UFC 224: Nunes vs Pennington Info and Prediction Thread

[tokeweed]

Date: Saturday, May 12th
Preliminary Card (UFC Fight Pass): 22:30 BCT / 3:30pm PST / 6:30pm EST
Preliminary Card (Fox Sports 1): 00:00 BCT / 5pm PST / 8pm EST
Main Card (PPV): 2:00 BCT / 7pm PST / 10pm EST
Live Streams: http://www.fìrstrow.eu/




Main Card (PPV)

Amanda Nunes (15-4) vs. Raquel Pennington (9-5) (Women's Bantamweight)
Ronaldo Souza (25-5) vs. Kelvin Gastelum (14-3) (Middleweight)
Mackenzie Dern (6-0) vs. Amanda Cooper (3-3) (Women's Strawweight)
John Lineker (30-8) vs. Brian Kelleher (19-8) (Bantamweight)
Vitor Belfort (26-13) vs. Lyoto Machida (23-8) (Middleweight)

Preliminary Card (Fox Sports 1)

Cezar Ferreira (12-6) vs. Karl Roberson (6-0) (Middleweight)
Oleksiy Oliynyk (55-11-1) vs. Junior Albini (14-3) (Heavyweight)
Davi Ramos (7-2) vs. Nick Hein (14-2) (Lightweight)
Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos (18-5) vs. Sean Strickland (19-2) (Welterweight)

Preliminary Card (UFC Fight Pass)

Warlley Alves (11-2) vs. Sultan Aliev (14-2) (Welterweight)
Thales Leites (27-8) vs. Jack Hermansson (16-4) (Middleweight)
Alberto Mina (13-0) vs. Ramazan Emeev (16-3) (Welterweight)

Thanks to the Puertorican for letting me use this content.

[Hydrogen]

Inital notes.

-Racquel Pennington, Nick Hein and Alberto Mina haven't fought in near to 2 years.  Their fights could be difficult to predict. Sometimes fighters who are out for awhile come back stronger. Other times they return only to look like shadows of their former selves.

-I seem to remember Racquel Pennington training out of the olympic training center awhile ago. I think somewhere along the line, Racquel and her girlfriend Tecia Torres both made a move to train out of Elevation Fight Team. It could mean that Racquel's skills have improved drastically over the last time we saw her fight, depending on when they made the move(I haven't 100% kept track). Either way the main event isn't the best betting option on this card.

-People often quote Mackenzie Dern's lack of experience saying "she only has 6 fights". Amanda Booby Cooper (ABC) also appears to have 6 pro fights. That breakdown could be a bit misleading. ABC has two more fights on the ultimate fighter and she has 11 amateur fights. Don't know if it will make a difference but ABC could have more experience than she's being credited for having.

This event is still 2 weeks away. Hopefully no one is injured.

[tokeweed]

^  Lol.  UFC 224 can now be captioned 'The Battle of the Lesbians'. 

I think this fight could be closer than what the bookies lines show, and I might even make a bet for Pennington.  But we'll see as the event gets closer...  I could bet on Nunes if her line improves.

[eaLiTy]

It could mean that Racquel's skills have improved drastically over the last time we saw her fight, depending on when they made the move(I haven't 100% kept track). Either way the main event isn't the best betting option on this card.

Sure i do expect some improvement in Raquel Pennington but the only problem is she is fighting after an year lay off as she last fought in 2016 and Amanda Nunes hits really hard, if Raquel could take a punch and put pressure then she could have a chance, i expect another TKO victory for Amanda Nunes and next she will be challenging Cyborg.

^  Lol.  UFC 224 can now be captioned 'The Battle of the Lesbians'. 

Sure they could advertise this main event fight as the first LGBT championships .

[bbc.reporter]

@eaLiTy. Raquel Pennington's chin is strongly good, she also throws more strikes per fight and she has better cardio than Amanda Nunes. If Raquel tries to take the fight to rounds 4 and 5 when Amanda is tired, then maybe she has a chance.

[Hydrogen]

Bellator 198 Fedor Emelianenko vs Frank Mir is scheduled for later today.

Fedor Emelianenko   vs.   Frank Mir            
Emmanuel Sanchez   vs.   Sam Sicilia            
Rafael Lovato Jr.   vs.   Gerald Harris            
Neiman Gracie   vs.   Javier Torres            
Dillon Danis   vs.   Kyle Walker

This will be Dillon Danis' pro MMA debut. He has been talking a lot leading up to this.

