UFC / MMA
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There's been a bit of CKB/UFC news recently
Kai Kara-France got a concussion during training so is out of the Sydney card (Sep 10th)
CKB still have 6 fighters on that card as Kevin Jousset has been added to the UFC roster. He's French but has been with CKB for 4 years now.
He's fighting Kiefer Crosbie who has moved across from BellatorCKB might have another UFC soon. Aussie Cam Rowston is on the contender series in just over a week
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With the World Cup, my sons visiting and this on Sunday it’s a good thing I got through a mountain of chores last weekend cos I’ll be doing fuck all this weekend.
I really wanted to see Izzy fight Dricus Du Plessis but I’m sure this will be sensational entertainment.
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I’m sure this will be sensational entertainment.
It's a slightly weak card esp after Kara-France pulled out. However it's a great card for fans from this part of the world.
10 of the 12 fights are people fighting out of CKB or Aussies
Unfortunately 3 CKB fights are on the early prelims (fight pass stream). Jousset's debut and massive fights for Blood Diamond & Shane Young.. both fighters probably need a win to keep their contracts
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Entertaining
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My guesses
Kevin Jousset v Kiefer Crosbie
Don't know much about the opponent. Picking Jousset because I know he's good. Apparently gave Izzy loads of trouble early in their camps
Shane Young v Gabriel Miranda
I hope I'm wrong but I'm pessimistic about Youngs ability at this level. Great cardio but not as athletic as some other fighters.
There's always a bit of chat about outside distractions with Young. Apparently they are gone (whatever they were)
Blood Diamond v Charlie Radtke
Seen him do some freakish stuff as a kickboxer, although a little reckless. His two UFC fights have been genuinely bad so far. Apparently he always looks great in trianing.. so it must be a mental thing.
Picking him to finally click against a striker. If not he'll probably get cut.
Nasrat Haqparast v Landon Quiñones
Don't really care but I'll go Haqparast
Jamie Mullarkey v John Makdessi
This could be tricky for Mullarkey. He should win though
Jack Jenkins v Chepe Mariscal
This should be a fun fight - Jenkins
Carlos Ulberg v Jung Da-un
Ulberg has made significant improvements eac fight. I'll pick that to continue with a kick KO
Tyson Pedro v Anton Turkalj
Pedro looked great when he first returned then had a couple of flat fights. I'm hoping he's back on track
Justin Tafa v Austen Lane
Tafa could easily get the KO. Lane has the edge
Manel Kape v Felipe dos Santos
Kape too good
Tai Tuivasa v Alexander Volkov
Tai certainly has a good chance. I think his slide continues though
Israel Adesanya v Sean Strickland
I like Strickland but this will be hard. It's a bad match up for the style of striker that Strickland is. I presume it'll be a take down heavy attack but as others have found out taking down Adesanya is difficultStill, there's plenty of ways to lose a MMA fight and Strickland will be relentless. Picking a late knockout to Izzy.. the fight to stay mostly on the feet and Strickland to take a lot of damage trying to get into range
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Agreed, except Turkalj for the win
And for shits and giggles Strickland
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Unfortunately my SY prediction was correct. Miranda took his back early and cloaked him out
Not sure what his contract situation is but that might be the end of Young’s time in the UFC
7 fights 2 wins
He also missed weight by almost 4lbs. No idea what went wrong. The first CKB fighter to miss weight in the UFC I believe?
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Improvements from Blood Diamond in his tdd. Struggled to get any offence going until round 3. Lost a point for low blows. Ultimately it was disappointing again.
29-27
I assume he was on a 3 fight contract.. that might be the end of his time in the UFC?
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Still, there's plenty of ways to lose a MMA fight and Strickland will be relentless
Haha I meant a KO or submission. Didn’t expect an easy decision with no takedowns
I assume Izzy will have a rematch clause. If not, there’s a few MW’s that will be desperate for a crack at Strickland.
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Ulberg getting a little better each time. Pleased that Pedro had an emphatic win after as some mixed form. Tafa with a good Hunt impersonation
Cormier had to cut two interviews shorts after naughty words were said. Apparently motherfucker is fine though. Who cares. They punch people for a living.
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Good to see two of the hometown boys with early KOs. Tuivasa ruined the steak going down to a pretty ruthless submission. Isn’t that three losses on the trot for him ?
Pretty amazing effort from Strickland. To borrow a boxing comparison of the 70s his style is all wrong for Izzy in the way that Ken Norton’s was for Ali. Never allowed him to get in a rhythm and you just knew Izzy lacked the power to put him away when he needed to in the final round. Strickland looked fresh as a daisy after his win.
But yeah, others will be lining up for a crack at him for sure. Definitely beatable for any straight ahead power punching types.
Next to no grappling all night, I reckon that’s a good thing speaking as a big boxing fan.
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Nah Izzy has enough power. His timing was off though.
Strickland can be awkward. It could’ve been that, maybe the punch at the end of the first rocked him more than it looked, or maybe something else was wrong? Who knows. He barely got any combos off, lots of single strikes
Opens up the division though. There’s several fighters I think are better than Strickland. Does Pereira come back down?
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Nah Izzy has enough power. His timing was off though.
Strickland can be awkward. It could’ve been that, maybe the punch at the end of the first rocked him more than it looked, or maybe something else was wrong? Who knows. He barely got any combos off, lots of single strikes
Opens up the division though. There’s several fighters I think are better than Strickland. Does Pereira come back down?
Yeah that might be the case but from what he had done previously I knew he was no chance to knock him out.
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Strickland dominated
He’s far better than many are giving him credit for
Made Izzy look like the challenger
Great game plan, great discipline