Till is still very young and he is improving. The division is setup pretty favorably for him with the only wrestlers near the top being Gastelum (who rarely takes opponents down), Yoel Romero, and Jack Hermansson.

Gastelum did look terrible and tentative (actually I thought they were both a bit tentative) but it's not like Gastelum was performing a solo routine. Darren Till was part of the reason Gastelum looked uncomfortable, and tentative, and could never really get going in the fight. If anyone had a reason to look that bad it was Till rather than Gastelum. Till was the one coming off 2 straight devastating losses. Till was the one moving up in weight. Till is the less experienced fighter and he has a bad knee. Despite all the excuses Till had to put in an bad performance, he did what he needed to win the fight and does deserve props for that.

In terms of title shots, it sounds like Yoel Romero is a legit possibility for the next title shot. From a rankings perspective and name recognition perspective this makes a lot of sense. From a record perspective, Yoel has lost 2 in a row and 3 out of 4 but they were close fights against the only contenders ranked higher than him. Israel wants Yoel and it sounds like Dana is probably on board with that idea. Dana wasn't happy with the Till/Gastelum fight so he's probably reluctant to throw Till into the title fight right away even though he does have name recognition.

In terms of size, Till is a natural middleweight. He's not a huge middleweight but he's not small either. Israel would have a decent reach advantage over him and guys like Costa and Romero will have a strength advantage over him but these aren't things that can't be overcome with skill.

The guy everyone in the middleweight top 10 really needs to worry about is Edmen Shahbazyan though.

This, the doctor saved Nate's face.

yikes

What a great PPV. The night of redemption for Kevin Lee, Stephen Thompson, Darren till and Corey Anderson. All were the underdogs or a pick em vs. the next wave of fighters and three looked fantastic and Till managed to freeze Gastullum. I think Thompson could have gone for the finish in rd3 and let Luque off the hook... but still a masterful performance once again. Barring the great punch by Pettis and he was looking great there too.

I hope they give the MW fight to Yoel. I love the guy as a fighter and has come up on 3 close fight losses. He's like 42 and time will prevent him from a TS so why not give it to him and let the younger guys wait a bit. Till is still one good win away and has no business challenging yet.

didnt understand where all that luque money came from. wb at evens was amazing. just glad it worked out.

You can't write better story lines, now we just need the results to line up. Colby fights the cheat, the steroid abuser and bully Usman, they hate each other, Colby smashes that fool!

Next up, Colby vs Masvidal for the title, they were boys once but now they hate each other lol. Should be fun.

Is this all scripted or what?

On the Till fight, the guy coming off 2 knockouts, give him a break for not wanting to get his lights put out again for the 3rd time. He fought defensively and calculated, compare that to Ngannou v Lewis, which was much much worse!

Both opponents were very aware of the other mans power and naturally were hesitant, don't forget that Gastelum has been in a few wars himself and perhaps being dropped several times by Israel, he also found out his chin is perhaps not as solid as he thought it was. Can't say I blame either fighter to fight the way they did. Could they been more aggressive, of course but given the history of both fighters, I have no problem the way it unfolded.

I also feel Till fought really good and Gastelum just couldn't land any shots on him because Till did the right things to cancel out any attacks from Gastelum.

Glad I stuck with my picks, despite people in here favoring Gastelum and Walker!

The Gastelum bet in particular was a really bad bet to take if you take mma math into account!

I hate to break this to everyone but Nate Diaz has already received a significant amount of life changing head trauma and he will continue to receive more every time he steps back in the Octagon. This is the life he has chosen. This is what we are paying money to see.

That's not why the doctor stopped it though. He stopped it due to a cut, one which existed earlier in the fight, and one which was not obstructing his vision in any way or putting his eye in any sort of danger.

The doctor shouldn't be stopping a fight for cosmetic reasons, but have you ever seen Nate's face before? Dana mentioned something about his eyebrow flipping over which was a bunch of bullshit. The cut was in the same location that Nate has been cut previous times.



You should see how pissed he gets when he only wins a little bit of money.

If you look back across the cards and events of UFC, what marks do you give this org.

I give them a lot more than a passing grade,

UFC get it about mix martial arts, fighters know this, commentators know this, gamblers know it.

masvidal should get the key to the empire and get to fight who he thinks will be the right person to please and stress his ability is what it is.

UFC 2020 TO 2030 IS A SPORTS LOCK.

Lot of reasonable plays unfolding...

life love and liberty..

I'm happy it's not like boxing which is complete and utter waste of space. They might as well be dressing up barby dolls and power rangers in the ring and see who can win with best fashion dressed doll!

