The MMA thread

Gordon S said:
Two future hall of famers like Volk and Max stood no chance against Topurias speed and power. Hard to see Diego survive for long either. But you never know.
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I'm not a big fan of fighters moving up so quickly. I'd like to see Touporia do about 4-5 title defenses before such a move is considered. A Volk rematch seems on the cards it seems, as is a Diego Lopes fight, who i think is a future division champ. If Touporia wins those, then there would be a decent shout to move up. Even if he does, I doubt he even comes close to beating Islam.
 
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Raoul said:
I think Tapouria will still need to go through a Volk rematch and showdown against Diego Lopes. Khamzat is ready for a title shot now imo.
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Volk deserves a rematch because of his legacy. I just think Volk could do with another fight to get his confidence back. Maybe at the Australia event in Feb. The KOs to Islam and Ilia were punishing.

Maybe Lopes, but can also see Dana wanting to protect him a little in order to build him up over a little longer length of time.

Can see Chimaev dominating the middleweight division like Islam has at lightweight. That is a shame as middleweight is currently quite competitive.
 
gaffs said:
No one is beating Dvalishvili at bantam. He would ragdoll O'Malley again in a rematch. How about him stepping up and taking on Ilia?
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I think Merab would be reluctant to fight Topuria, like he was with Aljo.
 
Raoul said:
I'm not a big fan of fighters moving up so quickly. I'd like to see Touporia do about 4-5 title defenses before such a move is considered. A Volk rematch seems on the cards it seems, as is a Diego Lopes fight, who i think is a future division champ. If Touporia wins those, then there would be a decent shout to move up. Even if he does, I doubt he even comes close to beating Islam.
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From what I remember of last night he didn’t indicate anything about moving up, the calls for him to move up seem to be mostly from the outside?
Depends how he transitions to LW, but I actually think he’s one of the few that has a chance against Islam. The only danger to Islam is someone with outrageous knock out power, no one beats him at grappling and he’s too multiskilled for someone to take him on a decision.
 
Fortitude said:
As an aside, were those women on his side Spanish or Georgian?
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Pretty sure his wife is Spanish.

By the way, was a bit bemused with all his people going up into the octagon dressed for a funeral (roses included).

Ilia forced his family to dress up for Holloway's funeral. That's cold as feck.
 
giorno said:
Oh man you dirty dog :lol:
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:angel: Nothing dirty about it… just wondering what part of the world they hail from…
George Owen said:
Pretty sure his wife is Spanish.

By the way, was a bit bemused with all his people going up into the octagon dressed for a funeral (roses included).

Ilia forced his family to dress up for Holloway's funeral. That's cold as feck.
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And the other 2?

Yeah it was strange they all dressed like they’re stopping in before going on to a funeral! :lol:

Credit to Max’s dignity, but you could tell he felt something different in there yesterday.
 
Fortitude said:
:angel: Nothing dirty about it… just wondering what part of the world they hail from…

And the other 2?

Yeah it was strange they all dressed like they’re stopping in before going on to a funeral! :lol:

Credit to Max’s dignity, but you could tell he felt something different in there yesterday.
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You could tell at the end there was a realisation from Max - he’s not getting that belt back anytime soon, if ever. The power Ilia has at that weight is almost unfair
 
Ilia has the touch of death in his hands yeah. Can't see nobody beating him at that weight
 
T00lsh3d said:
You could tell at the end there was a realisation from Max - he’s not getting that belt back anytime soon, if ever. The power Ilia has at that weight is almost unfair
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The guy has been trading punches with the best for a long time and barely been stunned, nevermind KOd.
He was swinging for 25 minutes with Gaethje not long ago. But as soon as Ilia connected he felt it and started to back up. Ilias power is something new to this division
 
Gordon S said:
The guy has been trading punches with the best for a long time and barely been stunned, nevermind KOd.
He was swinging for 25 minutes with Gaethje not long ago. But as soon as Ilia connected he felt it and started to back up. Ilias power is something new to this division
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Yeah, they were speculating if he’s the hardest-hitting FW of all time. I’m inclined to say yes, considering the calibre and durability of the last two opponents he’s turned to dust
 
T00lsh3d said:
You could tell at the end there was a realisation from Max - he’s not getting that belt back anytime soon, if ever. The power Ilia has at that weight is almost unfair
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Yeah, that’s what I thought when watching him too, like, he realised something is different with this guy. Not necessarily that he hits like a truck, but that he’s matched me and has a ridiculous power advantage. Max might go in there the power underdog, but not the ability underdog and I think that really hits the senses, like feck!
 
