Mixed Martial Arts Thread (UFC and others)

[cartman]

McGregor was getting beat on the ground, but he hit Mendes with a power shot right before the end of the 2nd round, and got the TKO.

[PilotMan]

Or not, but he did lay out a ton of damage. I'm guessing the cardio just wasn't there.

[dubb93]

That the MMA version of the called shot? Dana White kept saying that Conor tried to get UFC to bet him 3 million on a 2nd round KO of Mendes.

[PilotMan]

I still stay that all around, Mendes is the more talented fighter, the short camp did not help him here.

[BYU 14]

He is definitely more well rounded than McGregor, but Conor is better on his feet, utilizes angles and distance very well. I will say we can confirm that McGregor is one tough SOB though, his chin got tested a couple of times and he fought through it and he did a lot of subtle stuff on the ground that kept him from taking too much damage until he could scramble. I was impressed with him tonight as I thought Mendes was a much more dangerous matchup style wise than Aldo for him.

Big props to Mendes for taking the fight on two weeks notice, it speaks highly of him as a fighter who stays in shape, but it was definitely a factor. One of the things camp does is condition you to the punishment you will take in a fight and I think that came into play when he was getting hurt from the body shots early on.

Lawlor and McDonald was a helluva fight and I am very impressed with how Robbie has evolved in his striking over the years. Very composed now, much less wasted movement and still some of the heaviest hands in the game.

[Suicane75]

People need to stop selling McGregor short. There are some men absolutely built to fight, and I think he's a very rare cat. He's never going to submit, he may get knocked out, but it's going to take an extremely powerful stand up game to do it, and until he loses whatever the fuck insanity that he has inside of him, it's going to be nearly impossible for even the best wrestler to lay and pray for 5 rounds because he's going to blitzkrieg every time it gets back to the feet.

If the Aldo fight happens, it's going to be an absolute war.

[CU Tiger]

Really interested to see what happens tonight.
On talent alone this probably isnt a top 5 challenge to date for Rousey.

Yet it has a strange feel for me.
Fighting a Brazillian in Brazil, despite the crowd so far be very pro-Rousey.
Ronda getting angry and trying to hurt not win because of the "suicide" angle. If she tries to stretch it out to inflict pain like she says she increases the risk of getting caught by one of Bethe's haymakers.
Small side story but Piper passing just seems like an Omen givent he connection and the Rowdy monicker.

In think and expect Rousey to win...but with BC getting +850 right now I just played $250 on Bethe just in case.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I saw the thread get bumped & thought maybe the Rousey fight was already over

[Suicane75]

I think Ronda hurts her pretty good, tells Rogan she's all out of bubble gum and starts getting ready for Tate again.

[thesloppy]

Hopefully this won't sound too offensive/misogynistic:

I feel like a lot of the top women fighters are still hampered by culture more than their talent, and Ronda's ability to ignore that influence (probably thanks to her mom kicking her ass on a daily basis since birth) is one of her biggest advantages.

A while ago I was reading an article on the power of culture, and how it can override even the most powerful instincts in people. The example used in the article was based on being shot with a gun: apparently the force of a bullet will not knock you over, but the great majority of people fall on their butts after being shot due to the cultural influence of movies and TV telling you you're SUPPOSED to fall down.

In terms of women's MMA, it seems like there's like some cultural remnant of being feminine/dainty/whatever that has been beaten into most women's minds for so long that they can't be truly 100% vicious, regardless of amount of training or conditioning they put in. Miesha Tate personifies this for me.....and she's actually been in some long and bloody wars, relative to lots of the women fighters out there....it just feels like she's putting in 97%. I always get the feeling she's holding some tiny sliver back.

I bring this up in this particular case because Correia does seem vicious, and I think that gives her an edge that Rousey hasn't seen yet, and could result in an awesome fight. Unfortunately, she's not as technical or talented as Ronda, so the end result will probably still be the same.

[EagleFan]

Have been anti Rousey for a while but I want her to win big tonight.

[EagleFan]

I apologize to anyone that bought this tonight. First one in a while that I got. Seems that the cards I order end up sucking. That is why I stopped getting them.

[murrayyyyy]

Silva covered +190. Nothing left to watch for me unless some tears a limb off someone in the main event

[EagleFan]

Did they change sponsorship rules? I see the same shorts and tee shirts for everyone.

[digamma]

UFC signed a deal with Reebok.

[EagleFan]

Nice opening round. Thought shogun was done, nice job of surviving the storm.

[EagleFan]

Holy shit. That was domination.

[CU Tiger]

She out punched the brawler.
Hats off. One of the most dominant competitors of my life time, in very select company in that regard.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I'm gonna suggest the Rousey's next opponent try to avoid pissing her off before the fight.

Or bring a gun to the ring.

Or both.

[SirFozzie]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

I'm gonna suggest the Rousey's next opponent try to avoid pissing her off before the fight.

Or bring a gun to the ring.

Or both.

