Official Mixed Martial Arts Thread

[Yobo Ahoy]

It's weird that Daley is persona non grata when all sorts of criminals, drug cheats and general UFC enemies have all been given second chances over the years. I guess if he goes on a good run in Bellator it will be harder to ignore him so we'll see what happens.

And yeah PG I read about the Dolce/BJ stuff, proper weird. Loads of mudslinging from both sides, even if it was true BJ would have been better off just keeping quiet.

[Doomguy]

If Daley had have kept his cool after the kos fight he'd be champ by now imo. Instead he has situation to contend with as well as his seemingly scummy attitude.

[schmojo]

Good god no. Daley has nowhere near the quality to be champ at 170 in the ufc. His skillset is exciting, but paper thin.

He's a great feature fight though, even if he'd probably only be on the edge of the top 10.

[Yobo Ahoy]

I dunno about being UFC champ but he has certainly matured over the last few years, he's not missed weight for ages and at one point he had a habit of doing that every other fight. I think he'll do well in Bellator, would love to see him vs Lima at some point.

[Kingpin]

I've just seen the main event from Japan but that was incredible, quite a scalp to have on your knockout list. Brilliant stuff.

[Gotters]

People can talk about skill, fast hands, ground game etc but there is little in fighting to match 2 decent heavies throwing bombs at each other.

People love heavies and i really believe the decline in interest in the ufc comes from the time Lesnar dropped off the radar, leaving a string of decent but pretty anonymous champs.

The force of impact on the punches and kicks between hunt and nelson was incredible

[McFly]

Yeah theres not enough heavy weights of note, far too many 1D middle of the road fighters.

[schmojo]

People don't want two decent heavies throwing bombs, they want fat men fighting as if they're in a car park. Not that I don't enjoy that at times, but the low quality of most HW fighters undermines the sport, and the fans' insatiability for it undermines the sport's following being treated as if they have brains.

Hunt/Nelson was interesting though. Nelson's defence wasn't able to cope with the uppercuts, and Hunt realised that he could take anything Nelson threw that wasn't an overhand right, and just dropped his hands and ate them. Glad Hunt won though, he's a down-to-earth guy, and Nelson is a bit of a dick.

Bad news: Weidman's injured. I wonder if Vitor will retire before the fight actually happens?

[McFly]

I wouldnt get too excited about Cruz, finishing fights isnt really his forte I'm afraid to say:

Since joning the WEC and UFC his record is: 10 wins and 1 loss, 8 wins by decision, 1 tko due to a broken hand and a "technical Decision" whatever that means.

Infact looking down the line to TJ vs Cruz, they way they move is almost identical and could lead to an absolute stalemate snoozefest.

As for Roy Nelson, what training does he actually do? I assume he must do BJJ to main his blackbelt, but one take down looked to have him gassed and it just seems that if he doesnt punch your face off in the first round then that's it for him. Great finish by Hunt though.

[Tofu]

As entertaining as Mcgregor is, I would love Poirer to win this.

[schmojo]

I expect that Nelson didn't expect to need his best cardio day for Hunt.

Cruz may not be a finisher, but he's an outstanding fighter, returning from a long layoff. Arguably the best in the world at what he does - what's not to be excited about?

I too would love Poirier to lay Macgregor out cold, but a Macgregor win would be good for the company.

[Kingpin]

So funny watching Dustin reacting to the Irish presence at the weigh ins. I was really surprised at the amount of Irish who travelled over to support. I can't wait for this!

[Don Rosco]

Yeah, he seemed pretty riled up. Remains to be seen whether that's good or bad for him. I can understand why someone would want to see mcgregor battered, he is a bit of a dick. But he's our dick! So I hope he creams poirier. Hyped!

[Tofu]

Probably one of the best UFC event this year.

[Orion]

Yeah from the Cruz fight onwards everything was awesome.

Bit of a moan here but there has been so many one fight cards this year it was great to see a UFC event where every fight meant something again and you cared about the results. More of this please.

