UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Daukaus

The official Tapology discussion thread for the event!

Not that it matters but Oleinik didn't take off his necklace, shoes, or his work out pants.  He just had his shirt off and stepped to the scale.

* Edited at 03.25.2022, 1:59 PM ET *

Blaydes vs. Daukaus
Curtis Blaydes, DEC
Curtis Blaydes - Until I see Chris Daukaus' jiu-jitsu I have no idea how well he fairs on the ground. Blaydes doesn't let you breathe on the ground. I doubt Daukaus is a black belt off his back and instead most likely looks to sweep and get top position. Daukaus is quicker, has great hand speed but he's not a knockout artist, he's quick accurate and throws in volume to take you out. At this moment in time I don't think Blaydes gets a finish, I think it goes the stretch and will be a tough out for either guy. But I'm thinking Blaydes wins every round. 🔴 60% (DEC 36% - FIN 24%) 🔵 40% (DEC 12% - FIN 28%)

Wood vs. Grasso
Joanne Wood, DEC
Joanne Wood - Ite, Jesus. So obviously the odds-makers will think I'm nuts, and the truth is this is a really close call. But here are your options: Grasso is quicker, Jojo is meaner, Grasso has a better ground game, Jojo is v-i-o-lent in the clinch, Grasso is wilier and more technical, Jojo will not stop kicking and kneeing you until either she or you are dead, Grasso is carrying the momentum, Jojo has a point to prove. I think violence and her past opponents gives Jojo the slightest advantage. I'm tellin' you man, I thought this would've been the easier fight to call on the card... 🔴 50% (DEC 30% - FIN 20%) 🔵 50% (DEC 40% - FIN 10%)

Brown vs. Barberena
Bryan Barberena, DEC
Bryan Barberena - This is going to be a mix of chaos and violence only the true veterans of the game can provide. Matt Brown is coming of a ******' baller of a knockout against Diego Lima and Bryan shutdown a talented up-and-comer. Out of the two I do however think Matt is more likely to get the finish yet is also the most likely to get knocked out... if you can make sense of that. Barberena has a head made out of Vince McMahon he's that tough. Matt is the more violent of the two but he's going to have to take Bryan down to get ahead in this fight. This is a crazy good fight but I think Barberena gets it done via the judges. Plus Matt's chin ain't the same as it was. What a ******' scrap! 🔴 50% (DEC 30% - FIN 20%) 🔵 50% (DEC 40% - FIN 10%)

Askarov vs. Kara-France
Kai Kara-France, TKO, R3
Kai Kara-France - This ain't easy. Askar Askarov is probably winning this fight. But I swear man, Kai's been knocking ************s out lately and Askarov has been rocked in all of his bouts in the UFC except for his last. Kai does need to keep it on the feet and that's where I worry. Bontorin kept him on the ground for almost the whole of the first round before Kai got up and sparked him from out of no where! I have this weird feeling that Kai might get dominated, find himself constantly defending sub attempts and then Askar miscalculates advancing position and Kai gets out and sleeps him. I'm a dreamer. If you're smart bet on Askarov for a decision victory. 🔴 55% (DEC 40% - FIN 15%) 🔵 45% (DEC 3% - FIN 42%)

Oleinik vs. Latifi
Ilir Latifi, DEC
Ilir Latifi - Now this one is an odd one and Ilir is predominantly a wrestler and he's going up against one of the most dangerous old men in the world. Aleksei Oleinik ain't to be ****** about with on the ground, and he's so wild and unpredictable on the feet you kind of have to put him there. Latifi needs to keep the Boa Constrictor on his back and stay the **** out of his guard. Now what I am predicting is that old man Oleinik is on his way out. Currently on a three fight losing streak and has nothing to prove anymore. This is a dangerous fight and a potential parlay buster. 🔴 50% (DEC 30% - FIN 20%) 🔵 50% (DEC 10% - FIN 40%)

