UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Walker

The official Tapology discussion thread for the event!

Young vs. Egger
Shanna Young, SUB, R3
Round 1: Total Strikes: Young: 27/43 (63%) Egger: 39/66 (59%) Sig. Strikes: Young: 18/32 (56%) Egger: 30/54 (56%) Takedowns: Young: 0 of 1 (0%) Egger: 1 of 2 (50%) Finish: No Round 2: Total Strikes: Young: 17/30 (57%) Egger: 25/42 (60%) Sig. Strikes: Young: 8/15 (53%) Egger: 9/21 (43%) Takedowns: Young: 0 of 1 (0%) Egger: 1 of 1 (100%) Finish: No Round 3: Total Strikes: Young: 12/19 (63%) Egger: 23/40 (58%) Sig. Strikes: Young: 5/9 (56%) Egger: 7/15 (47%) Takedowns: Young: 1 of 1 (100%) Egger: 1 of 3 (33%) Finish: Yes (Young by Submission at 4:18 of Round 3)

Hernandez vs. Breeden
Alexander Hernandez, TKO, R2
Round 1: Total Strikes: Hernandez: 21/49 (43%) Breeden: 17/39 (44%) Sig. Strikes: Hernandez: 19/47 (40%) Breeden: 15/38 (39%) Takedowns: Hernandez: 0 of 1 (0%) Breeden: 0 of 0 (0%) Finish: No Round 2: Total Strikes: Hernandez: 19/45 (42%) Breeden: 21/53 (40%) Sig. Strikes: Hernandez: 16/40 (40%) Breeden: 21/53 (40%) Takedowns: Hernandez: 1 of 2 (50%) Breeden: 0 of 1 (0%) Finish: Yes (Hernandez by KO at 3:31 of Round 2)

One fight I love on this card is Kevin Holland vs Kyle Daukaus. I said before the Brunson fight that Kevin Holland was maybe the most over rated fighter on the roster. He was the favourite against Brunson and everyone thought he was some god. But in realty, Kevin Holland knock outs are to 41 year old  and shot Jacure Souza and the rest of his KO are to bottom fighter. His only good win is GM3 and everyone think he lost that fight. Also he went to a split with Darren Sterwart, Who wresle him very well. He wasn't great

I think Kyle Daukaus is  better than everyone Kevin Holland beat and worst than everyone he lost to. He's a solid top 25 middleweight. He's also a solid wrestler. I think if this was before the Brunson and Vettori fight, i would of pick Daukous to win. I have faith that Holland has been training hard to improve his wresling. I can see this fight being close, But I do think Holland will win a close decsion. But I think this fight will be close

But If you get +200 odds on Daukous. I take it, As this fight is 50-50

I actually agree on Daukaus. Holland is going to piece him up early. But Daukaus has a deep bjj background, and Holland’s flaws are front and center. He’s gonna know he can drag him down. 

This card is unbelievably volatile. I predict a lot of very bad scores for the Tap community on Saturday 02. And I'll probably be included in that count.

D Silva should be a lock here, Pirello might have the worst grappling in the UFC

Santos vs. Walker
Thiago Santos, TKO, R1
If Thiago is still half the Fighter he's been at Light Heavyweight he absolutely destroys Walker here!!! 1st round destruction!!

Ladd vs. Chiasson
Aspen Ladd, TKO, R2
ANOTHER Women MMA TKO!!!! By screaming GNP!!!!

Cirkunov vs. Jotko
Krzysztof Jotko, TKO, R1
Hard to have any confidence in Cirkunov anymore. Do we really believe that his durability will improve after dropping down an extra 20lbs!!!?? Along with the rare women MMA TKO I'm taking Jotko by KO!!!

Price vs. Oliveira
Alex Oliveira, DEC
This is going to be a mess!!!

Rosa vs. Correia
Karol Rosa, TKO, R3
Think I'm going to go against my usual Women's MMA decision and taking Rosa to get her 1st UFC KO. Bethe retired after her last fight, whenever a fighter retires they should stay retired. Comebacks are asking for a knockout loss.

Andrade vs. Pirrello
Douglas Andrade, TKO, R2
This could get ugly!!!

Mullarkey vs. Smith
Devonte Smith, TKO, R2
MMA math says Mullarkey KO'd Worthy, Worthy KO'd Smith. I say that's a load of Mullarkey!!!!