Still though, things like this shouldn't be happening, we should be avoiding such trivial mistakes, it's easily done by having 2nd and 3rd opinions, have 3 doctors. Same with refs, they are making mistakes that don't have to happen.

Refs are also still way too lenient towards cheats, so many fence grabs, it's sickening. They should be taking points away immediately, by now every fighter knows it's a foul, why are they still giving them 2-3 chances before they step in and then they only give a warning????

Football was crap like this for the longest time, penalty's were given or not given and games could change because the ref makes a mistake, the whole game changes because of a mistake. That's a big problem and can be avoided. Now refs have monitors and they actually stop the match and go look back at very pivotal and important decisions.

Is that a hard rule? So unless blood is gushing into his eye, and he can see fine, the fight should continue. Many fighters reaction on twitter, were all the same, they were all saying the fight should of gone on because no blood in eye and he can see. I guess it must be a rule, why then did the doc stop it?

I thought perhaps because the cut was too deep. But then I'd have to argue about the blood, which was not a problem. Can docs stop it because of the anticipation of it getting worse? Surely it has to get to that point and they can't just speculate that it will get worse.

You can make an argument that the doc stopped it because Nate was catching a beating, but again, isn't that the refs job or his corners to throw in the towel? I'm still not sure of the exact reason, he then stopped it, other then it was a cut.

There is no hard rule. Physicians have a lot of leeway as they should in determining whether it is safe for a fighter to continue.

This is an excerpt from the NYSAC Medical Standards for Combat Sports Professionals Manual:


source: https://www.dos.ny.gov/athletic/pdfs/medicalmanual.pdf

Both "severe punishment" and "danger of serious physical injury" are open to interpretation. I'd like to believe there are guidelines that ringside physicians follow in regards to this though. Generally physicians will stop the fight if a fighter can't see due to blood in the eyes. They will also stop it if poses a danger to an organ, like his eye or if it looked like his ear might fall off or something like that. I can't recall a UFC fight being stopped simply because of a severe cut to the forehead. If it has happened before I'm sure I didn't understand or like it then either.

It's just very strange because the doctor asked Nate some questions and Nate seemed to answer them fine and looked like he wasn't incoherent or tired whatsoever. Hopefully the doctor realizes that Nate always slurs his speech.

could of been his speech lol.

UFC Fight Night 163

I have quite a few dogs for this card, the reason is simply because I feel a lot of fights are a lot closer, some are down right crazy in my opinion. Yes many are Russians and they might get some robberies but surely not all of them.

Some are such heavy favorites that it's just either a pass or a smaller bet on the dog, even though I expect the heavy favorite to win, the odds are just leaning too much towards the favorite, that you can't bet them profitably imo.

Prelims

Fight 1: Popov v Grant
My pick: Grant at 2.6 and small prop on dec, small prop on finish.

I would actually lean Grant to be a small favorite here, they are pretty close in the striking, while I favor Grant on the ground, wouldn't be surprised if Grant gets the sub.

Fight 2: Clark v Kianzad
My pick: Kianzad at 1.9 and small dec prop.

While Clark has improved since they last fought, I don't think it will be enough, Kianzad had a pretty big advantage on the ground last time they fought. She also out-boxed Clark, Clark has shown improvements in her stand up game but I feel Kianzad will still have that ground advantage and she is also a slightly bigger girl in there, she lost her debut and I think she'll not want to lose 2 in a row. Clark moving up in weight as well, Kianzad bigger, stronger, will big sister her imo!

Fight 3: Yakovlev v Roberts
My Pick: Roberts at 1.58.

Yakovlev is trash imo and getting old. He has no power and low output. His ground game is suppose to be good, what-ever, Roberts got good ground game too. I wanted to play the either fighter by sub, but I just can't see Yakovlev subbing Roberts.

Roberts had a weird fight were he slowed down a ton in his last fight, he is young, hoping he learnt something in that fight, as he was winning until he started slowing down. He has gone 3 rounds before, so not sure what to make of it. The good news is that Yakovlev is such a bum, he won't be putting any pace on Roberts, and Roberts should be able to dictate the pace of the fight, I'm going with the more athletic, younger, hungrier fighter! Not the best odds tbh but still worth it.

Fight 4:Nurmagomedov v Zawada
My pick: Nurmagomedov by dec at 1.8

Khabib's brother is nowhere near as good as Khabib. In fact I could easily see this as a no bet, as I just can't warrant the odds, even vs an average fighter like Zawada. Watching both guys, really not impressed with either. Going small by dec, as this is the most likely outcome. Feel odds should be closer to 1.6 for Nurmagomedov, I think he's a better fighter but 1.3 is a joke.

