🥊 The UFC Info and Prediction Thread

[Hanadawa]

It just that based on what Dana mentioned, also concluded that Mokaev is unlikely to be able to return to UFC in the near future even though he is still very young, I actually think that Mokaev might have to repeat everything from the bottom.
Indeed, no one knows what the future will be like, but the chances of returning still look quite small for the near future.

In his upload on X Mokaev seems to realize his mistake and he wants to return to UFC as soon as possible. In my personal opinion this should be a lesson for Mokaev and his management. There is news that this is the Manager's mistake because he has talked to the PFL and used the contract to negotiate with the UFC. This is like an insult to the UFC and Dana White so that the UFC officially stopped extending the contract with Mokaev. Sadly, currently the PFL promoter has denied allegations that they have negotiated with Mokaev's management. IMO if it is true that there have been previous negotiations then the current situation is not beneficial for Mokaev's team so that the PFL will ask for a new contract with a lower salary.

[TopTort777]

^  Oof Israel Adesanya and his fellow CKB guys could be in for a ride.  I don't think they have a chance against Erceg and Gamrot, tho I'm back and forth with DDP and Adesanya.

I have seen Adesanya telling that he isnt interested in getting belt, but he only wants to rip DDP head off He has said that he was already champ twice (probably talks about having belt and winning it back from Pereira), and belt itself isnt motivating him anymore. Now we have that big pause after his fight against Strickland, and might be that now the decrease of his career starts. I will pick DDP this time. Strickland showed that techniques of Izzy can be beaten with simple defence, add strong chin of DDP and I see a winner of this fight

[Inwestour]

I have seen Adesanya telling that he isnt interested in getting belt, but he only wants to rip DDP head off He has said that he was already champ twice (probably talks about having belt and winning it back from Pereira), and belt itself isnt motivating him anymore. Now we have that big pause after his fight against Strickland, and might be that now the decrease of his career starts. I will pick DDP this time. Strickland showed that techniques of Izzy can be beaten with simple defence, add strong chin of DDP and I see a winner of this fight

He can talk about motivation as much as he wants, but the most important thing is that a fighter can find it in anything, if he doesn't see motivation in the belt, let him find it in becoming a champion. I'll probably agree that Adesanya has passed the peak of his career and will now gradually descend from the top, if not with DDP, then with the next fighters. By the way, the odds 2.1 for DDP to win are not bad, but according to bookmakers, Adesanya remains the favorite for this fight with 1,72.

[TopTort777]

I have seen Adesanya telling that he isnt interested in getting belt, but he only wants to rip DDP head off He has said that he was already champ twice (probably talks about having belt and winning it back from Pereira), and belt itself isnt motivating him anymore. Now we have that big pause after his fight against Strickland, and might be that now the decrease of his career starts. I will pick DDP this time. Strickland showed that techniques of Izzy can be beaten with simple defence, add strong chin of DDP and I see a winner of this fight

He can talk about motivation as much as he wants, but the most important thing is that a fighter can find it in anything, if he doesn't see motivation in the belt, let him find it in becoming a champion. I'll probably agree that Adesanya has passed the peak of his career and will now gradually descend from the top, if not with DDP, then with the next fighters. By the way, the odds 2.1 for DDP to win are not bad, but according to bookmakers, Adesanya remains the favorite for this fight with 1,72.

I dont know how much you pay attention to his life and career, but here are some facts. He run already a luxurious life, drives lambo, own a penthouse, has a lot of money (I think I saw numbers, that he get close to a million per every fight just from UFC under his contract, plus bonuses and contracts), fought for 14 years already, was a champ in kickboxing and UFC. I dont think he has much of a motivation to continue fighting on a very peak level. I think he wont get be very disappointed if he did not win this time.

[cabron]

I have seen Adesanya telling that he isnt interested in getting belt, but he only wants to rip DDP head off He has said that he was already champ twice (probably talks about having belt and winning it back from Pereira), and belt itself isnt motivating him anymore. Now we have that big pause after his fight against Strickland, and might be that now the decrease of his career starts. I will pick DDP this time. Strickland showed that techniques of Izzy can be beaten with simple defence, add strong chin of DDP and I see a winner of this fight

He can talk about motivation as much as he wants, but the most important thing is that a fighter can find it in anything, if he doesn't see motivation in the belt, let him find it in becoming a champion. I'll probably agree that Adesanya has passed the peak of his career and will now gradually descend from the top, if not with DDP, then with the next fighters. By the way, the odds 2.1 for DDP to win are not bad, but according to bookmakers, Adesanya remains the favorite for this fight with 1,72.

I dont know how much you pay attention to his life and career, but here are some facts. He run already a luxurious life, drives lambo, own a penthouse, has a lot of money (I think I saw numbers, that he get close to a million per every fight just from UFC under his contract, plus bonuses and contracts), fought for 14 years already, was a champ in kickboxing and UFC. I dont think he has much of a motivation to continue fighting on a very peak level. I think he wont get be very disappointed if he did not win this time.

That's a good point. Probably true for any other athletes who have had success for years. Hard to motivate someone with a lavish lifestyle and who has everything. Win or lose he still will get his pay.

If Izzy loses this fight I think it will continue down the road til consecutive losses. If he still wins I guess he still has it and I think they really need to make a trilogy for Pereira to make another huge pay before any of them retires.

[pawel7777]

I have seen Adesanya telling that he isnt interested in getting belt, but he only wants to rip DDP head off (...)

We've all seen him claiming he's Chinese, so not sure how seriously should we be taking anything he says.
I have my doubts if he would actually want to fight DDP if not for the belt (and money).

(..) I'll probably agree that Adesanya has passed the peak of his career and will now gradually descend from the top,(...)

There's probably a lot of truth to it, but it's also that his style is no longer surprising to anyone and is therefore less effective. When he got to the top, all the contenders started to thoroughly analyse every aspect of his game and some like Strickland/Blachowicz/Pereira managed to defeat him. And, at this stage of his career, he won't be able to make any radical changes.

[tokeweed]

^  Oof Israel Adesanya and his fellow CKB guys could be in for a ride.  I don't think they have a chance against Erceg and Gamrot, tho I'm back and forth with DDP and Adesanya.

I have seen Adesanya telling that he isnt interested in getting belt, but he only wants to rip DDP head off He has said that he was already champ twice (probably talks about having belt and winning it back from Pereira), and belt itself isnt motivating him anymore. Now we have that big pause after his fight against Strickland, and might be that now the decrease of his career starts. I will pick DDP this time. Strickland showed that techniques of Izzy can be beaten with simple defence, add strong chin of DDP and I see a winner of this fight

Yeah we'll see...  The books got Adesanya as the slight favorite at 1.85 and with the event organized in Australia I'm pretty sure his line goes lower as they pour more money into his line while DDP's line goes up making him a value bet. 

But as said, I'm back and forth for this match up.  A part of me wants Adesanya's line to go up over 2.00.  Lol.

Anyway, the Contender Series is back.  If you guys missed the fights you could watch it here...

https://www.mma-core.com/events/Dana_White%27s_Contender_Series_-_Contender_Series_2024_Week_1/100227

The vids are at the right side.