Basically, Rousey is like the Bride after the 88's fight:

Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (10/12) Movie CLIP - Defeating Johnny Mo (2003) HD - YouTube

"Those of you lucky enough to still have your lives.. take them with you! However... leave the limbs you've lost. They belong to me now."

[EagleFan]

The Cos can do it...

[molson]

I watched Rousey/Tate II again on Fox Sports 1 in the leadup to UFC 190, and after watching the ridiculousness of Rousey's last 4 fights, I had forgotten how competitive Tate was in that fight. She lasted 11 minutes, and landed some good punches in round 1, and escaped an armbar at one point. Rousey actually looked tired on the stool between rounds.

So I think Tate is still, by far, Rousey's best competition in the division. She's the only one who can take Rousey into the deeper waters of later rounds, she's certainly more experienced in those kinds of fights, and she's familiar with Rousey and might not be as scared and intimidated as these other women. I don't think she'd win, but I think she'll be underrated going into the third fight.

[PilotMan]

So the rumor is that Fedor is coming to the UFC. After beatings he took before he retired I can't say that there's much luster on that deal at all. Not compared to what it would have been if he'd have fought Couture back in the day.

[molson]

It's definitely not the big deal it would have been years ago, but considering that Frank Mir, Andrei Arlovski, and Josh Barnett are still among the top-ranked UFC heavyweights, Fedor is not a stretch at all.

[EagleFan]

How was the first fight from the main card scored 29-29 by a judge?

[EagleFan]

Nice finish by Uriah Hall.

[molson]

Shamrock v. Gracie for Bellator in February. 23 years after their first fight at UFC 1. They'll be a combined 101 years old by then. It's just wrong, and dangerous, but I'll watch and I'm sure it will do great ratings.

On the same show, Kimbo Slice v. some street fighter named "Dada 5000". Who I guess is kind of like Kimbo, except with less MMA polish.

This is after the New Year's Eve show which will have an 8-man tournament, Fedor, and the MMA debut of former TNA wrestler Lei'D Tapa against some other huge woman - I guess that's a women's heavyweight fight.

I am amused and entertained by Bellator's antics.

[tarcone]

Watched tonight. Had a local kid fighting. He lost in a split decision. I was disappointed.

[cartman]

Belfort-Henderson was boring as hell for the first two minutes. They just walked around staring each other down. Then out of nowhere Belfort landed a kick flush to Henderson's head, and a couple of punches later it was over.

[PilotMan]

I think that was a TRT retirement match.

[Dutch]

I planned on watching it but fell asleep before the first match and woke up at 5 this morning. I'm getting old...

[Dutch]

Speaking of getting old...

GSP....should he return and risk getting destroyed in a fight or should he stay retired with his legacy fully intact?

Freddie Roach believes Georges St-Pierre will return to the UFC - MMA Fighting

[CU Tiger]

Who is in for tonight?

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by CU Tiger

Who is in for tonight?

Watching at a bar between football games... Can't imagine it'll be worth paying for at a house.

[CU Tiger]

Bit the bullet and ordered. Likewise I doubt I will think it a good purchase tomorrow.

[thesloppy]

I'm excited for the main fight like everybody else, but the rest of the card doesn't look to be worth $50 on paper.

[CU Tiger]

My son likes Struder and Hall v Whitaker has been as entertaining as I'd hoped.

Plus a bigfoot sighting pending....meh I've blown $60 on less

[PilotMan]

I feel bad for Holm. She is about 2 years ahead of her moment. Only because Rousey has beaten everyone else. There isn't a female fighter in the UFC, maybe even the world, who could make it a fight Rousey. She was vulnerable a couple years ago, but not anymore. Her stand up is tight and powerful, her jiu-jitsu is very technical, her judo is out of sight. The UFC had to pimp this fight, but it's such a non event for me I'm not even watching.

[CU Tiger]

Pilot, I agree but...

If you've watched Rousey lately she has been a bit wil rushing in, she hasn't yet faced a striker who could make her pay. Holly COULD, but I suspect shell be tapping to an arm bar in rd 1.

[PilotMan]

She comes in but she hasn't been reckless. Holm will want to stay outside against her. She'll need the space, but Rousey will have to close. It'll be fast, but as soon as Rousey has a hold of her with both hands, it'll be over.

[spleen1015]

Anyone know a good live blog?

[CU Tiger]

Hasn't started yet, fwiw.

[PilotMan]

Alright, I lied. I need to go to bed, but I figure this will be quick so I just turned it on.

[CU Tiger]

Holly clrearlywins rd 1.
She caught rowdy 8-10 times flush and has her bleeding.

[cartman]

Going to round 2! I'm not so sure that Holm didn't win the round.

[PilotMan]

Nice round. I hope we see more of the same. Rousey is tired already. I'm impressed with Holm's ability to grapple so far. Joe is right on in his evaluation.

[CU Tiger]

Rowdy knocked out in second round

[cartman]

DOUGLAS BEATS TYSON

[PilotMan]

HOly shit that was awesome

[JonInMiddleGA]

Yahooooooo