UFC 226: Miocic v Cormier & Holloway vs Ortega

Paully D

Date: Saturday 7th July
Times: Fight Pass Prelims (11:30pm, Fight Pass), Prelims (1am, Fight Pass and BT Sport), Main Card (3am, BT Sport)
Venue: T-Mobile Arena, Vegas
Odds: Miocic (4/9) v Cormier (11/5), Holloway (8/11) vs Ortega (23/17)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W--SSlS1oVI

Zero-Cool

Ortega via Decision

Such a great card. Holloway Ortega is gonna be so interesting as will be Stipe DC. Cannot wait for this.

I've went with Ortega by sub, I think he'll get a snakey one, 5 rounds is very long. I went with Stipe by decision as well, DC is the toughest bastard on the roster, can't see him being finished.

yourdeadwright

Ortega via KO/TKO

Holloway by Decision
Stipe by KO

xtal191

Ortega via Decision

Stipe ko
Ortega sub

Cant wait for this card

Useful.Idiot

Ortega via KO/TKO

Stipe decision
Max decision

Tazzimus

That is an absolute belter of a card.

Stipe by decision, don't know if he can KO DC, mans tough as balls.
Ortega by sub, so close this one.

Ngannou/Lewis double KO via exhaustion, round 2.

ricero

Ortega via Decision

Stipe ko and T-city by sub.

Cracking card and the 4 lads in the main and co-main are absolute gents would be happy to see any of them win.

aj89

Holloway via Decision

Going for Stipe tko, and Holloway sub (guillotine).....

Fromvert

Holloway via KO/TKO

I'm kind of shocked Stipe is a favourite let alone a huge one. DC all day for me in this and going to have to punt him at 2/1. Stipe has the wrestling to deal with Ngannou but I can see DC absolutely clowning him in the grappling exchanges and grinding him down. He wrestled in college but he wasn't a stand out or even close to it.

But this is an absolute belter of a card.

yourdeadwright

Ortega via KO/TKO

Fromvert wrote: »

I'm kind of shocked Stipe is a favourite let alone a huge one. DC all day for me in this and going to have to punt him at 2/1. Stipe has the wrestling to deal with Ngannou but I can see DC absolutely clowning him in the grappling exchanges and grinding him down. He wrestled in college but he wasn't a stand out or even close to it.

But this is an absolute belter of a card.

He was an NCAA division 1 wrestler that's an achievement in itself, he is 3 years younger than DC , He is in better shape than DC and is more powerful than DC,  We know DC has better wrestling pedigree but Stipe is not to be laughed at , 
He will be good enough to keep it standing long enough to knock DC out ,

Tazzimus

Stipe's stand up is light years ahead of DC's. His footwork should be good enough to keep it standing.

Reason he wrestled Ngannou was to negate that Godzilla level punching power and tire him so he left with his head still attached.

Fromvert

Holloway via KO/TKO

yourdeadwright wrote: »

He was an NCAA division 1 wrestler that's an achievement in itself, he is 3 years younger than DC , He is in better shape than DC and is more powerful than DC,  We know DC has better wrestling pedigree but Stipe is not to be laughed at , 
He will be good enough to keep it standing long enough to knock DC out ,

Yes he was but I remember finding his record before and he wasn't a stand out, their grappling credentials when it comes to comparing them is like comparing different sports. He was gassed completely against Ngannou from grappling him. Let's see how that gas tank holds up when DC is the one in dominant position. He's very good I'm not denying that but DC is one of the best and I still have doubts about Stipe, you could look at his record and say all of his best wins are against guys past their best.

Stipe has better hands than Cormier but I'd rank Gus's boxing above Stipe's and Cormier was able to compete and hold his own in that one.

Ush1

Taking a punch from Gus and taking a punch from Stipe are different things though.

Fromvert

Holloway via KO/TKO

Ush1 wrote: »

Taking a punch from Gus and taking a punch from Stipe are different things though.

Yes I'd agree Stipe may has an edge in power (Gus can crack too) but they have similar reach and I'd give Gus the edge on Stipe technically and DC could get in past his jab and do work. He also has been able to take serious punishment in his fights, Rumble being the obvious biggest hitter. So I believe he'll be able to take the shots and get inside

Stipe hasn't be pushed in his title run (due to him getting it done in the first round so not a knock on him!) the one fight that has gone over a round he dominated the fight and grappling but was seriously sucking air those last 5-10 minutes. Don't see him getting DC out of there early and if DC gets his grappling going (which I think he will) I can see Stipe being the one struggling late in the fight.

