The MMA thread

[g4ry13]

Volk also put on weight, is he going to be as quick? He's 4 inches shorter than Islam too.

I think it's going to be a tough night for the small man.

[g4ry13]

Very impressed with Volk's performance. He had the power to hurt Islam and had success resisting the takedowns and getting back up. Islam had some good striking too considering he's known more for his ground game / submissions.

In Round 4 when Islam had back mount I feel the referee should have stood them back up. It's a bit ridiculous to let Islam hold a position without developing it for over 2 minutes of the round.

How did one of the judges score it 49-46 though?!? Thought Volk could have eked a 48-47 win with the home advantage.

Wouldn't mind seeing a rematch.

[silent ninja]

Amazing fight.

I personally thought Volk won round 5. Islam won 1,2 and 4. Round 3 was a draw and could go either way. Islam won most of the stand up, landed better and scored takedowns (Volk had no takedowns if I recall). Volks ability to scramble was a revelation.

A rematch would be great. In Abu Dhabi, both knowing each other better. Islam looked depleted and rumours he struggled with weight and had only 24 hours to rehydrate (versus 36 hours).

[plenty]

Excellent main event, although I think Makhachev will be more dominant in the rematch. He has all the tools to defeat Volk, while Volk at best has the grit and cardio to grind out a decision but didn't really pose a threat at any point.

Next up: JBJ at heavy. That makes two UFC events in a row I'm properly hyped for.

[Zarco]

Well he made short work of that.

[mikebradford]

Zarco said:

Well he made short work of that.

I like both fighters, and could see it going both ways.
I was surprised by how easy he made it look. His wrestling is obviously elite level and it showed.
Not sure any heavy can out wrestle him.

Toe to toe any heavy has a chance, but he did show he can still slip a punch even with the added weight

Overall impressive

[biggbn]

Cannot abide Jones, as talented as he undoubtedly is, can't believe the UFC still allow him to represent their brand. Money talks.

[g4ry13]

It was such a quick tap by Cyril and I don't feel like we learnt much from this fight about Jones.

The fight to make is get Ngannou back to fight Jones. Pay the guy $10M if they need to. That's the fight fans want to see.

[DocJock]

Ngannou isn't just about the money though. He wants all sorts of changes, for example fighters on the board and health insurance for all fighters.

Much as I can't take to Jones, his grappling is elite level. If he gets a hold of you he just puts you on the fence and smushes you. That finish was quick because Gane knew he was never breaking that hold so just saved prolonging the pain before tapping anyway.

[Koolkat969]

I'll just leave this here!!!

The G.O.A.T

[biggbn]

Koolkat969 said:

I'll just leave this here!!!

The G.O.A.T

No arguments, he is a phenom. Just such a shame he is such a reprehensible fellow, and I'm not some pious Pete, Lord knows I've made a whole lot of bad mistakes over the years!!

[g4ry13]

I think he was also very lucky to win the decision against Gustafsson. Jon lost that fight in my opinion.

The heavyweight division seems very weak at the moment. Aspinall is one of the only fighters I can think of which are fairly well rounded and he's been out of action.

[Koolkat969]

biggbn said:

Koolkat969 said:

I'll just leave this here!!!

The G.O.A.T

No arguments, he is a phenom. Just such a shame he is such a reprehensible fellow, and I'm not some pious Pete, Lord knows I've made a whole lot of bad mistakes over the years!!

You've mentioned your personal opinion about him in your earlier comment but you for some reason feel the need to mention it again.

Do you care to mention your own bad mistakes you mention here so that we can all judge you?

Can we just leave our personal judgements to one side and focus on the fight game and the history that's being made!

[g4ry13]

If Francis definitely isn't going to come back then I think Pavlovich is the only one who has a chance of beating Jones. Maybe Aspinall as well if he sorts his injury out.

[Koolkat969]

g4ry13 said:

If Francis definitely isn't going to come back then I think Pavlovich is the only one who has a chance of beating Jones. Maybe Aspinall as well if he sorts his injury out.

Let's not sleep on some of these bad boys. Still has to get past Stipe also!

[g4ry13]

Koolkat969 said:

g4ry13 said:

If Francis definitely isn't going to come back then I think Pavlovich is the only one who has a chance of beating Jones. Maybe Aspinall as well if he sorts his injury out.

