Sunday, October 8, 2017

UFC 216 Post Event Reflections

Borg wasn't really and never was going to pose much threat. Demetrious took the safer fight to get his record setting defense but it was over a guy clearly overmatched honestly never a threat to Demetrious from the first bell to the submission. Demetrious invented a lot of reasons not to face TJ Dillashaw, which in light of Ray Borg's past failures and most recent weight cut fail, felt all the more spurious, as DJ said he didn't want to face TJ b/c he might not make weight and instead faced a guy who several weight cut fails on record....DJ paid the price with a semi-wasted fight came prep and quick turnaround but not that it mattered.

Dillashaw now faces Garbrandt on that MSG card coming up which is a bigger fight for him, and we're left wondering if whoever wins between Pettis and Cejudo will put up much more of a fight against DJ next time we see him. He's a victim of his own success and if he was winning decision after decision I'd be complaining more, and it's not DJ's fault he's simply head and shoulders above the nearest flyweight, it is what it is. This is where we are.

Derrick Lewis pulled out as the event was beginning. The UFC managed to last minute of last minute put together a replacement fight so there's that. Lando Vannatta had a fun fight with Bobby Green which legitimately was a draw.

Ferguson vs Lee was entertaining with close calls and Ferguson giving up 1-2 rounds and then showing how dangerous his Jiu-Jitsu is off his back. That being said, could he be on his back like that against an early in the fight Khabib and not get finished? Man, I dunno. I'm frankly more interested to see that fight stylistically than McGregor vs Khabib. I think Khabib coming off a long layoff is hittable early in his fights (see Michael Johnson) and that spells disaster with the time McGregor has spent polishing his hands in the run-up to the Mayweather bout.

The UFC and it's interim belts actually don't bother me as the morass/log jams in various divisions made things interminably stale with guys like Ferguson winning insane amounts of fights before getting a title shot.

Dariush and Evan Dunham went to a decision. Legit score as well. I'm looking at you Canelo/GGG judge and one of the judges for McGregor vs Floyd.

It's a sad day when I'm legit surprised and happy that the judges actually did their jobs.

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