[Tofu]

Yeah from the Cruz fight onwards everything was awesome.

Bit of a moan here but there has been so many one fight cards this year it was great to see a UFC event where every fight meant something again and you cared about the results. More of this please.

Not a moan, I feel the same way really. The last UFC event was proper garbage in terms of being special and meaning something. The icing on the cake would be that Cormier and Jones fought.

[krenzler]

Hmm did McGregor really hit Poirier? Couldn't really see it in the replays. Yes, I know a hit to the temple region (however unclean) can knock you out but I didn't really see it here.

I was kinda thinking matchfixing with all the money and attention that's in UFC these days but that's just me.

But still overall a superb show and the best in a long time. Can't wait to see if Cat can do anything to Rousey - I kind of doubt it though. But man the women are ferocious.

[Yobo Ahoy]

Hmm did McGregor really hit Poirier? Couldn't really see it in the replays. Yes, I know a hit to the temple region (however unclean) can knock you out but I didn't really see it here.

I was kinda thinking matchfixing with all the money and attention that's in UFC these days but that's just me.

I would say you're overthinking it. It hit the back of Poirier's head (albeit accidentally).

That Kennedy/Romero fight was fucking outrageous. Excellent fight but Romero properly took the piss by staying on his stool between 2&3, at the very least there should have been a points deduction (even if it would have been ultimately meaningless). In fact I think there was means for awarding the win to Kennedy. And Romero played dumb when Rogan was interviewing him even when there was a translator next to him. If I was Kennedy I would be spitting feathers.

Actually, just reading up on it while writing this post, looks like Kennedy didn't let it lie. Hopefully will be overturned to a NC.

http://www.mmafighting.com/2014/9/28/6856073/tim-kennedy-confronts-yoel-romero-backstage-after-ufc-178

[Kingpin]

Poirier ate a number of left hooks prior to the final exchange. I was listening to the corner audio from Conor's corner and after one of the earlier left hooks, John Kavanagh calls it and says "he's finished" or something like that. Then he gets that glancing shot after that and it's all over.

Cruz vs TJ next according to Dana at the press conference. That was a beauty of a comeback fight from Dominick. Also have Cat vs Ronda in January to look forward to.

Great card, could you fucking imagine how awesome it could have been with DC/Jones headlining? One day soon....

[schmojo]

Crazy event, but brilliant viewing. The Kennedy fight is probably ripe for a rematch, since Romero was out on his feet at the end of the second. I don't like Tim Kennedy though, so I was happy to see him get finished. Romero is a lunatic on the mic too, and a hell of a character (whether he intends to be or not), and can be money for Dana. When the best wrestler in the company chooses to stand and bang, you've got the tools for a real star. God knows why Big John let the stool fiasco go on so long though.

Excellent stuff by Cruz, though the stoppage was brutally slow. Appalling work by the refs again.

Fantastic win by Zingano - took a drubbing in the first, but dominated after.

MacGregor's a real star, but it was a strange finish. The fact is, though, that he made a great fighter look very ordinary. That's what stars do, and he gets every aspect of it. I still think that Mendes could probably ragdoll him though.

[Gotters]

Was a great card all the way up the main event, enjoyed every fight.

I've loved wayching Romero since he came into the ufc, he just has some crazy techniques that nobody else has, tim kennedy is no mug (maybe a little pedestrian but he he is super fit and tough as nails) and Romero beat him up (eventually). Shame the fight was marred by the stool controversy as those few seconds made a lot of difference.

Macgregor looked another level, that was as complete a destruction of a top level fighter you'll see, he almost had disdain for any attack coming his way and his seemed able to throw crazy flashy techniques of his own at will.

If that card had a real headliner and top draw match up as the main event it would go down as a bit of a classic.

