Official Mixed Martial Arts Thread

[McFly]

Tottally agree with your sentiments on Cowboy, im not sure how fussed he is about the belt but its a shame as itd be cool to see. Hes afraid of the pressure of expectation i think [/psych 101]

 

Connor is at it again but seems to be wearing a bit thin:

 

"Fuck UFC"

[angel]

Ngnanou Browne is a great shout, I'd love to see Browne thumped, although he's finally left Tamzarian so someone might remind him how to kick again. Saw Conors stuff, White is unimpressed. He said yeah sure he's selling 5 dollar tickets, and any Conor activity without involving the UFC would be an 'epic fail'.  Basically Dana's probably got the legal paperwork all drawn up to stop anything he tries.

 

Maybe it's just me though, but the UFC is feeling really small time at the moment, when you see their current 'stars' sat in the crowd doing the usual silly hand gestures, I personally see that as the UFC keeping them in their place, keeping their brands small. Conor is off starting promotional companies and doing his own PPVs, you'd not find him sat at a UFC on Fox event doing silly looks to camera. He's ascended to a level of stardom way beyond the likes of Lawler and the other fighters they had in the crowd.

[Gotters]

having not seen much of Ngannau is he just a giant banger or does he have any wrestling/ground game pedigree ?

[glb]

22 minutes ago, Gotters said:

having not seen much of Ngannau is he just a giant banger or does he have any wrestling/ground game pedigree ?

 

You remember that lab in Rocky IV? He was built by a MMA 3D printer.

 

He started out dreaming of being a boxer, but then found MMA after being homeless (he's got a pretty interesting back story). Seems he never really had a strict discipline beyond wanting to box, he just trains as an MMA fighter, with an all-round game.

 

If you've not watched it, check out the recent episode of Road to the Octagon, which will illustrate better than I can just what potential he has (his segment kicks in at 32m16s) :

 

 

[Gotters]

not seen that, cool video - he's a physical specimen for sure, no skinny Jon Jones legs there.

 

he does look a beast, be fascinating to see how somebody still so green to the ground game fares when faced with an elite wrestler or BJJ practitioner, I imagine on power alone he can get out of some spots but ultimately will need more than that.

 

exciting to see something new at heavyweight though, and with the paucity of genuine contenders he could get a shot later in 17 for sure.

[glb]

Yeah, in terms of raw talent he's terrifying. Like you say, he's green compared to, say Brock on the ground so be interesting to see how he reacts once taken to deep waters (if anyone can get him there). Fingers-crossed he stays on track, there's something unique about heavyweights and this kid seems a decent chap too, pretty humble and respectful.

 

Oh, and not sure how to link to Instagram, but check out Joanna Jedrejczyk's ringside video... the crack on the counter punch is hefty considering he's backing up and not fully behind it. Him and Mark Hunt could take turns sinking battleships.

[McFly]

In terms of pedigree on the grappling side, Ngannou didnt have anything formal until he started mma iirc. But that doesnt really matter as he seems a total natural and he finished a fight with standing double wristlock to kimura which isnt very common these days and i cant wait for his next fight. Is Struve out longterm? Maybe thatd be a good fight to make since Skyscraper is out of the JDS fight.

[Tofu]

Ngannou looks like he was built in a lab to terrify racists.

[Doomguy]

1 hour ago, Tofu said:

Ngannou looks like he was built in a lab to terrify racists.

 

haha brilliant. 

 

He moves with coordination which is unusual at that size. When you get white dudes that big they rarely move well; I'm basing this off watching the nba for years - possibly slow twitch vs fast twitch muscles make the difference?

 

That's why Lesnar was such a freak of nature. I don't think we'll see someone like Lesnar for a long long time if ever. 

[glb]

True that. Lesnar is a freak of nature. If Ngannou reaches his potential, wouldn't mind seeing those two face off (unlikely as  it is Brock will ever work for Dana again).

[Doomguy]

If Brock had started in mma straight after college he'd have been champ for years, no question. He'd have been impossible to beat with decent standup and ok bjj. God knows why they had a no punching policy in training. The man has lunchboxes for fists. 

[McFly]

Also he did have a large part of his colon removed, my mum had the same cobdition and similar subsequent surgery. The fact he fought at all and is perform in wwe is pretty impressive. As SteveDave says he could have been insane if he trained mma from college.

 

Julianna Pèna on Ufc unfiltered was talking about Ronda not getting punched in training camp and making sparring partners sign NDAs on their training and how this obviously is stupid way to prepare for a fight. I seem to recall Pat Berry saying the same about Brock when he trained with him.

[Tofu]

1 hour ago, McFly said:

 

Julianna Pèna on Ufc unfiltered was talking about Ronda not getting punched in training camp and making sparring partners sign NDAs on their training and how this obviously is stupid way to prepare for a fight. I seem to recall Pat Berry saying the same about Brock when he trained with him.

Yeah, 'cause Pena is a reliable source.

[angel]

Instant pos for Pat Berry.

[Doomguy]

I think it was more than one source for Brock. I don't think Ronda would mind getting hit I think she just had the worst trainer ever. Tarverdyan has no boxing or training credentials. He's that bad it's the equivalent of someone here teaching ronda standup. He said he won boxing belts, but has no boxrec, he said he had 20+ mma fights but only has two on sherdog; both guys have been paid multiple times to take dives. 

 

I can't think of a more delusional person in mma other than that nutcase Dan Quinn who was injecting stevia into himself and called out kimbo slice for a street fight. 

[Doomguy]

Few interesting updates.

 

Romero vs Bisping confirmed. 