Diakiese vs. Borshchev
Viacheslav Borshchev, TKO, R2
Viacheslav Borshchev - So this is going to be a strange one. I think I might be getting fooled by the hype here 'cause Diakiese ain't no scrub. Slava Clause is in for a tough first round as Marc will come out like a mad man. Slava has in both his Contender Series and UFC debut as well as multiple regional fights had to get through chaos and a massive amount adversity in the first round. This will be no different. Marc is on a bad spell and likely fighting for his job here. Kind of gutted for my fellow Englishman but might have to take a trip back to Cage Warriors in the summer. 🔴 35% (DEC 19% - FIN 16%) 🔵 65% (DEC 26% - FIN 39%)

Magny vs. Griffin
Neil Magny, DEC
Neil Magny - Right. This one should be on the main card really. A banger between two prolific veterans of the game. Max is on a really good run at the moment (the best of his UFC career so far), BUT he's shown in the past to have struggled against long rangey guys who come at him. Max has the better power and the is the least orthodox out of the two, but Neil's gas tank is a weapon. An incredibly underrated weapon. Max's best bet it to close the distance, step into the pocket to trade, feint and shoot, but Magny on his arse, get into half-guard and beat him up. If Max can do that but can't put him away Magny will win the second and third. This is a good scrap. 🔴 60% (DEC 45% - FIN 15%) 🔵 40% (DEC 16% - FIN 24%)

McMann vs. Rosa
Sara McMann, SUB, R2
Sara McMann - Now even I'll admit this one is much more of a guess than anything else. Karol is on a great run at the moment, unbeaten in the UFC but she's not fought a proper wrestler. Now she's up against a silver medalist in the olympics. We've not seen Karol on her back yet and I'd say it's almost inevitable that McMann will get her there a least once. McMann has had a tough last few bouts but all her losses are against tough competition, same as her wins. Karol Rosa is dangerous on the feet and she's got the BJJ basics in her back pocket but I don't know, I think she's going to have to deal with a ton of top control, clinching and smothering sub attempts. 🔴 45% (DEC 18% - FIN 27%) 🔵 55% (DEC 26% - FIN 24%)

Danaa vs. Gutierrez
Batgerel Danaa, TKO, R1
Danaa Batgerel - **** man, I like Chris Gutierrez. There's a way he can win but he'll have to shoot takedowns and mix it up between his bread and butter and his background. Danaa is one of the best and most powerful counterers in the game. His precision and timing for his left check hook and the angles she's willing to fire in are mad impressive! Danaa has the ability to break into that top 15 in the bantamweight division and that in itself is saying something. I think Chris could maybe take him to a decision if he can chop his lead leg and take away his power but I think Chris might just get clipped here. 🔴 40% (DEC 35% - FIN 15%) 🔵 60% (DEC 20% - FIN 40%)

Khizriev vs. Tiuliulin
Aliaskhab Khizriev, SUB, R1
Aliaskhab Khizriev - This one's pretty simple: two debutants, one fella is a Dagestani combat sambo fighter who doesn't let his opponents out of the first round, the other guy has no takedown defence and relies on his knockout power and muay thai background to get the job done. Guess which one has the unbeaten record... this is the set up of the night. Probably not the guy who's lost a third of all his fights. 🔴 80% (DEC 30% - FIN 50%) 🔵 20% (DEC 2% - FIN 18%)

Maia vs. Fiorot
Manon Fiorot, DEC
Manon Fiorot - So for disclosure: I think Manon (so long as the UFC take their time with her) is potentially Valentina's biggest test at the Flyweight title. She's incredibly aggressive, she'll come at you from bell to bell, she sets a ridiculous pace and her judoka background makes her dangerous to take down. Now Jennifer Maia has the strength and control to hold Manon down if she can get her there, but I don't think she will for a significant amount of time to win the fight. Manon's on an eight fight winning streak and she's finished six of them. Bueno Silva was her hardest test yet and she ran through her. Maia's last win was a controversial as **** decision against Jessica Eye. I think Manon gets the decision here and I think she'll look really good doing it. 🔴 40% (DEC 30% - FIN 10%) 🔵 60% (DEC 40% - FIN 20%)