T00lsh3d said:
That’s the only other one that comes to mind, but he didn’t turn Max to dust in the way Ilia just did
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If I remember correctly Conor picked up a knee injury in that fight which limited his performance against Max.

That being said, Ilia Vs a prime Conor would have been an interesting match up.
 
Red Rash said:
If I remember correctly Conor picked up a knee injury in that fight which limited his performance against Max.

That being said, Ilia Vs a prime Conor would have been an interesting match up.
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Yeah, I’m probably leaning on my personal distaste of Conor. But I’m going Ilia
 
Red Rash said:
If I remember correctly Conor picked up a knee injury in that fight which limited his performance against Max.

That being said, Ilia Vs a prime Conor would have been an interesting match up.
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yeah he tore his ligaments in that fight
 
Stipe X Jones is getting closer.

Your level of excitement for that fight and any early predictions ?

I'm pumped that we at least get to see these two go at it, even if it's not the fight everyone wanted.

Jones finishes him before the championship rounds IMO. Not looking past the guy but to beat Jones you've got to KO him, it's the only way and he's got a powerful chin.
 
Luke1995 said:
Stipe X Jones is getting closer.

Your level of excitement for that fight and any early predictions ?

I'm pumped that we at least get to see these two go at it, even if it's not the fight everyone wanted.

Jones finishes him before the championship rounds IMO. Not looking past the guy but to beat Jones you've got to KO him, it's the only way and he's got a powerful chin.
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Jones will handle him within 3 rounds. I don't mind the fight on its own merit but knowing we could have had so many better fights with Jones makes me really annoyed.
 
Dirty Schwein said:
Jones will handle him within 3 rounds. I don't mind the fight on its own merit but knowing we could have had so many better fights with Jones makes me really annoyed.
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I get you but it's like, if you were GSP, would you have given Hendricks the rematch or fought Whittaker instead of Bisping ?

Jones is rightfully taking a calculated gamble. I believe he still may fight Aspinall if the money is right and he feels he can compete.
 
Luke1995 said:
I get you but it's like, if you were GSP, would you have given Hendricks the rematch or fought Whittaker instead of Bisping ?

Jones is rightfully taking a calculated gamble. I believe he still may fight Aspinall if the money is right and he feels he can compete.
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I don't blame Jones. I blame Dana, that fecking tomato.
 
So Jon Jones has practically admitted he's ducking Aspinall. I don't think he fears the fight in terms of getting physically hurt, but he is terrified of his swansong being a defeat or having his legacy tainted.

He has 2 maybe 3 fights left in him, and I am sure his intent is: Stipe> Alex> Out in a blaze of glory and fanfare to an audience of fans and peers officially declaring him the greatest to ever do it; the hiccup of Aspinall potentially beating him and him not having either the physical capacity or time left to avenge the loss is what I think is playing deeply on his mind. I think the only way he'll fight Aspinall is with a UFC record deal with all of the above factored in as his leverage to get the most money, otherwise he will not take that fight and would rather retire.

Sadly, Jones has become a gatekeeper of sorts, consumed by his own standing rather than the love of the fight game. It's understandable, as Father Time makes a different person out of all of us, but really shitty for the young lion, who the company are going to hold back for potentially 18 months, bending over backwards for Jones, ensuring he remains champion, but one cherry-picking opponents and not facing the most rightful contender, instead eyeing up names he believes he can beat, even in his latter day stage.

I think Dana will line Aspinall's pockets to keep him onside and unless the fans really kick up a stink, that will be that.

Next week's fight shall be interesting for the fact both fighters haven't fought in an age and we don't know how much of themselves has been lost in advanced age. More eyes will be on Jones, given if he looks devastating in there, the calls for Aspinall will intensify.

Seems to me, Jones is highly aware of the threat these hungry lions present; ducking Francis and Tom is a disappointing but unsurprising turn of events.
 
Fortitude said:
So Jon Jones has practically admitted he's ducking Aspinall. I don't think he fears the fight in terms of getting physically hurt, but he is terrified of his swansong being a defeat or having his legacy tainted.

He has 2 maybe 3 fights left in him, and I am sure his intent is: Stipe> Alex> Out in a blaze of glory and fanfare to an audience of fans and peers officially declaring him the greatest to ever do it; the hiccup of Aspinall potentially beating him and him not having either the physical capacity or time left to avenge the loss is what I think is playing deeply on his mind. I think the only way he'll fight Aspinall is with a UFC record deal with all of the above factored in as his leverage to get the most money, otherwise he will not take that fight and would rather retire.

