Topic: UFC Fight Night & Main Event: Sportsbet.io Predictions & discussion - page 41. (Read 18795 times)

Not a fan aswell Actually I just managed to take a glimpse of that little clip and that screenshot was the funny reaction of Dana White from that moment of the slap, for sure I think this is for certain fans of the Power Slap and not for us,


I also subscribe to TheWeasle YouTube channel and for sure to get some information on certain UFC news and other MMA stuff, but for sure the upcoming event and for sure the UFC 298 is a big get for us MMA fans that Alexander Volkanovski VS Ilia Topuria is one of the technical fights that we can get in this event, and Starting in the Preliminary Card Anthony Hernandez VS Ikram Aliskerov is a juicy fight to behold as Anthony Hernandez also got that wrestling game but not the best control when it comes with the Scramble while his striking and counter is the thing that is deadly for sure, but Ikram Aliskerov for me is going to win, next is Tai Tuivasa VS Marcin Tybura is the 1st Main Card for the Heavyweight this is for me is an interesting fight as Tybura will be very technical towards the fight but even if he is a technical he can still get punch and for sure because Tai Tuivasa is very explosive with his striking and that Blitz and even those kicks he can manage to make Tybura throw that technicality out of the window,

Next is Merab Dvalishvili VS Henry Cejudo now we can see if who's fighter has the better grappling and wrestling, for sure some of Merab's takedowns were not meant for takedowns but for closing the distance and I have noticed it, he will shoot takedowns and strike or this is for his setup for the opponent I think Cejudo will need to check this, for him to see, now Robert Whittaker VS Paulo Costa we could say that Whittaker is a better striker than Costa he can also shoot takedown, and I think because Robert Whittaker can go out there very technical in the feet so for sure I am very biased for Whittaker in here even though Costa has the power, and lastly Alexander Volkanovski VS Ilia Topuria actually I am excited with this Main Event fight, as this is an exciting fight to watch as Ilia Topuria can cater a very well-rounded fight for Volkanovski and for me, Topuria is the most dangerous fight Volkanovski will have to face and so I am surely torn on who's I am going to choose right now,

^^
Great links there @danherbias07 ! Thanks for those as it will keep us intouch with what is going on in the UFC until the next event at the Apex in a few weeks from now.

Costa looks kind of strange and actually thought it was one of the female fighters on the card when viewed it from my phone as it has a smaller screen.
Let's keep it at that and not speculate any further on this observation of mine.
There is enough melodrama as it is in the UFC and I think Daddy Dana has been trying to out do the WWE in this department for awhile now.
As they are in the entertainment business, so let them entertain. Am I right?

There was some talk of Adesanya now wanting to make a return for UFC 300.
Here we go with the rumor mill on blast again, wouldn't you agree with me?

The same for me, not a fan of the sport too.
Speaking of UFC 298. Paulo Costa is also getting ready.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQhhXw7V-VE
He will be up against Robert Whittaker in 50 days.

How about this to reminisce all that happened in UFC in the year 2023?
2023 Event of the Year Nominees | UFC HONORS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeKZrKor3-c

The new champions, the electric ways of how they finished their opponents, and the story behind all of those wins. Somehow it helped to jog my memory that this year had been one of the entertaining years in the UFC. Alexa Grasso, Jon Jones, Leon Edwards, Alex Pereira, Sean Strickland, and more. Then the buds that will bloom in the future and the most talked about is Shavkat Rakhmonov who is still undefeated. Then, there's Arman Tsarukyan who is being feared in the Lightweight division.
Some kings have been uncrowned too, Israel Adesanya. Will wait for this guy's return and I know that he will be stronger when he is back on the octagon.

Not a fan of Powerslap or slap power so won't be clicking on those links provided to watch it as I have tried to avoid anything to do with it since the very start.

There is plenty of news concerning the UFC and the upcoming fights that were announced and setup for the 298 event.