Dvořák vs. Nicolau
Matheus Nicolau, DEC
Matheus Nicolau - Okay, yeah. I'm taking some chances for the first two. I genuinely rate this fella. His first run in the UFC is a blast to revisit. He only got dropped by the promotion because Dana wanted to get rid of the flyweight division. Nicolau is great everywhere, he's got powerful hands and he's a BJJ stud. David Dvorak is good, he seems for comfortable dealing with adversity, he's got great boxing and knows what he's doing on the ground. I'm siding with experience in this one. This is Dvorak's hardest test to date where I'd say Nicolau has fought and beaten better competition. 🔴 55% (DEC 40% - FIN 15%) 🔵 45% (DEC 35% - FIN 10%)

Saldaña vs. Souza
Bruno Souza, DEC
Bruno Souza - Good fight to start the card and already we're gambling. Luis Saldana is pretty good, man. He throws unorthodox stuff and can be very flashy. Saldana has two pretty big problems though: he'll continue to throw **** that just isn't working and as a result his gas tank fades fast. Bruno is hard to hit and we're not at the APEX for this one, that point-karate style works pretty well in the 30ft cage. I think Saldana will start quick and probablywin the first round, Bruno will get his timing and subsequently not get hit again for the second and third. This fight should go the distance. 🔴 45% (DEC 30% - FIN 15%) 🔵 55% (DEC 45% - FIN 10%)

True but that's still like a 1.5lbs tops. If I remember right he used to weigh in at like 225-230

Probably closer to 3 or 5 pounds, but yes he is a little bigger at 44-1/2 years old.  When you get older like me (37 now... 38 in June), you'll understand lmfao.

* Edited at 03.25.2022, 2:04 PM ET *

Saldana looked like the us army had just liberated him from Auschwitz 

Jennifer Maia was right there with him.

I watched the Brown weigh in again... and ****, Tieoken is right.  I didn't like Brown's body language at all.  But Barberena has looked so shop worn... I'm kind of getting cold feet and wanting to fade Brown lol.

* Edited at 03.25.2022, 2:12 PM ET *

Blaydes vs. Daukaus
Curtis Blaydes, TKO, R3
wrasslin

Wood vs. Grasso
Alexa Grasso, DEC
Jojo's been off lately, can't trust her to get it back on track

Brown vs. Barberena
Matt Brown, DEC
I wish every card had at least one fight like this between two reliably exciting veterans.

Askarov vs. Kara-France
Askar Askarov, DEC
You're nuts if you bet on Askar at these odds, but Kara-France hasn't faced Russian style wrestling in the cage before so I think it'll be too much to handle.

Oleinik vs. Latifi
Ilir Latifi, TKO, R1
I think Latifi's fight IQ is high enough for him to see the obvious path to victory is swarming Oleinik before he can hug you and drag you down. I hope I'm wrong on this pick though because the Boa Constrictor has always been one of my favorites

Diakiese vs. Borshchev
Viacheslav Borshchev, TKO, R2
Slava Claus has some heavy coal in those gloves, and Marc has been bad this year

Magny vs. Griffin
Neil Magny, DEC
If Neil Magny is fighting, I am picking him to win by decision. I don't even need to look at the opponent because it is irrelevant.

McMann vs. Rosa
Karol Rosa, SUB, R3
If Sara McMann is fighting, I am picking her to get submitted in the third round from now on.

Danaa vs. Gutierrez
Batgerel Danaa, TKO, R2
Toughest pick on this card but I have to side with the guy who seems to hit a little harder, but this is Danaa's hardest test to date, on paper.

Khizriev vs. Tiuliulin
Aliaskhab Khizriev, TKO, R1
Anyone who KO's Rousimar Palhares is cool in my book

Maia vs. Fiorot
Manon Fiorot, TKO, R2
Maia by decision or sub would be some tempting props in this one, could definitely be 15 minutes of her pressing Fiorot into the cage. I think Fiorot will keep her on the back foot with pressure and pain, then find the finish after breaking her down.

Saldaña vs. Souza
Bruno Souza, DEC
Souza faced tougher competition earlier in his career and I think it will pay off in the UFC

But is it your job to stay in shape? I'm getting old too (40) and still have the same fairly slim body composition I had 10 years ago. I have a physically active job and I eat like I've always eaten so nothing has changed.
These guys are supposed to revolve their entire life around being in shape, even if it's at heavyweight.

