UFC Fight Night 162 Post-Fight Analysis
Fun weekend of MMA is over. I am still gonna need to watch the ONE FC card, but UFC had a decent event, Bellator so-so. Anyway, let's talk about the UFC Singapore fights.
The main event went pretty much as I expected it to go, with Maia showing more overall refined striking, and getting the better of ground exchanges as well. Askren perhaps surprised a little that he managed to tag Maia with some solid shots on the feet and in hindsight it is easy to wonder if he would have been better off keeping it standing. Pretty much every time Askren got it to the ground, he got reversed or threatened with a sub.
Guess the guy can't help his instincts, and at this level having as gaping of a hole in your game as his striking is will be his demise. Entertaining fight nonetheless, and cements Maia's status as one of my all-time favorites.
In the co-main, Michael Johnson somehow threw away another fight. I don't know what's next for him, although Ray looked improved there was supposed to be a big gulf in class. Before that Dariush made quick work of Camacho, which was always gonna be the likely outcome even if I had my hopes up that Camacho could light him up in the feet. To me this means that Dariush should face some ranked guy next to see if he can make a title run.
Ciryl Gane showed much better performance in his second fight than in his first outing. He put on a striking clinic before finishing the fight late on with a sub. You kinda feel that he has to be matched with a high level opponent next, but he is still green in MMA terms too, so it is tricky for the matchmakers. Nonetheless he has both the physical and technical qualities to become a high-level heavyweight.
Muslim Salikhov outclassed Laureano Staropoli to a comfortable decision. Staropoli tried to fight in a bit more composed manner, but the difference in skill was clear in the end. Salikhov will struggle with guys who won't be aggressive, but feast on guys who put pressure on him.
The fight between Randa Markos and Ashley Yoder was a weird one, cause it was exactly opposite of what was expected, with Markos winning the fight on the feet and Yoder getting the better of grappling exchanges. Markos was supposed to be the grappler and Yoder the kickboxer. Perhaps that is why all the wrestling made Yoder fade badly after the first round, which resulted in a clear loss on decision.
Rafael Fiziev put on a striking clinic on Alex White, not much to say there, White is as game as they come but he was at a clear skill deficit here and just had no answer for Fiziev's offence.
Barzola and Evloev had a very close fight. Barzola managed to keep the fight standing a lot more than I would have expected, and on the feet it was pretty even. Evloev got the probably deserved tight decision in the end.
Sergei Pavlovich has a pretty simple MMA game, but that is all you need when you fight against someone as defensively suspect as Maurice Greene. Greene looked improved, but again it is just sharp, diverse offense, not so much any defense, so he was always gonna get caught, and with Pavlovich getting caught means the fight is over pretty fast.
Albu got a lot of good offense in against Loma but overall looked quite overwhelmed with Loma's clinch game. Loma is technically great and has good instincts, but man if she isn't undersized. They will have to keep feeding her bottom level opponents if Albu caught her with this many shots already. She needs to beef herself up a little bit, perhaps get on some of that Overeem's horsemeat.
Jeff Hughes looked very tentative against Raphael Pessoa and clearly lost the decision. He was too worried about the power coming back, allowing Pessoa to dictate the tempo of the fight. Because of this Pessoa was never really in danger of fading badly. You have to push the pace on these fat, big motherfuckers, otherwise they are just gonna single-shot you into oblivion. Disappointing performance from Hughes.
That was reversed for tonight's event, when I got the Main right but Co-Main wrong. Overall it was a good night though, with 8 out of 11 right. The win was small cause I still pick my big and small bets terribly. Worst pick was obviously Johnson, who should never ever be relied on, especially for a bigger bet. Best pick... well perhaps Pessoa considering he was such a big underdog, but it was just a small shot I took as well.
Record now after eight events is 55.5 out of 95, in Main and Co-Main events I am 9 out of 14. 5 winning nights and 3 losing nights.
The main event went pretty much as I expected it to go, with Maia showing more overall refined striking, and getting the better of ground exchanges as well. Askren perhaps surprised a little that he managed to tag Maia with some solid shots on the feet and in hindsight it is easy to wonder if he would have been better off keeping it standing. Pretty much every time Askren got it to the ground, he got reversed or threatened with a sub.
Guess the guy can't help his instincts, and at this level having as gaping of a hole in your game as his striking is will be his demise. Entertaining fight nonetheless, and cements Maia's status as one of my all-time favorites.
In the co-main, Michael Johnson somehow threw away another fight. I don't know what's next for him, although Ray looked improved there was supposed to be a big gulf in class. Before that Dariush made quick work of Camacho, which was always gonna be the likely outcome even if I had my hopes up that Camacho could light him up in the feet. To me this means that Dariush should face some ranked guy next to see if he can make a title run.
Ciryl Gane showed much better performance in his second fight than in his first outing. He put on a striking clinic before finishing the fight late on with a sub. You kinda feel that he has to be matched with a high level opponent next, but he is still green in MMA terms too, so it is tricky for the matchmakers. Nonetheless he has both the physical and technical qualities to become a high-level heavyweight.
Muslim Salikhov outclassed Laureano Staropoli to a comfortable decision. Staropoli tried to fight in a bit more composed manner, but the difference in skill was clear in the end. Salikhov will struggle with guys who won't be aggressive, but feast on guys who put pressure on him.
The fight between Randa Markos and Ashley Yoder was a weird one, cause it was exactly opposite of what was expected, with Markos winning the fight on the feet and Yoder getting the better of grappling exchanges. Markos was supposed to be the grappler and Yoder the kickboxer. Perhaps that is why all the wrestling made Yoder fade badly after the first round, which resulted in a clear loss on decision.
Rafael Fiziev put on a striking clinic on Alex White, not much to say there, White is as game as they come but he was at a clear skill deficit here and just had no answer for Fiziev's offence.
Barzola and Evloev had a very close fight. Barzola managed to keep the fight standing a lot more than I would have expected, and on the feet it was pretty even. Evloev got the probably deserved tight decision in the end.
Sergei Pavlovich has a pretty simple MMA game, but that is all you need when you fight against someone as defensively suspect as Maurice Greene. Greene looked improved, but again it is just sharp, diverse offense, not so much any defense, so he was always gonna get caught, and with Pavlovich getting caught means the fight is over pretty fast.
Albu got a lot of good offense in against Loma but overall looked quite overwhelmed with Loma's clinch game. Loma is technically great and has good instincts, but man if she isn't undersized. They will have to keep feeding her bottom level opponents if Albu caught her with this many shots already. She needs to beef herself up a little bit, perhaps get on some of that Overeem's horsemeat.
Jeff Hughes looked very tentative against Raphael Pessoa and clearly lost the decision. He was too worried about the power coming back, allowing Pessoa to dictate the tempo of the fight. Because of this Pessoa was never really in danger of fading badly. You have to push the pace on these fat, big motherfuckers, otherwise they are just gonna single-shot you into oblivion. Disappointing performance from Hughes.
My picks
As I did not write post-fight analysis of the previous event, a quick word about it. In last event I got 7 out of 13 right, ending up in a small loss. Co-Main correct, Main event wrong.That was reversed for tonight's event, when I got the Main right but Co-Main wrong. Overall it was a good night though, with 8 out of 11 right. The win was small cause I still pick my big and small bets terribly. Worst pick was obviously Johnson, who should never ever be relied on, especially for a bigger bet. Best pick... well perhaps Pessoa considering he was such a big underdog, but it was just a small shot I took as well.
Record now after eight events is 55.5 out of 95, in Main and Co-Main events I am 9 out of 14. 5 winning nights and 3 losing nights.
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