Perez vs. Eduardo
Alejandro Perez, DEC
Thought Jonny was retired???? Thought Perez was cut??!!! Don't have a clue what to expect here???

Shevchenko vs. O'Neill
Casey O'Neill, TKO, R2
Casey O Neil could be very good. She's got half decent striking, decent takedowns and BJJ and yhr thing I like most, she's got a nasty streak!!!! Along with Chris Duncan in Contender Series this is a big week for Scotlands UFC future. MON I' SCOTS!!!!! GET INTAE THEM!!!

Santos vs. Walker
Johnny Walker, TKO, R1
Walker going to find a way to land a flying knee or clinch **** Santos. Yeah he's very chinny and has a very questionable gas tank to go with his low fight IQ but I just see an upset. Hope I'm wrong because I love fading Walker.

Holland vs. Daukaus
Kyle Daukaus, DEC
Holland's def more crisp boxing and give him slight edge as far as cardio. But he ****s around too much for me to comfortably put money on. I'm gonna roll with Daukaus.

Ladd vs. Chiasson
Aspen Ladd, DEC
Had Ladd last time and nothing changed.

Cirkunov vs. Jotko
Misha Cirkunov, DEC
Very close match up. Coin flip imo

Price vs. Oliveira
Alex Oliveira, TKO, R2
Niko's face gets bruised and lumped up fairly quickly. Hopefully cowboy takes advantage.

Hernandez vs. Breeden
Mike Breeden, TKO, R3
What you gonna do about it, Eyebrows.

Rosa vs. Correia
Bethe Correia, DEC
Farewell Bethe.

Mullarkey vs. Smith
Devonte Smith, TKO, R1
smith shutting off his lights.

Perez vs. Eduardo
Alejandro Perez, TKO, R2
Perez ITD

Young vs. Egger
Stephanie Egger, SUB, R2
Egger sub.

I get wanting to load up the PPV. But Dan Hooker and Nasrat went through hell to make that deadline only to fight on the prelims when they easily could have taken the extra week and either mained or comained this card. 

* Edited at 09.27.2021, 3:07 AM ET *

Santos vs. Walker
Thiago Santos
Santos -170. Walker +145. Walker is good, but Santos is the polished fighter.

Holland vs. Daukaus
Kevin Holland
Kev -145. Dauk +120. Kevin hits fast, and hard.

Ladd vs. Chiasson
Aspen Ladd
Lad -210. Macy +170. Ladd is lookin' good. But Macy could win.

Cirkunov vs. Jotko
Krzysztof Jotko
Mish +140. Jotko -160. Polish power!

Price vs. Oliveira
Niko Price
Niko -140. Alex +115. Both good fighters. But Alex doesn't dig deep these days.

Hernandez vs. Breeden
Alexander Hernandez
Hern -355. Mike +275. Hernandez is the fave for a reason.

Solecki vs. Gordon
Jared Gordon
Solecki -140. Gordon +120. Gordon goes to Renzo Academy. It's a good school.

Rosa vs. Correia
Karol Rosa
Rosa -350. Betch +260. I like BC but Rosa is better.

Andrade vs. Pirrello
Gaetano Pirrello
Andrade -225. Gaetano +190. Both these dudes are finishers, but Gaetano is fresher.

Mullarkey vs. Smith
Jamie Mullarkey
Jamie +135. Smith -160. MMA math time. Jamie beat the guy that beat Devonte.

Perez vs. Eduardo
Alejandro Perez
Perez -225. Ed +175. MMA is for young men. Eduardo is old.

Shevchenko vs. O'Neill
Antonina Shevchenko
Shev +175. Casey -210. Shevchenko is being underestimated because of her recent loss.

Young vs. Egger
Shanna Young
Young -140. Egger +110.

Santos vs. Walker
Thiago Santos, TKO, R1
Santos has been on a tear.... of losing, he needs this w to stay in "contention"

Holland vs. Daukaus
Kevin Holland, TKO, R1
I like kevin holland. all I have to say

Ladd vs. Chiasson
Aspen Ladd, DEC
never heard of macy in my life, she looks good but I'm going to pick the name in this one.

Cirkunov vs. Jotko
Misha Cirkunov, SUB, R1
This is a close one, but one's a natural light heavyweight, and one isn't.