More can be seen from TheWeasle's most recent youtube video:
UFC 298 IS SO STACKED!!! Breakdown & Analysis -Alexander Volkanovski vs Ilia Topuria

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfrEjWHeQbE

That is a photo of Ikram and Hernandez who are fighting for the prelims:
https://www.ufc.com/event/ufc-298#11090

I guess we can all agree that it was very awkward for Cristiano Ronaldo to sit beside Conor McGregor, McGregor was talking to someone maybe a rich Arab person or a sheik, but for sure they were talking to one another while Ronaldo was in the middle and for sure Cristiano Ronaldo was just laughing it out but for sure you can clearly see the face of Ronaldo isn't happy with the experience but for sure Ronaldo got a glimpse for what is about to happen in the UFC 300 or something and you know Conor McGregor he likes to spout everything and in detail for sure,

But one thing is for certain he doesn't like the situation he was in with Conor McGregor we all know for sure that sometimes McGregor is rude and can lead to violence when triggered, as McGregor is now looking bulkier than ever he doesn't want to mess with Conor McGregor for sure,

---

And because we don't have any UFC event this week Dana White is busy again with Slap Power and his face was priceless during the slap fight, I really don't know who is fighting because I don't watch it but getting a glimpse of what is happening, here is the link on X https://x.com/powerslapleague/status/1740193651337421151?s=20 and here is the link for the whole episode I think https://rumble.com/v4345in-power-slap-road-to-the-title-season-2-episode-7-official.html

^
Speaking of McGregor, he sure made a buzz on social media.

Conor McGregor Targets Manny Pacquiao, Frustrated With Delay in UFC Return
https://www.boxingscene.com/conor-mcgregor-targets-manny-pacquiao-frustrated-with-delay-ufc-return--180273
He needs permission from the UFC first but this might truly be an entertaining thing. McGregor versus Manny Pacquiao will be good entertainment but we all know it ends there. We cannot expect too much but I bet McGregor will feel the left of Manny.

If Manny fights him in a higher weight class then that means we will witness a slower Manny and we won't like that to happen. He is not that young anymore but I know he still has the weapons to put down the likes of McGregor. He should not be talking like this to a man who had put his name in the history records of boxing. I know McGregor is just making a fuzz to sell it but this is a disrespect to Manny in his fans. There are other ways to make it happen but it should not be with a foul mouth.
He just lost a lot of fans from the Philippines.

Conor McGregor is making the rounds again.
As it is right before the next major event coming sometime next year (well hopefully but you never know with The Notorious one!) to get enough hype around him once more.

From what I have seen he was at a boxing match and was seated right next to Ronaldo.
McGregor was going on & on and from the photos shown, the footballer wasn't interested at all in what the Irishman was saying.
There were some talk going around he was on a substance such as cocaine.
But of course the hype machine will add whatever it wants too inorder to make the rumor mill work in beastmode.
Especially for having old names swirling around saying if Conor can make it back into the bright light of the UFC, why not them.
Such names as Nate Diaz so to face him and even Khabib Nurmagomedov setup for the middle of next year.
All hype at this point from what has been spitting around, so take it as you will.

We have a couple of weeks to talk about and keep the UFC in our mouths until the next main event.

For sure Gilbert Burns wants to say a few things when USADA cuts ties with the UFC until January 1, 2024, and if Conor McGregor will comply with the 6 months or longer requirement before he can fight Chandler but for sure the UFC is the only one to truly know this kind of stuff, as for sure next year the UFC will be fully in control with fighters that are positive or not to fight for their event but I surely doubted this if they like the fight or a fighter is their cash cow they might say he is negative and could go with the fight, for sure that is why the UFC 296 is not McGregor VS Chandler because they are still complying with USADA until that said date next year, so for sure UFC 300 will be a good date and event for this two to fight,


Bo Nickal is another fighter that the UFC is in favor of so it is not surprising as the UFC keeps fighters that they like but apparently, it is questionable why Bo Nikal is just fighting now, why at UFC 300, and Bo Nikal is rumored to be fighting 1st in the Preliminary Card, and for sure that could just be an easy fight for him as Bo Nickal if compared with someone in the UFC is like Paddy Pimblett, for sure he is doing great stuff but I really don't see his full potential yet because he got easy fights,

In a video I previously watched Conor McGregor is showing off his new physique, and he is loving it, and loving it is just a weak word to describe it, he is really addicted to his new physique if you can see his reaction in flexing his body to the mirror and seeing what abomination be become now,

It was great and all and I am happy to see McGregor happy but knowing that this body was built because of enhancing drugs just like the Liver King said that he was taking an enhanced drug and he confessed that he lied to the public now looking at Conor McGregor now and he is lying not using something to grow himself like that,


