Lomachenko vs. Campbell

Brad I think that's only true for UFC fighters, and because MMA is not governed by the Ali Act, and these guys are all under contract, if they get hit with a USADA suspension it ostensibly means they simply can't fight. USADA is not a global standard; it's not a owned by the state, it's a private company that promotions can choose to hire or not. Therefore, its jurisdiction is limited to whatever contracts it has with any given company like the UFC. It charges above the market value for testing, and isn't as good as others. Why do they have a contract with UFC? Probably because they play ball, and arrange things so that big name fighters don't get busted, or so that their findings result in lighter sentences, or alternatively that certain fighters do get busted if its convenient for the promotion to have that happen for some reason.

It's just business, it's about the bottom line. If golden geese were pulled from cards willy nilly at inopportune times, cards would be cancelled or otherwise seriously devalued endlessly. Also, fighters getting busted who might draw very low numbers who might take out a golden goose and devalue that fighters ability to draw can be removed from the competition pool. Having a testing agency on the take is very good for business from all angles. Hence, the UFC has an under-the-table handshake with a seemingly respectable testing agency, and they pay waaaaaaay above the going rate for it. It's about externalities and profit loss minimization. Risk mitigation. Think about it; how many superstars that generate huge cash get busted while they're jackpotting? Not many. None, really. It's always the Cb Dolloways of the world and people kicking up a stink publicly about fighter pay/during contract negotiations, long after their star has fallen and their out of their prime (Anderson Silva)

Even Jones was given multiple wrist slaps and got off easy. They had to do it, because the PR disaster if they'd given him nothing would have destroyed both USADA and the UFC's credibility completely.

* Edited at 08.30.2019, 12:21 AM ET *

Lomachenko vs Campbell

Lomachenko, TKO R8.

Campbell is a very good fighter, but Lomachenko is a great fighter. It's basically that simple. I think this goes about the same way as the Linares fight ( Linares beat Campbell let's not forget) with Loma being given trouble in some moments early, but ultimately taking over  from the third onwards for a late-ish TKO. Luke will need to draw him into a firefight and hope he comes out the other side of it in better shape. He's bigger and he hits hard, and that's possible...but not likely. Loma is a puzzle as yet unsolved. Maybe it can't be.

Fury vs Povetkin

Povetkin, KO/TKO R5

He's not far into his career, and while I'm not sure he'll ever achieve the heights of his cousin, he does have the Gypo fighting spirit and unorthodoxy of his cousin, and has been in there with some big punchers before. That said I just can't pick him in this one. This is a bad fight for him. Povetkin is long in the tooth, but he's still dangerous. I don't think Fury has enough power to really put the fear of God into him. I think Povetkin is gonna hit a big duck return off a level change and land a big one that he follows up with stuff, and it gets waived.


Cordina vs. Gwynne


Cordina, KO/TKO R4.


This looks like a bumfeed to me designed to give Cordina an exciting KO for the crowd. Gwynne is pretty terrible; typically you expect to see a decent amount of finishes on amateur boxing records especially against inexperienced guys, but he's got virtually all UD's against newbs and cans. Surest pick of the card here. Gwynne gets smoked, early.


Marshall vs Basterie


Marshall, KO/TKO R2.


Hard to know how good Bastiere is after two fights. Both have come by finish, but that doesn't mean that much. Beating shields, even as an amateur means something though. I'll take Marshall here.

* Edited at 08.30.2019, 3:47 PM ET *

Buatsi vs Ford up next



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* Edited at 08.31.2019, 2:42 PM ET *

Buatsi via KO!