UFC Fight Night: Kattar vs. Chikadze

The official Tapology discussion thread for the event!

Anybody think Bush is a good dog here? Spamming takedowns to a boring decision w?

I think he’s a pretty good dog, especially because slava has been taken down in every fight I’ve seen, but I’m not sure how good his grappling actually is due to the fact that Austin Hubbard was able to stuff takedowns and reverse him. Also Slava seems to be improving every fight. As that one person said earlier, Duncan is a better grappler than bush is and had trouble getting him down. I’m gonna go with slava tho because his standup is very impressive 

* Edited at 12.23.2021, 9:35 PM ET *

I take your point about Britto on the regional scene, but its the regional scene and I garauntee he was juiced to the gills. The fact he had a poor performance on the DWCS and did not even get a finish does not bode well for his IQ or his gas tank. I do not think he is on the level of Ramos or Lamos who Algeo lost to. I think he will put the pressure on Britto and he will fade. I may be wrong but I still 80% sure Algeo will win this and I will continue to fade DWCS fighters unless there is a really good reason not to (like with Rodrigues).

Also Sherman is good in R1 and then gives up if he meets any resistance. Off the sauce he is not good and also has low fight IQ. I think Collier will be durable and faster with more volume. I think he beat Felipe as well.

I take your point about Slava being pretty good at reversing and getting up. Having a good rethink about that one. His striking really is elite and his gas tank is good. Bush getting a submission is my main worry. Really not sure about this fight but I am thinking the FTNGD may be the play here.

@RichOsama - Agree with Krause being in TJs corner probably not going to help him. He is a quitter and even Krause can't help that. However Krause being in Dakota Bushes corner makes me like him a bit more, but Slava is really good. Really torn on that one so going the FTNGD.

@NgannouPunch - I like all your plays.

Also had a rethink about Jamie Pickett and Holmes. As much as I dislike Pickett and think he is not good, looking at Holmes record its pretty awful. And if you look at the records of the people he has beaten it's even worse. Could Pickett get this one? Oh god

Lol , aren't you a funny guy 

Points about Britto all taken. I have to really think about this one. Also I agree Slava is a really good striker (better than Giga in my opninon from what I have seen) and his gas tank is good. Hmmm...

I still think Pereira is going to school Salikhov. I like him but his last 2 fights did not look good to me.

Pickett is horrible. Im sorry. Will never bet on him. 

Best strikers in MMA?

Max Holloway, Rafael Fiziev, Brad Riddell, Wonderboy (for pure striking), Adrian Yanez (for boxing), Adesanya, Alex Perera, Petr Yan, Sean O'Malley and a few others.

I do not put Giga anywhere near that list.

If he beats Calvin Kattar I will happily admit I am wrong, but for now I am getting ready to cash a late Cattar KO at really nice odds.

* Edited at 12.23.2021, 9:56 PM ET *

That’s a good point about the regional scene but it’s not just the juice; he fought totally differently than how he usually does. He was timid and decided to grapple with Diego the whole fight. However, I do like your point about fading contender series guys in their debuts, but I think Brito is quite good. That’s all a matter of opinion tho.

Don’t hate pereira either and I’m honestly low confidence in salikhov but it’s the fact that he’s such a good striker that makes me think he can pull it off; he is 18-0 when he is allowed to keep the fight where he wants. Also yeah he didn’t look great in his last fight but that eye poke he recieved was nasty and he definitely lied about being able to see out of it afterwards so I don’t blame him for not looking great

Also Slava is the kickboxing coach at Team Alpha Male and was a member of the Russian national kickboxing team so that also speaks to his level of striking 

I do disagree about gigas striking level; I think he is definitely an elite striker but I’m with you on the kattar side. I think people are overlooking the fact that kattars boxing is just as good as gigas kickboxing. People just assume that because Giga has more varied striking, he’s better but that’s just not true. I will say the moicano fight is more of an anomaly because he hasn’t been hurt by leg kicks before or since that fight, but he’s only lost to the most elite FWs since this loss; zabit and max

Finally, if you are worried about Pickett vs Holmes. I think it’s important to note that Pickett hasn’t fought a grappler yet in the ufc (unless you wanna count staropolis cage hugging strategy as grappling). One think I really dislike about Holmes is his striking. He seems really uncomfortable with his striking despite being a massive middleweight, but he’s pretty good when he gets to the ground. Also I believe he too has been working with James Krause so that should help him out a lot, because he actually seems like he wants to be good u like some of the other ********s who have gone to him recently (Minner, brown, etc)

* Edited at 12.23.2021, 10:43 PM ET *

Brito will run through Bill. Can downvote that too , if you'd like 😉

Also I totally agree with you about chase. Dude ******* sucks. After watchinng that atrocious performance against porter I’m gonna fade him every opportunity I get. Collier may be fat but he’s got decent cardio and can keep a pretty high pace. He definitely beat Felipe too

Chase Sherman is the definition of a meathead lol 

I’m honestly shocked he’s been around as long as he has; 3-7 in the ufc, lost to cans and good fighters alike, gasses, and popped for steroids. Granted he is on his second tenure but you think they would be less lenient with him now that he’s been given a second chance 

* Edited at 12.23.2021, 10:23 PM ET *

If he loses this one you gotta think hes getting cut. Plus its his second stint, also if you combine all his ufc wins(coulter,grabowski,villanueva) their combined ufc record is 2-10 

I hope he does cuz if he can’t beat a former middleweight then he’s not beating anyone at HW

Austin Hubbard is like actually good though. He’s probably the most well rounded gate keeper in the division :( my boy gets no respect.

Oh I know, I didn’t mean it in a disrespectful way. I meant more as grappling is his weakness so if you get outgrappled by him you aren’t a super good grappler. I guess the better way to put it is he’s a litmus test for grapplers; the better ones can beat him but worse grapplers lose. Cuz the four guys who have beat him are all very high level grapplers (except for pichel but he has very nice offensive wrestling)

* Edited at 12.23.2021, 11:09 PM ET *

Good? Eh. I'd say he's okay. 

And what's he a gatekeeper for? Top 50? Lol 

Yeah can't disagree with any of your points. And yeah Pickett is trash so I will probably end up with a bet on Holmes. And definitely agree about Slava's striking its very very nice. If it stays on the feet he is winning 100%. If it stays on the ground there is a chance of a submission. Very 50-50 I'd say.