Official MMA discussion thread pt 2: UFC 268 in MSG Usman vs Colby 2, Rose vs Zhang 2

[Montmorencie]

In this era, the only man that can beat Tyson Fury is the man in the mirror.

Usyk does feel undersized for him, which is ironic because I think the most interesting style match-up would be Andy Ruiz (not that he'd win just a fun match-up skills and approach wise).

I'd have loved to see a technician like Lennox Lewis deal with Fury's movement and diversity. A Klitschko jab vs Fury would be cool for a study session too.

Lennox is classy boxer no doubt about that but not to the level of Fury imo. Lennox is top 10 in heavyweights GOATs for sure but I'd rather back Fury in H2H.

Wlad was also a technical boxer with killing jab. Didn't help him. True he is not Lennox and he was old but we already see Tyson is too damn quick for that type of boxers. Is Lennox faster, smarter and more technical than Tyson? I don't think so. He is right there but not on Fury level.

Dominating 6'7's slow bad boxers like Joshua and Wilder is one thing dominating technical 6'4 is whole different story. He's been knocked down by Pajkic who is 6'3. Cunningham 6'3 as well. Wallin 6'5. These 3 gave him hell.

Usyk will be his toughest fight ever. I still regret to this day that David Haye was too damn fat and scared to fight Tyson. Would've been a great fight.

[j4remi]

Lennox is classy boxer no doubt about that but not to the level of Fury imo. Lennox is top 10 in heavyweights GOATs for sure but I'd rather back Fury in H2H.

Wlad was also a technical boxer with killing jab. Didn't help him. True he is not Lennox and he was old but we already see Tyson is too damn quick for that type of boxers. Is Lennox faster, smarter and more technical than Tyson? I don't think so. He is right there but not on Fury level.

Dominating 6'7's slow bad boxers like Joshua and Wilder is one thing dominating technical 6'4 is whole different story. He's been knocked down by Pajkic who is 6'3. Cunningham 6'3 as well. Wallin 6'5. These 3 gave him hell.

Usyk will be his toughest fight ever. I still regret to this day that David Haye was too damn fat and scared to fight Tyson. Would've been a great fight.

I don't think Fury gets by a prime Wlad like he did the 40-year-old version. I definitely edge prime Lennox Lewis, but it's tough to say because Tyson's genuinely a unique figure. He moves really well and has ways to do damage from a lot of different positions. But I think Lewis and Steward at their best were REALLY good. To me the clinch-work would probably play the biggest role in deciding the winner and I definitely see it being a close decision.

[Montmorencie]

Lennox is classy boxer no doubt about that but not to the level of Fury imo. Lennox is top 10 in heavyweights GOATs for sure but I'd rather back Fury in H2H.

Wlad was also a technical boxer with killing jab. Didn't help him. True he is not Lennox and he was old but we already see Tyson is too damn quick for that type of boxers. Is Lennox faster, smarter and more technical than Tyson? I don't think so. He is right there but not on Fury level.

Dominating 6'7's slow bad boxers like Joshua and Wilder is one thing dominating technical 6'4 is whole different story. He's been knocked down by Pajkic who is 6'3. Cunningham 6'3 as well. Wallin 6'5. These 3 gave him hell.

Usyk will be his toughest fight ever. I still regret to this day that David Haye was too damn fat and scared to fight Tyson. Would've been a great fight.

I don't think Fury gets by a prime Wlad like he did the 40-year-old version. I definitely edge prime Lennox Lewis, but it's tough to say because Tyson's genuinely a unique figure. He moves really well and has ways to do damage from a lot of different positions. But I think Lewis and Steward at their best were REALLY good. To me the clinch-work would probably play the biggest role in deciding the winner and I definitely see it being a close decision.

Agreed. For both prime Wlad and Lennox vs Tyson being close. But I think Tyson will land more punches at the end of the day and get more points. They might even knock him down once or twice tho. But on top of everything Fury also has heart and chin. Helluva boxer right there. He won't be one of the greatest for all time accomplishments and status but H2H he is for sure there.

[HarthorneWingo]

Woah! Rico Verhoeven the King of Kickboxing. You think this guy might be interested in the UFC?

Watch on YouTube

[j4remi]

Woah! Rico Verhoeven the King of Kickboxing. You think this guy might be interested in the UFC?