Price vs. Oliveira
Niko Price, TKO, R1
I know this man for one thing. Upkick

Hernandez vs. Breeden
Mike Breeden, TKO, R1
**** alexander hernandez.

Solecki vs. Gordon
Joe Solecki, DEC
this guy has been on a TEAR.

Rosa vs. Correia
Karol Rosa, DEC
correia, you are 38. retire.

Andrade vs. Pirrello
Douglas Andrade, DEC
just picking the favourite here, have no clue who these people are.

Mullarkey vs. Smith
Devonte Smith, TKO, R1
Same here.

Perez vs. Eduardo
Alejandro Perez, DEC
Seen this guy fight, he's pretty entertaining.

Shevchenko vs. O'Neill
Casey O'Neill, SUB, R1
scotland AND UNDEFEATED??? this is a match made in heaven

Young vs. Egger
Shanna Young, DEC
just going with the favourite, and i know this is the first prelim bout, but who the fook are these people? if they were men with the same skill level they'd be fighting at some regional promotion with a 4-19 record.

This week I have challenged

HiDefff
Swallerballs
redsun
IIEQ
QSmacks
JJPumba
Zevchenko
leo2020 (Francis N'Gannou)
jonathanstewar1
davidrowe34

Santos, Holland and Ladd by starching. Thiago in the 3rd, because he is washed up, but still it will be enough to send open-chined hasty Walker to the shadow realm.

They gave Thiago a real nice matchup for his skill set. Someone with bad takedown defense who will be willing to throw down with him. If he loses this I think it's fair to say he's done and those knee injuries finished him.

Where you at the challenger, I see you avoiding me!

Young vs. Egger
Stephanie Egger, DEC
I think Egger is a better grappler, she can get her judo throws in the clinch and establish top control in this one. Young is a better striker I believe but she isn't very good in the clinch and doesn't really do much off her back either

Wow this poster is ****.

I think Holland will win, I also think he was thrown to fight with top contenders too soon, but it can turn out good if it helped him to understand that he must work on his wrestle game

I feel like this matchup is good for both guys given where they’re at now. Walker will benefit from fighting someone who isn’t really interested in wrestling, and Santos will benefit from fighting someone who isn’t as measured and exposes his chin. Walker’s strengths are that he’s very explosive and creative, and he has tremendous power. The downside is that he doesn’t have much technique and uses a lot of energy to throw those big shots. He also leaves his chin hanging, and he overcommits on nearly everything he throws. Walker’s not really a combo guy either, so if he doesn’t catch his opponents by surprise, they have an opportunity to make the proper adjustments. Santos is a wild man too, but he’s had the experience now to know when to use it. He’s also just as fast as Walker and has the power to match. Against Walker, I think Santos will have the upper hand in terms of technique, and he doesn’t waste as much energy as Walker does in the exchanges. Santos also tends to match or exceed his opponents’ striking volume. This means that if he gets tagged, he’s gonna tag you back. Against Walker, this favors Santos since, by the time they both throw their 40th punch, Santos will have a little more juice. The only thing I don’t like about Santos here is that lately he’s been letting his opponents go first (this was especially true against Rakic), which might let Walker set up those weird angles. On top of that, Santos is not a counter fighter. He’s a reactive fighter, which is different. He typically doesn’t throw as his opponents are throwing. He usually blocks or evades and then returns, but someone like Walker is spastic enough that you can’t always count on him being there following his attacks. A counter fighter would have a much better shot at cracking Walker’s chin as he comes in. Both fighters are sharks in that they’ll pounce if either one gets in a good shot. Walker’s best chances of this are in the first round. But as the fight goes, I’d say this is more likely for Santos. Santos is also pretty good at not getting hit, so I feel the most likely outcome is that Santos evades long enough to exploit Walker’s chin in the 3rd or 4th round and follow up for the TKO.

* Edited at 09.27.2021, 4:30 PM ET *

Perez vs. Eduardo
Johnny Eduardo, DEC
Time for an underdog pick here, I'm aware Eduardo is 41 and both are coming off long layoffs but I like Eduardo's striking a lot. His hands are honestly very sharp and I don't like how Perez can leave his chin open a lot. Risky pick especially since Eduardo is 9 years older than Perez but I'm going with Eduardo by decision, he actually looked good against Nathaniel Wood in his last fight too