If anything the struggle for Oleinik should be to maintain muscle mass at his age, not to avoid gaining weight.

It was just a joke about my age and ever greying hair lol.

Gotcha. My condolences on the gray hair, I'm not there yet but will probably happen any day now.

Maybe you are The Immortal Matt Brown and will only catch a few specks!!!

One can always hope. I seem to remember my dad being like 60 before he got gray hair so there's some hope.
I thought Brown looked like he had some grey colored side fades in the weigh-ins though.
He was huffing when he had to lift his foot to step on the scale like I do just thinking about doing a hard work out nowadays.

Askarov vs. Kara-France
Askar Askarov, DEC
This is such a banger - the winner of this fight should be fighting for the title, we shouldn't be seeing Figueiredo-Moreno IV although I am not saying I do not want to see those two meet again.

Anyone else gonna watch ceremonial weigh ins live? Are all of you guys at work lol, I feel like the activity in these threads go way down late evenings or early mornings in my local time which should be evening time on the east coast in the US.

no im at school lol

I'm 27 and I noticed big difference in being able to put on weight these last few years so I get it but it wasn't even that long ago when he last weighed in around there when he fought spivak, to be putting on that much weight. 

I think he's done and he knows he's done. Even in his pre fight presser he seemed very one foot out the door. But he's gotta be commanding a pretty paycheck at this point this deep into the UFC so he just trying to cash a few checks. Not that he won't go try to win but I think he kinda knows his place. He just wants to go fishing

Same difference. I feel like this forum isn't used much by people in the evenings. Maybe they have more interesting things to do in their free time.

Neil Magny vs Max griffin 

Magny DEC 

This is a weird fight. I dont really get why Max Griffin is fighting a top 10 guy but I guess the UFC felt like it was a good matchup. Max Griffin has been improving a lot but I just dont think hes ready for anyone ranked yet. Hes a pretty decent striker with some good power, but I don't think he will be able to outpoint magny for three rounds. Magny has a very long reach for the division and while he is lower volume than griffin, he understands how to use his distance and picks his shots well. Griffin has started to implement wrestling into his game, but its not crazy effective and hes not actually using it all that much (only scoring 1 takedown in his last three fights). Magny has pretty terrible tdd so it will be interesting to see if griffin comes out with a game plan to wrestle or if he just strikes with magny. Offensively, Magny is a decent wrestler and he loves to push people up against the cage and grind them out. There's also just the experience factor; griffin just hasnt fought or beaten the same people that magny has. Sure, hes fought covington but he got destroyed and really hasnt beaten anyone who magny has. 

Sara McMann vs Karol Rosa 

Rosa SUB RD 3  

This is a bit of an interesting fight but I feel decently confident in Rosa here. This is a big step up in competition for her but she should pass this. On the feet, its kind of interesting. Mcmann isn't a very good technical striker but she puts decent power into everything she throws. A lot of her striking ends with her trying to get a takedown at the end of combos. Rosa will be much higher volume and I think will be the faster fighter. McMann is quite a good wrestler (former olympian) and she's actually been winning most of her fights off of wrestling but then she gasses in the later rounds and gets subbed. Rosa has very good tdd (91%) but I think McMann will be able to take her down eventually. Either way, its good because the more McMann attempts takedowns, the quicker she will gas. A sub is a bold prediction (especially because Rosa pretty much never uses her bjj) but McMann doesn't have any bjj credentials so i think it's a possibility. It will be interesting to see what Rosa is able to do if (or when) she gets taken down because if she just lies on her back it could end up like McMann vs Lansberg. I think it's also important to note that McMann hasn't fought in a year and 3 months while also being 41 years old. Normally, I don't really get worried about long layoffs but McMann is old so it's always concerning when the activity isn't there. 

