I've never been big on Lineker, but he finally has polished his striking enough to be the right amount of wild and the right amount of stalking. He pieced up his opponent and got the finish despite the same concerning ability to end up on bottom and frankly, doesn't seem much able to get up from there unless he's allowed. Big problem in that division as guys like Dillashaw and Cruz have both amazing stand-up and amazingly honed and crafted takedown games. His stand-up while good for besting lower and mid-tier opposition is far too predictable and one dimensional to best the likes of Cruz and Dillashaw and my guess, also Rivera because Rivera keeps his punches and hooks tighter and more compact and has a takedown game to boot. Stylistically, I just don't see Lineker ever winning the strap due to lack of work on his takedown game or defense up until this point.
Belfort had his farewell speech well memorized because he repeated it (likely due to that front/snap/karate/crane/whatever) kick. The guy is by all metrics a legend of the sport due to longevity, titles, strength of resume, ability to polarize, rivalries....everything. Man. Guy faced over 10 former world champs from either Pride or the UFC. Ridiculous. He'll prob ply his wares against some other fading legends, and y'know what? I'll watch. He's a legend. He gets to say when he's done. He also gets to make money the best way he knows how for a bit longer.
Machida still has it. Still dangerous. Still mobile. Still fading in the chin department. Not sure he can bang with the top 3 of MW which is a murderer's row of Romero, Rockhold, and Whitaker, but we'll see what unfolds if he pieces together another few wins. I want him to get a second title at MW but with Romero or Whitaker holding the strap, it's tough man.
I thought Jacare won the fight. Minus getting dropped in the second round, he landed far more heavy right hands and kicks, and Gastelum for all his bouncing and moving honestly didn't hurt Jacare. Fatigue, visually, probably swayed judges to give Gastelum rounds that I think based on scoring were actually Jacare's. Jacare completely dominated the first round, landed heavier shots in the second, and the third round was close. Once again, I don't see Gastelum piecing up or avoiding being taken down by big guys like Whitaker and Romero. IN fact I think likely doesn't win more than a round or 2 at best against them. Jacare had the old adrenaline dump do him in but he still bests all but the very best and brightest in the division.
Pennington's coach is a &*^%ing bum and a clown and doesn't care about his fighter. She said I'm done after taking knees to the face and having her nose crushed and he sent her back in to take punishment in a fight she was in no position to win. Leave that camp and leave that coach and go elsewhere. Being tough is admirable but not enough on it's own to win fights. Watching her fruitlessly look for those leg grabs as takedowns and the advice between rounds was atrocious. Leave that camp.
Amanda Cooper was looking nice and sharp but dropped the lead hand and got tagged with a big right hand......from a woman who was almost in the next weight class up. Mackenzie did herself no favors showing up 7 lbs overweight with a clear "I didn't really bother to even try to make the weight because my opponent will take the fight because of how high profile it is." Fans are fickle. A clear I didn't even bother to try as the sport is seen as increasingly professional as opposed to it's thunderdome human cockfighting days got Dern rightfully roasted on the internet with memes once it was revealed for yet another time failing to make weight as a professional. She'd missed the weight prior to her UFC debut despite a regular fighting schedule and somehow always making weight et cetera in JiuJitsu and growing up as an athlete. Call it whatever you want but showing up 7 lbs overweight and refusing to just admit the truth, that you were obviously laughably overweight a week or 2 ago, just shows a lack of respect, or even full out disrespect for your opponent and the sport in general.
Prelims -
I'm still waiting for Elizeu to get a further up main card slot. The guy is a real dark horse in his division. His striking is dangerous. He's aggressive. Has been through some tough fights. He's resilient. His time is coming.
Ramos got to the back and made the finish look easy. The face crank/RNC in MMA is real.