Fromvert

Holloway via KO/TKO

I can't think of a wrestling based fighter Stipe has fought. I could be completely off here but think he and the heavyweight division get exposed and shown how weak it is.

derfderf

ricero wrote: »

Cracking card and the 4 lads in the main and co-main are absolute gents would be happy to see any of them win.

I want all four to win somehow.

Planemo

Holloway out with a concussion (can't link on mobile). I just don't get excited for fights anymore, **** like this happens way too often.

Fromvert

Holloway via KO/TKO

****s sake I hate the week of a fight. Never be excited for a fight!

Paully D

Ortega via KO/TKO

3 times this year that Holloway has been pulled from a card - 222, 223 and now this.

At least the main event is still on (as of now!) and is an amazing fight but man, what a disappointment, as ****ing usual.

Mellor

Bisping called it

https://twitter.com/i/status/1014708930545504256

Zero-Cool

Ortega via Decision

Usually would be going mad that another fight was off but I just hope Max is ok. His team released a statement, hard to wake, flashing vision, blurred speech, sounds bad.

https://twitter.com/arielhelwani/status/1014703749225476096?s=19

Whelo79

Such **** news to wake up to. Puts a big dent in the card. I doubt there will be any i late replacement for this one.

Autecher

Whelo79 wrote: »

Such **** news to wake up to. Puts a big dent in the card. I doubt there will be any i late replacement for this one.

Ortega's team have already said unless the replacement is for a title they are not interested. I'd say Lewis - Ngannou will be co-main now.

Planemo

Planemo wrote: »

Holloway out with a concussion (can't link on mobile). I just don't get excited for fights anymore, **** like this happens way too often.

To add to this, they are talking about concussion-like symptoms. They're not currently saying it's a concussion or that he suffered a concussion during training. Could be something else entirely.

evil_seed

drugs? alcohol? he seemed to be a bit slurry with his speech on embedded

Zero-Cool

Ortega via Decision

Tad insensitive

https://twitter.com/John_Kavanagh/status/1014793133274480640?s=19

ricero

Ortega via Decision

Not surprising Kavanagh lost all his class years ago.

Although i was buzzing to see Holloway vs Ortega i am delighted its cancelled as i want to see both men 100 per cent. I reckon they could move it to ufc 227 next month or 228 in September.

tommyboy26

Holloway via Submission

max is an unbelievable fighter and i was looking forward to that fight more than anything else on the card and i wasnt surprised he still wanted to fight but it was the right decision by his team not too let him. if it is anything concussion like he is better off not fighting cause he is a young guy and he needs to think about his long term health.

Useful.Idiot

Ortega via KO/TKO

ricero wrote: »

Although i was buzzing to see Holloway vs Ortega i am delighted its cancelled as i want to see both men 100 per cent. I reckon they could move it to ufc 227 next month or 228 in September.

Depending on the doctor's orders Max could be out a bit longer. The brutal weight cuts, the no doubt hard sparring and his reliance on his chin isn't doing well for his brain at his young age. A long lay-off vacating the belt could be wise.

Paully D

Ortega via KO/TKO

Zero-Cool wrote: »

Tad insensitive

https://twitter.com/John_Kavanagh/status/1014793133274480640?s=19

Did he comment on James Gallagher being forced to withdraw from his last two fights?

Kavanagh is a prat.

ASOT

Ortega via Decision

Im sorry lads JK is a ****ing clown.

Mellor

Fight Week Curse

https://www.twitter.com/aaronbronsteter/status/1014705735966646273

Inviere

Holloway via Decision

evil_seed wrote: »

drugs? alcohol? he seemed to be a bit slurry with his speech on embedded

Won't be either of those things, but difficulty waking from sleep followed by flashes in vision do not bode well for Max. Really hope to see him back at his best when the time is right, but as above, it might be an idea to relinquish, recuperate, and look after himself for a while.

Zero-Cool wrote: »

Tad insensitive

A tad? I'm not normally bothered by anything John posts, but that's definitely a bad judgement post.

Zero-Cool

Ortega via Decision

Inviere wrote: »

A tad? I'm not normally bothered by anything John posts, but that's definitely a bad judgement post.

Especially since his own fighters get injured as well. Plus, Max seems to be in a bad way, no need for the high horse post.

