UFC on Fuel 9: Gustafsson vs. Mousasi (April 6th)

[cowboyronnie]

Pretty good card. I mean, almost all fights had at least one interesting fighter. And a lot of them turned out great. There were a lot of fights period...the prelims went on and on and on.

It's amazing how so few of those European fighters actually have their sources of descent in Europe. I mean, like, being white. There were like 3 whites among 15+ European fighters. Albanians, Iranians, Iraqis, Africans, etc. all living in European countries. Continental Europe, specifically.

[cowboyronnie]

I'm pretty sure Alliance MMA dropped all affiliation with Team Lloyd Irvin.

Not doubting you, but link? I haven't heard this and I've followed it more closely than most. I know TLI dropped all their affiliates (after 90% dropped him first), but hadn't heard about Alliance mma severing bonds. I know Easton and Vera are close to LLoyd, having their lineage under him. Guys like Cruz/Gus are a different story I think.

I'm interested in any MMA fighters taking stands on this.

[REDDzone]

Gegard himself admitted that that could have been called stand-up "lay-and-pray". It sucked. There was no end-game, it went nowhere.

He was injured, OK.

I'm biased here, but the other guy gets blame too, right? Mousasi was stalking the entire time. The injury had to have had an impact. Mousasi has certainly crushed some cans in his day, but was this guy really better than others on his resume? I don't think so, and Gegard has a great finishing percentage.

[Cammo101]

I'm pretty sure Alliance MMA dropped all affiliation with Team Lloyd Irvin.

Not doubting you, but link? I haven't heard this and I've followed it more closely than most. I know TLI dropped all their affiliates (after 90% dropped him first), but hadn't heard about Alliance mma severing bonds. I know Easton and Vera are close to LLoyd, having their lineage under him. Guys like Cruz/Gus are a different story I think.

http://www.fightersonlymag.com/content/ ... loyd-irvin

[CPT]

Another one of those cards that looks kinda **** on paper and turns out to be pretty good.

Hope Mousasi isn't out for too long. Would like to see him fight a guy that is also trying to fight.

[Shaazzam]

Another one of those cards that looks kinda **** on paper and turns out to be pretty good.

Hope Mousasi isn't out for too long. Would like to see him fight a guy that is also trying to fight.

That almost always seems to be the case with the UFC. Many of the sleeper cards are excellent, while the hyped ones turn out to be dogs.

[SDM]

Weird how Easton actually pulled a decent fight out of his butt, though I think Pickett's largely responsible since he didn't let Easton circle and counterpunch away with his two strikes and three feigned leg kicks a minute.

[SDM]

CBR, tell us what you saw in the Irishman. Anything good here from a technical perspective?

[cowboyronnie]

I don't know. Head up, wide stance, hands down is a perfect way to deal with a guy you know is going to bull his way forward...perfect for quick reflex. Against others?

I have a feeling he's going to be the ****, though. He hit every one of those punches precise and to the jaw. That's real, formal boxing skill. I loved it and I totally walked around my apartment yesterday trying to imitate it cos it was so badass.

[cowboyronnie]

[YouTube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5r3x6cwSI_0[/YouTube]

Wow. His kicks and knees too. The sense of distance in that Celtic Warrior fight - he moves really subtley to keep the guy at the end of his punches - and the head movement throughout. Boxing since he was little.

He also seems like he's gonna be an animal in the gym every day. And smart.

[REDDzone]

Not to mention the Sonnen levels of arrogance, and he isn't just trolling like Sonnen either.

The mmahour interview is still imo one of the goat interviews on that show, in case anyone reading this would be interested in it who hasn't already listened.

[SDM]

Dana's going to rush him, from what it sounds like. Show in Boston in August, tentative plans for Dublin after that. Could go from second fight on the prelims to co-main in three fights.

[REDDzone]

I'm really curious as to who they'd pair him with next. His stock isn't so high right now, but Brimage had a nice little streak with some nice wins going.

[SDM]

Cole Miller/Bart Pal loser?
Pineda/Lawrence winner?

Quite a few FW fights coming up.

[CPT]

Bart P seems like he would be a good test for McGregor, regardless of his result against Miller.

Not sure of many more guys that have halfway decent name value and are also in that mid-tier gatekeeper role. Nam Phan? Manny G?

[cowboyronnie]

Knockout of the Night -- Conor McGregor

Submission of the Night -- Reza Madadi

Fight of the Night -- Brad Pickett vs. Mike Easton

60K each