Topic: The UFC Info and Prediction Thread - page 224. (Read 97194 times)

Dana White just wanted to fill that 3 week pause between events, so he decided to do a main event in the club lol

Or this could be a nice promo of White's new show - Power Slap. More info here. New show is planned to start at January 11, so Dana and Fertitas bros are on a promotion tour right now

What do you think about this show? "Regulated and sanctioned by the Nevada State Athletic Commission" - show looks serious. I know that on Russian YouTube such slap shows have been popular for years, first appeared in 2020, and I saw on TV similar shows in UK. This is a first of such kind in the US with such a high promotion level. Gonna be cool, and dangerous. As you basically get a hard hit on a face and you arent allowed to defence. Could lose hearing easily.

^  Wups what a PR disaster for the UFC.  I mean I've defended Dana White itt in the past but that one has no excuse.  Sure his slap was a reaction to his wife's slap to him but there's still no excuse.  They should've taken it in private.  But then again they were drunk.  One of the reasons why a guy like him shouldn't consume a lot of alcohol in public.  It makes people dumb.  He should've just smoked weed and had a good time.  Lol.  But seriously, he should have.

So is he gonna be suspended?  Given the sack?  What a dilemma.  The UFC isn't ready without Dana White even tho Hunter Campbell, Sean Shelby and Mick Maynard have mostly been running everything behind the scenes.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/pUoocOM5iQw

Nate Diaz has taught Dana White some slap moves, and here is how Dana used it. On the video you could see that Dana has slapped his wife several times. Was it due to they both being drunk? Was is sort of defensive or counter reaction, on a slap that his wife gave him first? Was it due to someone screwed in marriage ? I dont know, but that is not what a man should ever do.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaAYPvvx7xA - here is a bit more about it. Damn Dana looked warried. "It is all about kids, and family" - Dana smells fire in his family.

Makhachev is in excellent shape, and he will have an advantage in anthropometry, he is 10 cm taller than Volkanovski, but at the same time they have the same arm span. Let the bookmakers consider Makhachev the clear favorite in this fight, but I tell you that this fight will be a very difficult test for Makhachev against the disciplined Volkanovski. If Makhachev starts this fight actively, he can quickly lose speed, this has happened more than once, Volk will never up the pace, he will wait for his chance, and of course he will stay away from clinches and wrestling. Volkanovski's tactics will be simple, get to the last rands and hope that Makhachev will run out of steam.

Aside from Makhachev vs Volkanovski, there's will be an interesting match between Deiveson Figueriredo vs Brandon Moreno at UFC 283, this is their fourth fight. I really don't have any idea which one will win, there's also a chance it could be a draw too and we need to watch their fifth fight

Monero is more faster and better in wrestling, while Figueriredo has more power, stronger and better in physical appearance. But the fight will held in Brazil, so if it's ended in decision, I expect Figueriredo will win again. The only way for Monero to win is by submission again, just like their second match.

Makhachev really smashed Olivera and finished him off in less time than I expected. Volkanovski is also a much stricter man than Olivera, who does not give up easily. Ortega got rid of the place I said how many times he gave up in the match. Isn't the rate given for Volkanovski really an exaggeration? I think the rates should have been a little closer. I will take this ratio as an opportunity and try my luck with a small amount. Volkonovski continues to train hard without even celebrating New Year's, I think he is ready.

The Level of pressure Islam Makhachev on this wrestling surely far exceeds Oliveira's wrestling but on Volkanovski's part I really think he is ready and has now a decent takedown defense but surely this is the 1st time Volkanovski is facing a Dagestan wrestler, he surely faced many wrestlers in his career but not a Dagestan wrestler and Islam Makhachev is in a different level of caliber when it comes to Combat Sambo Dagestan wrestling type of wrestling, with this kind of wrestling the cage wall is Makhachev's friends while some wrestler it is an obstacle for them, it is pretty much different and the way they train their strength and grip is surely impressive enough, so for me Islam Makhachev all the way,


