[Closed] The UFC/BELLATOR/MMA Thread.

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Ah, good shout.

The fight I'm most interested in at the moment is Dos Anjos vs. Ferguson. That said, I'll most likely be watching it from behind a cushion.

They're both utterly terrifying pressure fighters. Dos Anjos is arguably the more defensively savvy of the two (despite the recent loss to Alvarez; [i]too[/i] recent perhaps?), but Ferguson has an unbelievable ability to eat up punishment and keep coming forward like the undead.

Watch how many shots Barboza lands on him here, before he eventually tires and gets submitted:

However, I can't post a video of Ferguson without doing the same for Dos Anjos. Here's arguably his best performance against the then champion Anthony Pettis. Textbook example of how a pressure fighter can deal with a skilled outfighter like Pettis:

arrpee

Ah, good shout.

The fight I'm most interested in at the moment is Dos Anjos vs. Ferguson. That said, I'll most likely be watching it from behind a cushion.

I think Ferguson could well win it - which would be a spectacular fall from grace for Dos Anjos. Ferguson is rangey and durable, and if RDA wants to close distance with him he'll wind up in the clinch and possibly going to the ground where I feel Ferguson is more dangerous. If it turns into later rounds it could become a standup match, to Ferguson's benefit.

Well, that didn't disappoint. Amazing, close fight, but Ferguson was a cut above. I'm a big fan of Numagomedov, but I don't see how they can deny Ferguson the title shot after that performance and the quality of his winning streak.

Of course, Nurmegomedov has to get past Johnson next week before this even becomes a debate, and Johnson seems an awkward opponent for him on paper.

McGregor vs. Alvarez seems like a bit of a side show to me at the minute, but I'll be happy to be proved wrong.

Yeah, great fight. Mildly annoyed that I didn't put money on it as it played out almost exactly as I'd imagined it would.

McGregor vs. Alvarez seems like a bit of a side show to me at the minute, but I'll be happy to be proved wrong.

Well, side show / main show....either way it's the big show. Cannot wait.

I've been threatening to get into watching the whole UFC thing, where do you actually watch it?

The thing that puts me off a bit is the whole out of the ring drama and oddly the way they number the competitions remained me too much of the WWF/WWE.
Oh and the small number of fans of the sport who wear funny t-shirts with the sleeves missing and seem to want to punch everyone in the high street.

[quote=P-Jay ]I've been threatening to get into watching the whole UFC thing, where do you actually watch it?

UFC Fight Pass or BT Sport

P-Jay
I've been threatening to get into watching the whole UFC thing, where do you actually watch it?

BT Sport as Boardinbob says. UFC's own youtube channel is generally a good source of older fights. Like any other copyright material there's obviously a myriad of ways to stream that are not strictly legal.

The thing that puts me off a bit is the whole out of the ring drama

That's just hyping the fight. The idea that two people who will fight don't like each other sells better than hugs and kisses. Sometimes it's contrived. Some times it's real.

Oh and the small number of fans of the sport who wear funny t-shirts with the sleeves missing and seem to want to punch everyone in the high street.

The Tapout brand is licensed in the UK by Sportsdirect.com. No worse than soccer fans at any rate.

1 year ban for Jon Jones 🙄

1 year ban for Jon Jones

I can't say I'm disappointed with this. I can't stand Jones' smug personality and shitty attitude. He's probably the best we've ever seen however he's got progressively more boring in my opinion.

He'd beat Cormier again and I think 205 is more interesting without him.

Oh how DC must be chuckling at that news

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BoardinBob

1 year ban for Jon Jones

Apparently this is just from USADA, NAC have yet to deal with him. Whatever suspension will be back dated to July. I'd be surprised if this is the end of it though.

Quite sick of Jones' bullshit. I wish the UFC would release him with the caveat that he can only fight in Japan at heavyweight.

Seems the source of the banned substances was, in Jones' words, a 'dick pill'. Perhaps he was hoping that it was some sort of cure.

Nearly time folks, biggest and baddest card ever!! I'm most intrigued by Woodley v Thompson, both amazing fighters and I just can't call it because of their respective styles.
The Polish battle has been building nicely through the week too 🙂

Most commentators picking Wonderboy over Woodley, which makes sense. However, we've seen Thompson get hurt by a big punch before (e.g. Ellenberger). He did well to smother Ellenberger and recover in that fight, but Woodley seems a much nastier finisher.

Feeling nervous for Nurmagomedov against Johnson.

Of all the championship matches, Jedrzejczyk seems the easiest pick. Shame she's been acting like a dick all week in front of the camera.

Any predictions for McGregor-Alvarez?