HappyAsLarE

I really regret buying Kavanagh’s book and giving him his cut.

SureYWouldntYa

I really hate the way Conor and JK have gone since they were first in the UFC, they were guys to be proud of then

Look at Conor in that MTV documentary pre UFC and he’s a different person

Such a pity

pauldoo

How highly rated is JK? Did he just hit the jackpot with McGregor?

Ultimate Seduction

Stipe via Submission

Just as Max was becoming a known name he misses 3 fights on the spin. 1 defence against an undeserving Aldo. Gotta feel sorry for the guy. Could have been *in the conversation* with another few high profile wins. If it's CTE I hope he retires.

EagererBeaver

Ultimate Seduction wrote: »

Just as Max was becoming a known name he misses 3 fights on the spin. 1 defence against an undeserving Aldo. Gotta feel sorry for the guy. Could have been *in the conversation* with another few high profile wins. If it's CTE I hope he retires.

Impossible to definitively diagnose CTE in a living person but if) when it is, you'll not have to worry about retiring as you'll never get medical clearance to fight.

Ultimate Seduction

Stipe via Submission

EagererBeaver wrote: »

Impossible to definitively diagnose CTE in a living person but if) when it is, you'll not have to worry about retiring as you'll never get medical clearance to fight.

Ah right, I thought a scan would show it straight away. Either way, hope hes ok. Amazing that clip of bisping noticing it

Zero-Cool

Ortega via Decision

Ultimate Seduction wrote: »

Ah right, I thought a scan would show it straight away. Either way, hope hes ok. Amazing that clip of bisping noticing it

Yeah, could have easily called out bidding for being a bit of a dick but fair play to him. If he's team didn't step in, UFC wouldn't have noticed and Max would have gone ahead with the fight. Who knows what might have happened. Fair play Max's team, they know how bad his fights have gone with cancellations and how this this card was, they could have easily chosen to ignore the signs.

shocksy

Ortega via Submission

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This might be of interest for some people so they can see the pre-lims tomorrow. Fight pass 1 month subscription for a $1 or €0.80. Just don't forget to cancel the subscription so you're not charged full price next month. Offer valid for today 5th July only.

Zero-Cool

Ortega via Decision

Wtf! Just watching the press conference and as they all got up, DC fell off his chair, took a few moments to get up and was holding his back. Dana was ****ting it.

Seems ok now but that was weird, his legs just sticking up in the air.

Whelo79

Why is Stipe dressed like a Dorky School Professor and DC like a failed extra from Boys in the Hood!

theteal

Dana was given the key to the city of Las Vegas. Some bloke shouted that it’s just the ‘interim key’

Zero-Cool

Ortega via Decision

What a weird fall

https://twitter.com/DesmondMadden/status/1015005265186492422?s=19

Mellor

pauldoo wrote: »

How highly rated is JK? Did he just hit the jackpot with McGregor?

Lately he's probably criticised slightly more than he should be. But he also landed a jackpot with Conor. That would be the case no matter what gym he walked into.

John really confuses me. On twitter, and facebook he comes across as a snide asshole. Contrast that with Conor, who comes across as joking when he's being wind up asshole. But at times like this he seems genuinely concerned (history is probably a huge factor)

https://twitter.com/TheNotoriousMMA/status/1014937903892398082

But John K in interviews, he comes across really well. This is a good sitdown interview with Brett Okamoto. He comes across well and I think this is the old JK that people refered to above.
I've John's involvement with in Wimp2Warrior. I've met when I dropped into Dublin and found him completely different to his twitter persona.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8vPDWG6Nmo

martyos121

DC via KO/TKO

I love Derrick Lewis.

https://twitter.com/arielhelwani/status/1015002285615673344?s=21

yourdeadwright

Ortega via KO/TKO

Zero-Cool wrote: »

What a weird fall

https://twitter.com/DesmondMadden/status/1015005265186492422?s=19

They had a speaker on the ground behind his chair that's what he fell over, looked like he was limping in the face off,
Kinda like when Tony Ferguson feel over the power cord and done his knew,
DC said fight is going ahead but he isn't happy

Gamb!t

Ortega via KO/TKO

yourdeadwright wrote: »

They had a speaker on the ground behind his chair that's what he fell over, looked like he was limping in the face off,
Kinda like when Tony Ferguson feel over the power cord and done his knew,
DC said fight is going ahead but he isn't happy

Wonder if he will come out after the fight saying he was injured?