Would anyone be in favor of the UFC scheduling things so that Amanda Nunes and Racquel Pennington fought. And Tecia Torres versus Nina Ansaroff was on the same card? Then it could be a couples battle. Maybe that would be too much. Too controversial. Too many emotions. Nate Diaz and Conor did something similar with their team battle awhile back. Artem Lobov vs Chris Avila being on the undercard.

[SaShiRaJaVu]

Bellator 198 Fedor Emelianenko vs Frank Mir is scheduled for later today.

The fight was really short, they were swinging for the fences, Fedor got clipped but got up and started swinging and won in just 48 seconds and he will be facing Chael Sonnen, i was impressed with his performance against Quinton Jackson but then Jackson is just a reflection of what he was as he lacks discipline and his cardio sucked. Expecting more theatrics from Chael leading up to this fight.

This will be Dillon Danis' pro MMA debut. He has been talking a lot leading up to this.

Is he the person hanging with team Conor, no wonder he is trying to get fights with the help of talking, the problem is that he has a great ground game but his standing game sucks.

Would anyone be in favor of the UFC scheduling things so that Amanda Nunes and Racquel Pennington fought. And Tecia Torres versus Nina Ansaroff was on the same card?

They could have made this match up, but the problem with this is that, they wont actually accept the fight in the same card, because it strains their preparation and both wont be having time to look after each other, over all the fight game is half mental and half physical .

[peter0425]

Bellator 198 Fedor Emelianenko vs Frank Mir is scheduled for later today.

The fight was really short, they were swinging for the fences, Fedor got clipped but got up and started swinging and won in just 48 seconds and he will be facing Chael Sonnen, i was impressed with his performance against Quinton Jackson but then Jackson is just a reflection of what he was as he lacks discipline and his cardio sucked. Expecting more theatrics from Chael leading up to this fight.

This will be Dillon Danis' pro MMA debut. He has been talking a lot leading up to this.

Is he the person hanging with team Conor, no wonder he is trying to get fights with the help of talking, the problem is that he has a great ground game but his standing game sucks.

Would anyone be in favor of the UFC scheduling things so that Amanda Nunes and Racquel Pennington fought. And Tecia Torres versus Nina Ansaroff was on the same card?

They could have made this match up, but the problem with this is that, they wont actually accept the fight in the same card, because it strains their preparation and both wont be having time to look after each other, over all the fight game is half mental and half physical .

I wasn't able to see the fight live but I found some YouTube videos and damn, they really started swinging from the opening bell and Fedor was tagged by Mir early but he quickly recover an put down Mir himself. I was impressed how Fedor dodge Mir punch and stick with a bitch slap, hahha until he caught Mir again (I have to look at the slow mo to see the punch), and its over after 48 seconds. Just watch Joe Rogan Reacts to Fedor KO'ING Frank Mir.

[bbc.reporter]

I reckon the UFC should have included Francis Ngannou versus the Black Beast as the comain event. All the fights scheduled in the main card are so dry and uninteresting except maybe for the oldies, Lyoto Machida versus Vitor Belfort hehehe.

I miss watching Lyoto's style.

[nydiacaskey01]

I reckon the UFC should have included Francis Ngannou versus the Black Beast as the comain event. All the fights scheduled in the main card are so dry and uninteresting except maybe for the oldies, Lyoto Machida versus Vitor Belfort hehehe.

I miss watching Lyoto's style.

Yep love watching the oldies like Lyoto, BJ Penn, Tito Ortiz, Matt Hughes and Chuck Liddell but only if they fight the same way on their prime. We have to accept it that in this kind of sport age is a factor. Notice that those who were released by UFC like Sonnen and Mir are picked up by Bellator. Age maybe a factor why there are released but Bellator is still giving them a chance to fight. They are still crowd drawers.

Good thing UFC gave Amanda Nunes another chance after refusing to fight last UFC 213. It was stated that she is medically cleared and fit to fight but she just doesn't want to because she just don't feel like fighting.

[peter0425]

I reckon the UFC should have included Francis Ngannou versus the Black Beast as the comain event. All the fights scheduled in the main card are so dry and uninteresting except maybe for the oldies, Lyoto Machida versus Vitor Belfort hehehe.

I miss watching Lyoto's style.

It was fun to watch Lyoto's during his prime and his "Karate Kid" stance. And who would forget his KO over Rashad Evans? hhahaha.

