🥊 The UFC Info and Prediction Thread

[tokeweed]

WOOOOW!!!  That was quick!  We have a new dominant UFC champion ladies and gentlemen.  And from China too.  I don't think there's anybody at women's MMA that could beat Zhang.

[rosezionjohn]

Congrats to Zhang for making history.

WOOOOW!!!  That was quick!  We have a new dominant UFC champion ladies and gentlemen.  And from China too.  I don't think there's anybody at women's MMA that could beat Zhang.

Maybe the crowd helped her a lot. She also fought more relaxed and was moving well during the fight.
She's a complete package with good striking, ground, and submission game. She could dominate her division for a long time.

[tokeweed]

^  It helped but I don't think she really needed it vs Andrade.  I think if Namajunas had the same kind of power as Zhang she would've KO'd Andrade too imho.

[Astargath]

"I'd like to take this chance to apologise, to absolutely everybody" - Conor

So it looks like a heart felt message to me as well. Anyways maybe people misunderstood his antics specially on that occasion and then as a person he find time to realised that what he did is a total dick moved specially when he found out that it was recorded.

You do not need to be a genius to know that he punched an elderly person and that too for neglecting the offer Conor gave. The only thing he can do is to come out and save his public image and i expected this interview because the backlash he got after the video is published was damaging for his brand. It was not a heart felt message, it was a PR stunt because the incident took place a few months ago and only now the video is out for the public, so you can guess what the truth is  .

I wish the senior citizen files a lawsuit and he wins a million dollars for his dick move.

The guy is done, at this point he cannot be defended, that's simply bad. He is 'retired' anyways, I honestly doubt that he will fight again, maybe one or two fights here and there for the money but I don't see him coming back as a fighter.

Dana would disagree. Dana says in some of his interviews that if the timing is right, any fight can be done. I am certain that he already has a storyboard ready for Conor's comeback in his file cabinet hehehe.

I meant done in the eyes of the public, clearly if he wanted to fight, he could easily do it and not only in the UFC. No one is going to reject Conor lol, he can still bring millions easily. Personally I just dislike Conor now and I was a big fan before.

[tokeweed]

New event guys.  Finally nice seeing Khabib out there again after the whole post fight bs he and his team had at Las Vegas.  Lol.

Watch this vid.  Nice breakdown and analysis by Dan Hardy.

UFC 242:  Inside the Octagon - Khabib vs Poirier
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWCDfjlm4yg

Date:  Saturday, September 7
Main Card (PPV):  14:00 EST
Preliminary Card (FX):  12:00 EST
Early Prelims (Fight Pass):  10:15 EST
Venue:  The Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi



Main Card (PPV)
Lightweight:  Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Dustin Poirier
Lightweight:  Edson Barboza vs Paul Felder            
Lightweight:  Islam Makhachev vs Davi Ramos            
Heavyweight:  Curtis Blaydes vs Shamil Abdurakhimov            
Lightweight:  Mairbek Taisumov vs Carlos Diego Ferreira

Preliminary Card (FX)
Women's Flyweight:  Joanne Calderwood vs Andrea Lee         
Featherweight:  Zubaira Tukhugov vs Lerone Murphy            
Women's Bantamweight:  Liana Jojua vs Sarah Moras            
Lightweight:  Ottman Azaitar vs Teemu Packalén

Early Prelims (Fight Pass)
Welterweight:  Belal Muhammad vs Takashi Sato            
Welterweight:  Nordine Taleb vs Muslim Salikhov            
Middleweight:  Omari Akhmedov vs Zak Cummings            
Lightweight:  Don Madge vs Fares Ziam

All info from Wikipedia:  https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFC_242

[bbc.reporter]

@pereira4. Khabib's chin has never been tested. We thought Conor was going to test it, however, the strategy he used did not give him this opportunity.

I reckon Poirier's fighting style might give him a chance to test it.

