UFC 273: Volkanovski vs. Korean Zombie

The official Tapology discussion thread for the event!

Weeks only has one win against a somewhat quality professional opponent. For Garry, although Jordan Williams got cut and lost 3/4 in a row without any wins in the UFC, he still is a relatively high-level fighter, and Ian Garry pretty much read his tendencies and created an opening that he knew would probably knock out Williams. I think the only chance Weeks has of winning is if he can legitimately hurt Garry without landing completely flush because Garry is just going to read any mistake and finish him in the first and second round.

* Edited at 04.07.2022, 11:37 PM ET *

Malott submits a 20 year old on DWCS and is a favorite over Mickey Gall. what do people smoke? This is a trap.

Malott's cardio and striking defense is suspect, also training up in Canada for this fight. 

Gall has decent elbows on the entry of the clinch (just how Hakeem put Malott down.) and has full 15 mins of cardio.. rounds 2 and 3 are COOKIES for Gall.   +Gall also has better straight up grappling.

* Edited at 04.07.2022, 11:53 PM ET *

I know it's unlikely to happen but I do wish inside that Zombie would win on Saturday and become the first Korean UFC champ.  The guy is a legend, I remember watching his fight with Garcia in WEC when he earned the Zombie nickname many many years ago.  He had to devote a few years of the prime part of his career to do military service.  This is just my wish as a fan not as someone who is betting on the fight.  

I agree that after 7 years without passing the first round (and that the only time he did it was a bad precedent) Malott's cardio is a great doubt prior to his fight and in which despite being a striking coach, his striking defense is a notable downside to his fight game. But Gall is not a 15 minutes Cardio Machine: Against Diego Sanchez he got tired after starting with a strong offense in striking, Diego Ragdoll him and got his first TKO in 10 years on Mickey Gall in the second round. Against Mike Perry, Gall started strong in the first round but then ran out of steam and Perry dominated the last 2 rounds in every aspect possible (striking, wrestling, grappling). In 90% of his victories, Gall got an early takedown (against CM Punk and Sullivan) or managed to hurt in the striking (against Mike Jackson, Super Sage, Jordan Williams) and then always finished them with the rear-naked choke (in the first half of the fight). 3 of 4 times Gall went to the scorecards were clear losses (against Randy Brown, Mike Perry and Alex Morono). In general, both Gall and Malott are Black Belts in BJJ (although of course Gall has the edge in that department), but Malott has a considerable advantage in KO power and in my opinion should resolve the fight with a big hand and follow up in that margin between the second half of round one and the start of round two. But what is statistically clear is that they are both fast starters (and that both have had energy issues in the past) I would not be surprised if the fight reaches the third round the winner takes it more for having a greater desire to win the fight , than for its energy management. I think Malott is the fair favorite (perhaps the odds are a little high for his first fight in the UFC), but whether it's a missmatch or a flop in his debut may be mostly situational. Malott will seek to prevail in the fight on the feet at the beginning and that Gall will seek back control and the neck from the first moment (either with striking or with takedowns). The fight will have a good start which can end with a vicious finish at the beginning or with a not very entertaining decision or a late round finish taking advantage of the opponent's exhaustion.

Agreed by no means is Gall a cardio machine but I just like the improvements this far.
And I might add I think Gall has a much better upside than Malott. Idk *** that means since they are both 30 years old. Lmao

* Edited at 04.08.2022, 4:15 AM ET *

Also most of Gall recent fights has been real fight, Mallot fought only 3 minutes in 7 years and been more meme finishes then fight if you get what I'm saying, I think if both guys become tired, Gall will dig deep better because real fight experince is big, Also Mallot losses and draw is because he gassed

If Mallot's first means of takedown defense is to pull a guillotine I doubt he'll even make it past the first round. 

* Edited at 04.08.2022, 4:28 AM ET *

* Edited at 04.08.2022, 7:40 AM ET *

Im actually shocked that it's +210 for volk by ko/tko, honestly can't believe how good the odds for that are

he's been openly saying all week that he won't be happy if he doesn't get a finish by round 3, even on cormiers show on espn 

Anyone else think that's crazy +210 for volk ko/tko?

Gall vs. Malott
Mike Malott, DEC
I'm really not confident as Idk if jumping a guillotine is going to work in Malott's favor here, but I believe he's better overall, and has the better fight IQ of the two. He should get the w, but a Gall upset would not surprise me

Rodriguez vs. Hansen
Kay Hansen, DEC
We usually see this from prospects - when they're faced with two difficult losses then rebound. I think she has a Maycee Barber-esque return

I think those odds are the bookies seeing Volk's recent success in decisions, and also that Zombie is tough as nails. They go hand in hand.

But I'm with you - I think Volk may be primed for a finish in this fight. Zombie's gonna box with him and maybe connect & stun him here and there, but ultimately Volko should dictate the pace of the fight and pick him apart. Once his leg is battered, it won't be long before a finish

Garry vs. Weeks
Darian Weeks, TKO, R1
Uppercut from hell for Mr Weeks round 1 ko

Kay Hansen 2.5 pounds over, won't try to cut more

* Edited at 04.08.2022, 10:01 AM ET *

That’s so bad. She really just shouldn’t fight anymore. Been nothing but bad since she came back 

Hopefully they don’t can the fight cuz I had the over 🤣🤣

Yeah 2.5 is a lot, guess we'll see