Expect something great for the future fights that are upcoming and we will surely be surprised by what is installed for us, the UFC 298 is a real banger the main event for that card is Alexander Volkanovski VS Ilia Topuria, man I love Ilia Topuria, and bringing the fight to Volkanovski Dana is a genius to do this, the Co-Main Event Robert Whittaker VS Paulo Costa and if Paulo Costa canceled this bout yet again this is the end for him as he got a zebra stripe in his record and that Cancelled bout was too much on him, Merab Dvalishvili VS Henry Cejudo, and Tai Tuivasa VS Marcin Tybura for me that will be an epic fight for sure, here is the full event link
https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/events/107060-ufc-298


Now UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Albazi or UFC Mexico Main event will be Brandon Moreno VS Amir Albazi, and their Co-Main event is Yair Rodriguez VS Brian Ortega sure that is an interesting fight for me, and here is the link for that event
https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/events/107471-ufc-fight-night


Before that fight, we will be having a UFC Riyadh, Saudi Arabia which doesn't have any Main fight yet,
https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/events/106064-ufc-fight-night

Then next is the UFC 299: O'Malley vs. Vera 2 which will be a more juicy event with a very stacked fight,
https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/events/107061-ufc-299

Then next these two that don't have any main event yet, https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/events/108288-ufc-fight-night https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/events/108462-ufc-fight-night

And then the UFC Fight Night: Blanchfield vs. Fiorot which for me will be a solid woman fight, https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/events/107896-ufc-fight-night


After this Main Event, we will be having a Fight Night that doesn't have any fight card yet but here is the link https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/events/108721-ufc-fight-night

Then the UFC 300 which doesn't have any Main Event and Co-Main Event yet but for sure the Conor McGregor VS Michael Chandler fight will take place in this event, along with the main card Jiří Procházka VS Aleksandar Rakić and Preliminary Card Calvin Kattar VS Aljamain Sterling and Bo Nickal VS Cody Brundage,

Have seen the multiple of videos sharing popular MMA youtube influencer's point of views on the upcoming match-ups for UFC 300 and most of them are not impressed at what they have lined up so far.
Come on, Bo Nickel for the biggest UFC event for the upcoming year? He is an up and comer and they will need more star power than this even with Aljo & Jiri those two fights aren't exactly the greatest match-ups Dana White can come up with, can it?
UFC 299 looks alot more exciting stylistically with their fighters who are going against each other than 300 at this point. We have several months to see what they can cook up until then though.

There was even talk of who McGregor will fight but nothing has been officially announced yet. So I wouldn't hold my breath.
But it is said Nate Diaz will be coming back and challenging The Notorious One at that venue.
This actually would make what they have announced so far a better headlined match that will please everyone who is a fan of these two BMF contenders.

Just minutes ago Dana White posted his updates on both UFC Youtube page and X.
BREAKING NEWS FROM UFC PRESIDENT DANA WHITE | DECEMBER 21, 2023
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TR_zchaTM4M

Here is the post on X.
https://x.com/danawhite/status/1738032424112754822?s=20

February 17 UFC 298 Anaheim
Rob Whittaker versus Paulo Costa
Geoff Neal versus Ian (The Future) Garry

February 24 UFC Mexico
Brian Ortega versus Yair Rodriguez 2 - co-main event.

March 30 Atlantic City
Erin Blanchfield versus Manon Fiorot -

April 13 UFC 300
Jiri Prochazka versus Aleksandar Rakic
Aljamain Sterling versus Calvin Kattar - Sterling's featherweight debut.
Bo Nickal versus Cody Brundage

That's a lot but somehow a great gift from Dana White this Christmas. Now everything is almost set and I think fans are also excited about this matchup.
Neal versus Garry switched to 298 from 299. Garry was supposed to fight Vicente Luque at UFC 296 but could not make it due to pneumonia.
Luque on the other hand turned down other fights offered by Dana and I think he will be the one going to 299. Not sure yet.
Well, that's all. It was a surprise that I just bumped while watching other streams 30 minutes ago. Have a good one and Merry Christmas.

We all can speculate on who we want to see these fighters face-off with until we are blue in the face ourselves.
So with the fight year ending that is it. No more fights until next year.

Watched some end of the year review video earlier just so to close this UFC season off with and noticed this photo comparison of The Notorious one side by side posted on Gilbert Burns X feed a couple of months back:

https://twitter.com/GilbertDurinho/status/1712240208517664771

I think it is a great way to end the year looking at this photo and thinking which Conor we will see for the next big event coming up next year.
Very much doubt it will be for a UFC 300 main event as they have been announcing slowly piece by piece who we will be seeing for this much anticipated event ever in MMA history.