Chris Gutierrez vs Danaa Batgerel 

Batgerel KO RD 1 

This is a really good fight here. I think this is a much safer fight for danaa than the original opponent (montel jackson) because gutirrez likely will not be wrestling. On the feet, it will be close but im going with danaa because Chris can be low volume at times and doesn’t throw punches all that much. His main weapon on the feet is his leg kicks but I dont like it here for two reasons. First, Danaa is a very good counter striker and he knows how to check leg kicks. In the guido canetti fight, danaa was hitting him in the face every time guido threw a leg kick. Obviously, chris is far better at implementing kicks into his game than guido, but it shows that danaa knows what to do when someone is trying to work his legs. Second, Danaa moves around a ton, way more than chris, so i think it will be hard to actively attack the legs. Danaa also carries a **** load of power in his hands too and throws a ton of volume. I was especially impressed when he ko’ed brandon davis because no one has been able to do that to him before.  I have questions about danaa’s cardio but I favor chris’s anyways because he trains in colorado. 

Aliaskhab Khzriev vs Denis Tiuliulin 

Khzriev SUB RD 1 

This is by far the easiest pick on the card. Denis is taking this on short notice and is only getting the opportunity because no one else wanted to fight khzriev on short notice (and i don't blame them). He has a bad record and very poor competition. For what its worth, he did get a pretty decent win in his last fight at UAE warriors, but he was losing until he clipped his opponent in an exchange. Denis is a very basic fighter, he fights in a boxing stance and has very limited striking. The only thing positive I can say about it is he has decent power, but nothing special. His takedown defense also looks pretty poor and overall ground game seems pretty suspect. Khzriev on the other hand is a veyr impressive looking prospect. He is super exciting to watch because he has the classic sambo background that we all know and love from dagestanis, but, he also has very good standup. He has great power himself and uses all of his limbs well when striking. Even though most of his fights finish in the first minute, hes got pretty solid cardio too. I have him by sub but he can win this fight literally anyway he wants. 

Jennifer Maia vs Manon Fiorot 

Fiorot DEC 

Feel pretty confident in Manon here. Maia is a good fighter but has poor fight iq. She's got a high level ground game but literally never implements it in her game. All she does is stand on the feet, only engaging if someone takes her down. Funny enough, the only takedown shes landed in the ufc came against Valentina of all people. I don't expect her to shoot for a td but if she does, Manon actually has some solid tdd and is also a brown belt in bjj. Manon also has started to implement some wrestling in her game so it's good to see she's expanding her game. On the feet its just not close; manon has crazy output, great defense, and lots of power. Ive been going back and forth on weather or not she gets a ko but I think i'm sticking with decision right now. I watched tape on Maia and she takes shots pretty well. It wouldnt shock me in the least if manon koed her but i think maia will avoid it for the most part.

David Dvorak vs Matheus Nicolau 

Dvorak DEC 

Kind of shocked this fight is so low on the card. Both these guys are very good and both have a pretty well rounded game. On the feet, I have to favor dvorak; He moves around a lot more and is pretty hard to hit (63% striking defense). Nicolau also has a very high striking defense (67%) but he still gets touched by his opponents a fair bit (.70 striking differential) and hes also the lower volume fighter. In terms of the ground game I would have to favor nicolau (just because he actually uses his offensive wrestling and bjj while also having very good tdd. Dvorak is no slouch on the ground either, having good tdd and 8 submissions on his record, but he doesn’t use it in his game that much, however it is in his back pocket. I think this one will also be pretty close but i think this fight will mainly take place on the feet, as both have good takedown defense, and I have to favor Dvorak in that scenario. 

Luis Saldana vs Bruno Souza 

Souza DEC 

This is a pretty interesting fight to call as both these guys do things I don't like. For Saldana, I dont like his gas tank and overall competition and for Souza I just think hes pretty green; not necessarily a bad fighter but not sure if he should be in the ufc this early in his career. Saldana’s striking looks pretty good at times but he doesn't like getting pressured and has a poor gas tank. Unfortunately, souza doesn’t like getting pressured either nor does he pressure his opponents. He fights in a karate stance and his whole game consists of moving around and blitzing in with a flurry of strikes. Now, I dont necessarily like this because, while it does work for him, hes going to be playing into Saldana’s game. One good thing about his style is a lot of people find it confusing, because hes constantly feinting and moving around a lot. For example, he made melsik confused when they fought on short notice. Melsik couldn’t be his normal aggressive self because he was having trouble reading what Souza was doing. I also have to favor Souza because he has a very good gas tank while Saldana fades after 2 rounds. I also just dont rate Saldana at all, I dont think hes a very good fighter but it wouldn’t shock me if he won this.

