UFC 290: Volkanovski vs. Rodriguez

The official Tapology discussion thread for the event!

Jones doesn't want to fight till November?

NGL if I was Figgy I don't know if I'd move up either yet if the UFC wasn't forcing me. They're not gonna book him against Moreno again and he probably doesn't mind taking one or two 3 round fights as co-mains since 2 of his last 4 have been 25 minute wars.

If he beats Kape and Pantoja beats Moreno, that's another rematch they could book but at least it's not a trilogy or quadrilogy. If Moreno wins he could fight the winner of KKF vs. Albazi. 

I don't think Figgy will really do that well at 135 if I'm being honest. 

@foppa Kape is probably the hardest fight outside of Pantoja/Moreno so he’d be looking at a shot if Pantoja wins and become 3-0 vs Moreno.

Also where does Royval come into this in your opinion. 

Do you think Volkanovski vs Rodriguez will be the headliner?

Yeah. 

Since Jon and Stipe can’t figure it out, no doubt.

Jones vs Stipe is the only real headline that could make fight week the extravaganza that is should be.

I think Royval vs. Albazi has a very good chance of being a fight night headliner in November/December. 

Also 100% agree if Figgy beats Kape and Pantoja wins that Figgy gets a title shot.

I think Brandon Moreno moving up to 135 would be way more interesting than Figgy. I could actually see Moreno doing ok at BW because he can wrestle and is pretty big for FLW. He's roughly the same size or larger than guys like Ricky Simon and Merab. 

* Edited at 04.19.2023, 1:17 PM ET *

Royval  said Dana told him after his win he’s the backup for 290. He probably gets a title shot after

Thats actually why I said I could see him in a fight night headliner with Albazi who I think beats KKF. The UFC owes Royval at least a 5 round main event if not a title shot. I don't necessarily disagree with you I could just see the plans changing very quickly if Figgy and Pantoja both win.

That’s true. I just don’t see figgy getting past kape 

See that's a tricky fight for me. I don't know if Kape is that guy yet. However, if he finishes Figgy I feel like he has just as much a claim to a title shot as Royval.

Kape is a dark horse of 125 imo. Him and nicolau. Although kape is much better than nicolau imo. That fight they had was close but a robbery 

Nicolau is still young and has all the tools but his got caught many times: the knockout loss the last week, his loss against Dustin Ortiz was a KO by a partially blocked Head Kick but still knocked him down and was put out by the follow up , Elliott dropped him (not a knock down officially) in a bizarre moment during a punches exchange in the short distance and then Tim launched a soccer kick that would have been disqualified if it connected (I think it all started more with a head or push than with a legal strike, I would have to rewatch that round to be sure). Even his only loss outside of the UFC was a Head Kick knockout.

Nicolau did not be TKO'ed or waved on fight, his 3 losses from him were by KO where he ended up in the stool and with a medical checkup.

He has KO Power, striking, wrestling, cardio and grappling, as well as knowing how to fight in a safe and intelligent way (which can be boring for a lot of people) but I think his damage absorption is his weakest point. 

I call that Strikes absorption or Damage absorption, I know many MMA fans and Media use the term glass chin or weak jaw when a fighter was dropped very often but the KO loss is more a matter of the brain than the fact that if you have a long beard or if your jaw is prominent or strong. It is true that fighters with a Drew Dober alike jawbone tend to have ''granite chins'' and the facial hair helps the punch not go fully into the chin (which would be more like the extra toughness of a strong neck or a granite chin), but it is a matter of the brain: when a punch causes severe trauma, the body shuts down (being knocked out) and the more this happens obviously your brain will have a tendency to shut down with lesser impact trauma (this is what is known as cracked chin, loss your chin or chin turned to glass), but there are times that no matter how much you can take punishment if you don't see a strike coming when it hits you go down (like when Romero knocked down Souza when the Brazilian received a good punch when had his eyes closed), but also when a strike goes in the right place due to a defensive oversight (like lowering his head when you jab) he ends up KO or defenseless in the canvas, no matter if the fighter has strong chin or can take big amount of damage (like Quarantillo against Barboza the last weekend).

I agree, if Kape manages to finish a #1 Ranked and former champion Figueiredo, he gonna has a title shot secured. 
Royval is the back-up fighter for the title fight and comes from a Huge KO victory over a high contender like Nicolau, the winner of Albazi vs. KKF would also be a fighter in a good spot for a Title Shot, but a victory over a former champion and #1 ranked would put Kape over the rest of contenders.

Ddp vs whittaker 
Robbie lawler vs niko price 
Jalin turner vs dan hooker 

All added

@foppa I got KKF to beat Albazi.

Damn, Whittaker Vs du plessis??? Man that's funny lol

Card of the year so far