It was a brutal punch from Josh Emmett and Bryce Mitchell was clearly in a Seizure in this video this doctor Youtuber will explain that it was clear as day that Bryce Mitchell was in a seizure regardless of the punch and because Josh Emmett is another fighter who can surely hit like a truck it is really dangerous in that kind of stances that punch is really lethal and Bryce Mitchell could really die, here is the video for the doctor's explanation,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMMLlKVPTgE


Yup! I want to see Shavkat Rakhmanov have a true opponent with whom he can have a great fight but for sure this is going to be the champion perhaps it is time for Rakhmonov to have a fight for the title match and that is Leon Edwards, or maybe Belal Muhammad who is now training with Khabib Nurrmagomedov team, for sure a lesson on Nurmagomedov camp can surely give him advice with the wrestling aspect and lastly Kamaru Usman as Usman got a great close fight against Khamzat Chimaev, so maybe he can pull a good one against Shavkat aswell,

And you are right about your bet, Shavkat Rakhmonov has a high chance of making his win a KO/TKO or submission as we can see in his records 8 Knockout wins and 10 submission wins is 100% a win rate for Shavkat Rakhmonov with a KO or Submission, and Stephen Thompson doesn't really stand a chance against him, clearly, Thompson was after the money and not the win when he accepted this fight,

Actually, I don't really like a one-sided fight and this is an example of this as this fight is over then what is next for Shavkat Rakhmonov, I have my speculations about it, and because Colby Covington lost against Leon Edwards, there are many speculations that Colby Covington will be facing Shavkat Rakhmonov next which Covington didn't answer, and next is Leon Edwards because for sure Shavkat Rakhmonov is ready to be champion, next in line is Islam Makhachev that is wanting to go up a division to take the Welterweight belt so it is likely that Shavkat Rakhmonov will face Islam Makhachev and that is something I would like to see,


I agree that UFC 296 went off with a bang and I surely think that Dana White is a genius for making a card event like this just like you have said I really think it is also his intention to let Sean Strickland and Dricus du Plessis close to each other on the event of UFC 296 it was really crazy and I think that it is all planned and that assault of Sean Strickland on Dricus du Plessis was fake and the early press Conference is surely just to hype the fights and all of the event in the year 2024, this is what I think and yes it is looking like a WWE for sure,

There was an interview they had with Bryce Mitchell earlier out today. Being thankful Josh Emmett stopped right there and didn't go in with anymore to finish or he would of killed him with something like a hammerfist.
They were filming on a farm where he was when they called him a few weeks ago to take on this fight.
The frame of the farmhouse wasn't even completed yet. But he seemed happy just to be there and still alive.
Puts your life into perspective when you watch and hear what he was saying in that interview days after what could of been his last day on this earth. Pretty hard hitting stuff especially at this time year.
Never take anything for granted in your life because it could be the very last decision you ever make.

On to Shavkat Rakhmonov. I would think at this stage someone like Jack Della Maddalena has had the stage set for him to fight. But if Khamzat Chimaev comes back to his weightclass that would make for a very fair fight to have instead. But last time I heard him say he was tired of weightcuts so will probably stay at middleweight where he feels more comfortable and not stressing out trying to make weigh before a fight.

He had a seizure and he could not even get up for minutes. Brutal, indeed.
Well, that's Josh Emmett, he is known to be the hardest puncher in their weight class but the surprising part is how much it affected Bryce Mitchell. I only celebrated after the hard punch but when I saw him having a seizure, I was more worried because the sound of the punch was like a stone hitting the face of Bryce. I hope he is okay.
What Daniel Cormier said after the punch was right. We see this happening with kicks but not with punches, that's how damn powerful the fists of Josh Emmett are.

Yeah! Give him a better one. Shavkat had been finishing his opponents too early which for me means there's a mismatch. Give him something more powerful that he will try to feel the pressure of the fight. But who is there? Usman maybe? The Welterweight Gatekeeper. Well, he has a good wrestling offense and defense which might match Shavkat but I don't know about the standing fight. Shavkat is also powerful in his kickboxing skills and I bet he will use that as a strategy against Usman considering he was defeated by a deadly kick by Edwards.