The problem with wrestlers is if a fighter is a pure striker he doesn't stand a chance against a wrestler, sometime they tend to get preoccupied when the takedowns are coming and their technical view with the fight is always get cautious against a takedown, this would surely cause strikers fighting technique, but in Alexander Volkonovski's case he can surely wrestle but he tends to be more technical on striking, and a good reflexes, but against Islam Makhachev that surely has a different level of wrestling that Volkanovski have ever face this is going to be a problem for Volkanovski,

While I agree that Makachev is a beast and a special talent, the champ hasn't demolished yet any big names that are idolized by the fight fans except for Oliveira. There are many fans that prefer to cheer for the underdogs. Most fight fans also prefer striking skills rather than ground and wrestling skills. Makachev should be able to handle Volkanovski in his first title defense. But it will be interesting how he feels fighting as the champion in an opponent's backyard which is the opposite when he took the belt from Oliveira in front of his fans.

If Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje win their next bouts, they will probably get a shot on Makachev as well. They will be taken into the ground but these guys might land their bombs first to test Makachev's chin, something Oliveira handled but not before badly getting hurt.

We know how strong Makachev is since he has been winning these past years because of his high skills and experience when it comes to wrestling and he is giving his opponent a really hard time when he looked them by submissions. But we also know Volkanovski is the number one rank in their division and might gonna be hard to beat because he is different from other fighters he fought before. It might be hard to believe but, obviously, most people are cheering for Volkanovski because Islam Makachev has been demolishing their idols and they wanna revenge using Volkanovski.

The problem of Volkanovki is that people overestimate his wrestling skills, because his only opponent with wrestling skills was Ortega and Volkanovski managed to escape triangle and guillotine choke. Maybe his wrestling is enough for featherweight, but not for Makhachev, Oliveira or top of lightweight. Volkanovski is quick on hands, but to do that he needs to get close. Makhachev is good at defensive kickboxing. Volkanovski likes to throw low kicks - that is very dangerous against wrestlers. Low kick against a wrestler triggers automatic single leg takedown. Sorry, but for me it looks that Volkanovskis has low chances to win.

However, the whole fight is interesting. Featherweight is boring for Volkanovski. He must go to lightweight. He will definitely has high chances to become a champ there. Weight is not a problem, as when he played rugby, his weight was around 100kg. And Makhachev must go to next division - welterweight. Usman, Covington, Chimaev, Rakhmonov - all of them are great at wrestling and fights against them would really be competitive. Otherwise it will be a "choke everyone until retirement" Makhachevs boring career as a champ.

With a quick submission by Makhachev against Oliveira, I think that's the reason why people think Makhachev will win against Volkanovski. Although Volkanovski was already fight everyone in his weight and remain undefeated, he seems can't compete against Makhachev. Volkanovski is a kickboxer, he will get a trouble since Makhachev is a wrestler, even Oliveira is a good wrestler too but can't survive for complete 5 rounds.

For me, the UFC is really backing him up for him to do this kind of thing, and yes he surely can avoid such things but cockiness is getting a hold of him, but my take here is yes I really don't want cockiness and ego really got into the fighter and this should not be tolerated but there is no doubt that Khamzat Chimaev is one of the tough dudes in the division I think that is never going to change but another mischief that he does in the next event and I will surely want him to be punished as well, but for me, I think this is the 1st time he did such terrible act, and even though he is Muslim I really think Religion is out of the picture when someone does some things, but in part when Khabib has said that he needs Muslim by his side to tell him what is wrong I surely approve that 100%, but I really want to give Khamzat Chimaev another chance,


Yup! and right now there is news that Geoff Neal will back down on his fight with Shavkat Rakhmonov so there is no opponent for Shavkat Rakhmonov and there is no one that wants to fight him, and I am thinking a Khamzat Chimaev fight against Shavkat Rakhmonov but that will be too early for these two to fight in my opinion but that will be a great fight to watch, for me for Khamzat Chimaev what I really want for him to fight next was Colby Covington, while Shavkat Rakhmonov Gilbert Burns could be the guy but that is for them to make it happen,


For me, it is too early for Khamzat Chimaev to be a champion for this Division maybe he can take on other divisions for a change just to see if he's ready for that divisions level well a Paolo Costa fight will be great to see, and then come back to take the Welterweight Division belt I really want to see Khamzat Chimaev to be champion first before taking on Shavkat Rakhmonov, so we could be a championship fight between Shavkat Rakhmonov VS Khamzat Chimaev,

Did you check early odds for Makhachev to win against Volkanovski?
He is absolute favorite to win that fight by bookmakers and I can agree with that odds without any problem.
Maybe he is not as good as Khabib was but there is nobody else better than him right now in Lightweight category.

