UFC 224: Nunes vs Pennington Info and Prediction Thread

[btc_angela]

^  Before USADA, yes.  But with the UFC being strict on PED's use even at home, I think the Brazilians haven't been as dominant as before.  I would love to see the Brazilian win ratio before and after USADA...  Anybody know where I could find that data?

Yes, gonna be interesting to see those stats as well. But I'm thinking that they will used the argument that those brazilians who lost post USADA are somewhat old like Anderson, JDS, Machida or even Texeira and to an extend Jacare LOL. And players beating them like Whitaker looks elite. 

[tokeweed]

^  That's maybe cos the young Brazilians are unable to get to the highest level without the 'Brazilian juice'? 

But seriously there's a huge difference between a fighter who's on PED's and the one who isn't.

[peter0425]

^  Before USADA, yes.  But with the UFC being strict on PED's use even at home, I think the Brazilians haven't been as dominant as before.  I would love to see the Brazilian win ratio before and after USADA...  Anybody know where I could find that data?

UFC and USADA partnership started on 2015 so that's a good start. However, I can't find anything that have collated that data though. The closest thing I got is from the USADA website:

https://www.usada.org/testing/results/athlete-test-history/

Probably we need to put let say Anderson Silva's name and see how many times he was tested from 2015-2018 and deduce the fight he lost 2015 onwards and make a conclusion about those "Brazilian juice" effect.  

Here is a break down:

Win   34–8 (1)   Derek Brunson   Decision (unanimous)   UFC 208   February 11, 2017

Loss   33–8 (1)   Daniel Cormier   Decision (unanimous)   UFC 200   July 9, 2016   

Loss   33–7 (1)   Michael Bisping   Decision (unanimous)   UFC Fight Night: Silva vs. Bisping   February 27, 2016   

NC   33–6 (1)   Nick Diaz   NC (overturned)   UFC 183   January 31, 2015   

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anderson_Silva

So out of the 4 matches he fought ever since USADA started testing UFC athletes, 1 win, 2 lost and 1 NC (Originally a unanimous decision win for Silva; overturned after he tested positive for drostanolone and androsterone. Diaz also tested positive for marijuana metabolites.)

[eaLiTy]

But seriously there's a huge difference between a fighter who's on PED's and the one who isn't.

Sure there is an unfair advantage when you are undergoing a medical magic.  In PRIDE marijuana was illegal but they approved using PED which is crazy.

So out of the 4 matches he fought ever since USADA started testing UFC athletes, 1 win, 2 lost and 1 NC (Originally a unanimous decision win for Silva; overturned after he tested positive for drostanolone and androsterone. Diaz also tested positive for marijuana metabolites.)

I am not sure whether Anderson used performance drugs in his prime because he never looked muscular, his skills and fight IQ and his movements made him defeat his opponents and he might have started these medicines after the horrible leg injury he sustained against the second fight against Chris Weidman and i really never thought we would see Anderson back again.

[Hydrogen]

So out of the 4 matches he fought ever since USADA started testing UFC athletes, 1 win, 2 lost and 1 NC (Originally a unanimous decision win for Silva; overturned after he tested positive for drostanolone and androsterone. Diaz also tested positive for marijuana metabolites.)

Anderson Silva used to train out of a gym known as blackhouse. Several fighters from that MMA gym tested positive for steroids: Anderson Silva, Lyoto Machida, Kevin Casey, Brian Ortega and maybe a few others whose names I can't remember right now. After Anderson Silva tested positive for steroids he left blackhouse MMA and went to train with Jacare Souza out of X-Gym in brazil. Maybe Silva was searching for a cleaner gym with less PED users, I'm not certain.

USADA is one explanation for Anderson Silva not doing as well. Another possibility is Silva no longer training with Rafael Cordeiro who was his striking coach up until the fight with Yushin Okami, if I remember right. Around that time, Anderson Silva released a book about his life claiming he once came close to shooting Rafael Cordeiro with a shotgun(awkward huh) because he felt disrespected by something Cordeiro did and I think the two never worked together again after that.

After Rafael Cordeiro and Anderson Silva split, that could be when Silva started to regress. Rafael Cordeiro trains many good fighters with good kickboxing. If someone tried to mention them all, the list would be long.

[bbc.reporter]

Allow me to point out that Anderson Silva's fight versus Derek Brunson was a very close one, and the win was inclined towards Derek. But the judges scored it for Anderson to everyone's and also to his surprise.

I reckon Derek had him, but Dana White might have had comeback plans for Anderson during that time hehehe.

[Hydrogen]

Allow me to point out that Anderson Silva's fight versus Derek Brunson was a very close one, and the win was inclined towards Derek. But the judges scored it for Anderson to everyone's and also to his surprise.

I reckon Derek had him, but Dana White might have had comeback plans for Anderson during that time hehehe.

I thought Nick Diaz beat Anderson Silva. Athletic commissions sometimes rule in favor of big name fighters who pull tourists and increased tax revenues into the state. There could be other motives for it. Floyd Mayweather Jr. is one name who has a lot of pull when it comes to exaggerated compustat numbers and judging decisions.

Looks like Mackenzie Dern missed weight by 7 pounds. She also might have missed her flight into brazil and a lot of people are criticizing her accent as it is different from what it used to be:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Npfa4i8ws5M

Everyone else made weight. I hope Amanda Bobby Cooper worked on her jiu jitsu and sub defense, she has been subbed more than once in her career in situations where she didn't look to be in danger. There's a chance ABC really doesn't like chokes and she could be one of those who defend improperly due to being unable to relax and think clearly in those types of situations.

[gowobonyok]

I do not know for sure between the two fighter, but I see the nunes are bigger and possibly win the game. 