Fight 5: Kopylov v Roberson
My pick Kopylov straight up at 1.9, small prop by dec 5.0/ hedge Roberson R1 win.

This fight is pretty difficult, the odds are right imo, could really go either way. I favor Kopylov, feel like he's got the better striking, he's faster and has good combo's, really good gas tank. Roberson, is a little gassy, and if this goes past the 1st round I feel like Kopylov will be a big advantage. Roberson does hit a lot harder, and is bigger and stronger. Kopylov isn't a big mw but the few fights I seen, I like this kid! I think Roberson can win but he has to win in the 1st round.

Fight 6: Khabilov v Khandozhko
My pick Khabilov by dec 2.25

Khabilov is a dec machine, he's a decent fighter, does enough to win. Not overly impressed with either but Khabilov looked like the better fighter.

Fight 7: Ankalaev v Lungiambula
My pick Lungiambula 4.0

Wtf is up with these odds, unless Lungiambula is injured, these odds are stupid. The guy is a physical specimen, very strong, very athletic and can put your lights out. Sure Ankaleav is a great fighter and has really good striking, decent ground game. But I feel Lungiambula will be able to get him down and control him, he could also finish him with a blitz, a throw a bomb, w/e. I have to bet the dog at these odds, even though Ankalaev prob gets it done, there's just noway I can pass up on these odds. I do really like Ankalaev as a fighter, think he is a legit prospect, has a really well rounded game.

Main Event
Fight 8:Gamzatov v Abreu
My pick: Abreu str up 2.7 and small sub prop

Feel like if Abreu wins it's by sub a decent amount of the time but he can def grind out dec as well. This is another one of those fights were the odds are just too far skewed. Should be closer, the Russian isn't exactly a world beater.

Fight 9: Emeev v Martin
My pick Martin at 2.1 and small prop by dec

This should be a pick em, Martin is pretty solid fighter, well rounded, great calf kicks and great volume. This is the main reason I pick him over Emeev, he throws a lot more volume, almost twice as much. Emeev is more of a sniper, very precise and a good fighter in his own right but often is content to stare at his opponents and do nothing. Emeev not really a power puncher, neither is Martin, see this going the distance and hoping I don't get robbed!

Fight 10: Ibragimov v Herman
My pick: Ibragimov 1.62 and small prop dec. And fight goes the dist at 3.0

Going to go with the much younger fighter here, while Herman has more experience, the guy is like 40 yrs old. Watching tape on both, I feel like Ibragimov is the better fighter. Both can take a punch, wouldn't be surprised to see this go the distance, and am pretty happy to get 3.0

Fight 11: Imadeav v Roberts
My pick: Imaeav 1.47 and by ko 2.05

Imadeav lost this debut in a pretty competitive fight, don't think he wants to lose a 2nd fight. This is my lock bet of the card, there's no free money in this game but this is prob the closest we can come to free money. Roberts, is a little chinny, he gasses and hasn't got ko power himself. Imadeav is better everywhere in this fight, he's got a good chin, decent cardio (better than Roberts), good ground game, he's got power. Roberts is prob better as a pure striker and does ok in the 1 st round of fights, he's got decent striking, crisp boxing but it's not going to be enough vs an animal like Imadeav, that will just most likely walk straight through everything or connect and hurt him badly.

Fight 12: Volkov v Hardy
My pick Hardy 3.0 and Hardy by dec 11.0 and fight goes the distance 3.4

I'm just not so high on Volkov, he's so hit-able, cmon guys Hardy gunna put his lights out, just when everybody and his dog thinks 1.4 on Volkov is the lock bet of the year!!! Mismatch blah blah.... In all seriousness, it could very well be, Volkov could put on a clinic and really expose Hardy. Pick him apart and never get touched, we'll see. Betting small on the dog, can't be that bad at HW.

Fight 13: Zabit v Cattar
My pick Cattar 3.4

The fook is wrong with these bookies, there's no fkn way Zabit is that big of a fav vs a guy like Cattar, gtfoh!!! Will Zabit win, prob, will I br surprised if Cattar beats him, not really!

Good luck everybody, hope we crush the bookies again!!!

Tough card for finding value imo.
Already small on Kattar £50 at 3.6 but thinking about it should have just played Kattar by KO. Going to have to dominate Zabit in Russia to get a decision.

Other spot that I like is Davey Grant, not sure what Popov has done to deserve these odds but looks like a close fight to me.

Sticking £100 on Grant 2.75

Just an observation as a UFC fan..

The other event fn161, they did some thing really magical and expanded on the motherhood of Michelle Waterson (mother, warrior, master).

I am a HUGE fan of audible (audio books).

The spoken word has a power unlike any other and connects to a person with a directness unmatched.