Do you think that Nunes, who uses to train together with Tecia Torres (Pennington fiancee), will give some advantage to her opponent? I mean it could possibility the Tecia knows Nunes pretty well that she will tell Nunes strengths and weaknesses to Racquel Pennington? Do you think it will be a factor for this fight specially if the fights goes to championship rounds?

[bbc.reporter]

I reckon the UFC should have included Francis Ngannou versus the Black Beast as the comain event. All the fights scheduled in the main card are so dry and uninteresting except maybe for the oldies, Lyoto Machida versus Vitor Belfort hehehe.

I miss watching Lyoto's style.

Yep love watching the oldies like Lyoto, BJ Penn, Tito Ortiz, Matt Hughes and Chuck Liddell but only if they fight the same way on their prime. We have to accept it that in this kind of sport age is a factor. Notice that those who were released by UFC like Sonnen and Mir are picked up by Bellator. Age maybe a factor why there are released but Bellator is still giving them a chance to fight. They are still crowd drawers.

Good thing UFC gave Amanda Nunes another chance after refusing to fight last UFC 213. It was stated that she is medically cleared and fit to fight but she just doesn't want to because she just don't feel like fighting.

Another chance to be the headliner, you mean? Yes, but Amanda will not be as big as Ronda Rousey like how Amanda thought she would be after winning the belt and winning versus Ronda.

I wish Ronda transferred to another training camp and became a better MMA fighter. It would be better for the sport.

Also I wish Raquel wins hehehe.

[Hydrogen]

Do you think that Nunes, who uses to train together with Tecia Torres (Pennington fiancee), will give some advantage to her opponent? I mean it could possibility the Tecia knows Nunes pretty well that she will tell Nunes strengths and weaknesses to Racquel Pennington? Do you think it will be a factor for this fight specially if the fights goes to championship rounds?

Interesting point. I didn't consider whether Tecia Torres and Amanda Nunes training out of american top team florida would be a factor. I don't think it will make a difference, everyone knows Amanda Nunes fighting style, what she's good at and how she lost fights in the past.

I think Nunes has to slow the pace of the fight down to avoid tiring and being dead on her feet, late. Nunes can't do a lot of wrestling and grappling (the most tiring and energy consuming things in MMA) or her body will fail on her. If Racquel can make the fight fast paced that would in her favor, unfortunately for Racquel, many of her past fights were are slow paced, she isn't really known for being someone who brawls all the time like Jessica Andrade.

Looking at Nunes' losses they were fights where she wrestled and grappled a lot and her cardio didn't hold up. Its hard to say how good Racquel's wrestling and grappling is (she hasn't shown much of it in her figths) and whether she'll want to pursue that type of fight with Nunes.

[darkangel11]

Another chance to be the headliner, you mean? Yes, but Amanda will not be as big as Ronda Rousey like how Amanda thought she would be after winning the belt and winning versus Ronda.

I wish Ronda transferred to another training camp and became a better MMA fighter. It would be better for the sport.

Also I wish Raquel wins hehehe.

Those were different times, back when not many women were competing and those who were got a lot of attention due to being the first, especially when years back they were reluctant to create a female division thinking that nobody would want to watch it
Ronda was a decent fighter for that era and she also liked the spotlights and looked stunning in dresses It was just a matter of time before some tougher girls with iron jaws that aren't afraid to take a punch started to emerge. Ronda vs Nunes makes me think of Gina Carano vs Cyborg.

[TravelMug]

Another chance to be the headliner, you mean? Yes, but Amanda will not be as big as Ronda Rousey like how Amanda thought she would be after winning the belt and winning versus Ronda.

I wish Ronda transferred to another training camp and became a better MMA fighter. It would be better for the sport.

Also I wish Raquel wins hehehe.

Those were different times, back when not many women were competing and those who were got a lot of attention due to being the first, especially when years back they were reluctant to create a female division thinking that nobody would want to watch it
Ronda was a decent fighter for that era and she also liked the spotlights and looked stunning in dresses It was just a matter of time before some tougher girls with iron jaws that aren't afraid to take a punch started to emerge. Ronda vs Nunes makes me think of Gina Carano vs Cyborg.

Well Gina Carano was the first women to put the women's in the MMA circle. She is very easy to market, just like Rousey, however, she was defeated by Cyborg and she went into hibernation and even appears on TV and movie.

As for Rhonda, yeah, its time to make changes. Looks like she was really exposed in her last 3 fights. If she wanted to bring her re-ignite her career, she needs to shift training camps or let go of  Edmond Taverdyan.

