Pettis vs. Holloway

This is the official discussion thread for Pettis vs. Holloway. Let's see what you've got.

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Yea Holloway is a beast, and personally think he would tee Aldo up.  Think Max is the best guy at 145 right now.  I also love his confidence, and feel he one of the most genuine of all fighters. I think his confidence, is a scary thing, similarly to conor.

* Edited at 12.05.2016, 12:51 PM ET *

Here's by 2 cents on this matchup.

Pettis looks great when he's controlling the distance. Fact. BUT ... Pettis' striking level and defense drop substantially when he's not the one controlling the distance. His combos (which he normally uses mainly to setup his kicks and not to do real damage) turn into one-punch "let me out of here" attacks (watch the RDA fight and to some extent the Melendez fight too). 

Now, since I think that due to Holloway's pressure attack, superior footwork and Pettis' tendency to backup in a stright line this will be key and leave Pettis very open to Holloway's amazing combinations. I have a feeling this will be key and that a lot of people are going to be surpised when this turns out to be the one-sided fight I think it's going to be. I don't think Pettis will have the space he needs against someone as high-level as Holloway in the footwork department and that'll hurt his game badly.

Pettis is flashy, but he has way more holes than Holloway on the feet, they just go unnoticed because what he does do well is so mesmerizing.

Also, from a confidence stand-point, I believe Holloway is coming in with "real" confidence while as Pettis, no matter what he says isn't. Pettis didn't move down, he was chased out of "his" division. Pettis was getting hurt a LOT by Oliveira (abusing those same holes I talked about in this post), and though he gave back too, I believe Holloway is leagues above Oliveira in that area and less susceptible to the stuff Pettis hurt Oliveira back with. Pettis, obviously blames the bad cut, but I believe it's way more than that and that deep down he knows it (he's a smart dude). 

Of course, Pettis has all the tools to win this fight, but I just think that Holloway rounds out as the better fighter (and more specifically THE BETTER STRIKE - yes, yes, Pettis isn't the best striker on the planet nor close to it) pre-fight and I believe it'll show.

I don't think Holloway gets the finish (though it wouldn't completely shock me if he does) because Pettis is virtually impossible to finish but I do believe Holloway decisively wins at least 4 rounds.

* Edited at 12.06.2016, 3:47 AM ET *

I agree Yoss with all your points.. I think Max will win this rather one sided. Pettis does scare me with his ability to end fights with body kicks and submissions. I think he a threat, but I agree that Holloway is better fighter overall. I agree he the better striker as well. I think max has a rather large advantage, when it comes to his boxing. I think his boxing is on another level then pettis.  Like you said Holloway combinations are amazing.  I think he will be overwhelming Pettis, for much of the fight. Hoping for a finish, but Pettis, is so dam tough.

* Edited at 12.06.2016, 4:39 AM ET *

Guys, i want to place a bet for the upcoming events and would like to know your thoughs/advices on this one :

-Lewis

-Ngannou

-Anderson

-Khabilov

-Kennedy

Are they all "safe" for you ? Or would you replace some of them? I don't want to put more than 5-6 fight in my combi.

Thanks for the help (sorry but i was not able to create a specific post to ask)

Alex, I don't think picking Lewis is a safe bet.

@rappinpapsoda How do you see this fight going? What would you put instead of Lewis? (i am thinking about Cerrone, maybe Choi (but he has not been tested yet in my opinion), or Holloway)

* Edited at 12.06.2016, 9:13 AM ET *

, Max could retire happy on sat, he's already a champion in life considering his family background difficulties, an inspiration to all especially in Hawaii with the problems ( I've watched Dog The Bounty Hunter ) Pettis is a great man too and his brother, great pillars for their community too, opening multiple martial art schools there

* Edited at 12.06.2016, 5:02 PM ET *

If Anthony Pettis messes with this me and him are gonna have some words:

Great streak there. I think Pettis has this one, though. He will not be bullied around like in his other losses.

This card is nothing but heavy favorites, not a fun card to pick for tbh.

This is 2016, some of these heavy favorites almost certainly will lose, especially after all the favorites won in Albany. You could also consider Letourneau and Khabilov missing weight, or Mein coming back from an almost 2 year retirement...

Upsets make the sport from going stale.

Pettis has enjoyed and pleasured himself for too long. The MMA gods must seek tribute. Please MMA gods let Holloway punish and finish Anthony emphatically for his pleasuring and excessive partying / beer drinking / chasing low quality hookers at sleazy clubs  ( spare Sergio )

Oh how the opinions have changed about Pettis. Just 2 years ago some people thought he was the PFP champ.

I just think it's funny how you think Pettis is this amazing fighter, yet you think that Conor sucks because all you have to do is have "decent wrestling" to beat him. But yet, that's one of the many weaknesses of Pettis...

But that's none of my business.

@rappinpap, people who thought he was p4p champ are people who were star struck by a couple of liver kicks and don't know enough to see his holes.

Pettis is still a great fighter but he has two glaring holes in his game:

1. He's not THAT hard to put on his back and though he has a VERY good guard, most top level guys can hold him down without getting caught.

2. He's got no answer for pressure fighters. 

These make him very prone to stylistic matchups being his make-or-break. For instance, I'd actually give him a good chance against someone like Aldo who likes to hang at a distance and attack in spurts while as guys like RDA, Conor, Holloway who take away his space and force him to react rather than act are nightmare matchups for him even striking (and that's even without going into the Guida, Wrestling-Alvarez or every single mediocre+ grinder on the 155 roster who are the more known Pettis Kryptonite).

People went into autopilot on Pettis declaring him this amazing striker and if striking solely involved throwing hands and legs I'd be the first to agree. But striking is a lot more than that. He lacks quite a lot of the fundamentals (I have a feeling it's because he came from a Tae Kwon Do base and was always so good he never felt the need to actually learn them properly) and his defense under pressure tends to fail him time and again.

Who actually thought Pettis was a #1 P4P contender besides the UFC, who like to say that about all their champions even though some are clearly better than others?

Anthony 'The Millwaukee Playboy' Pimp face ( let's hit the club yall dish out that average beer n' tequila shots and cheap ho's ( fast forward 2 months 》 "by unanimous beat down .... MAX. . BLESSED" ......

let's hit the club gang crank out that crystal and swaggy velvet cushion   

( really sorry for my classlessness but cmon. .. your in a postition to inspire and  enthrall masses .. don't crunk it out with cheap hookers crappy alcohol in some swaggy dump of a club and then show up looking like Andy Warhol  

* Edited at 01.21.2017, 5:04 PM ET *