UFC 282: Błachowicz vs. Ankalaev

The official Tapology discussion thread for the event!

What is this space rocket to the moon? Are we looking at another Minner situation?

Anyone here? Don't leave me alone with the crazy guys... guys?

Curtis vs. Buckley
Chris Curtis, TKO
Hoping to see a more prepared and developed curtis here. Think he will play a simple game that will eventually expose a fight ending strike. Risky play overall.

Perrin vs. Rosas Jr.
Raul Rosas Jr., SUB
More research... Raul IQ is still developing but showed incredible cardio and wrestling for his age (against an older fighter on contender series). Jay will need heavy striking and wrestling advantage to get by.

St. Preux vs. Trócoli
Antonio Trócoli, TKO
more research required... already calls as low level play in bet

Saaiman vs. Koslow
Steven Koslow, SUB, R1
Dive Deeper..... more research required. Seems like Steven will have a substantial submission threat. Based on lower level fight outcomes...

Quarantillo vs. Hernandez
Alexander Hernandez, TKO
watch alex's last fights. more research required.

Silva vs. Brown
Erik Silva, TKO
more research required

da Silva vs. Salvador
Vinicius Salvador, SUB, R1
more research required

Błachowicz vs. Ankalaev
Magomed Ankalaev, TKO
either pick would be a hedge out if we make it that far. Close fight on such short notice...

Shahbazyan vs. Lungiambula
Edmen Shahbazyan
low level

If you have to do more research then do it before you post predictions.

I dont know why Lawler is such an underdog... Yes, he's old, so is Ponzi. I saw a lot of aggressiveness from lawler vs barbarena. We all were in shock to see barbarena eat all of those shots. I really think ponzi goes to sleep here. His jab cant save him in this fight. we haven't seen a finish from ponzi since 2018 before his surgery. Both guys should probably retire.      

That fight that Salvador had before DWCS wasn’t a good look but he still won it and looked waaayyyy more improved in the contender series fight. I think he’s gonna improve more so this time around and just sleep Da Silva

@pasta yeah he looked slightly better but he was still doing stupid things in the cage. I think he’s gonna win just because of his power (which is the only way he’s gonna win any fights in the ufc). From a skills standpoint, da silva is better everywhere but he doesn’t know how to fight. He throws all his power into every shot and just throws flashy, high energy strikes and hopes somethjng sticks. Even with his bjj, he isn’t composed at all and just jumps the gun on submissions. Then there’s his striking defense. He may have offense but has no head movement whatsoever; this is a death knell against Salvador because, as **** as he is, his power is actually ridiculous. Finally, da silva has the worst gas tank I’ve ever seen. Even if he’s hurting Salvador, if Salvador survives the initial flurry, da silva will have already punched himself out. I mean seriously, for anyone who hasn’t seen his fights, just watch his expression change after the first minute or so. In the molina fight, da silva looked done right after he fell off of molinas back; he was breathing heavily after 90 seconds of grappling and once he got reversed it was over. Same in the altamirano figbt, he hurts Victor, cant finish in the initial flurry, gets gassed, hurt and finished

Also Salvador’s head movement will give da silva issues. Even if it is sloppy, he’s at least going to make da silva chase him. Da silva isn’t a calculated striker so if Salvador makes him miss on 5-6 shots, he’s gonna get tired even earlier 

* Edited at 12.05.2022, 11:14 AM ET *

**** Beaches, you beaching around for everything ! 

Yes now people last PPV of the year and we gotta go out with a bang so anyone arguing about stupid things here other than making money shut the **** up let the experts show you the way.

My locks:

Paddy pimblett - ufc are simply gonna try their hardest to make a star out of paddy so he’s easy money here he is better than Gordon wherever the fight goes, the ufc know what they are doing with this matchup

Billy Quarantillo - Billy Q is a dawggg at featherweight he’s got good Striking , volume and cardio and with Alex Hernandez moving down in weight after contemplating retirement is not a good look for him I expect 1st round to be close but the longer it goes on billy is going to be picking him apart til a finish or easy decision win

Santiago ponzinibbio - lawler is done for at his age while ponzi has been hanging with the young guns even though he is losing he still shows he still got it , he hasn’t finished anyone since 2018 so you can expect him to finish lawler here 

Magomed ankalaev- ankalaev is a beast hes got very good striking and also has a ground game he can implement if needs be , just because he hasn’t really used it doesn’t mean he hasn’t got it look at pavlovich for example the guy was a wrestler and he’s not had to use it one bit yet just been putting people out cold with ease, I believe ankalaev to smoke jan here but the only issue is the late change to 5 rounds we will just have to see how it affects both of them if it gets to there.

Best of luck ******s let’s get this bread time to move out ya mums shed

@ayy I think there’s a method to his madness. He makes it work despite how many risks he takes. He’s gonna be a highlight reel in the ufc, whether it’s him or the other guy winning

Yeah for sure lol. He’s terrible but very fun to watch. Greta matchmaking in this debut too; someone is getting violently slept 

Mitchell vs. Topuria
Bryce Mitchell
If Bryce Mitchell can beat Edson Barboza, then he can definitely best El Matador. Really talented guy and his performance against Barbosa made me pick this guy. That's the only reason.