**The Official Everything MMA Related Thread**

[The IPB]

Hendricks used to be a beast, KOing guys spectacularly on his way to the top. He looks like his power has gone away and just seems to want to wrestle now. Not sure what has happened to him.

USADA drug testing happened to him. He hasn't been himself ever since it came into force.

Makes sense why he didn't want the testing that GSP offered to pay for in their fight.

Not to take anything from Wonderboy, he looked amazing out there and made it look easy.

 

[The IPB]

I wish they had picked Cerrone for this, it ended up at 170 anyway. Cerrone has just finished a camp for 170 and will still be very much in fight shape.

Neither Diaz or Cerrone are proper 170lb fighters, they both belong at 155. So again the weight isn't really an issue.

Just seems weird giving it to a guy who won't be in shape when there is someone of similar calibre in shape and ready to go.

I think either fight is exciting, but I think Cerrone would have more of a chance as he mixes things up much better than Nate. An yes I know Nate beat Diaz, but MMA math never works.

One thing that does wind me up about Connor and his camp, yes he is taking on a new opponent and he could have backed out which is great. But that opponent is not in shape and it does make a huge difference, otherwise fighters wouldn't bother having fight camps. They make out like he is so sort of God for being happy to take on someone who hasn't had a camp. Someone who is a 155er and isn't as good as who Connor was about to fight in RDA anyway.

I'd be happy if it were me having to fight Nate instead of RDA lol.

 

[The IPB]

I see what your saying, I didnt think about it this way, I was just so focused on the damage and how Bispings face looked throughout the fight compared to Silva but yeah your right, Bisping did land more punches and throw down more volume, he outworked Silva for sure in that respect.

I thought Silva looked great though, especially after everything he's been through last few years and all the bad luck he had, but Bisping did do good as well and he should be proud of himself for that 5 round war he went through.

Can't wait to see both of them fight again. And can't wait for connor mcgreggor next weekend too!!

Silva doesn't seem to cut or mark up on his face at all. I don't think I have ever seen him showing damage. Even after Sonnen spent 4 rounds punching him in the face, he didn't show anything to suggest it.

 

[The IPB]

Seeing him next to Nate makes me realize how tiny he would look against a proper 170lb fighter, imagine him next to a fully re hydrated Mcdonald, he would be tiny.

The only 170 fighters I can ever see him competing with are the shorter ones with short reach, like Lawler for example. He is actually one of the easier matchups for Mcregor body composition wise, plus he likes to bang not grapple.

But put him in with the big boys and I can't see him competing.

 

[The IPB]

I'm sure he is capable of knocking him out, you can't knock Mcgregors power.

It's a real shame Diaz hasn't had a proper camp and I know he is in shape he stays in shape, but it's not fight shape.

It's not Mcgregors fault when he gets a replacement but it does take a little off each achievement when he is beating people who have had 2 weeks to get fight ready.

I just hope it's a good fight, I can see Conor targeting Diaz's legs and body with kicks, the Diaz bros never both dealing with kicks and it is very much a weakness they both have.

Such a fun fight Cowboy would have been just as fun.

 

[The IPB]

Diaz bros are always angry with who they are fighting, regardless of how the other fighter carries themselves.

So him winding Nate up isn't really having an effect, Nate fights angry to begin with.

 

[The IPB]

Nate just took the shots that usually knock out featherweights.. conor wrong to move up but at least he tried i guess.. aldo will lose again so i dont know why hes getting cocky but ok.

I wouldn't be so sure about that. Aldo is a beast I know he lost but a 2nd fight even if he lost again would not go down that way.

He 100% has the ability to beat Mcgregor.

Even if Aldo loses again McGregor should be made to fight Edgar before he even entertains trying to fight another champ.

 

[The IPB]

I just caught the second round. Conor looked gassed out, he could hardly throw a meaningful punch. As soon as Diaz landed one flush on him he buckled, and you could see the end was nigh. Stepping up from 145 to 170 is crazy.

Please. It was a 170 on paper fight. In reality it was a 155 fight with no cut. They both weighed within 1lb of each other on the scale. I doubt either of them needed to cut.

Nate has fought at 170 but he isn't even ranked there. He is a natural 155 fighter.

If he had fought someone like McDonald this argument has some substance. But he fought a 155er in Nate. If Nate had time he would have been at 155.

I also don't buy the "humble" McGregor. He keeps referencing the bigger man. The bigger man can take his punches. Nate can take his punches I'm sure other 155ers can't. How about giving Nate some props ? He isn't even a hard puncher and he rocked you. RDA shouldn't even be in the picture for him right now, go defend the 145 belt against aldo and Frankie then think about 155.

 

[The IPB]

Wow!

I thought one surprise was enough, but two, and both to submission! You couldn't make it up!

I reckon McGregor regrets the trash talking! He should have toned it down a bit!

In the run up to the fight the way Diaz and him were going at it, it was impossible to ever end up on the score cards. I thought McGregor would win after a battle, I was surprised he was so laid back in the fight, didn't bother to capitalize which is important when fighting a guy like Diaz as your first fight at that weight; get him out early!

Tate was just not expected! Rousey will easily beat her again, and I doubt she (Rousey) will win against Holms when they meet again.

I used to be a big MMA fan but not any more, much prefer boxing; has more class and skill to it. However MMA lately has been so hot it's hard to ignore.

Both sports require massive amounts of skill, I like watching most combat sports myself.

But for me MMA is the pinnacle, it's just so random, match ups make fights. Fighter A may beat fighter B, but lose to fighter C who fighter B can then beat. It's just an amazing sport.