Watch on YouTube

I kinda doubt he makes the move because he really is the top dog at Glory right now. I could see maybe a late career shift, but while he dominates the top I doubt he'd slide over. He's got a GREAT opponent coming up, Jamal Ben Saddik which is running back a good one from a few years back. Ben Saddik is a giant, even his stuff that looks light sends dudes. Rico KO'ed him last time and was winning comfortably but this will be a dope rematch.

[HarthorneWingo]

OMG, Paulo Costa weigh 211 two days before his Main Card fight against Marvin Vettori this Saturday. That's 41 lbs overweight and he does not care. Costa says he's willing to fight at a catch weight. WTF?

Watch on YouTube

[HarthorneWingo]

I remember “tiger strike” from when I took King Fu lessons back when I lived in Philadelphia from Mrs. Landers (Leave It To Beaver) real life son. But it never worked this well for me.

Read on Twitter

?s=21

[HarthorneWingo]

What are the chances that Tim Johnson takes a dive in Fedor's retirement fight in Moscow? There's no way that Johnson wins this fight.

[bringbackhoffa]

FEDOR!!

Now is the time Fedor vs Ovareem

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[NYK Dolemite]

FEDOR!!

Now is the time Fedor vs Ovareem

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Beautiful combo! Really happy for Fedor to get the Duke in impressive fashion in Moscow.

[NYK Dolemite]

What are the chances that Tim Johnson takes a dive in Fedor's retirement fight in Moscow? There's no way that Johnson wins this fight.

If he dove, it was better working than most pro wrestling with the way his leg got caught under him as he fell.

[bringbackhoffa]

What are the chances that Tim Johnson takes a dive in Fedor's retirement fight in Moscow? There's no way that Johnson wins this fight.

If he dove, it was better working than most pro wrestling with the way his leg got caught under him as he fell.

That was no dive Fedor would never do that to his legacy, man legit trained and Johnson probably underestimated old man power.

To be honest if a catch weight between Anderson silva vs Fedor can be done i would almost prefer that over vreem

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[HarthorneWingo]

2/22 Logan Paul vs. Iron Mike Tyson PPV

I think Ima gonna buy this one. Oh yeah. I have to say that I respect a man who agrees to get knocked the fck out by Mike Tyson. But, hey, it'll be something he can show his grandchildren one, if he's still alive after the fight.

Watch on YouTube

[j4remi]

Read on Twitter

Late-pass, we’ve got PFL finals tonight free on ESPN 2. Got Kayla Harrison (judo gold medal), Claressa Shields (GOAT women’s boxing candidate who just started her mma development but has a long to go), Ray Cooper who has ufc talent, and a bunch of talent even on prelims like antonio Carlos jr and Julia budd.

I like PFL for its unique model and it has some talent. They’re developing fighters like Harrison and shields too. I’m hoping for a good card!

[HarthorneWingo]

Read on Twitter

Late-pass, we’ve got PFL finals tonight free on ESPN 2. Got Kayla Harrison (judo gold medal), Claressa Shields (GOAT women’s boxing candidate who just started her mma development but has a long to go), Ray Cooper who has ufc talent, and a bunch of talent even on prelims like antonio Carlos jr and Julia budd.

I like PFL for its unique model and it has some talent. They’re developing fighters like Harrison and shields too. I’m hoping for a good card!

Dana is trying to negotiate to bring Kayla to the UFC. How do I know this, because Dana denied that he’s negotiating with Kayla to bring her to the UFC. Something is happening here.

Check out the comments

Read on Twitter

?s=21

[j4remi]

Dana is trying to negotiate to bring Kayla to the UFC. How do I know this, because Dana denied that he’s negotiating with Kayla to bring her to the UFC. Something is happening here.

Check out the comments

Read on Twitter

?s=21

UFC's model is basically to just fill cards as inexpensively as possible at this point. They have the ESPN contract so they just need cheap talent. They've cut plenty of real talent, meanwhile guys like Sam Alvey who fight a lot for cheap are sticking around with 7-fight winless streaks.

[HarthorneWingo]

Dana is trying to negotiate to bring Kayla to the UFC. How do I know this, because Dana denied that he’s negotiating with Kayla to bring her to the UFC. Something is happening here.