Oleinik hits the no arm ezekiel/facing the guy from bottom half-guard that has been a bit in vogue in bigger man Jiu-Jitsu. Guys is 56-11 with a ton of submission wins. Always dangerous, and is dangerous even from traditionally not dangerous positions like bottom half-guard. Guys who don't watch tape of him prior to fighting him truly are doing so at their own peril. The guy throws up submissions and has a ton of neck crank and other style submissions across over 50 fights. That is a huge experience gap for the HW division. Also a dark horse in his division.
Belfort had his farewell speech well memorized because he repeated it (likely due to that front/snap/karate/crane/whatever) kick. The guy is by all metrics a legend of the sport due to longevity, titles, strength of resume, ability to polarize, rivalries....everything. Man. Guy faced over 10 former world champs from either Pride or the UFC. Ridiculous. He'll prob ply his wares against some other fading legends, and y'know what? I'll watch. He's a legend. He gets to say when he's done. He also gets to make money the best way he knows how for a bit longer.
Machida still has it. Still dangerous. Still mobile. Still fading in the chin department. Not sure he can bang with the top 3 of MW which is a murderer's row of Romero, Rockhold, and Whitaker, but we'll see what unfolds if he pieces together another few wins. I want him to get a second title at MW but with Romero or Whitaker holding the strap, it's tough man.
I thought Jacare won the fight. Minus getting dropped in the second round, he landed far more heavy right hands and kicks, and Gastelum for all his bouncing and moving honestly didn't hurt Jacare. Fatigue, visually, probably swayed judges to give Gastelum rounds that I think based on scoring were actually Jacare's. Jacare completely dominated the first round, landed heavier shots in the second, and the third round was close. Once again, I don't see Gastelum piecing up or avoiding being taken down by big guys like Whitaker and Romero. IN fact I think likely doesn't win more than a round or 2 at best against them. Jacare had the old adrenaline dump do him in but he still bests all but the very best and brightest in the division.
Pennington's coach is a &*^%ing bum and a clown and doesn't care about his fighter. She said I'm done after taking knees to the face and having her nose crushed and he sent her back in to take punishment in a fight she was in no position to win. Leave that camp and leave that coach and go elsewhere. Being tough is admirable but not enough on it's own to win fights. Watching her fruitlessly look for those leg grabs as takedowns and the advice between rounds was atrocious. Leave that camp.
Amanda Cooper was looking nice and sharp but dropped the lead hand and got tagged with a big right hand......from a woman who was almost in the next weight class up. Mackenzie did herself no favors showing up 7 lbs overweight with a clear "I didn't really bother to even try to make the weight because my opponent will take the fight because of how high profile it is." Fans are fickle. A clear I didn't even bother to try as the sport is seen as increasingly professional as opposed to it's thunderdome human cockfighting days got Dern rightfully roasted on the internet with memes once it was revealed for yet another time failing to make weight as a professional. She'd missed the weight prior to her UFC debut despite a regular fighting schedule and somehow always making weight et cetera in JiuJitsu and growing up as an athlete. Call it whatever you want but showing up 7 lbs overweight and refusing to just admit the truth, that you were obviously laughably overweight a week or 2 ago, just shows a lack of respect, or even full out disrespect for your opponent and the sport in general.
Prelims -
I'm still waiting for Elizeu to get a further up main card slot. The guy is a real dark horse in his division. His striking is dangerous. He's aggressive. Has been through some tough fights. He's resilient. His time is coming.
Ramos got to the back and made the finish look easy. The face crank/RNC in MMA is real.
Oleinik hits the no arm ezekiel/facing the guy from bottom half-guard that has been a bit in vogue in bigger man Jiu-Jitsu. Guys is 56-11 with a ton of submission wins. Always dangerous, and is dangerous even from traditionally not dangerous positions like bottom half-guard. Guys who don't watch tape of him prior to fighting him truly are doing so at their own peril. The guy throws up submissions and has a ton of neck crank and other style submissions across over 50 fights. That is a huge experience gap for the HW division. Also a dark horse in his division.
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