UFC 284: Makhachev vs. Volkanovski

The official Tapology discussion thread for the event!

@Ayy I've actually been impressed with Menifield during his last couple of fights. I think he's just been inconsistent and starting to figure it out. I may be incredibly wrong about him tho, and he might get starched by Crute. I also don't think Crute is that good either, but I don't think he's bad at all

I think crute is okay and just got pushed too fast, and Alonzo is just bad. He has looked much improved, but his level of competition is just awful 

He’s fought 
Fabio cherant - 0-3 in the ufc, not remotely ready, short notice 
Ed herman - 42 year old senior citizen 
Loses to William knight - this is a bad loss anyways, but he got dropped in the first, and then gassed out and tried to wall n stall to a win. 
askar mozharov - record padder. Sherdog has him with a pro record of 15-14 
Misha cirkunov - beat the ghost of misha. Misha was good like 5 years ago and was so beyond washed when he fought Alonzo. 

He’s beaten 4 cans and lost to a pretty bad fighter. I’ve also noticed Alonzo still rushes in with his chin up (even after the OSP loss), he gasses out after one round, and he has a dodgy chin. I personally don’t think he’s a good striker at all, just jacked and has power. Crutes striking isn’t amazing either but he should be able to work Alonzo on the feet. I’m not actually sure if crute will be able to wrestle Alonzo because the one thing Alonzo does consistently well is defend takedowns. Now, Alonzo has yet to really face a great wrestler like crute, so it’s possible he can have success on the ground. If he gets Alonzo down at all it will quickly be over. On the feet I think it will take a little bit longer but he can still chin Alonzo. 

I do agree with the masses that crute was very overrated to begin with, but he’s far from a bad fighter. He just got pushed too quickly. I thought he had a very bad gameplan against smith, and should have been wrestling from the start, not when his leg gave out. And then a loss to hill isn’t bad at all because we’ve seen what he’s capable of. He’s taken time off and gotten surgery on lasting injuries. He’s also only 26, so I’m sure he’s improved on his time off 

Izzy is high on Crute, so that either means he sucks or he's the real deal bc Izzy is usually really right or really wrong

Izzy and Crute are friends, same with Volkanovski and Whittaker being friends. They're all from that same region so they support each other, only people that have any sort of "beef" are Izzy and Rob due to their feud in the sport from being direct competitors, everyone else is either separated by weight class or promotion so they usually never have to fight. 

I don't think Izzy and Rob actually hate each other and kind of make the "beef" up bc they had to punch each other in the face twice already. I think Izzy just finds Rob annoying bc Rob claims that he isn't that far behind him which isn't exactly a false statement.

I was saying that Rob saying he isn't too behind Izzy isn't a false statement. I think y'all misinterpreted what I was saying

I honestly think Rob could easily beat Alex if he just rushes in with a hook, clinches, and then hold him against the fence if he can't get a takedown

Tukhugov vs. Brenner
Zubaira Tukhugov, TKO, R1
huge step down in comp

Bilder vs. Young
Shane Young, DEC
taking the striker with takedown defense over the defenseless grappler

Mullarkey vs. Prado
Francisco Prado, TKO, R1
close fight i think prado lands big early

Jenkins vs. Shainis
Jack Jenkins, TKO, R2
easy fight for jack he will lose once comp steps up

Lookboonmee vs. Reed
Loma Lookboonmee, DEC
loma is better

Makhachev vs. Volkanovski
Alexander Volkanovski
Alexander Volkanovski has to win this fight.

Crute said he thinks he’s gonna run through Menifield which makes me think he’s gonna come out and wrestle straight away

I'm going to bet a little on Yair because the worst real odds I can give him is -200. The only thing giving me pause is that I keep betting against Emmett and I keep losing those bets.

it was exactly same odds with kattar vs. emmett now it's yair vs. emmett. i won't make same mistake again - going with emmett on this one. 

Tukhugov vs. Brenner
Zubaira Tukhugov, TKO, R1
100% takedown defence