[bbc.reporter]

Another chance to be the headliner, you mean? Yes, but Amanda will not be as big as Ronda Rousey like how Amanda thought she would be after winning the belt and winning versus Ronda.

I wish Ronda transferred to another training camp and became a better MMA fighter. It would be better for the sport.

Also I wish Raquel wins hehehe.

Those were different times, back when not many women were competing and those who were got a lot of attention due to being the first, especially when years back they were reluctant to create a female division thinking that nobody would want to watch it
Ronda was a decent fighter for that era and she also liked the spotlights and looked stunning in dresses It was just a matter of time before some tougher girls with iron jaws that aren't afraid to take a punch started to emerge. Ronda vs Nunes makes me think of Gina Carano vs Cyborg.

Yes but Ronda had the special attractiveness and the charm that brought women's MMA to the spotlight. If it was not her, I reckon women's MMA would not be as popular today.

[peter0425]

Do you think that Nunes, who uses to train together with Tecia Torres (Pennington fiancee), will give some advantage to her opponent? I mean it could possibility the Tecia knows Nunes pretty well that she will tell Nunes strengths and weaknesses to Racquel Pennington? Do you think it will be a factor for this fight specially if the fights goes to championship rounds?

Interesting point. I didn't consider whether Tecia Torres and Amanda Nunes training out of american top team florida would be a factor. I don't think it will make a difference, everyone knows Amanda Nunes fighting style, what she's good at and how she lost fights in the past.

Fair enough, it just dawn on me remembering both Tecia and Amanda training out together. So I'm just thinking if could be a factor but yeah you can't teach old dogs with new tricks and we have seen how she lost a fight.

I think Nunes has to slow the pace of the fight down to avoid tiring and being dead on her feet, late. Nunes can't do a lot of wrestling and grappling (the most tiring and energy consuming things in MMA) or her body will fail on her. If Racquel can make the fight fast paced that would in her favor, unfortunately for Racquel, many of her past fights were are slow paced, she isn't really known for being someone who brawls all the time like Jessica Andrade.

Looking at Nunes' losses they were fights where she wrestled and grappled a lot and her cardio didn't hold up. Its hard to say how good Racquel's wrestling and grappling is (she hasn't shown much of it in her figths) and whether she'll want to pursue that type of fight with Nunes.

I guess when Racquel can hit that one haymaker on her, the complexion of the game might change and all strategy they have put up will not come to fruition. We all know that once you got hit, all you want is to bang with your opponent. Let's see how tough Nunes is.

[eaLiTy]

@eaLiTy. Raquel Pennington's chin is strongly good, she also throws more strikes per fight and she has better cardio than Amanda Nunes. If Raquel tries to take the fight to rounds 4 and 5 when Amanda is tired, then maybe she has a chance.

If the fight goes to the championship rounds, then Raquel has the chance to win the fight as Amanda Nunes does not have the best cardio and i would like to see Raquel winning the belt but it is highly unlikely to happen.

I reckon the UFC should have included Francis Ngannou versus the Black Beast as the comain event. All the fights scheduled in the main card are so dry and uninteresting except maybe for the oldies, Lyoto Machida versus Vitor Belfort hehehe.

I miss watching Lyoto's style.

Francis Ngannou and Black Beast is battling it out at UFC 226, it is going to be a huge card with super fights in heavy weight and feather weight title on the line.
When Lyoto burst into the MMA scene i was really in awe as he was undefeated at one point with 16 fights until Maurício Rua smoked him in the first round of their rematch and i lost that bet handsomely. If you like his fighting style watch out for Michael Page and i wish UFC signs him as he is a crazy fighter and he is fighting this month in Bellator. Stephen Thompson also resembles his fighting style and i am just waiting for the Darren Till fight

[Hydrogen]

First episode of the UFC 224 embedded series is out.

https://youtu.be/TTloPxHYPoc

Almost forgot this UFC event is hosted in brazil. If I remember right, brazilians won nearly every fight the last time the UFC was in brazil. There is a chance that brazilians train harder and take their fights more seriously when they're fighting in their home country. Could be yet another factor to consider. Although sometimes, fighting in brazil seems to work against some fighters.

Betting wise, I'm not certain about this card. There are a lot of names who haven't competed in near to two years and its difficult to determine what effect that could have. Racquel Pennington's near two year layoff was due to injury. Could ring rust be a factor for her? Who knows...

Bellator 199: King Mo vs Ryan Bader @ heavyweight is also scheduled for may 12th.

[tokeweed]

^  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?