UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Korean Zombie

The official Tapology discussion thread for the event!

Kazama have: Ground game advantage  Cardio and chute boxe kind pressure advantage  Home crowd advantage 
What you guys thinks?!

Just check the card because I’ve been travailing, this card is lowkey very good

I’m most hype to see Blancfield fight Santos, that the best fight on the card

This fight will most likely be used to set up the next title challenger for the Women’s Flyweight Title. Blanchfield is coming into the bout with more momentum, on the back of three straight finishes in less than two rounds. Santos was on a decent run on her way to her title fight against, then Champion, Valentina Shevchenko and came close winning their bout. Losing in a controversial split decision, seen by many at the time. Since then, I believe Santos has been inactive due to injury.

Stand Up Phase:
Between the two fighters Blanchfield appears to be the more comfortable and varied striker. Blanchfield showing a more OX kickboxer style compared to Santos having an OX boxer with kicks sprinkled in somewhat. Blanchfield’s strengths seem to be in her consistent jab and good use of combinations off the jab setup. She does, however, tend to stand square when starting her combinations and can be hit during then.  Santos rarely uses a jab and seems to prefer a LH more. Santos typically uses a bullrush with hook combinations to land heavy shots and then find the clinch. This does present chances for her to be countered consistently. I predict Blanchfield’s steady movement, consistent jab and combinations will frustrate Santos enough for her to find chances for shots and secure TDs.

Clinch Phase:
Both fighters are strong grapplers and use their grappling against the cage very well to secure a TD. Santos seems to be the fighter most likely to strike within the clinch, using her TC to land heavy knees. Blanchfield tends to shoot for doubles or singles against the cage, however, if she’s unsuccessful she’ll break the clinch and return to striking. In this instance I see Santos using the considerable strength advantage she’s shown in her recent bouts to play a strong role in determining the progression of the clinch positions. Santos also tends to use trips and hooks against the cage more frequently, thus securing TDs with less effort.

Ground Phase:
Once the fight hits the ground, I’ve observed strong control and patient progression from both fighters in their past bouts. Blanchfield seems to be the more active when it comes to progressing for better control positions such as SC or The Crucifix. Santos seems content to control from inside her OPP guard, however, this prevents her from landing any substantial amount of GnP. Blanchfield is very active and switches well between GnP and Sub Attempts when she’s in control on top. Both have good ability scrambling and managing to find dominant position like BC. Both have strong BC and ability to finish from the back. Due to the seemingly comparable grappling ability, I could once again see Santos’s size and strength advantage playing a big factor in controlling the various positions and preventing Blanchfield having the usual success she expects during most grappling exchanges.

Prediction: Blanchfield wins by Unanimous Decision
This should be a highly contested matchup however long is last. I predict Blanchfield’s more polished striking will be enough to stifle and counter Santos’s usual hook combinations. Blanchfield’s grappling ability should allow her to keep the fight standing and cause Santos to become more desperate in trying to take the fight to the ground. If this happens it’ll allow Blanchfield easy opportunities for shots to secure TD’s and maintain control, if not find the finish.

Abbreviations: 
OX: Orthodox LH: Lead Hook TD: Takedown TC: Thai Clinch SC: Side Control OPP: Opponent BC: Back Control GnP: Ground n pound

☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️

What on earth is this?

Bro wrote a thesis on a WMMA fight 🤣😂😅😂🤣😅😂🤣

No one cares. Underdog wins. Flip a coin.

* Edited at 08.23.2023, 12:05 AM ET *

I will lay off Jrey. Don't want another suspension.

It's just a bit of fun. He doesn't mind.

I spread positivity now. Tartara Bless 🙌 

* Edited at 08.23.2023, 12:13 AM ET *

Accept my formal apologies because I am scared I will get banned. 

I do like you, you know. Not even joking. I just like fading your picks.

@Rah123 

I care. 

When there was no internet, only the family knew that there was a fool in the house

How can you see an insightful write up like that and comment "no one cares?" Is discussion not the point of a forum?  Respectfully, I think one of the better ways you can spread positivity here is by knowing when not to comment 

* Edited at 08.23.2023, 1:47 AM ET *

I take it back. Shame on me. Everyone seems to care. My bad.

Positivity 👍👍👍

* Edited at 08.23.2023, 2:04 AM ET *

Btw Taila Santos wins

Ok because there is still some doubt about who wins this card let me list out the winners. Let's just make it easy for everyone. 

Holloway 
Spann
Giga
Rinya 
Santos
Tafa
Acosta
Kazama
Chidi
Bedoya
Goff
JJ
Choi (sorry Jarno fans)

* Edited at 08.23.2023, 2:56 AM ET *

Erin Blanchfield will make it look easy most likely dominate GnP ko ,Taila  very tough but her visa issues will play a big role for that fight 14 months no fight and come back vs the best young prospect in the whole wmma almost impossible to stop the take downs and the GnP game of Erin.make money from Blanchfield now still with good odds before she start having only -800 - -1000 odds

Blanchfield vs. Santos
Erin Blanchfield, SUB, R1
Congratulations Erin!

Blanchfield & Holloway , easily. So easy. Both will get knockouts!!

I do not want Max to lose I don't want TKZ to lose
I wish this was a scenario like Superman vs. Batman where Sterling jumps in as the main villain and Max and TKZ fight together.

This is a fight that Max might actually finish someone in.  It's been a while.

Holloway vs. Jung
Max Holloway, TKO, R4
Max finna set a new

* Edited at 08.23.2023, 10:21 AM ET *

I see a lot of people ****ting on Errens, but he's a live dog. I'm aware that Errens didn't look great in his fight against Gomis, but that was mainly because he got outgrappled and was clueless on the ground.

It's safe to say that we won't see Choi nor Errens grapple in this fight, unless Errens makes use of his Judo background to trip Choi. Errens is a methodical fighter and likes to push the pace. He has the better and cleaner striking of the two, where Choi has the speed advantage and has good counters. They both have good leg kicks and mix their striking up well. Arno's striking defence, movement and footwork are also solid. Definitely compared to Choi's, since he always gets hit a lot and doesn't get out of range in time. It will be interesting to see how those striking exchanges will play out.

I'm expecting a competitive fight. I got Errens by DEC, but I wouldn't be surprised if Choi lands a counter to get a finish early in the fight. If this fight goes past the first round, I think Errens has a bigger chance to win this. 

Regardless, I think both of them need to win this fight if they don't want to get cut, so we might already see a banger at the start of this card.

* Edited at 08.23.2023, 11:34 AM ET *