Sadly, Jones has become a gatekeeper of sorts, consumed by his own standing rather than the love of the fight game. It's understandable, as Father Time makes a different person out of all of us, but really shitty for the young lion, who the company are going to hold back for potentially 18 months, bending over backwards for Jones, ensuring he remains champion, but one cherry-picking opponents and not facing the most rightful contender, instead eyeing up names he believes he can beat, even in his latter day stage.

I think Dana will line Aspinall's pockets to keep him onside and unless the fans really kick up a stink, that will be that.

Next week's fight shall be interesting for the fact both fighters haven't fought in an age and we don't know how much of themselves has been lost in advanced age. More eyes will be on Jones, given if he looks devastating in there, the calls for Aspinall will intensify.

Seems to me, Jones is highly aware of the threat these hungry lions present; ducking Francis and Tom is a disappointing but unsurprising turn of events.
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Shameless duck. I hope people realize that it was Jones ducking Ngannou all along like you mentioned. People forget how things actually transpired given Dana's narrative of late with all the trashing of Francis since he left the UFC, but Jones was the one who priced himself out and took 3 years out to 'become a HW' (despite him returning and looking like he'd done nothing more than add 10lbs of body fat).

It's a real shame for Aspinall, if he were to beat the Stipe/Jones winner or Ngannou and continue the winning run he's on defending the belt for a couple of years he'd have a real shout at being the HW GOAT. Without that sort of signature win though, I don't know if he can ever really do enough.
 
Unfortunately Jones is not a big pay per view draw on his own. He needs the right partner to sell.

Stipe and Alex P. will probably sell more than Aspinall. Jones is not a Mike Tyson level draw where he can fight a Jake Paul even at 60 years old and millions will still watch.

I think the biggest fights Jones had on PPV were the Cormier bouts and maybe the Rampage bout.
 
Luke1995 said:
Unfortunately Jones is not a big pay per view draw on his own. He needs the right partner to sell.

Stipe and Alex P. will probably sell more than Aspinall. Jones is not a Mike Tyson level draw where he can fight a Jake Paul even at 60 years old and millions will still watch.

I think the biggest fights Jones had on PPV were the Cormier bouts and maybe the Rampage bout.
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They just need to strip him if he beats Stipe and then turns down aspinall. It’s not even a problem he ducked Francis and now is ducking Aspinall because physiologically they’re just awful match ups and his career has been at a different weight class. The issue the ufc enabling him to degrade the heavyweight title.

Would love for this to screw Dana over, the best HW clash available is Francis / Aspinall and one already quit. If the other does ufc HW is dead.
 
tomaldinho1 said:
They just need to strip him if he beats Stipe and then turns down aspinall. It’s not even a problem he ducked Francis and now is ducking Aspinall because physiologically they’re just awful match ups and his career has been at a different weight class. The issue the ufc enabling him to degrade the heavyweight title.

Would love for this to screw Dana over, the best HW clash available is Francis / Aspinall and one already quit. If the other does ufc HW is dead.
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I don’t think he is ducking anyone. It’s Dana who makes and approves the fights (with input from his team), and if there’s anything we’ve learned it’s that Dana is going to select the matchup that garners the most PPV buys in the US. Aspinall may not be that guy and given that Jones is nearing the end of his career, he too will want maximum PPV points, which is driven by the number of buys.
 
Is anyone in the UFC currently a draw? I thought Ngannou was going to be the next big thing
 
Raoul said:
I don’t think he is ducking anyone. It’s Dana who makes and approves the fights (with input from his team), and if there’s anything we’ve learned it’s that Dana is going to select the matchup that garners the most PPV buys in the US. Aspinall may not be that guy and given that Jones is nearing the end of his career, he too will want maximum PPV points, which is driven by the number of buys.
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If he cared for ppv, why not fight Francis?

I’m amazed how people suddenly think he’s now suddenly really in need of cash…he just doesn’t want to fight anyone he can’t take down, he wants strikers hence why Alex is appealing = big money and less risk.
 
MiceOnMeth said:
Is anyone in the UFC currently a draw? I thought Ngannou was going to be the next big thing
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Unless it’s Conor, no. There are however certain combinations/matchups that would probably do very well. Jones v Perreira - the two most dominant champs at LHW would be a pretty good draw at HW.
 
tomaldinho1 said:
If he cared for ppv, why not fight Francis?

I’m amazed how people suddenly think he’s now suddenly really in need of cash…he just doesn’t want to fight anyone he can’t take down, he wants strikers hence why Alex is appealing = big money and less risk.
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Francis left the UFC, so there’s no way back, especially given what we know about fighters getting on the wrong side of Dana.
 
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