UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Holland

The official Tapology discussion thread for the event!

Oh, I don't disagree there.  She has been a fast riser and people forget that she is still green for her age.  She was a super late starter.  And that lack of experience definitely shows up from time to time unless she can bully someone, like she did Carnelossi.

* Edited at 12.01.2022, 1:32 PM ET *

Also tell me why...

1. Sergei Pavlova is favoured over Tai Tuivasa???
 Why? Just because of the wingspan? Not much use in a brawl in thepocket. Because Tai got KOd recently? Mainly injured by a body shot. And look how everyone was saying Acosta would not even be able to walk. Tai does not give AF. Also has Sergei ever even won out of R1? People are seriously underestimating Tai after losing to (and giving the best fight anyone so far has given to) the so called uncrowned HW champ

2. Holland being favoured in a 5 round striking match in a larger cage over Wonderboy. Again just because of the age and reach? Who was the last striker to beat WB?

3. Ribas over Cortez 
Again, makes no sense to me. Ribas is chinny, is good from the bottom but she would have to be pretty lucky to sub Cortez imo. This fight is not staying on the feet. It's going down with Tracey on top. Only way I see Ribas winning is a scramble or reversal then controlling.

4. Daukaus favoured over Anders
Again why exactly??? Anders has better striking, better wrestling and cage control. He is a BJJ brown belt and his last sub loss was to a much better submission grappler than Daukaus. Also stronger, bigger, more physical and did not get his face smashed to bits recently. 

5. Rowe being the under dog over Price
Really don't get this one either.

Not saying all these dogs will win. I just don't understand why so many are so heavily on the other side. Very strange to me 

Tai Tuivasa round 2 KO is like +900

I put a free bet I have on DK on that and I'm done with that fight.  IF that fight gets out of round 1, I think Pavlovich is in trouble.  Hell, he might be in trouble after 3 or 4 minutes.  That is a lot of muscle and Tai is a very mobile HW.

Rowe is going to lose the first round and then I think he makes a come back.  He did it his last two fights.  He starts slow and then turns up.  Live bet it but I think it is a close fight.  I don't know how Niko is going to look.  I haven't seen him fight in over a year.

Daukaus I would feel better about than Anders simply because he is an enigma.  He has all of the tools and a ten cent head.  Judges don't like him either.  It's a bad fight to me.  I don't like it.  And The KD line is so blown up that it can't be touched.

Ribas has been fighting a way better level of competition than Cortez.  Again, close fight.  I'm avoiding it.

Kevin Holland vs Wonderboy is a fight that I have no read on because I don't know what Holland is going to do.  If he ****s around he will lose a decision.  If he works the take downs, he should win.  What will he do?  I don't know.

* Edited at 12.01.2022, 1:46 PM ET *

darren till was the last striker to beat wonderboy (pettis KO doesn't really count) and the setup was exactly the same, big long talented striker that hits hard and should be fighting up a class

* Edited at 12.01.2022, 1:43 PM ET *

Holland shouldn't be fighting a middleweight if that is what you are suggesting. Dude literally only has to cut like 5 pounds to get to middleweight while most top middleweights walk around 200+. Holland oddly has stupid power and probably could knockout light heavyweights if he can touch the chin. The x factor in this fight is going to be speed bc Holland is taller, more powerful, and generally manages the distance well bc of his height and reach. If Wonderboy has the speed advantage, he might be able to control the distance and pick Holland apart, but I just think Holland is faster and slicker with his hands

if holland was actually a serious athlete and dedicated his entire life to the sport, he should have been fighting at middleweight is what I mean

from what I've heard he walks around 188 pounds even out of camp without having put on any noticeable muscle mass so 170 does seem like a big cut

ideally imo he should be fighting at a 175 or 180 class if it existed but yeah between the 2 choices in welterweight and middleweight I think him with a little bit of mass at middleweight would be the best choice physique wise

I give Holland every advantage outside of kicks it is his fight, also Wonderbread has dropped off competitively he is too nice for this sport.
Hes a good guy but probably should retire he has a gym, huge social media following no way he needs the money get out while your healthy I say.