Curtis Blaydes vs Chris Daukaus 

Blaydes KO RD 1 

I dont like this fight because i am a big fan of daukaus but i dont think this will be close. Daukaus is one of the fastest guys in the division and also one of the highest volume strikers in the ufc, but this is an even harder fight than derrick lewis was. I dont really trust daukaus’s cardio (especially against blaydes who is known for having great cardio) or his stirking defense. He may have some success on the feet but i really dont think he will ko blaydes. I think his chin is way better than people think; his three loses are to the two hardest hitters in the division and one was a doctor stoppage, one was a tko, and the only really bad one has been against derrick lewis. Now i will say, that lewis KO is definitely going to affect his chin and longevity in the future but still i dont think he will be in danger against daukaus. One thing people have brought up is daukaus’s 100% and bjj black belt but i really dont think that will do anything. Daukaus has not fought someone as good of a wrestler as blaydes and even if he is a black belt ive never seen him use it so i wouldnt rely on that. I think what likely will happen is curtis gets a takedown and daukaus wont be able to get back up and will just get GnP’d until he gets koed. 

Joanne Wood vs Alexa Grasso

Grasso DEC 

Wood is a super high volume striker but struggles to land effective shots. I feel like shes always able to land on opponents, but she doesnt land the more powerful shots and i think that screws her over against the judges. Shes got a pretty bad record but its not as bad as it looks because shes lost some fights that i thought she should have won, like the murphy fight for example. One thing i dont like about wood is shes getting pretty old and is coming off of what is likely the most one sided loss of her career. She got dropped badly, twice against santos and then choked out in the first round. Santos is a monster but that was an absolute beating she took. I dont think grasso will destroy her like that but its not something you like to see when youre an older fighter whos losing more than winning. For grasso im a big fan of her boxing. I think shes very crisp in the standup and shes also improving her ground game. All of her losses have came against girls who are trying to take her down but i dont think that will be a problem here; wood has a much worse ground game than grasso by a significant amount. Im picking grasso here because shes the younger fighter.

Matt Brown vs Bryan Barberena 

Brown Ko RD 2 

Matt brown didnt look the greatest on the scales today but im still gonna pick him here. This is a really tough fight to call because matt brown is old but barberena, despite being 9 years younger, has looked pretty terrible since having that back surgery. I think the potential X factor for brown here will be the wrestling. Matt isnt a great wrestler but he occasionally shoots for takedowns and, like a lot of fighters on this card, barberena has god awful tdd. Literally everyone he fights is able to take him down with ease. Now, both these two love to brawl so i think thats likely whats going to happen, but its something to consider because barberena really sucks when it comes to defending takedowns. On the feet its close but i have to go with matt. Barberena really doesnt have any technique but hes good at making fights very ugly. Up until recently, he was able to zombie his way through and land punches. Now, he can still do this but hes also not able to take a shot as well as he used to. Seeing jason witt chin him was just so disappointing. Also concerning for barberena backers because matt brown, despite being old, can still hit really ******* hard. I also question matt browns durability as well. Getting knocked out by miguel baeza isnt the worst thing in the world (especially because brown almost koed him as well) but brown was also getting his leg ****** up by lima before he got the ko. I think he can wear damage better than barberena can, but as the fight gets extended it could potentially screw him over. Im favoring brown because hes fighting better guys and i really dont like how barberena has looked recently but i think this should be a great fight. 

