Removed

The official Tapology discussion thread for the event!

Garbrandt vs. Bautista
Cody Garbrandt, TKO, R1
LFG Cody!

Great fight. This should be a Main Event headliner between Garbrandt and Bautista. Bautista is on a tear and I want to see Cody get back in the rankings and continue his ascent back up the bantamweight ladder. 

I'm knocking out Bautista

lol no way!?! Is this real?!

* Edited at 04.28.2023, 3:14 PM ET *

I don't dislike Cody (I know hes a love/hate type generally - I'm in the middle and don't dislike him but also don't go over the moon for him, but theres been times I've wanted to see him lose and times I've cheered for him big time at the same time).... he still has a punchers chance, but this is definitelty favorable for Bautista.

Doesn't bother me regardless - if Bautista wins we get a new face to push on upward and mix things up, if Garbrandt wins, good for him resurging after a rough slump.

Is that the real Cody or a poser?? haha I wish I knew for sure

Easy Bautista finish 

Bantamweight is stacked~

 Cody Garbrandt vs. Mario Bautista 

Garbrandt vs. Bautista
Cody Garbrandt, TKO, R2
This Fight will probably be the co-main of this card unless the UFC decides to put together a stacked card with ranked fighters they have done several times before (not this year).
Unlike what many think, I consider that Bautista is not an unfavorable matchup for a Garbrandt who is looking to enter the bantamweight ranking again, because Bautista is not a power puncher, he is a fighter more focused on takedown and grappling, in the standing fight isn't a high pace fighter, in his last fights he hasn't been of big volume either in the striking and the pace he was caught by a counter flying knee from Sandhagen (knockdown to armbar finish) and be knocked out by Trevin Jones. In addition to striking, Garbrandt skillset is complemented by a good wrestling base (High School National Champion represented Claymont in Ohio) which is synonymous with solid takedown defense (evidenced in the takedown attempts defended against Dominick Cruz), added to the fact that that despite not having BJJ Belt Garbrandt has a very good defense against submission attempts (evidenced in the heel hook attempt that he defended in the first minute against Pedro Munhoz at UFC 235) in addition to sparring with other wrestlers-base fighters with good grappling defense in recent years like Dan Ige, Frankie Edgar and Basharat Brothers.

Bautista in my opinion is a fighter who has found his best form and best development of his skills in these last two years adding a 4 win streak, but even this more smart and less highlight fighter version of Garbrandt is a considerable step up in competition He has compared Jay Perrin, Benito Lopez and Cannetti (Kelleher was a really impressive win).
There is always a generational turnover in the weight class but many also saw no chance for Font (28% in Tapology and +160 in odds) and Munhoz (15% in Tapology and +200 in odds) against Yanez and Gutierrez and in the end Font knocks Yanez and Pedro outclass Gutierrez.
I chose Font and Munhoz to win that fight against the prospects, and now I also choose Garbrandt to knock out Bautista with a counter overhand right hand in the first half of the second round.

* Edited at 04.29.2023, 1:41 AM ET *

 Cody Garbrandt vs. Mario Bautista 

Cody garbrandt vs Mario Bautista 

Cody Garbrandt Vs Mario Baustista

This is a good date for the UFC to return to The Theater at Virgin Hotels instead of the Apex Center, the crowded environment at Yan vs. Merab card was really good

* Edited at 04.29.2023, 8:32 PM ET *

@Amettxpc I too really enjoyed UFC being in that venue. Even from home on my couch it jjust felt refreshing watching it

I agree, even watching from television and taking into account that the Theater is a venue with little capacity, the environment is very different from the APEX Center, the crowd causes the fighters to want to give a better performance and the feedback of what happens in the cage shows in the fans. 

Quite the opposite of the UFC Fight Night where only Mark Zuckerberg and his friends were there, I understand that there are people who prefer a low profile or that the crowd of people causes them anxiety but you only have 2 options: Buy a Ticket for the event (where You can request one of the private boxes, since generally UFC Events are hosted in Basketball courts or Convention Centers) or you can watch it from your home. What happened that night when Zuckerberg had "Private MMA Watching Party" is the closest thing to going to the Zoo but with humans.

Is vintage Garbrandt a thing of yesteryear?

Uh yeah no ****