[YuginKadoya]

New event guys.  Finally nice seeing Khabib out there again after the whole post fight bs he and his team had at Las Vegas.  Lol.

Watch this vid.  Nice breakdown and analysis by Dan Hardy.

UFC 242:  Inside the Octagon - Khabib vs Poirier
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWCDfjlm4yg

Date:  Saturday, September 7
Main Card (PPV):  14:00 EST
Preliminary Card (FX):  12:00 EST
Early Prelims (Fight Pass):  10:15 EST
Venue:  The Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi



Main Card (PPV)
Lightweight:  Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Dustin Poirier
Lightweight:  Edson Barboza vs Paul Felder            
Lightweight:  Islam Makhachev vs Davi Ramos            
Heavyweight:  Curtis Blaydes vs Shamil Abdurakhimov            
Lightweight:  Mairbek Taisumov vs Carlos Diego Ferreira

Preliminary Card (FX)
Women's Flyweight:  Joanne Calderwood vs Andrea Lee         
Featherweight:  Zubaira Tukhugov vs Lerone Murphy            
Women's Bantamweight:  Liana Jojua vs Sarah Moras            
Lightweight:  Ottman Azaitar vs Teemu Packalén

Early Prelims (Fight Pass)
Welterweight:  Belal Muhammad vs Takashi Sato            
Welterweight:  Nordine Taleb vs Muslim Salikhov            
Middleweight:  Omari Akhmedov vs Zak Cummings            
Lightweight:  Don Madge vs Fares Ziam

All info from Wikipedia:  https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFC_242

Wow! Finally a Khabib Nurmagomedov fight I surely highly anticipated another match from him and with this Lightweight Main Event card against Dustin Poirier, But the way I see this fight Poirier is no push over and having experience with Wresling in the past but he is highly compatible with his boxing but I guess Khabib's good submission move will surely put to test that is why I really think that Khabib will surely win against Poirier, I know I am a bit bias because I really like Nurmagomedov to win this, But that is what I am seeing to be the conclusion on their fight.

[Juggy777]

New event guys.  Finally nice seeing Khabib out there again after the whole post fight bs he and his team had at Las Vegas.  Lol.

Watch this vid.  Nice breakdown and analysis by Dan Hardy.

UFC 242:  Inside the Octagon - Khabib vs Poirier
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWCDfjlm4yg

Date:  Saturday, September 7
Main Card (PPV):  14:00 EST
Preliminary Card (FX):  12:00 EST
Early Prelims (Fight Pass):  10:15 EST
Venue:  The Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi



Main Card (PPV)
Lightweight:  Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Dustin Poirier
Lightweight:  Edson Barboza vs Paul Felder            
Lightweight:  Islam Makhachev vs Davi Ramos            
Heavyweight:  Curtis Blaydes vs Shamil Abdurakhimov            
Lightweight:  Mairbek Taisumov vs Carlos Diego Ferreira

Preliminary Card (FX)
Women's Flyweight:  Joanne Calderwood vs Andrea Lee         
Featherweight:  Zubaira Tukhugov vs Lerone Murphy            
Women's Bantamweight:  Liana Jojua vs Sarah Moras            
Lightweight:  Ottman Azaitar vs Teemu Packalén

Early Prelims (Fight Pass)
Welterweight:  Belal Muhammad vs Takashi Sato            
Welterweight:  Nordine Taleb vs Muslim Salikhov            
Middleweight:  Omari Akhmedov vs Zak Cummings            
Lightweight:  Don Madge vs Fares Ziam

All info from Wikipedia:  https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFC_242

Wow! Finally a Khabib Nurmagomedov fight I surely highly anticipated another match from him and with this Lightweight Main Event card against Dustin Poirier, But the way I see this fight Poirier is no push over and having experience with Wresling in the past but he is highly compatible with his boxing but I guess Khabib's good submission move will surely put to test that is why I really think that Khabib will surely win against Poirier, I know I am a bit bias because I really like Nurmagomedov to win this, But that is what I am seeing to be the conclusion on their fight.

