UFC 239: Jones/Santos, Nunes/Holm, Gadelha/Markos

AirCanadaMouse · Post #1 » by **AirCanadaMouse** » Wed Jul 3, 2019 3:45 am

Loving this card all the way through, a lot of personal favourites when it comes to the female fighters too. This main card is super intriguing.

Thread title aside, I'm more interested in Masvidal-Askren more than anything else. Askren knows how to promote a fight and more importantly, himself. Now people don't care how "boring" he may be, they are interested in how he does, and his fights will appeal to everyone.

Rockhold debut at LHW is really intriguing too, I'd love for him to get a title shot after a single win, it's the only fun matchup for Jones ATM, as we need Johnny Walker, Rakic, and Reyes develop further.

Main Card:
Light Heavyweight Jon Jones (c) vs. Thiago Santos
Women's Bantamweight Amanda Nunes (c) vs. Holly Holm
Welterweight Jorge Masvidal vs. Ben Askren
Light Heavyweight Luke Rockhold vs. Jan Błachowicz
Welterweight Diego Sanchez vs. Michael Chiesa

Jasen777 · Post #2 » by **Jasen777** » Wed Jul 3, 2019 6:08 am

Askren by rodeo.

cowboyronnie · Post #3 » by **cowboyronnie** » Wed Jul 3, 2019 11:59 pm

I'm going to say something controversial...Jon Jones not as unlikable as Luke Rockhold.

Post #4 » by **Duke4life831** » Thu Jul 4, 2019 12:34 am

cowboyronnie wrote:I'm going to say something controversial...Jon Jones not as unlikable as Luke Rockhold.

I used to want to root for Luke because he is from my hometown. But damn I cant stand the dude. I would definitely be rooting for Jon if those ever do fight.

REDDzone · Post #5 » by **REDDzone** » Fri Jul 5, 2019 2:51 pm

I watched a video with Rockhold rolling with Mike Chiesa yesterday. I'm pretty sure Luke inverted triangled him something like 3 times in a row. Just completely toying with him like a black belt would toy with a white belt. Crazy since they are only a weight class apart (or three weight classes apart depending how you look at it I guess) and Chiesa is known for his grappling - literally just submitted Condit.

Definitely not likable but crazy high level grappling. Too bad we don't get to see it more.

Susan · Post #6 » by **Susan** » Fri Jul 5, 2019 3:51 pm

Watch on YouTube

Bernman · Post #7 » by **Bernman** » Fri Jul 5, 2019 5:34 pm

Rockhold is pretty delusional and unlikable. He thinks he should perennially be in the conversation for a title shot and has been pretty disrespectful to Blachowicz to boost himself. I hope he gets smeshed. But Jones is the gold standard in sport let alone mma.

The people's main event is the Funk-Masvidal. That bad blood is starting to spill out just before the fight. Wasn't hearing as much as expected until recently. This fight could reasonably go any which way to the point there's no prediction. Hopefully for entertainment's sake Masvidal takes Askren into deep waters. It's probably good for Ben's brand if he wins anyway, maybe not his brain.

Don't think the official main events are locks like some. Their opponents have good kickpuncher's chances. But the favorite is clear. If all these fights are lopsided the event won't live up to the hype (not good depth here). Looking forward to it going in.

Post #8 » by **Duke4life831** » Fri Jul 5, 2019 6:30 pm

REDDzone wrote:I watched a video with Rockhold rolling with Mike Chiesa yesterday. I'm pretty sure Luke inverted triangled him something like 3 times in a row. Just completely toying with him like a black belt would toy with a white belt. Crazy since they are only a weight class apart (or three weight classes apart depending how you look at it I guess) and Chiesa is known for his grappling - literally just submitted Condit.

Definitely not likable but crazy high level grappling. Too bad we don't get to see it more.

That is one of the most frustrating things about Rockhold. That dude is next level on the ground, but he never uses it. He falls in love with his stand up and always leaves his weak chin vulnerable. That dude needs to just stay in kicking range then drive for a timely take down. He could do really well at 205 with his crazy good top game. Also the dude looks yoked at 205.

Post #9 » by **NO-KG-AI** » Fri Jul 5, 2019 6:32 pm

Jon does things that should make him more unlikeable, but Luke's complaining, whining, excuse making, and trash talk that he just flat out fails to back up just makes it so fun to watch him get starched, and then have that stupid look on his face like he's going to cry.

REDDzone · Post #10 » by **REDDzone** » Fri Jul 5, 2019 10:16 pm

Hes such an enigma to me. I used to think it was all schtick. Not so sure anymore, he may just be that...whatever the opposite of grounded is.

cowboyronnie · Post #11 » by **cowboyronnie** » Sat Jul 6, 2019 12:06 am

REDDzone wrote:I watched a video with Rockhold rolling with Mike Chiesa yesterday. I'm pretty sure Luke inverted triangled him something like 3 times in a row. Just completely toying with him like a black belt would toy with a white belt. Crazy since they are only a weight class apart (or three weight classes apart depending how you look at it I guess) and Chiesa is known for his grappling - literally just submitted Condit.

Definitely not likable but crazy high level grappling. Too bad we don't get to see it more.

That's likely a 35-40 lb gap.

Equal skills, shouldn't you be toying with someone you have that kind of an advantage on? Esp with top game techniques.

cowboyronnie · Post #12 » by **cowboyronnie** » Sat Jul 6, 2019 12:15 am

REDDzone wrote:Hes such an enigma to me. I used to think it was all schtick. Not so sure anymore, he may just be that...whatever the opposite of grounded is.