Kevin holland a mindset annoys me. Dude has a crazy skillset and could go far in his career but he just seems to care about making money and screwing around instead. I don’t blame him but it annoys me to see talent wasted 

personally I kinda admire Holland for that

he implied that the UFC screwed him over with the Khamzat deal and didn't actually give him what they promised him for stepping in last minute so now he's basically done being the company's puppet, will only take and commit to fights that excite him and until he gets those fights he's semi-retired

I mean Conor McGregor kind of had the same mindset, but he didn't run into roadblocks like Holland until really Khabib. Obviously, Brunson is even close to the wrestler that Khabib is, but if Conor ran into Khabib when he first flirted with the rankings, we probably would've seen a similar situation with him. It really is about circumstances and power. Holland is a popular figure, has the skills, and the "it" factor that Conor has, but part of his "it" factor is being a little unorthodox and goofy. He wouldn't nearly be as big of a star if he wasn't all about having fun and making money over success  

Wonderboy hardly kicks above the midriff any more, I think he just doesn't have the energy any more for a lot of big kicks so he's a lot less dangerous in that regard than he was in his prime. You can see in how he fights that he's 100% commited to being efficient with his energy, in his movements and his attacks. This being a five rounder and father time continuing to wittle away at his physical abilities I don't see why that would change.
I think fighters will do well to disrespect Wonderboy's kicks and get in his face at this stage of his career and I think Holland has the balls and confidence to do so. Neal could have risked more and would have been successful in my opinion.
Of course there's a nonzero chance you get caught with something crazy and knocked out but it's a very favorable bet to risk it at this point.

One fight I do want to bring up is the RDA vs Bam Bam fight. RDA showed that he still has the skillset to compete with the top of the rankings but can't beat anyone anymore. I am obviously not picking Bam Bam to win, but I think it is a real possibility that he can and think he's incredibly underrated despite his 3-fight win streak. I am picking RDA but very hesitantly due to his age and frankly he's just undersized against Bam Bam. I think this may be his last win in the UFC unless Dana gives him someone like Matt Brown

I hear you, I see your point, but... take a look at who Bam-Bam has been beating.  Matt Brown, who could have been given that decision and no one would bat an eye.  Robbie Lawler?  I mean... There is shop worn and then there is Robbie Lawler.  And Darian Weeks???  And it was a close fight with Weeks at that.  Yeah, RDA is going to grind this dude out to a dominant decision.  RDA would have to be a complete buffoon and just trade in the center with Barbarena to give him any chance in this fight.  I hate this fight, tbh lmfao.  I don't know why it is so high up the card and why it is happening.

* Edited at 12.01.2022, 2:33 PM ET *

I think RDA has a little run in him at 170 especially with how bad some of the 10-15ish ranked guys are

for example I think RDA beats d-rod, neil magny, ponzinibbio, randy brown, wonderboy, jingliang and potentially jorge masvidal as well

some of those fighters suck and some of them are simply stylistic matchups that favor RDA so i'm giving him a decent chance in most of those fights

* Edited at 12.01.2022, 2:39 PM ET *

1. Tai is coming back too soon after taking too much damage and is facing a dude that hits like a truck and has a 9 inch reach advantage 

2. Wonderboy is old and one dimensional. People seem to think he's impossible to hit but he's been dropped many times & Holland has more ways to win 

3. Ribas has more ways to win and does not have to worry about getting ko'd against Cortez who has 0 striking 

4. Anders is old and slow 

5. I agree with that point 

All good points! 👍 

Daukaus just got his face broken a few months ago. Anders sucks but come on. One good shot and Daukaus is done

Hmmm. I see your points. Thanks.

Maybe will just avoid the Holland fight from betting and take the over 2.5

* Edited at 12.01.2022, 2:44 PM ET *