This card is kinda spotty with some interesting bouts throughout on each portion but not the slate/dearth of heavy hitters I now wantonly expect now that we're back to having weekly events. How quickly we forgot not having any sports for several months straight.
Let's see how many more I can get wrong this week:
Poirier vs Hooker:
Poirier has only lost to McGregor, Khabib, Michael Johnson, Cub Swanson, and the Korean Zombie. I say only because that is across something like 23 UFC fights. He's got wins over everyone from Josh Grispi to Holloway to Alvarez to Gaethje and many other names in between. That's not to say that I doubt Hooker in this one, just that Poirier has only lost to some of the very best, and as of recently, only to McGregor and Khabib. Hooker recently has picked up wins over Felder, Iaquinta, Vick, dropped a loss to Edson Barboza and before that picked up wins over Burns, Miller, Pearson. Any concern I have that he can be chopped down by a varied striking attack have faded with his recent 3 wins, but Poirier is a consummate professional who plies his punches better than most and has adjusted to a 5 fight gameplan well. I think Poirier takes this one by stoppage in the 5th round. He conserves energy across longer fights and stays dangerous as he piles on the damage across 5 rounds.
Gall vs Perry:
Either Gall gets Perry to the ground or gets KTFO. Perry's unwillingness to be cornered is concerning but to each his own. I'm not hype on Gall as he's been stopped by far less ferocious strikers. Gall got TKO'd by Diego Sanchez in his fight before last and went to a decision against the unheralded Salim Touahri in August of 2019. Gall's submissions wins are over the likes of Sage Northcutt and CM Punk. I have to say Perry punishes Gall from top and/or standing and wins by KO.
Luis Pena vs Worthy:
I've become a big fan of Luis Pena. His odd persona meets entertaining fight style is fun to watch. He's got a win over a faded Matt Wiman, a loss to Frevola, and a win over Steve Garcia. Worthy AKA "Deathstar" is coming into his 2nd UFC fight after a stoppage win over Devonte Smith. Devonte has 9 wins by TKO out of his 15 wins. I haven't seen enough of his fights to predict how the fight will go on the feet but Pena has a tough style and range to prepare for, he's the favorite going into this due to stronger resume fighting under the lights of the big show. Pena by decision.
I want to be more excited about the other fights on the card but TBH not feeling it.
Let's see how many more I can get wrong this week:
Poirier vs Hooker:
Poirier has only lost to McGregor, Khabib, Michael Johnson, Cub Swanson, and the Korean Zombie. I say only because that is across something like 23 UFC fights. He's got wins over everyone from Josh Grispi to Holloway to Alvarez to Gaethje and many other names in between. That's not to say that I doubt Hooker in this one, just that Poirier has only lost to some of the very best, and as of recently, only to McGregor and Khabib. Hooker recently has picked up wins over Felder, Iaquinta, Vick, dropped a loss to Edson Barboza and before that picked up wins over Burns, Miller, Pearson. Any concern I have that he can be chopped down by a varied striking attack have faded with his recent 3 wins, but Poirier is a consummate professional who plies his punches better than most and has adjusted to a 5 fight gameplan well. I think Poirier takes this one by stoppage in the 5th round. He conserves energy across longer fights and stays dangerous as he piles on the damage across 5 rounds.
Gall vs Perry:
Either Gall gets Perry to the ground or gets KTFO. Perry's unwillingness to be cornered is concerning but to each his own. I'm not hype on Gall as he's been stopped by far less ferocious strikers. Gall got TKO'd by Diego Sanchez in his fight before last and went to a decision against the unheralded Salim Touahri in August of 2019. Gall's submissions wins are over the likes of Sage Northcutt and CM Punk. I have to say Perry punishes Gall from top and/or standing and wins by KO.
Luis Pena vs Worthy:
I've become a big fan of Luis Pena. His odd persona meets entertaining fight style is fun to watch. He's got a win over a faded Matt Wiman, a loss to Frevola, and a win over Steve Garcia. Worthy AKA "Deathstar" is coming into his 2nd UFC fight after a stoppage win over Devonte Smith. Devonte has 9 wins by TKO out of his 15 wins. I haven't seen enough of his fights to predict how the fight will go on the feet but Pena has a tough style and range to prepare for, he's the favorite going into this due to stronger resume fighting under the lights of the big show. Pena by decision.
I want to be more excited about the other fights on the card but TBH not feeling it.
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