[peter0425]

Allow me to point out that Anderson Silva's fight versus Derek Brunson was a very close one, and the win was inclined towards Derek. But the judges scored it for Anderson to everyone's and also to his surprise.

I reckon Derek had him, but Dana White might have had comeback plans for Anderson during that time hehehe.

I agree. It was a close fight and Anderson was taken down multiple times in that fight and he was hit multiple times in the face in round 1. But I don't know about Dana's plan though. hahahaha

@Hydrogen, I had to re watched the fight between Silva and Diaz, it clearly a Silva win. However, it was ruled a NC because he tested positive for steroids and Diaz for marijuana metabolites.

[bbc.reporter]

@peter0425. Yes Dana's comeback script planned for Anderson will not be realized because Anderson is simply too old. There are other fighters better for that script, like Jon Jones and Ronda Rousey.

In any case, the main card will start in 15 minutes.

[Sithara007]

Amanda Nunes is heavily favored in the bets. Almost all the experts are predicting that Nunes is going to win. CBS Sports have given betting odds as the following: Amanda Nunes (c) -850, Raquel Pennington +525. I am thinking about making a bet in favor of Pennington, but I feel very nervous right now.

Edit: I didn't made any bets favoring Pennington. Nunes won the fight. 

[Baofeng]

Amanda Nunes is heavily favored in the bets. Almost all the experts are predicting that Nunes is going to win. CBS Sports have given betting odds as the following: Amanda Nunes (c) -850, Raquel Pennington +525. I am thinking about making a bet in favor of Pennington, but I feel very nervous right now.

Edit: I didn't made any bets favoring Pennington. Nunes won the fight. 

I didn't see the fight and but I was reading that Nunes has won the fight. But it looks like there are controversies as Pennington wanted to quit by the end of the 4th round.

Kevin won a split decision against Jacare which wins its a very very close fight.

And Lyoto Machida won with a beautiful front-kick KO over Vitor Belfort.

[tokeweed]

Lol...  So when will we see Cyborg vs Nunes?  I think Women's BW has dried up now.  There's literally no opponent for Nunes that's gonna make money imo.

[eaLiTy]

Lol...  So when will we see Cyborg vs Nunes?  I think Women's BW has dried up now.  There's literally no opponent for Nunes that's gonna make money imo.

That is the fight to make, i would like to see how both these strikers match, i do not think Amanda will be able to beat the best fighter in the world and that too a destructible force in a higher weight division, i really would like to see how Amanda and Holly Holmes fight would be and i wanted to see Holly back at bantamweight rather than shuffling around.
The fights were good and the retirement of a legend in Vitor Belfort, i like seeing Lyoto Machida knockouts, there was a time when he was knocking out everybody and the flurry of Vitor Belfort, i used to think whether it is possible to throw that much punches in a short period  .
Mackenzie Dern surprised me with her missing weight by seven pounds and then was shocked to see the knockdown punch as i never expected it from her and then went on to submit her. I would like to see Amanda Nunes face Holly Holmes before calling her the undisputed queen.

[tokeweed]

Holly Holm is overrated imo.  Beating Rousey was the only thing that got her UFC career on another level.  But before and even after that...  Nothing.

I'd like to see Megan Anderson win vs Holm at UFC 225.  She has the potential to become the face of Women's MMA.

[SaShiRaJaVu]

Holly Holm is overrated imo.  Beating Rousey was the only thing that got her UFC career on another level.  But before and even after that...  Nothing.

I'd like to see Megan Anderson win vs Holm at UFC 225.  She has the potential to become the face of Women's MMA.

It is true that the only big accomplishment of Holly Holm in MMA was to beat Ronda Rousey but do not forget that she was a multiple division world boxing champion and Kick boxing champion before entering MMA.
For Megan Anderson to be the face of MMA she needs to defeat Cyborg and i do not see anyone defeating her.

[peter0425]

Holly Holm is overrated imo.  Beating Rousey was the only thing that got her UFC career on another level.  But before and even after that...  Nothing.

I'd like to see Megan Anderson win vs Holm at UFC 225.  She has the potential to become the face of Women's MMA.

It is true that the only big accomplishment of Holly Holm in MMA was to beat Ronda Rousey but do not forget that she was a multiple division world boxing champion and Kick boxing champion before entering MMA.
For Megan Anderson to be the face of MMA she needs to defeat Cyborg and i do not see anyone defeating her.

I agree. But I don't think that even though she has the physical advantage on Cyborg, I don't think it will be enough to defeat her. The quality of Megan's opponent is not even close to let's say Holly Holm. So she needs to get past Holly first because this will be a good test for her if she is ready to face Cyborg. As far as being the new face, yes, I believe she has is marketable, however, its going to be tough for her to overcome Cyborg at this point.

[bbc.reporter]

But frankly I would preferably have Megan Anderson than Cyborg to watch on every featherweight women's championship fights hehehe. Cyborg is very hard to look at. She looks like a man!

[Hydrogen]

Megan Anderson is very tall for the 145 lb woman's division @ 6'0.

Its been said by many weight cutting experts that women have a more difficult time cutting weight than men for biological reasons. I'm not certain if Megan Anderson will have enough physical strength to cut weight and compete with the better athletes in the UFC. Its possible Cyborg's frame and body type at 5 foot 8 are ideal for that weight division.

Invicta fighters usually aren't paid enough to train to their full potential. Megan Anderson should face an increase in competition when she steps into the UFC. I'm very interested to see how that goes for her.

Too bad Leslie Smith will never likely fight in the UFC again. I thought she might have a chance at contending for the title if she worked on a few things.

[tokeweed]

Meh...  I just noticed that Holm vs Anderson was in an undercard, not the in the main card.  That sucks, can't watch it on PPV.  I guess I'll have to look for a decent stream without AIDS if there's one.  Lol.