It's not schtick at all. There have been douchey things about him since the Strikeforce days. e.g. He was on Blind Date and asked the women whether she spit or swallowed. That's an aggressive thing to do to a woman on T.V.

I can't remember where he talked about it, or maybe it was just Ian McCall talking about it, but Luke (and Ian) would regularly start fights on the beach in order to stomp asses.

That smug **** smile...if that's part of some persona he's aware of, the man is an acting genius. That thing sends shivers into my taint.

cowboyronnie · Post #13 » by **cowboyronnie** » Sat Jul 6, 2019 12:19 am

Bernman wrote:The people's main event is the Funk-Masvidal. That bad blood is starting to spill out just before the fight. Wasn't hearing as much as expected until recently. This fight could reasonably go any which way to the point there's no prediction. Hopefully for entertainment's sake Masvidal takes Askren into deep waters. It's probably good for Ben's brand if he wins anyway, maybe not his brain.

On the one hand, Masvidal is probably a poor man compared to Lawler. Lawler was **** ripped for that Askren fight (and Ben commented that his strength was insane), Lawler has way better power and ability to catch Ben with a single shot, he's a legit 170, Lawler has proximate wrestling to Jorge, and Lawler has just as strong a mental game. So there's not really anything Jorge brings to the table that Lawler didn't, other than maybe an ability to scramble.

Buuuut, given that the Lawler fight was pretty damn indecisive, Ben's win certainly can't be extended from Robbie to Jorge.

OTOH, Masvidal's loss to Maia, probably bodes pretty apt for a fight against Ben.

It would be hilarious if Ben gets effed up but I think this should be a smooth win.

cowboyronnie · Post #14 » by **cowboyronnie** » Sat Jul 6, 2019 12:23 am

If Luke loses, it would be 3 of 4, with his only win being a pretty shaky comeback against Branch (who should have just kept it on the feet) and at least 2 brutal KOs. That would have to dash some of the smirk, you'd think.

Susan · Post #15 » by **Susan** » Sat Jul 6, 2019 1:00 am

cowboyronnie wrote:
REDDzone wrote:Hes such an enigma to me. I used to think it was all schtick. Not so sure anymore, he may just be that...whatever the opposite of grounded is.

It's not schtick at all. There have been douchey things about him since the Strikeforce days. e.g. He was on Blind Date and asked the women whether she spit or swallowed. That's an aggressive thing to do to a woman on T.V.

I can't remember where he talked about it, or maybe it was just Ian McCall talking about it, but Luke (and Ian) would regularly start fights on the beach in order to stomp asses.

That smug **** smile...if that's part of some persona he's aware of, the man is an acting genius. That thing sends shivers into my taint.

Luke grew up in NoCal, McCall was in SoCal. You're remembering wrong.

Luke's got a pretty sick life. He's one of the best fighters in the world, he's a model for Ralph Lauren and he's an idiot. His extreme confidence has only resulted in him being a cocky ass to his fellow fighters but people are comparing him to Jones?

He's a bit of an ass but he's got reason to be.

cowboyronnie · Post #16 » by **cowboyronnie** » Sat Jul 6, 2019 2:20 am

_Someone_ was talking about rolling with Luke in beach fights.

cowboyronnie · Post #17 » by **cowboyronnie** » Sat Jul 6, 2019 2:26 am

In my mind, having a sick life is all the more reason to _not_ be an ass****.

REDDzone · Post #18 » by **REDDzone** » Sat Jul 6, 2019 3:11 pm

cowboyronnie wrote:
REDDzone wrote:I watched a video with Rockhold rolling with Mike Chiesa yesterday. I'm pretty sure Luke inverted triangled him something like 3 times in a row. Just completely toying with him like a black belt would toy with a white belt. Crazy since they are only a weight class apart (or three weight classes apart depending how you look at it I guess) and Chiesa is known for his grappling - literally just submitted Condit.

Definitely not likable but crazy high level grappling. Too bad we don't get to see it more.

That's likely a 35-40 lb gap.

Equal skills, shouldn't you be toying with someone you have that kind of an advantage on? Esp with top game techniques.

Not to this extent. Granted it's just training so who knows how seriously to take it I guess.

REDDzone · Post #19 » by **REDDzone** » Sat Jul 6, 2019 3:14 pm

Yes I remember the jre when McCall was talking about the beach fights thing. I actually remember it vividly because I called myself an Uncle Creepy fan before that conversation. There was no mention of Rockhold. I never listened to anything else he was on though.

Susan · Post #20 » by **Susan** » Sat Jul 6, 2019 3:43 pm

cowboyronnie wrote:_Someone_ was talking about rolling with Luke in beach fights.

Ian McCall was talking about that for sure, I don't remember Luke ever being part of it.

Doesn't seem to be part of who he is/his upbringing but if you can find it, it would surely impact how I thought of him.

cowboyronnie wrote:In my mind, having a sick life is all the more reason to _not_ be an ass****.

No doubt, but it's FAR from the **** that Jones is. The confidence needed to be a high level fighter is an interesting thing and these guys get to there in all sorts of ways. Luke's smugness has resulted in him just being an idiot on TV and him being dismissive of his opponents but we've got people here talking about him and Jones in the same light. What the hell is that? Jones has let that extreme confidence take him down an extremely destructive path in which he's endangered others, cheated and lied repeatedly.

They're not even close to being in the same league.