Flew into New York a few hours ago... knackered but heading to the garden to watch the fight soon... mac in round 2

Enjoy it Chris!!
I hear you arepee with Thompson, but if woodley lands in a swarm then he's down, that's what makes it prospective fight of the night for me with their styles. If wonderboy keeps his long range he'll pick woodley off.
Conor? I think he might just do it but it's going to be way harder than he thinks (in public anyway!). Goes past 3 then Alvarez will have him imo.

Jedrzejczyk's been trying to be the female Conor this week with her bluster! Been quite amusing

Wow........

Aye, impressive

Control, discipline and patience. Alvarez didn't really have a say in that fight.

Alvarez' post fight comments are interesting in how he didn't stick to his game plan, the pressure pre fight was getting him after all. Really good interview of John Kavanagh on YouTube (Ariel Helwani) from earlier in the week, Conor and SBG really are showing everyone else how to do it.
Conor's precision is unbelievable!

Notter, I've seen that, I'm not sure it would have made a difference, Conor was calm and measured, his strike rate was ridiculous, Alvarez just didn't look like he had any answer at all. Ironic since he criticised Conor's choice of opponents, then he folded like all the rest.

Classy post fight interview

looked like a mismatch tbh, alvarez bearly in the fight at all.

Which is mental when you see what Alvarez did to Dos Anjos, not that it'll happen now but imagine what Conor would have done to him!! Looking forward to Woodley Wonderboy 2!

Impressed by McGregor there. Definitely expected Alvarez to be more competitive. Eddie looked really rattled; mental warfare effective again? Problem for McGregor is the he's now arguably got himself appointed captain of a wrecked ship, in that he now probably has to face Nurmagomedov or Ferguson.

And Christ, did you see Khabib last night? Monstrous. I could go a long time before seeing Johnson get punched in the head again.

arrpee

Impressed by McGregor there. Definitely expected Alvarez to be more competitive. Eddie looked really rattled; mental warfare effective again? Problem for McGregor is the he's now arguably got himself appointed captain of a wrecked ship, in that he now probably has to face Nurmagomedov or Ferguson.

And Christ, did you see Khabib last night? Monstrous. I could go a long time before seeing Johnson get punched in the head again.

McGregor beat Alvarez so handily it almost seemed anticlimactic. Absolutely amazing performance when you consider the run Eddie was on. As for Khabib, I can't imagine there will be much desire at the UFC to substitute there most popular and lucrative asset with someone who has very limited appeal.

I think they'll do Ferguson v Nurmagomedov to decide the no.1 contender status. Ferguson is extremely dangerous off his back, lanky and durable. No way Khabib just rains down blows from half guard.

Meanwhile Conor will be eyeing up the most potentially lucrative fights available with the likes of GSP, Mayweather, maybe Woodley or Ceronne at a pinch.

Third fight with Diaz next year, I'd guess

Rousey vs Nunes tonight. So many question marks over Rousey's state of mind and her camp's ability to address her shortcomings. Nunes looking very relaxed; tempted to say she'll get it by an early tko. That said, it's easy to forget how dominant Rousey was up until the Holm fight. Lots of commentators also reminding us of Nunes' tendency to tire early.

More interested in Cruz/Garbrant. Rooting for Cruz, but he'll basically have spend 5 rounds defusing a bomb. Similar story for Dillashaw against Lineker, albeit for a shorter duration.

Dont like rousey's attitude "undefeated is a state of mind" etc. But dont see her losing to Nunes. I think she wins here, Holly beats Germaine de Randamie in feb, then she can avenge the loss, get two titles and retire. Reckon Garbrant will get Cruz inside 2 rounds to be honest.

I have a mancrush on Dom Cruz. The bits from embedded etc with him and Dojo have been great.

Plus stuff like this...

I share the Cruz man-crush. I don't usually go in for the pre-fight trash-talking, but Cruz has just been masterful. You just know that his arch, slightly camp delivery winds up his hyper-masculine opponents no-end. Cutting about with the wee poodle also looks like a similar calculated move.

Well, shit.

I did not see that coming. Cruz didn't seem to be 100% in his game plan. Trying to out strike Cody wasn't the best idea. That's not to take anything away from Cody, he fought a really good fight, and deserved the win.

Ronda must be gutted. Still a great division for the women even if she retires. Nunes is awesome.

2hrs sleep in the end, but was worth it.

208 looks like garbage, tho.

Did not see Cruz getting shown up like that

Did Goldie shit on dana's desk or something? Last night and no big send off

Garbrandt looked great. Hard to tell if Rousey's standup was really as bad it looked or if she just got wobbled with the first shot and was incapable of doing anything thereafter.

