fashion.

Hulk Hogan’s theme song?

[HarthorneWingo]

Covington’s washed. Good riddance.

[j4remi]

Covington’s washed. Good riddance.

Pace and Volume guys are bound to break down, and I've never rated Colby as great at anything else so he has nothing to fall back on.

A lot of generation shifts are happening up and down the divisions. I'm glad to see to guys like Colby, who refused to give opportunities to other fighters until he absolutely had to, get knocked out of the way.

[j4remi]

My fighter of the night: Manel Kape...completely styled on a ranked opponent and only got hurt by the multitude of low blows he took. He may have finished the fight even more spectacularly without those illegal hits.

Fight of the Night: Dustin Jacobi vs Victor Petrino thanks to both guys being down to throw power even as they got hit, and the KO finish.

KO of the Night: Michael Johnson..and he had a hell of a showing. His hand speed and ability to throw punches at different angles without looping anything have been a joy to watch for 15 years now.

Prospect of the Night: Navajo Stirling, though he fought a bit of a pushover. Everything he threw looked like it hurt, even the lighter and faster stuff provoked reactions. He had variety to his striking too.

Big story of the night: Joaquin Buckley is officially in the title picture. I'd still put him a step below Shavkhat and Leon; but right next to JDM and Garry in the conversation. Sean Brady can jump into this picture if he beats Leon Edwards in March.

[HarthorneWingo]

My fighter of the night: Manel Kape...completely styled on a ranked opponent and only got hurt by the multitude of low blows he took. He may have finished the fight even more spectacularly without those illegal hits.

Fight of the Night: Dustin Jacobi vs Victor Petrino thanks to both guys being down to throw power even as they got hit, and the KO finish.

KO of the Night: Michael Johnson..and he had a hell of a showing. His hand speed and ability to throw punches at different angles without looping anything have been a joy to watch for 15 years now.

Prospect of the Night: Navajo Stirling, though he fought a bit of a pushover. Everything he threw looked like it hurt, even the lighter and faster stuff provoked reactions. He had variety to his striking too.

Big story of the night: Joaquin Buckley is officially in the title picture. I'd still put him a step below Shavkhat and Leon; but right next to JDM and Garry in the conversation. Sean Brady can jump into this picture if he beats Leon Edwards in March.

What I don't understand is why Buckley wants to fight Usman instead of one of the guys you mentioned.

[j4remi]

Big story of the night: Joaquin Buckley is officially in the title picture. I'd still put him a step below Shavkhat and Leon; but right next to JDM and Garry in the conversation. Sean Brady can jump into this picture if he beats Leon Edwards in March.

What I don't understand is why Buckley wants to fight Usman instead of one of the guys you mentioned.

I think it's two-fold.
1) A lot of these options are unavailable. Brady's fighting Leon. Shavkhat has the next title shot. JDM hasn't been back since he had surgery on his arm earlier this year. So, that only leaves Ian Garry who is fresh off a loss, which makes him the least enticing opponent despite being a threat.

2) Usman's a much bigger name than any of those guys, except for Leon.

Beating Usman won't guarantee him immediate contention, but neither would beating Garry (the winner of Brady/Edwards would probably have next). Usman's a bigger name, and potentially a lesser threat since he's aging and slowing down.

[HarthorneWingo]

Big story of the night: Joaquin Buckley is officially in the title picture. I'd still put him a step below Shavkhat and Leon; but right next to JDM and Garry in the conversation. Sean Brady can jump into this picture if he beats Leon Edwards in March.

What I don't understand is why Buckley wants to fight Usman instead of one of the guys you mentioned.

I think it's two-fold.
1) A lot of these options are unavailable. Brady's fighting Leon. Shavkhat has the next title shot. JDM hasn't been back since he had surgery on his arm earlier this year. So, that only leaves Ian Garry who is fresh off a loss, which makes him the least enticing opponent despite being a threat.

2) Usman's a much bigger name than any of those guys, except for Leon.

Beating Usman won't guarantee him immediate contention, but neither would beating Garry (the winner of Brady/Edwards would probably have next). Usman's a bigger name, and potentially a lesser threat since he's aging and slowing down.

I get what you’re saying. But Usman seems to be getting old and more of a gatekeeper at this point.

[j4remi]

I think it's two-fold.
1) A lot of these options are unavailable. Brady's fighting Leon. Shavkhat has the next title shot. JDM hasn't been back since he had surgery on his arm earlier this year. So, that only leaves Ian Garry who is fresh off a loss, which makes him the least enticing opponent despite being a threat.

2) Usman's a much bigger name than any of those guys, except for Leon.

Beating Usman won't guarantee him immediate contention, but neither would beating Garry (the winner of Brady/Edwards would probably have next). Usman's a bigger name, and potentially a lesser threat since he's aging and slowing down.

I get what you’re saying. But Usman seems to be getting old and more of a gatekeeper at this point.

He is, but his name still carries weight. If his fight with Khamzat was 5 rounds, he probably woulda won. So, he still might have gas in the tank.

[Ghetto Gospel]

I think it's two-fold.
1) A lot of these options are unavailable. Brady's fighting Leon. Shavkhat has the next title shot. JDM hasn't been back since he had surgery on his arm earlier this year. So, that only leaves Ian Garry who is fresh off a loss, which makes him the least enticing opponent despite being a threat.

2) Usman's a much bigger name than any of those guys, except for Leon.

Beating Usman won't guarantee him immediate contention, but neither would beating Garry (the winner of Brady/Edwards would probably have next). Usman's a bigger name, and potentially a lesser threat since he's aging and slowing down.

I get what you’re saying. But Usman seems to be getting old and more of a gatekeeper at this point.

He is, but his name still carries weight. If his fight with Khamzat was 5 rounds, he probably woulda won. So, he still might have gas in the tank.

i'd put him on washed watch at this point... the khamzat fight was over a year ago, and by the time he gets back in the octagon, it'd be about a year and a half at the earliest. the name is kind of fading fast too at this point