I agree that Shavkat Rakhmonov is a huge guy who surely can also move in a higher weight class with no problem just like Alex Pereira, I think that he can also become a champion in the future and has a chance of having 2 belts in the same time I thought that Khamzat Chimaev can do it, but his situation right now I don't know if he can have a decent performance after his fight against Kamaru Usman which am I also having doubts aswell, for sure Shavkat Rakhmonov will just plow to this division and can move up if given some special attention of the UFC,

But clearly, Shavkat Rakhmonov just wants it slowly but surely and wants to take his time in getting into a title fight, and for sure just like Chimaev Rakhmonov is really something that can have a different strategy than his corner strategy,


I really like the bang type of this with the UFC 296, but having a fight during a fight event with Sean Strickland and Dricus du Plessis is something for sure that will get a lot of hype, and as Dana White has said he is an a**hole in giving Sean Strickland a seat near Dricus du Plessis and I am thinking it could a for the hype and Sean Strickland landing those punches that could not hurt even a mice should award best acting, well, this is just my opinion with what happen,


A classic Sean Strickland trash-talked but when Dricus du Plessis is talking about Sean Strickland's past it surely hit a nerve on him to be so worked up like that telling Sean Strickland a bad memory of his,

UFC 296 was a good way to end the year of 2023 with a bang!
Even fireworks in the crowd with DDP getting jumped by Strickland and the aftermath of that brawl. I think I even seen Dana trying to hold back Dricus during the whole incident. Doesn't it make it look more like WWE now? Jeezus christ!
Full video of the fight and Dricus telling his side of what transpired during this whole incident:
Dricus Du Plessis tells Sean Strickand to work on his composure after fight in crowd | ESPN MMA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7j7sdIwxdE

Here is a video of Sean Strickland of course talking even more out of his ass than usual:
Sean Strickland THRASHES Colby Covington for his pathetic Performance, DDP rips Strickland UFC 296
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zR5TZ1NVzhA

Shavkat Rakhmonov of course finished Steve Thompson as it was fore told in the cards getting his 18 straight win. Belal will be his next opponent? I think they should give him a better challenge than poor Belal. Come on now!

Good breakdown on what happened to Bryce Mitchell after that brutal looking knockout with convulsions afterwards and him talking about it:
Sean Strickland REVEALS the reason why he ATT4CKED Du Plessis! Trump LEAVES during Colby's speech!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytwwRNoVYRQ

Just like what I predicted, it's either a Knockout or a Submission with Shavkat Rakhmonov. That dude is indeed paving his way to be the next champion of their weight class. Very soon Leon Edwards will meet this guy and I am now having doubts that he can retain his belt when they clash. There's no question now on why he is the most hype fighter in their division, his strength is just too much, he can even climb another weight and might still dominate it there. I mean, he is big and it's possible and he might do it someday.

That was a good strategy, he drained the gas tank of Wonderboy in the first round and I was surprised Thompson could not get out of the clinch of Nomad.
The second round was fun. Rakhmanov's corner told him not to clinch but to fight him through boxing. He didn't listen, he clinched again and found his position to ground and pound Thompson. He is like a snake coiling around the body of Thompson. He preserved that position until he got his chance for a submission.
Unlucky Thompson, 4 seconds are remaining on the clock and he could've survived that round and gotten a chance on the 3rd round.
Shavkat took the safest path through wrestling and he is the first one to submit Thompson. Nice!

My pick and prediction for the UFC 296: Edwards vs. Covington

Leon Edwards (1.61) VS Colby Covington (2.33) - WIN


There are a lot of factors why Colby Covington lost this fight but Leon Edwards was very technical moving forward in getting Covington, you can clearly see Edwards faints, and for sure his composure is there while getting Covington, those takedown attempts of Covington was no used to Leon Edwards takedown defense for sure there is no way for Covington to takedown and scramble against Leon Edwards and this is a win for Leon Edwards,

Alexandre Pantoja (1.49) VS Brandon Royval (2.65) - WIN


Even though this fight ended with a decision win over Brandon Royval, and it was a masterful class performance for Alexandre Pantoja, for sure even in a rematch with Brandon Moreno I think Moreno will have a hard time against him, Brandon Royval could have the striking output but Alexandre Pantoja has dominated the wrestling, as Pantoja throws 14 takedowns and 8 or it was successful and he also got 1 submission attempt that scores him big in this fight, while Royval throw 1 takedown and it was failed,

Stephen Thompson (5.40)VS Shavkat Rakhmonov (1.15) - WIN


Shavkat Rakhmonov really outclassed Stephen Thompson you can clearly see from this fight that it was really a one-sided fight as in terms of striking Rakhmonov has the output and the speed was really great that Thompson all they did was to defend, Shavkat Rakhmonov throws 5 takedowns and 2 submission attempts and it ended in a rear naked choke win for Shavkat Rakhmonov,