Check out the comments

Read on Twitter

?s=21

UFC's model is basically to just fill cards as inexpensively as possible at this point. They have the ESPN contract so they just need cheap talent. They've cut plenty of real talent, meanwhile guys like Sam Alvey who fight a lot for cheap are sticking around with 7-fight winless streaks.

Is this new? Doesn't sound like a great business model going forward.

[j4remi]

UFC's model is basically to just fill cards as inexpensively as possible at this point. They have the ESPN contract so they just need cheap talent. They've cut plenty of real talent, meanwhile guys like Sam Alvey who fight a lot for cheap are sticking around with 7-fight winless streaks.

Is this new? Doesn't sound like a great business model going forward.

It is, it feels like it started after the COVID lockdown when UFC was the only sport still getting events off. They used to rely really heavily on PPV's, but with ESPN money coming in they can fill quotas there and cut costs some on the big stars (they're even having trouble negotiating with talent like Joanna Jedrzejcyk who they just removed from the rankings).

The most obvious sign of them chasing cheap card-fillers is how the Tuesday Night Contenders Series has moved. It used to be a big deal if three guys got a contract in one card, so it always felt hard-earned. There were nights where we'd get mad because we thought more guys deserved a contract. But this season it feels like 90% of the winners are getting contracts regardless of win-quality. We're seeing an influx of new faces, but not necessarily upgraded talent...and at the same time we're seeing some long-time fighters that can't get contracts for fights they want or are holding out for money that the UFC won't pay. I think it's bound to come to a head at some point but we'll see.

Here's an example of talent that they let walk, Corey Anderson has split a two-fight series with the champion Jan Blachowicz and has a win over the contender Glover Texeira. He's 32 which is basically fighting prime age. The UFC let him walk and he was saying recently that he made more money in his first two bellator fights than he did throughout his UFC career. That's a 14-fight span that includes two against the current champ, one with the number one contender, a fight with the legend Shogun Rua, and fights with Johnny Walker and Jimi Manuwa aka killers.

https://www.bjpenn.com/mma-news/bellator/corey-anderson-praises-bellator-fighter-pay-ive-made-more-money-in-two-fights-here-than-in-my-whole-career-in-the-ufc/

[bringbackhoffa]

That heavyweight PFL fight last night was sick

[HarthorneWingo]

UFC's model is basically to just fill cards as inexpensively as possible at this point. They have the ESPN contract so they just need cheap talent. They've cut plenty of real talent, meanwhile guys like Sam Alvey who fight a lot for cheap are sticking around with 7-fight winless streaks.

Is this new? Doesn't sound like a great business model going forward.

It is, it feels like it started after the COVID lockdown when UFC was the only sport still getting events off. They used to rely really heavily on PPV's, but with ESPN money coming in they can fill quotas there and cut costs some on the big stars (they're even having trouble negotiating with talent like Joanna Jedrzejcyk who they just removed from the rankings).

The most obvious sign of them chasing cheap card-fillers is how the Tuesday Night Contenders Series has moved. It used to be a big deal if three guys got a contract in one card, so it always felt hard-earned. There were nights where we'd get mad because we thought more guys deserved a contract. But this season it feels like 90% of the winners are getting contracts regardless of win-quality. We're seeing an influx of new faces, but not necessarily upgraded talent...and at the same time we're seeing some long-time fighters that can't get contracts for fights they want or are holding out for money that the UFC won't pay. I think it's bound to come to a head at some point but we'll see.

Here's an example of talent that they let walk, Corey Anderson has split a two-fight series with the champion Jan Blachowicz and has a win over the contender Glover Texeira. He's 32 which is basically fighting prime age. The UFC let him walk and he was saying recently that he made more money in his first two bellator fights than he did throughout his UFC career. That's a 14-fight span that includes two against the current champ, one with the number one contender, a fight with the legend Shogun Rua, and fights with Johnny Walker and Jimi Manuwa aka killers.

https://www.bjpenn.com/mma-news/bellator/corey-anderson-praises-bellator-fighter-pay-ive-made-more-money-in-two-fights-here-than-in-my-whole-career-in-the-ufc/

Jan Blachowicz left the UFC? He’s the LHW Champ. I didn’t know this. Wow.

If more fighters leave, that’s bad for the continued success of the company.