TUF 22 Finale: Edgar vs. Mendes

Date: Friday, December 11th
Preliminary Card (Fox Sports 1): 2:00 LP.net / 5pm PST / 8pm EST
Main Card (PPV): 4:00 LP.net / 7pm PST / 10pm EST
Live Streams: http://firstrowus1.eu/




Main Card (Fox Sports 1)

Frankie Edgar (19-4-1) vs. Chad Mendes (17-3) (Featherweight)
Edson Barboza (16-3) vs. Tony Ferguson (19-3) (Lightweight)
TUF 22 Lightweight final (TBA vs. TBA)
TUF 22 Welterweight final (TBA vs. TBA)
Joe Lauzon (25-10) vs. Evan Dunham (16-6) (Lightweight)
Ryan LaFlare (11-1) vs. Mike Pierce (17-6) (Welterweight)
Tatsuya Kawajiri (34-8-2) vs. Jason Knight (14-1) (Featherweight)
Gabriel Gonzaga (16-10) vs. Konstantin Erokhin (9-2) (Heavyweight)
Joby Sanchez (7-1) vs. Geane Herrera (8-1) (Flyweight)
TUF 22 (TBA vs. TBA)
TUF 22 (TBA vs. TBA)

Other

- Khabib Nurmagomedov was expected to face Tony Ferguson at the event. However, Nurmagomedov is injured and was replaced by Edson Barboza.
- Mirsad Bektic was expected to face Tatsuya Kawajiri at the event. However, Bektic pulled out of the fight on November 27 citing injury. Kawajiri will remain on the card and face promotional newcomer Jason Knight.
- Justin Scoggins was expected to face Joby Sanchez at this event. However, Scoggins was forced to pull out due to injury. He was replaced by Geane Herrera.

First impression of the match-ups:

• Edgar > Mendes
• Ferguson > Barboza
• Dunham > Lauzon
• Pierce > LaFlare
• Kawajiri > Knight
• Gonzaga > Erokhin
• Herrera > Sanchez


I didn't watch TUF 22, so I won't have any thoughts on those guys.

Mendes > Edgar - Edgar is one of favorite all time fighters, pains me to pick against him but I just think the power difference is too much. Frankie is smarter, more active, but hes not faster IMO (I keep hearing people say hes faster) and hes older and I think Mendes has what it takes to put him out or land enough big shots to steal close rounds.

Ferguson > Barboza

Dunham v Lauzon - Pk

LaFlare > Pierce

Kawajiri v Knight - Dunno

Gonzaga > Eokhin

Herrera v Sanchez - Pk (Would pick Herrera if this wasn't very short notice)

Bets:

+ Show Spoiler +

Nice card. I think Mendes > Edgar too. I think the line should be reversed basically, and theres a ton of value to it.

The more interesting fight is Edison Barbosa vs Tony Ferguson, and how exactly their styles will clash. I've never seen a similar fight that I remember.

On December 04 2015 19:33 Minsk wrote: Nice card. I think Mendes > Edgar too. I think the line should be reversed basically, and theres a ton of value to it.

I think Chad Mendes is absurdly good. I hold nothing against him and respect him all the same following the McGregor fight (the public seems really low on him based on that performance). I remember before Mendes fought Aldo the 2nd time and McGregor, I already thought he was p4p level guy, which a lot of people did, I just bought that hype. He's done nothing to make me rethink that.

Edgar is so smart, technical, and tough that he won't lose to anything but elite fighters, who are also really good but hold A+'s in multiple categories - which Mendes and Aldo do. Even still he's always live because if you don't show up he will, and Mendes will need to have one of his best performances ever to win. I see Edgar as a super super high level gatekeeper to the title (that McGregor never had to fight but who cares).

Agree with pretty much all of that, and feel the same way word for word. I started thinking the Mendes vs McGregor fight was rigged again today, after remembering how it ended, how valuable selling more tickets, and building more hype would be for the UFC. World class fighters don't just get out of top position and collapse into nothing like that when they're trying. Sold more tickets, brought more hype, makes a lot of sense everywhere.

LOL at McGregor - Mendes being rigged.