Askar Askarov vs Kai Kara France 

Kara France KO RD 2

Here is my hot take of the week, but i think kai will pull this off. Askar is super well rounded and has fought some very good competition. He has a very good wrestling background and while hes not very accurate with his takedowns (27% accuracy) he is able to chain wrestle his opponents until he eventually gets it and has very good scrambles on the ground. I dont think he has a belt in bjj, but hes got a good sub game both offensive and defensively. I favor kai on the feet but askar will definitely be able to hold his own. For Kai, i really think hes got an underrated ground game. First off, he has a very high tdd (87%) and has never really been wrestle****** before. Now I know hes going to be fighting off attempt after attempt, but as i said earlier, askarov is shockingly inaccurate at taking people down. Yes he was able to do that to benavidez but that was also the post prime version of benavidez. One thing i have seen people point to is how easily bontorin was able to take down kkf but you have to factor in that bontorin is one of the biggest flyweights on the roster (weighing around 160 outside of camp) and he just used his strength to pick up kkf and put him down. Kai also showed in that fight that he can fight off some deep sub attempts. Royval was able to get him but we’ve seen him fight off deep attempts from everyone else. On the feet, kai is the much harder hitter and is quite hard to hit himself. Its a shot in the dark but i think kai will be able to get the upset

Ilir Latifi vs Aleksei Oleinik 

Latifi DEC 

Man what a ****show this fight was to decide who wins. Latifi may be the lowest volume striker on the roster. When he is on the feet, he just doesnt throw anything, he doesnt even feint or try to create openings instead he just punches about 1 time every 90 seconds. I think this is the first fight in the ufc for oleinik where he will be the better striker. Oleinik’s striking is pretty awful, mainly consisting of overhand rights, but hes going to be the one who throws more. Its pretty annoying because latifi has some ok power and oleinik doesnt take punches very well anymore but i cant expect him to try and throw strikes. His wrestling honestly isnt that great but oleiniks tdd is terrible (36%) so he should be able to get it down anyways (especially because oleinik doesnt mind being on the ground at all). Oleinik has some of the worst tds ive ever seen. He doesnt really have a wrestling background so instead he tries to set up a standing arm triangle and tries to pull you down with him by falling to the ground. Its usually not that effective. Im also not sure how effective oleinik is on the ground anymore either. Sure, hes got 46 subs and is one of the most creative sub threats we’ve seen in MMA but he just hasnt been able to pull any off recently. Hes also been favoring the scarfhold armlock recently which is already incredibly hard to pull off, but most HWs don’t have necks (especially latifi) so all he ends up doing is squeezing. I think latifi should be able to just maintain top control as oleinik will willingly fall to the ground and this fight is gonna end up being pretty terrible. 

Marc Diakese vs Viacheslav Borschev 

Borschev KO RD 2 

I've been flip flopping on this pick all week but I think i'm going with slava claus because i'm biased towards him. Slava has some very obvious weakness and will definitely get exposed, im just not sure if it will happen in this fight or down the road. Slava has very bad tdd; literally everyone who fights him tries, and succeeds in getting him down. However, his get up game is pretty decent; ive seen him hit reversals and the most ive seen him get controlled at one time was like 2 minutes. Marc isnt primarily a wrestler at all but hes got some decent takedowns but is inconsistent with getting fights to the ground (he should be able to get slava down pretty easily if he tries). I also dont like how slava gets hurt in most of his fights. His striking defense is a lot better than i thought (56%) but he leaves his chin up a lot (something Marc does a lot too) and is getting rocked by guys like kendly st louis or dakota bush. However, slava is interesting in that he seems oddly comfortable in these situations, which is good for him but worrisome for people who pick/bet on him. I really liked how he was able to fend off an attack from dakota bush after he got clipped. Bush walked him down and slava looked like he was abut to get koed, but he perfectly timed a left hook which wobbled bush and got him to back off. Diakese is the flashier striker but slava is the more technical striker. Diakese throws a ton of flashy leg kicks. While they look cool, he often doesnt throw many punches and keeps his hands very low. Slava on the other hand, has tons of kickboxing experience and throws tons of volume with lots of power. One thing I really like about slava is how he mixes everything up; he’s always throwing shots to the body and mixes that up with leg kicks, head kicks, or hooks to the head. Its hard to be confident in slava because he is going to be easily exposed when he fights a good wrestler or a power puncher, but I just don’t know if diakese will be the one to do it. Hes 2-5 in his last 7 and while hes fighting much better competition, hes just not able to put everything together.