UFC279 was about to showcase the potentially brutal demise of two of the organization’s favorite fighters - Nate Diaz and Tony Ferguson - at the hands of Khamzat Chimev and Li Jingliang, respectively. Now, we’ve got a card that is probably what we should have had in the first place.
Diaz v. Ferguson: Could be a classic - and a great way to send off Diaz, win or lose.
Chimaev v. Holland: From the backstage to the cage. Five rounds. Perfect grudge match.
Jingliang v. Rodriguez: Nice to see Li not lose a payday.
Could be one hell of a night for fight fans …
Yup, upon further review the conspiracy theory makes no sense, haha. But this:
I only think this applies when you have an organization that rewards poor behavior - and occasionally punishes professionalism.
I would tend to agree. However, I don’t think the UFC necessarily tends to punish professionalism. At the worst they seem to treat it with indifference, especially with an athlete that is difficult to promote (ie. Mighty Mouse). I at least can’t think of any specific examples, feel free to educate me in any case. I do think an element of chaos is probably always going to be around the UFC. It sells tickets. But it becomes more trouble then its worth when the stars whose, asinine behavior has previously been ignored, start failing literally all their drug tests and throwing dolly’s through bus windows…
I ended up missing the event, but it was great to hear Diaz gets to enter free agency with a bunch of leverage and several really solid prospects that could make him a boat load of cash. I used to actively dislike the Diaz brothers, but over the years have really come to appreciate their fighting style and attitudes. Especially as MMA has become more corporate. That guy has been fighting for 20 years as it finally is legitimately paying off. Definitely the biggest MMA free agent in a long time…maybe ever? Might even seen him pull a monster paycheque to smack around an untalented, annoying, child star turned Youtuber turned wannabe boxer whose name I will not use so as not to sully this thread with it.
If you love the lighter weight fighters (below welterweight), then it’s hard to imagine a better UFC card that what’s in store this Saturday for UFC 280.
Oliveira v. Makhachev AND Dariush v. Gamrot at lightweight
Sterling v. Dillashaw AND Yan v. O’Malley at bantamweight
Plus you get welterweights Sean Brady vs. Belal Muhammad at the top of the prelims
Oliveira is one of the most incredible stories in MMA. He’s come a long way from some really tough early losses into one of the most effective and entertaining lightweight champions the UFC has ever had. I’d love to see him get a win by strangle on Saturday.
2 Likes
Holy F*ck I did not see the main event ending in that way. Don’t know how I feel about Islam V Volk which I’ve heard is the next fight.
I am not a Yan fan but he got screwed in my opinion. Maybe I will have to watch it again but I don’t see how O’Malley would have won 2 rounds.
Dariush is a damn G and I really hope he gets the title shot next (if it isn’t Volk). For me him winning would be like Glover winning his belt. A real feel good moment in the sport.
The bantamweight title fight was bullsh*t. Respect for TJ making it out of the 1st round but going into a fight when you’ve had “20 dislocations in camp” and where you tell the ref your shoulder will pop out before the fight even starts… Is either just arrogance on how easy he thought he would have it or a complete disrespectful disregard for the fans who may have paid to see his fight
3 Likes
I didn’t see it, but I read about it after. Between how teammates (Faber, Garbrandt) have said he is toxicly competitive to the point of intentionally hurting sparring partners, the blood doping, and now this I think its safe to say that TJ is a dirtbag, or at least has strong dirtbag tendencies.
That being said, I can see why he did what he did. He is firmly in the last stage of his fight career and with his age, injury history and the level of competition at bantamweight its gonna take some big things to get another shot. After this, I bet the UFC keeps him on a pretty short leash and if he looks anything short of amazing in his next fights I bet he gets dropped once his contract is up.
He was definitely robbed, as soon as I realized it was going to be a split decision I knew it was bullshit.
I’m very late to this conversation. But what are your thoughts about Adesanya v. Pereira?
One of the things about high level MMA that has entertained me for years is that just when you start to “get used to” a champion, the unsuspected/unexpected often happens. This year, it was first welterweight Kamaru Usman who was be dethroned en route to being declared P4P #1. Now we can add middleweight champion Adesanya to the list of historic champion upsets late in their run. The fact that both Usman and Adesanya were winning their fights - until they lost them - only adds to the drama.
I’ll admit to being annoyed that Pereira is already talking about moving to light heavyweight. I would have enjoyed seeing him try and defend the middleweight belt. But this kind of thing happens so frequently now that I’m not crying in my beer over it any more. Just here for the scraps whenever they’re ready.
1 Like
I think this “mechanism” is what has helped build the UFC brand so well. It has tapered over the years as all the fighters have improved and are so much more aware of the risks and are more defensively sound. The fact that literally anything could happen makes it so much fun to watch.
I hadn’t seen that mentioned, but I think his success is mainly due to just being Izzy’s kryptonite, rather than have a championship skillset. If Izzy’s offensive wrestling was giving him problems, I doubt he is going to be able to hold a belt in any division. But if he is in the same camp as Glover, he probably will have solid training partners and trainers. Perhaps he can bridge the skill gap somehow. I am definitely interested one way or the other.
1 Like
Maybe you’re a DJ guy. Maybe you’re a GSP guy. But after last night, there is no doubt: Jon Jones is the greatest mixed martial artist of all time. If there’s a God, and if God is an MMA fan, then we’ll not only get Jones v Miocic later this year, we’ll also somehow get Jones v. Ngannou, too.
2 Likes
Find me the non-U.K. citizen who thought Leon Edwards was going to pull off a convincing victory in his rematch against once-upon-a-time-P4P-great Kamaru Usman …
That said, I’ll take Leon over Colby all day. #headkickfinish
1 Like
Controversial opinion but I think Colby walks through Leon with relative ease.
2 Likes
I would have thought so before seeing Leon beat Usman twice.
Colby couldn’t finish Masvidal in five. Do you think he stops Leon?
I think that is very unlikely. I think it would be more more of a typical Colby just outworking and smothering Leon on the feet long enough to get a takedown.
For me Colby’s ability to go from striking to failed takedown attempt, to takedown attempt , to takedown attempt, to striking, to takedown in a ‘flowy’ manner is what wins him the fight.
Jones has too many asterisks behind his name and the heavyweight division is very weak.
For sure he’s the real notorious champ.
1 Like
Wow! One of the biggest upsets in MMA championship history just took place. It might not have been dramatic as Leon Edwards taking the welterweight belt from Usman. But in terms of beating the odds, Sean Strickland’s defeat of middleweight champion Israel Adesanya is as impressive an upset as you’re going to get.
This interview between Sean Strickland’s coach and one of the best journalists in MMA was a great watch earlier this week. Every time I think MMA is getting a little stale, MMA reminds me that fighting is just a different kind of sport.
4 Likes
My favorite upset ever will always be Matt Serra knocking out GSP
2 Likes
Hard to imagine that one ever being topped.
2 Likes
This list was a super fun travel through history. I agree pretty strongly with pretty much every entry and where they are placed. The Randleman KO of Crocop is one of my favorites to this day. Also love the back to back Bigfoot Silva entries, he was such a menace in Strikeforce and his early UFC run. The Tito Vs Bader fight was crazy too. It felt like Tito had gone years without scoring a victory and then he takes out this undefeated young stud in the first round with a big punch and then chokes him out! Great memories
3 Likes
That’s a fun list.
Honorable mention: Yushin Okami vs. Tim Boetsch
Sort of an upset, but more of a comeback win.
1 Like