BTW in this fight Mendes looked absolutely clueless standing up. Other than his 2nd fight with Aldo I have not been really impressed with him. He has made his career by knocking out grapplers.

As for the fight with Frankie, I find Edgar superior in all technical areas of the game. He has big edge in movement, his stand up is better, so are his transitions between striking and wrestling. Mendes of course has the athletic advantage. His power and speed can cause big problems for Frankie, but I doubt he will be able to use them very effectively.

I feel like the odds are about right for this fight. Frankie should be favored.

Sigh. The fight was not rigged. McGregor broke him. He also won the first round of the fight, I never can understand why Mendes gets every 10-9 scorecard. He got his ass beat on the feet for half the round and held McGregor down for the other half, not in that order.

2nd round he was definitely winning before getting blasted.

I still think it was rigged.

On December 05 2015 08:18 Minsk wrote: I still think it was rigged.

I love you, Minsk. <3

On December 05 2015 08:18 Minsk wrote: I still think it was rigged.

First, this assumes UFC managed to convince Mendes to throw.

I have trouble believin Mendes would do that. If he does win against Conor, he would get so much hype, and possibly become champion, every fighter's dream.

Even if we do assume UFC paid Mendes enough to throw, its a super risky move for the UFC. if people found out about this, this could be the death of the UFC. And if Conor really has no skills and needs Mendes to throw, he will get destroyed by Aldo, so we will see.

Since at the time the UFC still had Ronda Rousey, there is no reason to make any fight a set up. They weren't starved for hype, so they wouldn't risk the company on a single fight... Or Ronda Rousey $$$. Thats crazy! But fun to think about I guess.

I think it was Rican who mentioned Edgar's mouth looking droopy on the left side.

I notice it too. He's starting to sound punchy and stutter a lot. It sucks, I really like Frankie but I genuinely am getting the punchy vibe listening to him talk.

Even if a fight is ever rigged assuming UFC would be a part of that is ridiculous.

what do you guys mean by " punchy"

Edgar wins this by decision.

On December 10 2015 22:39 soberstone wrote: I think it was Rican who mentioned Edgar's mouth looking droopy on the left side. I notice it too. He's starting to sound punchy and stutter a lot. It sucks, I really like Frankie but I genuinely am getting the punchy vibe listening to him talk.

Don't think it was me that mentioned a droopy face, but Edgar does talk "different" these days. He'll probably look like Sylvester Stallone later on in life if he continues to fight these heavy handed guys.

On December 10 2015 23:20 Spitfiree wrote: Even if a fight is ever rigged assuming UFC would be a part of that is ridiculous. what do you guys mean by " punchy"

On December 10 2015 23:20 Spitfiree wrote: Even if a fight is ever rigged assuming UFC would be a part of that is ridiculous. what do you guys mean by " punchy"

Punchy = punch drunk = CTE = got hit in the head too many times and now showing parkinson like symptoms... IIRC about 20% of pro boxers end up with this condition and I guess a similar number of MMA pros

Hasn't Edgar always stuttered a bit tho?

Final pre-card bets

Mendes > Edgar SU 250 $250.00
Ferguson > Barboza SU -150 $150.00
Hall > Lobov SU 145 $50.00
Hall / Lobov Under 1.5 Rounds SU -115 $57.50
Lauzon > Dunham SU 170 $50.00
Laflaire > Pierce SU -235 $470.00
Mendes wins in Rd 1 PROP 915 $25.00
Mendes wins in Rd 2 PROP 1,115 $25.00
Laflaire + Fergusson PL 117 $100.00

On December 11 2015 19:52 soberstone wrote: Final pre-card bets Mendes > Edgar SU 250 $250.00 Ferguson > Barboza SU -150 $150.00 Hall > Lobov SU 145 $50.00 Hall / Lobov Under 1.5 Rounds SU -115 $57.50 Lauzon > Dunham SU 170 $50.00 Laflaire > Pierce SU -235 $470.00 Mendes wins in Rd 1 PROP 915 $25.00 Mendes wins in Rd 2 PROP 1,115 $25.00 Laflaire + Fergusson PL 117 $100.00

thanks again for yesterday's bets. i made a killing because of you xD