Let's not sleep on some of these bad boys. Still has to get past Stipe also!

Which bad boys specifically? I mostly see one dimensional sluggers.

The division overall is pretty weak.

Pavlovich is #3 according to this

[Koolkat969]

g4ry13 said:

Which bad boys specifically? I mostly see one dimensional sluggers.

The division overall is pretty weak.

Stipe, Curtis Blade, Aspinall - one dimensional sluggers? Gane, yes, he just lost but one dimensional slugger?

Edit to add....Tai Tuvasa you can call a slugger but that's still what heavyweights do mostly - the ability to knock you out at any given opportunity.

Edited by Koolkat969 on Sunday 5th March 16:00

[g4ry13]

Koolkat969 said:

g4ry13 said:

Which bad boys specifically? I mostly see one dimensional sluggers.

The division overall is pretty weak.

Stipe, Curtis Blade, Aspinall - one dimensional sluggers? Gane, yes, he just lost but one dimensional slugger?

I was thinking about Tuivasa and Lewis.

Stipe: he's done. Too old.
Aspinall: he is one that I think has a chance but haven't seen enough from him.
Blaydes: nothing exceptional and not an elite fighter.
Gane: poor wrestling and ground game.

[biggbn]

Koolkat969 said:

biggbn said:

Koolkat969 said:

I'll just leave this here!!!

The G.O.A.T

No arguments, he is a phenom. Just such a shame he is such a reprehensible fellow, and I'm not some pious Pete, Lord knows I've made a whole lot of bad mistakes over the years!!

You've mentioned your personal opinion about him in your earlier comment but you for some reason feel the need to mention it again.

Do you care to mention your own bad mistakes you mention here so that we can all judge you?

Can we just leave our personal judgements to one side and focus on the fight game and the history that's being made!

This IS a discussion forum isn't it? He is one of the greatest MMA practitioners of all time, if not the greatest. No arguments. That has been stated more than once, should we only mention that once also? I find the UFC attitude to cheats, not just Jones, others too, very strange. In a sport where an unfair advantage could lead to serious long term damage or even death I find their attitude to drug cheats incredible, yet they banned Diaz for marijuanna use? I guess this is less of a criticism of Jones than it is about the franchise. Boxing is as bad. My frailties are my own business but I work every day to control them and not let them control me. People have given me chances before, and I am all for giving others the same chances. Jones however has taken those chances several times now and thrown them back in others faces. He is clearly a troubled young man, perhaps my use of the word reprehensible was out of order. He needs help, ongoing help, not a multi million dollar industry validating his choices because he is their cash cow.

I'm allowed to say that on this discussion forum? Sure others may disagree and I'm cool with that, indeed a welcome discussing alternate opinions, and might learn from them myself. Perhaps Jones has changed from the kind of person who drives under the influence and flees the scene of an accident He caused leaving a distraught pregnant woman as the victim? I hope he has, he has so much to offer the sport and potentially other young people who look up to him. Here's hoping he's turned that corner. As a martial artist I can appreciate his skills, particularly his grappling. His meteoric rose reminds me of when Tyson burst onto the scene, another troubled young man who was allowed to male dreadful decisions without fear of consequences. I hope his life doesn't follow the same pattern and wish him every success in finding the peace he must surely need.

Edited by biggbn on Sunday 5th March 16:08

[Koolkat969]

g4ry13 said:

Koolkat969 said:

g4ry13 said:

Which bad boys specifically? I mostly see one dimensional sluggers.

The division overall is pretty weak.

Stipe, Curtis Blade, Aspinall - one dimensional sluggers? Gane, yes, he just lost but one dimensional slugger?

I was thinking about Tuivasa and Lewis.

Stipe: he's done. Too old.
Aspinall: he is one that I think has a chance but haven't seen enough from him.
Blaydes: nothing exceptional and not an elite fighter.
Gane: poor wrestling and ground game.

Tuvasa and Lewis you're right.

I think as heavyweights, you're never going to see something fancy anyway but with the exception of a special talent like Jones. The same happens in boxing with a few exceptions. Just too big, heavy and slow for the most part. The big one punch knockout is usually the highlight of heavyweights for the most part.

The lower weights will always have the most dynamic and exciting fighters.