[McFly]

I wouldnt get too excited about Cruz, finishing fights isnt really his forte I'm afraid to say:

Bit of a bad predicting by me there

Fantastic event on the PPV card and the Cruz prelim.The stool business in the Kennedy Yomerel fight was bizarre and perhaps not quite cheating but deffently should have had a a point taken away or somekind of warning. fucker

I think the high kick Conor semi-landed on Dustin was what damaged him more than the back of the ear punch, but we've seen plenty time people get dropped by minimal looking punches to the back of the ear

[Yobo Ahoy]

Just catching up on stuff and read the least surprising news ever: Cung Le tested positive for HGH before his fight vs Bisping. 9 month ban.

EDIT: 12 month ban! He'll probably be back just in time for the next China card...

[Doomguy]

We called it.

Though it wasn't hard ;p

Bisping has faced like 7 juiced up guys now since being in the ufc. It's crazy. He should get a title shot purely based on those stats.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFC_179

Aldo Mendes next.

Hoping Aldo crushes mendes and Glover can get the KO - sick of seeing Phil Davis wrestle his way to wins. When are they going to change the rules or judging? wrestling isn't winning it's just staying in a neutral position doing nothing.

[schmojo]

Davis's wrestling wins are entirely legit. They entirely control their opponent, whether you like it or not.

His win over Machida, however, was not at all legit. And he's already been on the wrong side of a beating in his last fight.

I wouldn't be surprised, if Glover takes it, that Davis becomes one of those guys who goes from top 10 to fired. Even though he Tapped Gus.

Wrestling is effective and here to stay, you might be better off with Glory or K1.

[Yobo Ahoy]

I wouldn't be surprised, if Glover takes it, that Davis becomes one of those guys who goes from top 10 to fired. Even though he Tapped Gus.

Think you might be right in this one. Fitch-esque.

This weekend is gonna be pretty good too, G. Nelson vs Story and MacDonald vs Saffiedine.

[schmojo]

Fitch, Okami, Shields. Not a good time to be a grappler making more than about 10k to show up. On second thoughts though, Davis may be safe on account of Rumble's shaky ground.

Cody McKenzie had a pint of blood drawn to make weight for a one-night tournament. That'll be worth tracking down.

Once I went to muay thai training 24 hours after giving blood, and nearly fainted - this could be a worse showing that the basketball shorts with the tag still on!

I'll be cheering on Gunnar this weekend. And Assuncao, because of my dislike of Bryan Caraway.

I'm still getting my head around the fact that Macgregor is about to smash all previous ideas about lighter weights not drawing. Aldo's a legend, but now we have an actual star, and a bunch of fresh matchups with Alpha Male members, in a previously dead division. It's no surprise that Dana's so deeply entrenched in Connor's pants.

[angel]

Macgregor is great, he speaks sense too. The embedded shows were a great example of it. He was eating the finest food with dana and his entourage, dustin was packing up his food into a rucksack. Conor talks the talk about positive thinking, he draws these things into his life, and hes a technician too, he identified dustins basic movement. I think hes great.

[Doomguy]

Davis's wrestling wins are entirely legit. They entirely control their opponent, whether you like it or not.

His win over Machida, however, was not at all legit. And he's already been on the wrong side of a beating in his last fight.

I wouldn't be surprised, if Glover takes it, that Davis becomes one of those guys who goes from top 10 to fired. Even though he Tapped Gus.

Wrestling is effective and here to stay, you might be better off with Glory or K1.

Not denying it's effective, I'm saying it shouldn't determine fights as half the time you get GSP, Fitch, Shields, etc using it to just sit on their opponents doing fuck all instead of trying to transition into a sub or gnp. I mean, didn't GSP beat Hendricks on takedowns despite having his face smashed to bits?

As was coined when Fitch was at his peak it's the ultimate 'fighting' championship not the ultimate 'blanket' championship.

[schmojo]

The three you quote are absolute masters at top control though, which is to be respected. I agree that top control gets a little too much priority, but this isn't Pride anymore - for better or worse.

GSP and Shields always have sub attempts too - they're just also good enough to know when they need to change tactics, as they'll pay dearly if they make the wrong move.