Did Goldie shit on dana's desk or something? Last night and no big send off

I think the lack of a big send off is indicative of a big corporate product that's always acted as if it's far more important than any of its individual parts. But saying that I'm surprised Rogan didn't say something. The broadcast I saw was heavily edited, maybe he did. Presumably he'll comment on it in his upcoming podcasts.

I think the lack of a big send off is indicative of a big corporate product that's always acted as if it's far more important than any of its individual parts. But saying that I'm surprised Rogan didn't say something. The broadcast I saw was heavily edited, maybe he did. Presumably he'll comment on it in his upcoming podcasts.

True. Just see how they treated Jacob "Stitch" Duran. Still would it have killed them to have just done a 1 min package with a few highlights in it. Very little outlay to stop everyone thinking they're a bunch of heartless ****s.

As for Rogan, you see Big John's reaction to him calling Means' knee legal?

https://streamable.com/rdltg

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I don't think anyone had any idea how good Garbrant really was, which is forgivable, given how little we'd actually seen of him up until that point. Can't wait to see him against Dillashaw, who also looked brilliant. Cruz man-crush is undiminished, especially after the post-fight interview.

The Rousey fight was just sad. Really hard to imagine her coming back, or why anyone would want her to. I just hope that the injury and trauma of her last two fights hasn't rendered her fortune irrelevant.

Cyborg is never getting her super fight with Ronda now either or if she does it has lost a lot of its lustre

I can't help but Justino would have taken her sweet time about it and demolished Rousey piece by piece. I think she's been caught using a masking agent or a diuretic or something though so she might be out for a while anyway.

BJ vs Rodriguez this weekend. BJ's probably the first MMA fighter I remember really being a fan of but I do not fancy his chances. Here's hoping though.

The latest Heavy Hands podcast did a focus on BJ Penn, and how unless he has made a big change to his strategy game, is going to be in trouble this weekend.

141 - Whatever happened to BJ Penn?

ReleasedJan 11, 2017

Remember when it felt like BJ Penn was probably going to win his next fight? Us, too. It was a magical time, when “just scrapping” was a viable way to find wins in the UFC. A time when talented rich kids could float breezily through a schedule of fights that would kill a normal man. A time when BJ Penn was king. We have a simpler way of describing this mythical era, and the language involved is bound to offend friends, relatives, and fans alike, as well as Baby Jay himself. We call it “over six years ago.” Yep. The age of Penn has come and gone, but here we are, with The Prodigy himself raring for another comeback, and this time against one of the most dangerous young prospects in the UFC, Yair Rodriguez. On this week’s Heavy Hands, we discuss the methodologies of Penn and Rodriguez (they’re not as different as you might think), and reflect on Penn’s legacy as a martial artist. But that’s not all. We’re also breaking down the way that Joe Lauzon so artfully manages to both live and die by the sword (or submission, as the case may be), offering our reasons why you shouldn’t yet give up on Sergio Pettis, and answering listener questions.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/heavy-hands/id700326799

BJ looked a shell of himself when he was last in the cage 3 years ago. I expect him to be humiliated at the weekend

Oh, and it's free fight pass this weekend, so the following are free to watch:

Friday, January 13
TKO 37: RIVALS
9/6pm ET/PT

Saturday, January 14
Invicta FC 21
8/5pm ET/PT

Sunday, January 15
UFC FIGHT PASS PRELIMS
6/3pm ET/PT

plus access to the fight library etc.

More info: http://www.ufc.com/news/UFC-FIGHT-PASS-Free-Weekend-Begins-This-Friday

Jamie - Member

Oh, and it's free fight pass this weekend, so the following are free to watch:

Thanks for the heads up. I wonder is it for new accounts only because I'm ineligible for previous free trials having already had an account for a while.

Suppose I could use a different email etc.....watch Pride all weekend 8)

Be able to find out from 7am tomorrow what the setup is. I have used a few free codes, so will see how it goes.

Edit: Just tried it now. Used on an account which I had previously used a free month code on. It's working from now. Odd it says monthly sub free. Also, no debit/credit card linked to the account needed. So no risk of billing kicking in.

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Anyway, that's my evening viewing sorted....

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BJ was great but the sport has evolved 10 fold in the last few years.

He looked averaged at best in his training camp on the countdown show...Rodriguez is a young gun in the new era...I think he'll destroy BJ quickly!

I just think it's funny every time BJ's comeback fight got cancelled or postponed, his opponents got tougher.

Wake me up when it's March.

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Plus I head you get an interim belt just for watching.

Great fight...and the right fight to make for top contender...going to be a great card but interim really!? How many fighters have only defended their belts once every 9-12 months Conor takes a few months off after an active few years and the belts on the line...BS!!

It's about time. Khabib's manager's twitter shennanigans were getting old. They're getting silly with these interim belts.