 

Nick Diaz appears to have ducked a fight with Damian Maia

 

Bader to Bellator. 

 

Mcgregor has said the UFC tried to strip him of his title before 205. Maintains he's still the 145lb champ. 

[Orion]

Nick Diaz drives me nuts. Him vs Lawler or Maia would be awesome fights and a win would put him in title contention. He wants to get "paid" though. What does that mean? Conor? a title shot even though he hasn't won a fucking fight in forever? He is stubborn as hell I'll give him that and its worked for him in the past.

 

Bader is not really a draw but he is a top rated LH. Good pick up by Bellator. I'm not really looking forward to Bader vs Phil Davis part 2 though.

[Doomguy]

2 hours ago, Orion said:

Nick Diaz drives me nuts. Him vs Lawler or Maia would be awesome fights and a win would put him in title contention. He wants to get "paid" though. What does that mean? Conor? a title shot even though he hasn't won a fucking fight in forever? He is stubborn as hell I'll give him that and its worked for him in the past.

 

Diaz was banging the drum about getting 'big money fights' years ago. They gave him big fights and he lost them all. He's not won in 6 years. Someone needs to sit him down and explain this. 

[schmojo]

13 hours ago, Stevedave said:

Few interesting updates.

 

Romero vs Bisping confirmed. 

 

 

This fight isn't booked is it? The best I can see is Dana saying that he definitely gets the next title shot.

 

Which, based on whispers, would be an interim one as Bisping lets his knee heal. Or waits on his belt a big longer because it'll earn him more.

 

3 interesting fighters removed from UFC rankings today, presumably Bellator-bound: Lorenz Larkin, Rick Story and (most interestinly) Misha Cirkunov.

 

If they've all gone to Bellator in the same week as Bader, Bellator's getting more legit. Both Larkin and Cirkunov had UFC title contender potential.

[Yobo Ahoy]

I don't think any of those stories are confirmed actually 

 

 

 

 

[angel]

It is on BE.

 

http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2017/2/1/14480976/mma-news-misha-cirkunov-lorenz-larkin-rick-story-pulled-from-ufc-rankings

 

I did say this last year, I think the UFC is facing a downsizing this year, they simply arent replacing old stars with too many new ones. Fair play to that lot and Bader, go get paid. I'll happily watch them on Bellator seeing as the UFC is becoming a shell of its former self. I mean Conor is half gone, Ronda is fully gone, Numagomedov constantly wants out, Aldo wants to go and do boxing, the Diaz brothers wont accept fights, GSP cant agree on a contract, Cain and DC are always injured, Werdum won't accept any fights, Cyborg is waiting on Usada, Jones will pop for something again, Pettis is done, Cerrone is almost done, Goldies gone...I mean..theyre a mess.

 

This is a serious year of transition I think, real shake ups coming.

[McFly]

I was gonna type out a rebuttal but....youre right  if Bisping wasnt Champ id struggle to really care. 

 

In happier news Alex Jones and Eddie Bravo are on JRE #tower7 #chemtrails

[V3zna]

Does Bellator have a UK TV deal? 

[McFly]

Its on sky 160, aka Spike TV satutdays at 10pm

[angel]

Dont get me wrong im not saying there arent fights and fighters I enjoy, but the only show I really care about announced so far in 2017 is Rumble vs DC and then the winner fighting Jones. Maybe Khabib v Ferguson, but they are all pretty hardcore fan fights. Jones despite being so dominant was never a huge draw, his buy rates were always fairly low..from 300 to 600 thousand at best, nowhere near the million pluses from the Ronda and Conor shows. UFC in 2017 feels a bit lacklustre to me, cards full of filler, terrible new owners who thought Nunes was a can (as mentioned previously) and won't speak to anyone, putting on boring shows like that UFC on Fox 23, which had a couple of nice fights on it (Masvidal, Schevchenko, the guy who beat Caceras) but no real major names apart from Cowboy (who got embarrassed in front of his home crowd).

 

It feels like the UFC new brass took for granted that we flock to watch absolutely anyone fight in the octagon, but no, we only want to see certain people in it. The fighters are the stars, not the organisation. Whereas they thought the UFC name was the be all and end all of it. A bit like taking over Rare or Infinity Ward but all the talent leaves, you have the name but not the personnel. we might end up in a few years where the talent flees elsewhere. Either that or the Fertittas buy it all back cheap, which I've said a few times I think might happen.

[V3zna]

The decline can be helped dramatically by getting rid of the Reebok deal. Easier said than done I suppose. 

[angel]

Hugely agree but they just won't, they're digging their heels in. Well, until they sign someone better.  Bring back Corn Nuts.

[Yobo Ahoy]

@angel I actually do watch every event regardless of who is fighting, the low key events can often be really entertaining. Appreciate we probably aren't WME's target audience though, and whether I would still watch if the first 'P' in 'PPV' applied in this country is another matter.

[angel]

I do too man, I just mean that star power is sorely lacking. I think it was UFC 206 that was decimated but ended up a really brilliant card with Swanson Choi, Gastelum beating Kennedy etc, loads of great fights from smaller names. I just think WME are really fucking up, like Rogan hinted at, they must be businessmen with no sport acumen.

[McFly]

In with you guys i love mma and ufc and i watch every UFC event to it just that for the first time id have to think who the champs of each division is and thats a first for me. Theres still great fights and great fighters its just a transition i guess. The increased popularity has made me people question their value and pay structure. Plus take Luke Rockhold, great looking, great fighter and he gets KOd by Bisping so you cant get behind somebody in this sport because its so unpredictable. Which is why we love it but it makes it hard to back people with money cos they can be beat in any fight.