@YuginKadoya you’re right Poirier does have some decent experience, but I doubt he’ll pose a challenge to Khabib. I feel Khabib should easily win this match and I’m planning to place few bucks on him, as I feel this match’s result is easy to predict.

@pereira4. Khabib's chin has never been tested. We thought Conor was going to test it, however, the strategy he used did not give him this opportunity.

I reckon Poirier's fighting style might give him a chance to test it.

@bbc.reporter that won’t happen because Khabib is way superior, but the fans would love to see Poirier get close to his chin so let’s wait and see how it goes.

[mich]

Khabib showing much respect for upcoming battle with DP

Khabib Nurmagomedov says Dustin Poirier is the ‘toughest challenge’ of his career

https://www.bjpenn.com/mma-news/ufc/ufc-242-khabib-nurmagomedov-says-dustin-poirier-is-the-toughest-challenge-of-his-career/

“Right now, watching Dustin Poirier, I think it will be my toughest challenge. I always think like this,” Khabib Nurmagomedov said on the UFC 242 media call. “Even when I fight with Darrell Horcher, I think okay this guy is my toughest challenge. I don’t want to make [a] mistake, I don’t want to underestimate this guy. I think a lot of people underestimate his ground game, he has [a] good ground game. He has good grappling. A little bit of [an] old school style.

[rosezionjohn]

UFC 242:  Inside the Octagon - Khabib vs Poirier
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWCDfjlm4yg

Listened to Dan Hardy's breakdown and I kinda like Dustin's chances here. He should be the one pressing the action and not simply reacting to Khabib's move if he ever wants to win this championship match. He can also take advantage of the Khabib's possible "ring rust" from months of layoff.

[ene1980]

Listened to Dan Hardy's breakdown and I kinda like Dustin's chances here. He should be the one pressing the action and not simply reacting to Khabib's move if he ever wants to win this championship match. He can also take advantage of the Khabib's possible "ring rust" from months of layoff.

I usually like his break downs but most of his predictions never come true and you can go back and watch all of his analysis in the past, there is no ring rust for Khabib, he is not known as a party animal who goes out of shape if he is not fighting, he always spars even if he is not fighting and that is his life style and you cannot match that, he is a complete animal unless there is a freak knockout i do not see Dustin defeating Khabib, i see him mauling in the first two rounds and then he might stand up with Dustin for the third round and then go for the submission.

[rosezionjohn]

I usually like his break downs but most of his predictions never come true and you can go back and watch all of his analysis in the past, there is no ring rust for Khabib, he is not known as a party animal who goes out of shape if he is not fighting, he always spars even if he is not fighting and that is his life style and you cannot match that, he is a complete animal unless there is a freak knockout i do not see Dustin defeating Khabib, i see him mauling in the first two rounds and then he might stand up with Dustin for the third round and then go for the submission.

I don't really listen much to anyone's prediction, it was the breakdown that I commended. I'm not sure about having no ring rust at all, I believe it's always there. It's just that some fighters like Nate Diaz are really good at shaking it off quickly. There is no doubt that Khabib is a beast and his MMA record clearly shows that but, as you said, a perfectly placed punch from Dustin can end that perfect record of his. 

[btc_angela]

Listened to Dan Hardy's breakdown and I kinda like Dustin's chances here. He should be the one pressing the action and not simply reacting to Khabib's move if he ever wants to win this championship match. He can also take advantage of the Khabib's possible "ring rust" from months of layoff.

I usually like his break downs but most of his predictions never come true and you can go back and watch all of his analysis in the past, there is no ring rust for Khabib, he is not known as a party animal who goes out of shape if he is not fighting, he always spars even if he is not fighting and that is his life style and you cannot match that, he is a complete animal unless there is a freak knockout i do not see Dustin defeating Khabib, i see him mauling in the first two rounds and then he might stand up with Dustin for the third round and then go for the submission.

