UFC 294: Makhachev vs. Volkanovski 2

The official Tapology discussion thread for the event!

https://www.mmaweekly.com/news/kamaru-usman-addresses-rumors-about-his-knee-ahead-of-ufc-294

That's actually very cool 👍

Elisha Cuthberrmt and Dudakova?

Now I can't unsee it

Thought you would appreciate that one 😂

Saying Khabib ducking people is just factually wrong, he fought all the best people in his time beside Tony Ferguson because the universe didn’t want the fight 

I don’t give a **** about GOAT discussion, but it’s ******** to think Khabib don’t belong in the conversation, 29-0, lost like 2 round in the ufc, and still beat Conor, Dustin, Justin, Edson and RDA

I have explained it in detail before not gonna waste my time, you left ultra godslayer Al where am Iaquinta out of that list that is  how he got the title. 

* Edited at 10.19.2023, 9:36 PM ET *

Al Iaquinta stepped in the Main Event because:
- Tony Ferguson ACL Injury during fight week.
- Max Holloway (the original replacement for Ferguson) was declared medically unclear to fight due to concussion.
- Pettis (who was still the highest ranked on the card, after Chiesa had facial scars beacuse the Bus Incident) refused to fight Khabib at Short Notice
- Felder agreed to take the fight, but the NSAC did not approve him to fight for the title because he was unranked.
- Iaquinta took the fight, failed the championship weight for less than 1 pound and was ineligible for the championship.

Maybe Iaquinta is one of the title challengers with the least summary, but he saves the main event. If Khabib's fight was cancelled, the UFC was having to refund PPV sales and the multiple changes of opponents were not Khabib's fault.

Khabib only had 3 defenses of the championship. But beat Prime RDA, Edson Barboza and title defenses against McGregor, Poirier and Gaethje are a really good summary.

Khabib hater discredit Khabib too a point of stupidity and to a point where they’re more annoying then his fans, Khabib is clearly one of the best to ever do it, even if he not GOAT, he’s a top 10-15 best ever

I’m not even a Khabib fan. But you have to respect what he done 

* Edited at 10.19.2023, 11:33 PM ET *

Sad that MMA fans can't admit how good or dominant Khabib was

I have always believed that Khabib Nurmagomedov is the UFC lightweight GOAT.

Some people overlook the fact that for example Dustin Porier before Khabib fight was in an amazing title run beating UFC Champions like Anthony Pettis, Eddie Alvarez and Max Holloway (IC fight where initially it was not going to be scheduled but Ferguson did not want to fight interim belt at UFC 236) and Khabib managed to dominate and submit him at UFC 242.

Gaethje after his defeat against Poirier began to fight more intelligently, he managed to Standing TKO Tony Ferguson and win the Interim Championship at UFC 249. At UFC 254 Khabib beat a solid NCAA Division I Wrestler relatively easily when he managed to take him to the ground and even decided not using the armbar because he knew that Gaethje's Toughness was going to make him not tap and Justin could probably end up injured.

In 2019 and 2020 he only made one defense per year, but on that date (at Oct, 2020) there were no better challengers to the title than Gaethje or Porier. Therefore, the argument of avoiding high competition does not make sense (not wanting to move up a weight category or seek to be champ-champ is already a separate issue).

For once I agree with you. I don't think amyone would have beaten him. In fact we are seeing how his protege Islam is dealing with everyone now

Who's beating khabib nurmagomedov at 155 in combat mma?? 

got a weird feeling volk might take a split decision in enemy territory

@KingSam 

I think Volkanovski has to get a finish to win the title in enemy territory.

I have put down some of my thoughts on this difficult card to pick and bet on. I will list of some of my bets later as well if anyone is interested

* Edited at 10.20.2023, 3:13 AM ET *

1. Makhachev vs Volk
I think this fight will be nothing like the first. As good as Volk is, everything is stacked against him. He will be facing a huge and well rehydrated Makhachev who very surprisingly did not go for much ground and pound or submissions last fight. This one will likely be very different, I think Islam needs to avoid the fence where Volk has good cage wrestling take him down with trips or lower body wrestling and actually go for submissions/damage. I think Volk is fighting far too soon after a surgery and would not have had enough time to gameplan. I think he will be facing a leveled up Makhachev and I think he gets the finish. -Pick - Makhachev by positional TKO

2. Khamzat vs Usman
I have truly been surprised at how many of the Twitter/YouTube analysts are betting the underdog. This is not going to be close unfortunately for Usman. I really believe that Khamzat is going to ragdoll and destroy him. He will just pick him up and lay him out and if Leon could get Usman down this is going to be a bad, bad night for him. Also if Usman gets taken down I do not think he can get up many times. His usual game of clinching and wearing down an opponent against the cage is not going to work against Khamzat and I would be really astonished if this goes the distance. Also many people seem to think that Khamzat's cardio will not last 3 rounds. Now that he is not cutting huge amounts of weight I am almost certain his cardio will be more than adequate. Finally there are some strange things happening with Trevor Whitmans camp Elevation and I do not like what I have seen recently. -Pick - Khamzat by submission

3. Ankalaev vs Walker
Again I have been surprised at how many people are picking Walker. I really can't understand how he wins this. He is not winning a decision or by submission. Are we really saying Walker KOs Ankalaev in the first? Walker has a truly terrible chin and poor cardio and very bad takedown defense. Ankalaev is the far far superior fighter and I suspect he will catch Walker when he rushes in with a nasty counter and put him out. Also Ankalaev will be very motivated after the draw and the fallout last fight and I bet he wants to make a statement here -Pick - Ankalaev by KO

4, Ikram vs Alves
I would advise everyone to be very careful with this fight. Yes Ikram should win, and likely in the later rounds but I have a few concerns about him. He seems very skilled, but if he wrestles I don't know how well his cardio will hold up. My main concern however is how hittable he seems to be and how open he is to body/liver kicks. If there is one thing Alves is good at it's body kicks and the guillotine and I could see him catching Ikram with either. Also I think the narrative about Alves's poor cardio is overblown, I think it is more a mental thing. I still think Ikram wins, but I am worried, especially at those ridiculous odds. I could easily see this hit round 2 and I am betting that. -Pick - Ikram by submission (Kimura)

5. Said vs Gafurov
Said should win this hands down, in fact I think he wins by submission. Gafurov is not at his level and short of a hail mary KO I do not think he has much chance. Sure he can grapple offensively but he gets sloppy when he gets tired and Said is very very likely to snatch up a guillotine. On the feet it really should not be close. -Pick - Said by Submission (Guillotine)

* Edited at 10.20.2023, 2:44 AM ET *

Breeden is absolutely hilarious 

Breeden is gonna get cut

My advice is be very very careful. I have noticed that most PPVs now have ridiculously priced favourites who you have to parlay to make any kind of profit. And some of those favourites will lose. This is intentional pricing by the books. Also keep an eye out for anyone boosting a particular fighter or bet. I guarantee that that is a trap.