Khamzat Chimaev missed weight when he fought at 170 pounds and he should fight one more time in the division and prove that he can make championship weight limit and if Kamaru Usman is not healthy for the London card then i think Belal Muhammad deserves the title bout as they have some unfinished business and Belal is on a 8 fight winning streak and the last Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad fought it ended in an accidental eye poke and hence called off the fight and i want to see that rematch .

I think a lot of us are still recovering from the premature retirement of Khabib. He had a lot left in him, and it was a shame. So, now everyone that's even remotely similar or trained by Khabib we hype up. However, ultimately Khabib was a special fighter that doesn't come around too often. Chimaev probably is the front runner in being like Khabib, but he's a little more risky on the feet, and as we saw got hurt multiple times against Burns. Khabib played a lot of his fights safe, and that's why he had such success.

However, Burns threatened Chimaev on the ground, and that's not something we've seen Khabib be subjected too. He's usually the shark, and there's little to no threat from his opponents. Makachev is just so far from both of these fighters in my opinion. Champ sure, good fighter, and probably is a lot better than average. However, when comparing him to Khabib, and how he's this indestructible force; I just don't believe it.

Welsh post on “Predator universe language”: “if it bleeds, it can be killed”  

I agree that there is a special hype around Makhachev, but mostly because of Khabib and his father. A lot of people say, that Makhachev, compared to Khabib and Oliveira (as a formal champ), did not fought anyone seriour, anyone from real top. This is yes and not. I think Islam offered many lightweights to fight, but they refuse his offer.

Partly agree that Volkanovski is going to be a big test. Islam was first to challenge him, which means he and his team strongly believe that they can beat him. Islam needs someone whos bjj and wrestling skills are primary, like Oliveira. Who is dangerous everywhere, when Alex rely more on his cardio, striking and chin.

Makachev hasn't defended his title yet. He is already a great fighter but he will be tested by capable guys such as Volkanov.

People are hyped because he is trained by Khabib to be like him. Like many others before him, he will have to move to another division after defending his title countless times otherwise he will scare potential MMArtist in the lightweight and Dana doesn't like that.

I guess I haven't fallen for the hype of Makachev as much as others. I think he's very beatable, and once people figure that out, I don't think he'll be a world beater that the UFC, and certain fans are pushing for. I know its natural to want a world beater every generation, and especially after one of them retired recently. However, I just don't think he's going to live up to expectations.

That doesn't mean he isn't, and won't be a great fighter that goes down in the history of the UFC. I just don't think he's invincible as he's being claimed to be. I think he's shown several weaknesses in his fights already, let alone once he starts fighting fighters that aren't a perfect match up for him. Volk will seriously test him, and I'd fancy Volk to take it, quite convincingly.

Or how tough and thick Volkanovskis neck is lol Try my imagination - if Makhachev would have closed that guillotine, with Khabib in his corner, it will be much more complicated for Volkanovski to escape. Anyway, impressed that Volkanovski has accepted that fight. The man got huge balls, as he has accepted a challenge from a very dangerous opponent. He is not like rest of lightweight division, that has been avoiding Makhachev for months to save their record.

What do you think will Volkanovski would do if he wins? Will he get back to featherweight, or will stay in lightweight? Seems that featherweight is to tight for Volkanovski.

Yup, Rakhmonov is pretty good.  I fancy him getting a title shot anytime during 2023 and could even win depending on who sits as the champ.  A couple more high level fights and he's right up there.  I just hope the UFC won't do a prospect vs prospect match up and have him go against Chimaev like what they did with Topuria vs Mitchell.


Volk went against Brian Ortega and escaped from a mounted guilloutine which like should never happen.  Lol.  It pretty much shows how tooough Volk is.  I got Makhachev to win but it could be close than what the lines suggest.  I wouldn't touch Makhachev in a single at anything lower than 1.50.