UFC 211: Guess the FOTN

[Andrewsimar Palhardass]

UFC 211, in my opinion, is a really intriguing card on paper. At the top, you have the promotion's heaviest and lightest belts on the line. Under that, there are a few fights where I am really not sure what will happen, but have real title implications.

So I ask you TMMAC, who steals the show?

Just including the main card and prelims, but if you're excited about one of the FP fights let me know and I will add it.

 

[Andrewsimar Palhardass]

I chose Frankie Edgar vs Yair Rodriguez, though to be honest I have a feeling that Marco Polo Reyes vs James Vick will be a barnburner. Polo Reyes had a FOTY performance last year, and I personally enjoy watching Vick fight.

 

[SCADA]

Eddie Alvarez vs Dustin Poirier has potential.

 

[La Paix]

Eddie Alvarez vs Dustin Poirier has potential.

How can Eddie go from headlining a title fight to being on the undercard? Are they trying to bury every one of Conor's opponents for some reason?

 

[La Paix]

Jason Knights fights seem to deliver

 

[Andrewsimar Palhardass]

Jason Knights fights seem to deliver

I took a long look at this one. I'm really excited for it.

 

[Andrewsimar Palhardass]

How can Eddie go from headlining a title fight to being on the undercard? Are they trying to bury every one of Conor's opponents for some reason?

I think it's just that they want a big fight to headline the prelims, so people watch and possibly buy the card based on it. There's no real business reason to intentionally bury people Conor has fought.

 

[La Paix]

There's no real business reason to intentionally bury people Conor has fought.

I agree. Just odd to see guys like Eddie and also get drastically less exposure while a guy like Lobov is getting main events.

 

[Andrewsimar Palhardass]

I agree. Just odd to see guys like Eddie and also get drastically less exposure while a guy like Lobov is getting main events.

Sure, but Aldo and Holloway will be headlining soon. I'm a believer in the idea that if you're going to question something as possibly conspiratory, you have to also present a reason for why that conspiracy would take place. Logically speaking, there's no real utility in intentionally burying people who Conor fought.

 

[La Paix]

Sure, but Aldo and Holloway will be headlining soon. I'm a believer in the idea that if you're going to question something as possibly conspiratory, you have to also present a reason for why that conspiracy would take place. Logically speaking, there's no real utility in intentionally burying people who Conor fought.

You're going to go crazy if you try to use logic when following the UFC.

 

[Andrewsimar Palhardass]

You're going to go crazy if you try to use logic when following the UFC.

Haha, you might be right there, but with even the shitty decisions they make I can usually come up with a bit of a reason for them.

 

[La Paix]

Haha, you might be right there, but with even the shitty decisions they make I can usually come up with a bit of a reason for them.

Sure but then you'd need to compare those pros against the cons. Not signing Askren is the first one I can think of.

 

[Andrewsimar Palhardass]

Sure but then you'd need to compare those pros against the cons. Not signing Askren is the first one I can think of.

I didn't say I agree with them, I just see why. I can see why Osama Bin Laden would want to fly planes into the World Trade Center, even though (obviously) I think it's reprehensible that he decided to.

I know Askren is good enough to be in the UFC, but I don't know all of the details of what happened when they didn't sign him. It was before my forum days. I was a fan, just not entrenched enough to have the details when it happened.

 

[Pitbull9]

Frankie
Eddie

 

[Andrewsimar Palhardass]

Also, who do you guys think will win between Maia and Masvidal? I've gone back and forth on this one, because Maia has been tearing through guys but this seems like it could be a spoiler fight in Masvidal's favor. We could see another Whittaker-Jacare but in fairness I think Maia will be more diverse with his takedowns than Jacare was.

 

[La Paix]

Also, who do you guys think will win between Maia and Masvidal? I've gone back and forth on this one, because Maia has been tearing through guys but this seems like it could be a spoiler fight in Masvidal's favor. We could see another Whittaker-Jacare but in fairness I think Maia will be more diverse with his takedowns than Jacare was.

1) It'll go down just like Rory Mac vs Maia

2) It'll go down just like Maia vs Condit.

 

[regular john]

voted for Maia vs. Masvidal in hopes that Gamebred subs Maia with a surprise guillotine but style-wise Alvarez vs. Poirier is bound to be a great fight. I think it's imposible for them not to have a bloody war with dramatic turns. even if Alvarez tries to grind a wrestlefuck win Poirier will get emotional, push him off, trade punches, pull guard... something will happen.

 

[regular john]

Also, who do you guys think will win between Maia and Masvidal? I've gone back and forth on this one, because Maia has been tearing through guys but this seems like it could be a spoiler fight in Masvidal's favor. We could see another Whittaker-Jacare but in fairness I think Maia will be more diverse with his takedowns than Jacare was.

I think Masvidal wins.

Everybody who's been winning for too long is bound to lose. Jorge is on a roll and is well rounded enough to avoid takedowns, light Maia up on the feet and even score a shocking guillotine choke. but yeah Maia will definitely be much more diverse with his takedowns than Jacare ever was. Maia is one of the only brazilians who knows about chain wrestling.

 

[Andrewsimar Palhardass]

I think Masvidal wins.

Everybody who's been winning for too long is bound to lose. Jorge is on a roll and is well rounded enough to avoid takedowns, light Maia up on the feet and even score a shocking guillotine choke. but yeah Maia will definitely be much more diverse with his takedowns than Jacare ever was. Maia is one of the only brazilians who knows about chain wrestling.

Yeah, I can definitely see this going down. It'll likely be Maia's striking defense vs Masvidal's TDD in a way. Definitely an interesting matchup.

 

[Andrewsimar Palhardass]

voted for Maia vs. Masvidal in hopes that Gamebred subs Maia with a surprise guillotine but style-wise Alvarez vs. Poirier is bound to be a great fight. I think it's imposible for them not to have a bloody war with dramatic turns. even if Alvarez tries to grind a wrestlefuck win Poirier will get emotional, push him off, trade punches, pull guard... something will happen.

I 100% think Eddie will try to wrestle in this fight, but I am sure Poirier knows that and is planning accordingly.

 

[LurkenLikaGherkin]

Aguilar/Casey, JJ/Andrade, and Gordon/Quinonez look like the most likely bang-it-out match-ups. Would say Alv/Poirier, but Alv will probably try to clinch & wrestle if he can get the clinch. Casey might be able to prevent the takedown, and she'll want to because she has the reach and power standing; plus Aguilar has a ton of heart so she probably takes a lot of punishment standing if she can't get takedowns. JJ doesn't want to be on the mat & Andrade probably feels like she can stand with JJ anyway. Gordon is an unknown (basically found no video of him other than the "Lookin for a Fight" footage, and (a) they seemed not that high on his potential long term and (b) he doesn't seem to have the personality type of a jiu jitsu fighter (seems like a power-worshipper meathead type); Shelby does have footage, I would think, and with low expectations for Gordon might match him up disadvantageously; Quinonez will probably expect to have a length & speed advantage standing and plan to stand the whole fight.

Didn't look at Sherman/Dmitry.

 

[LurkenLikaGherkin]

You could add Stipe/JDS, but it's 50/50 that they go longer than 1.5 rounds or so, so a different match-up where a stand-up war is apt to go full distance seems a more likely candidate.