It [i]"kind of. sort of, almost"[/i] because it attributes special status to the winner. If McGregor was a regular fighter who could be relied upon to come back and defend his title at LW then this would be the NO.1 contenders fight, but who knows what McGregor will want to do when/if he comes back.

Just clocked the Penn fight is on Sunday night, so Monday morning for us. Odd scheduling.

Superbowl or something isn't it?

That or Invicta 😀

MLK day? Sure there's three cards this weekend

Cheers for the free pass tip Jamie.
Anyone else getting this for the Penn fight? 😥

Due to broadcast restrictions, this video is not available within a UFC® FIGHT PASS™ subscription or as a pay-per-view in your region. Please check your local TV listings for viewing information.

This event is currently blacked out in your region.

You'll be able to watch the FightPass prelims but not the main card - unfortunately that's always the way it is with UFC in the UK and Ireland due to BT Sport and their contract/shitty coverage.

I could be wrong but I believe FightPass subscribers in the U.S can watch the entire event. Perhaps all of the events bar the big PPV events and even then they can watch those a day later. Hopefully when the new owners renegotiate the tv deals in the states they'll scrap the BT contract and just offer a bells and whistles Fight Pass option for Europe.

Righto, cheers jimjam

You'll have access to almost the entire UFC/PRIDE/STRIKEFORCE/EBI/GLORY/INVICTA fight library in the mean time which should ease the pain 😉

Currently working my way through it 😀

I've got BT...cheap as chips compared to Sky/Virgin plus I get every show...good value if you're a fan.

I get BT with my Virgin package. Just signed up with BT mobile and get it on my phone as well. I have too much BT.

That was predictable.

Haven't seen the fights, was too tired. I'll check them out tonight. I heard Alexey Oleynik landed an Ezkiel choke from bottom so looking forward to seeing that.

BJ was great but the sport has evolved 10 fold in the last few years.

He looked averaged at best in his training camp on the countdown show...Rodriguez is a young gun in the new era...I think he'll destroy BJ quickly!

I was right then #predictable

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And on a much less fun note..... 😐

Woodley just doesn't do himself any favours. Ever.

Bit of a sleeper card this weekend - could be some great fights.

Not a great fight but the finish was spectacular. Alexa Grasso v Felice Herrig could be good too.

Anyone else just a tiny bit excited about Ferguson vs. Nurmagomedov?

Not sure who to pick, but I’m leaning toward Khabib, just because of that tendency for his fights to end-up looking like a contest between a human and an enraged male chimpanzee.

Tony will almost certainly get taken down at some point, and while I could see him doing a better job once there than some recent opponents (e.g. Michael Johnstone), I could see Khabib controlling him enough and landing sufficient ground strikes to get a decision win.

I reckon Khabib will get pretty dinged-up on the feet in the process, but I can’t see Tony knocking him out. However, there’s also every possibility that he’ll spring a submission on him, either off his back or during a scramble (of which there’s bound to be plenty).

Also interested to see Woodley vs. Thompson again. For all that the pundits were calling this a horrendous match-up for Woodley last time out, he ended up making it look a lot like the opposite for two rounds. I can imagine Woodley just trying to do the same thing, but better. Wonder how Thompson will try to adjust? He ended up being really skittish about kicking last time, and with good reason.

arrpee - Member

Anyone else just a tiny bit excited about Ferguson vs. Nurmagomedov?

Can't wait. It's one of the best pure matchups we're likely to see this year. Legitimately, number one and two contenders. I have no idea what will happen. Ferguson isn't just a striker or a jiu jitsu guy, he can wrestle too. Maybe not good enough to prevent getting takendown by Khabib, but there's every chance he can be threatening off his back with elbows and submission attempts. He's also super tough and durable with incredible cardio.

In a lot of ways Khabib is the unknown quantity, a huge amount of his record is in Russian competitions against complete unknows. Ferguson is effectively 16.1 in the UFC as opposed to Khabib's 8.0

Tony is the underdog, going in but I think he has all the tools neutralize Khabib. I smell an upset....but then it's mma so anything can and will happen 😈

Next weekend I am going to be recovering from a shoulder op. Looks like I might renew FightPass sub, as some decent stuff on like EBI 11.

Sidebar: If I go on to the UFC Fight Pass website they put all the times in GMT. Yet in the shitting app they just list EST. Great job, guys! 🙁

At least that's something. I've scoured the UFC website many times looking for show start times, even european shows but it's always just Americanese.

the whole card is loaded.

it's going to be wild...

I think Ferguson wins, i think Thompson wins....

I still watch this and feel like I ought to send Michael Johnson a card or something.

Hopefully Snoop Dogg will pass his thoughts on the Ferguson fight as well....

Snoop dude looks baked...

Oh Shit!