Definitely a fighter who hasn't fought for months or years in the octagon could have ring rust issues. However, elite fighters have the ability to shrug it off as soon as they got the fell of the environment. Specially if Khabib can somewhat caught by Justin, his instinct will be back for sure. And I also agree that Dustin has a slim change against Khabib. Probably will go for KO early but when Khabib takes him down then it's over.

[DeathAngel]

Really hope Khabib loses this weekend, I’m sick of his boring style, hugging his way to every single victory on the floor. I enjoy watching men fight not roll around on the floor hugging each other.

Sadly I think Khabib will win again because his boring style is so effective.

[tokeweed]

^  Yup me too...  I put some action on Poirier at 4.33 at FJ (it's actually better than Nitrogen's line for the first time).  I'm hoping for a bad Khabib weight cut which as happened 4 - 5 times in the past.

Anyway here are some vids to watch.  You guys should def watch the fight replays.

UFC 242:  Countdown
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRGLwRZnwKs

UFC 242:  Embedded Episode 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byTKZayDF_0

UFC 242:  Free Fight - Khabib vs McGregor
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVIcNzhytXo

UFC 242:  Free Fight - Poirier vs Gaethje
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlGY4Q1n2Hc

[Bardman]

Really hope Khabib loses this weekend, I’m sick of his boring style, hugging his way to every single victory on the floor. I enjoy watching men fight not roll around on the floor hugging each other.

Sadly I think Khabib will win again because his boring style is so effective.

Well, he dominates his opponents, not really hugging when you are getting destroyed on the ground, the thing is, Khabib doesn't seem to have a strong punch/kick power, he always dominates his opponents on the ground but almost never KO's anyone, which is really hard considering how much damage they receive on the ground. Poirier is not going to win though, if Mcgregor wasn't able to beat Khabib, there is no way Poirier will.

[ene1980]

but when Khabib takes him down then it's over.

Is there a fighter in the entire division that could prevent a take down from Khabib, i really do not think so as he could take down any fighter on the ground, if he moves up a division then it might be a different story, but for now i really do not think that anyone could defend a take down from Khabib and the fight that all the fans around the world are looking for a show down against Tony who has insane cardio and good ground game and the interesting part is that what will Tony do to counter Khabib's ground game.

In short Khabib is a real SOB and someone needs to pull a miracle to defeat Khabib in his prime .

[Jsmbugu]

Well, all the predictions are on khabib because of his style of fighting on the floor he's so strong and smart we watched how he won against mc gregor and many good fighters. But i hope we will see something different this time at least a good fight because to beat khabib you need a miracle.

[tokeweed]

^  McGregor was fatigued by the third round.  I don't think Poirier gets tired that easy.  He's def a live dog.

Anyway you guys should watch the free fight below in case you haven't yet.  It's an upset.    I could happen again...

UFC 242:  Embedded Episode 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIt1OdeuLdE

UFC 242:  Free Fight - Poirier vs Holloway
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeRz5GiXTiI

[Bardman]

^  McGregor was fatigued by the third round.  I don't think Poirier gets tired that easy.  He's def a live dog.

Anyway you guys should watch the free fight below in case you haven't yet.  It's an upset.    I could happen again...

UFC 242:  Embedded Episode 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIt1OdeuLdE

UFC 242:  Free Fight - Poirier vs Holloway
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeRz5GiXTiI

True, the way I see it is:

Mcgregor: Best striker, gets tired easily, better than average takedown defense.

Poirier: Good striker but definitely worse than Mcgregor, doesn't get tired, really good takedown defense.

So really the only main disadvantage of Poirier over Mcgregor is the striking power and skill, however, I don't think Mcgregor was in his best shape at all when he fought Khabib, I'm sure the fight will be a bit closer but Khabib is winning anyhow.