I am biased as I am a retired amateur fighter.

Nothing but respect for any athletes competing in any combat sport.

 

[The IPB]

To me it looked like Connor got rocked and never recovered.

He didn't respect Diaz's hands and he paid for it.

This, you don't want to get rocked by a Diaz as they taste the blood in the water and have the cardio to just keep hitting you until you fall. In this case he shot as he couldn't take anymore, as soon as he did that I knew it was over, someone with still questionable ground game wanting to take Gracie black belt down while rocked, not going to end well.

 

[The IPB]

All of you talking as if Aldo is some bum lol, the dude is a beast. He got caught against Conor, but don't think he is an easy fight for anybody at 145.

The rematch will not go the same way, not saying he 100% wins it but he has the ability to deal with Conor and he has the power to knock him out.

I'd love to see Conor go back to 145 and lose to Aldo, or beat Aldo and at least fight with Frankie before attempting 155 again.

 

[The IPB]

He wants the fight so he is doing a Conor and trying to sell it.

Everyone in the UFC has noticed if you want to get paid you have to talk ****, it's unfortunately the Mcgregor effect.

An when you act the way Conor does you leave yourself open for attacks when you talk the way he talks and then lose, he is going to get flack from all over the place, Aldo is just taking the opportunity to put the boot in, an I can't blame him tbh.

 

[The IPB]

He really needs to win his next fight at 145, or he becomes the joker that talked too much went up weight and lost, then tried to defend his belt and lost.

 

[The IPB]

Bisping deserves to milk the belt for a couple of fights IMHO; make some cream. Then one final fight before retiring.

I think it's a first defence he can win. I don't see him beating Jacare, Weidman, Romero or even a rematch with Rockhold.

I would love him to but I just can't see it. Hendo is the easiest fight he could ask for, out of the options possibly open to him.

 

[The IPB]

Bisping - Henderson ...... not really interested in this one :/ so many more deserving middleweights.

Jacare has this right, if they want to honour Hendo stick him in the HOF, don't give him a completely un deserved title shot when there are a bunch of MWs who are worthy, it's completely ridiculous.

If Bisping wins I won't be surprised if Silva gets a rematch offered to him, for stepping up on 2 days notice.

 

[The IPB]

Conor has to be considered in the GOAT discussions nowadays, first two time world champion, destroyed the 145 division. He's also the greatest on the mic

Not until he defends the way Silva and GSP did.

Silva had 10 and GSP had 9.

He is well on his way to being a GOAT for sure, I do feel the weight thing is overhyped regarding him though, he looked way bigger than Alvarez if I had no idea about either of them I'd have said Alvarez was fighting up a weight class.

It's his long arms that make him such a big problem, well the long arms and the timing. An it's why Nate gave him a much tougher fight than most as he didn't have that reach advantage.

I really want to see him either fight Khabib, rematch Aldo or I'd be happy with an El Cucuy fight.

Khabib has the grappling to make it interesting.

Aldo I really think would have a better showing the 2nd time round, he may well lose again but I think on his best day he can give Mcgregor real problems.

An Tony has the same if not longer reach(?) he has a hell of a chin, good power and unorthodox striking.

I still don't like Mcgregor for his attitude and the way he carries himself, I much preferred the likes of GSP and Silva, but I can't argue at his talent as a fighter.

 

[The IPB]

Silva is a juicer, so automatically isn't considered in any greatest comparisons imo. GSP, totally agree.

When he was in his prime everyone was juicing.

Some of his wins and confirmed juicers or trters, Leben, Marquardt, Henderson, Sonnen, Belfort, Bonnar and Griffin.

Were the others on something, who knows. Chances are they were and just didn't get caught, there are always exceptions no doubt, but during Silvas time I've no doubt 95% of people were on something.

His amazing Matrix esque striking and fight IQ didn't come from a syringe I know that much. He was amazing to watch just waiting for him to suddenly turn it on and go for the kill.

 

[The IPB]

oh dear me - UFC have got themselves into a right mess with the 145lb division. Unless the force a rematch/strip the belt, it looks like McGregor will go for another fight with Diaz before even considering what to do at 145lb. That's a joke for the 145lb fighters.

Nate Diaz is nowhere near the 2nd best 155 fighter, they just want money. Both the Diaz bros are great fighters, but there is basically a blueprint to beating them.

Don't brawl with them, frustrate them by controlling the distance and use leg kicks.

I'd rather he defend his 145 belt than anything, the UFC has been letting him do whatever he wants for too long and it's becoming a bit of a joke.

Would be quite amusing if he loses it on the first defence.

 

[The IPB]

They should take the belt off of him then.

I think he wants to hang onto it, just in case he loses his 155lb belt which to be fair, Diaz, Khabib and Ferguson could all potentially beat him. They are all more dangerous than Alvarez imo, who I hate the saying but it is applicable "got a lucky punch" on RDA and got the belt.

I know he wanted to hit him and he did, but i think RDA wins that fight 9/10, I look at this like GSP losing to Serra.

I really hope they don't let him get an instant shot at 170lb, I think Dana has said there is a rematch for Wonderboy anyway, but until it's official who knows!

 

[The IPB]

I don't think he is big enough to truly be a force at 170lbs.

Could he win fights, of course he could he has a dynamite left. But if he faces people that can take that left, ala Diaz. He has to be able to take out what they are dishing, and re inflated WW's are probably 185-190lbs on fight night.

155lbs is definitely the sweet spot for him and the class he belongs IMO.