UFC is capturing to film combat but I feel so much good wisdom, life lessons, struggles pass away into the sea of time, never to be known.


Fighters that climb to the highest level of demonstration of mixed martial arts, I want to know their story. I want to curl up and hear what they have to say.
Not under the glare of high intensity media lights, or pre event build up, but their commitment to MMA, to UFC, to fans on a mountain retreat with time to consider their place.


Some of the most insane stuff I have ever witnessed was via the spoken word, Im talking about, extreme ownership (Jocko Willink), Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World (Jack Weatherford), The 33 Strategies of War.


Fighters can be messengers, they can be truth personified, they can give rules to fans and people about how to live and flourish a life on the right side of the tracks.


If any one knows how to get a word in the ear of any one at UFC, can you mention that breaking open a really well put together line of UFC audio books, capture the magic, there is enough of it to go around, record fighters beliefs, struggles, acomp-lishments, goals. These are super humans but we dont have a record, no structure to tap, to pass on.


BJ penn (example) needs to explain how he became the greatest fighter that ever lived? what he believes he has done for the sport, what he still wants to do, how he feels about being such a big lump of master for the younger generation, how does he feel about masters that have gone before and what does he feel is the answer to bruce less question about, after victory in battle, what is it to live victoriously? Does he feel victorious?

I feel like I am losing a lot of value out of UFC.
Martial arts stems from the bringing forth of the infinite and endlessly deep internal to the external.

In learning, it is only once you learn it, then teach it to others, do you finally
understand it.

Audiobooks could be a great means to move every thing upwards and on-wards.

It starts so simply, you just say to fighters,

if any thing comes to mind, open up and record it, build up some thing you want fans that have, the fan that have your picture on their wall.

This is class level 1 stuff... this is timeless gems, bricks to the future.

I want to listen to fighters talking about any thing and every thing, it can be **** and it will still be absolutely awesome.

No format, JUST PRESS RECORD!

Fighters have storys... we are not getting to hear them, why?

I want to hear them ALL, let fighters communicate, even if its a gym guide.

Please.




Be water my friend!

pretty sure joe rogan has fighters on his podcast and theres def podcasts out there with fighters being interviewed already? yes they are usually quite popular ... lol.

Hahaha

Rogan does a lot of good stuff for martial arts. Have Dave Leduc the Lethwei champion on the other week, I thought Corey Anderson came across really well on JRE also made me a fan of his.

Podcasts are superb, Audio books are different

Audio books are a highly polished well thought out publication, several chapters, one or several themes, start a middle, end.

Comparison in video format would be a very gifted on the fly you tube video maker, vs a budgeted Hollywood film.

Audio books teleport the mind and the gems with in, stay with you for life.

kind of my first impression as well. to give hardy some credit, he seems strong and explosive, hes looked good in all his fights so far, he just has yet to be really tested.

volkov has beat big country, struve, werdum (very impressive), and was on his way to beating derrick lewis. meanwhile, hardy resume is far from impressive and most of guys he has beaten are pretty unknown. this seems equivalent to getting thrown to the wolves and I think his percentage of winning are quite low .

best you can get volkov right now is -278, which probably still some value, just not exciting as what the fight opened at for volkov (-175 I believe). If anyone just hammered that opening line, or got anywhere close to that bravo .

Why has Yakolev been hammered in?
Roosevelt Roberts was a market favourite before he fought Pinchel and looked a decent prospect.

Took Volkov -278

Arb vs Pinny, plus if Hardy doesn't knock him out in the first three minutes he's basically drawing dead. Volkov isn't someone i've always been that high on since his wrestling isnt the best and he's hittable but he's beaten way way better fighters, the Lewis fight was one he prob wins 75% of the time via 30-27ing and just got rekt (and I had Lewis there) but Hardy doesn't have the cardio to kill him in r3 like that the doctor will stop it or he'll go down well before then because if the fight lasts over 7 minutes Volkov is so technical that Hardy will be a punching bag (plus in the rare event of a close decision Volkov is the home crowd guy)

Also taking some Pannie at -104, I just think Clark is overhyped and Pannie 30-27'd her last time and will probably do that again

Thatll do me for the card gl all not gonna be able to watch it live due to live poker (yay binked a nice one today in a live tourney but im in the hunt for player of the series so have to play again early tomorrow)

Hopefully Volkov gives Hardy the severe beatdown he deserves and Pannie can get the job done

Nice start to the card, aftertiming but I thought Grant was the value bet of the card.

Going great so far, 3 for 3. Roberts was a small sweat, his cardio is a bit suspect!

Added Abubakar by sub, to go with my dec bet!

He tap like chicken??