UFC FN 98: dos Anjos vs. Ferguson

Date: Saturday, November 5th
Preliminary Card (UFC Fight Pass): 23:30 LP.net / 3:30pm PST / 6:30pm EST
Preliminary Card (Fox Sports 1): 1:00 LP.net / 5pm PST / 8pm EST
Main Card (Fox Sports 1): 3:00 LP.net / 7pm PST / 10pm EST
Live Streams: http://firstrowus1.eu/




Main Card (Fox Sports 1)

Rafael dos Anjos (25-8) vs. Tony Ferguson (21-3) (Lightweight)
Diego Sanchez (26-9) vs. Marcin Held (22-4) (Lightweight)
Ricardo Lamas (16-5) vs. Charles Oliveira (21-6) (Featherweight)
Martin Bravo (10-0) vs. Claudio Puelles (7-1) (TUF Latin America 3 Finale - Lightweight)
Beneil Dariush (13-2) vs. Rashid Magomedov (19-1) (Lightweight)
Alexa Grasso (8-0) vs. Heather Jo Clark (7-5) (Women's Strawweight)

Preliminary Card (Fox Sports 1)

Erik Perez (16-6) vs. Felipe Arantes (18-7-1) (Bantamweight)
Marco Beltran (8-3) vs. Joe Soto (16-5) (Bantamweight)
Erick Montano (7-4) vs. Max Griffin (12-3) (Welterweight)
Henry Briones (16-5-1) vs. Douglas Silva de Andrade (23-1) (Bantamweight)

Preliminary Card (UFC Fight Pass)

Sam Alvey (28-8) vs. Alex Nicholson (7-2) (Middleweight)
Marco Polo Reyes (6-3) vs. Jason Novelli (11-2-1) (Lightweight)
Enrique Barzola (11-3-1) vs. Chris Avila (5-3) (Featherweight)

Other

- Guido Cannetti was expected to face Marco Beltrán in a rematch at the event. The pairing first met at one of The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America's tournament bouts where Beltrán won a controversial decision. However on October 29, Cannetti was pulled from the bout after USADA revealed a potential anti-doping violation from a sample taken October 15. On October 31, Joe Soto agreed to replace Cannetti on less than 5 days notice.

First impression of the match-ups:

• RDA vs. Ferguson (dunno)
• Bravo vs. TBD (still waiting for the final TUF fight to happen, then we'll know his opponent)
• Held > Sanchez
• Lamas vs. Oliveira (dunno)
• Dariush > Magomedov
• Grasso > Clark
• Perez > Arantes
• Beltran > Cannetti
• Griffin > Montano
• Andrade > Briones
• Alvey vs. Nicholson (dunno)
• Reyes > Novelli
• Barzola > Avila

This card will be fought in Mexico, 2,000+m above sea level so expect all non-mexicans to have shit cardios.

I think the altitude will play in RDAs favor, I find it funny that before everyone was saying that RDA was a unstoppable monster and a now not so much? Ive always thought RDA was way overrated but the altitude will probably be good for him he can try to make this an ugly fight against the cage and Tony might probably fade quickly

lol, Ferguson cardio is one of his best weapons. I favor RDA, he is a monster and Tony sometimes is sloppy and gets hurt very often in his fights. Also he had trouble with southpaws in the past, like in his fight with MJ. Also he got controlled by Danny Castillo on the ground. Should be a war and a great fight, though.

Ferguson spent his camp at Big Bear, so he should be acclimated to high elevation.

RDA has been in Mammoth Lakes for almost a month, so I assume his cardio will be fine as well.

Neither guy is training in Mexico.

TUF finale is Claudio Puelles vs Martin Bravo. Rooting for Claudio as he is from my country

I still think RDA is an absolute monster. I just think is incredibly aggressive style is very high risk and he got caught. And although I though RDA would run through Alvarez, Alvarez is the type of match up for him that is tough. Great TDD and huge power in his hands. Still think RDA wins that fight most of the time though.

Think he beats Furgeson like 7/10 times. Furgeson doesn't really got the boxing to land a bomb on RDA at any high rate nor the TDD to stop his takedowns. Furgesons biggest weapon is usually his insane pace, cardio wildness and slick grappling. And I think RDA is better in all those area's but instead of wild he's more cautious and methodical.

I think Fergusson is better. I'm not posistive yet, but I think it will have to do with something like a LAG abusing a TAG in poker.

RDA's best weapon is his pressure pace and rhythm, but I see Fergusson imposing the pace, and RDA not knowing how to fight defensively, so Fergusson takes over control, and RDA's best weapon is neutralized.

On October 27 2016 13:40 PuertoRican wrote: Ferguson spent his camp at Big Bear, so he should be acclimated to high elevation.

Oh that is quite relevant, people usually underestimate the huge impact 2km elevation has on fighters

Think I'm about to take Tony Fergusson ML and Tony Fergusson by TKO/KO at 6.0

On October 27 2016 17:44 Baalim wrote: Show nested quote + On October 27 2016 13:40 PuertoRican wrote: Ferguson spent his camp at Big Bear, so he should be acclimated to high elevation. Oh that is quite relevant, people usually underestimate the huge impact 2km elevation has on fighters

I think most would have learned watching the last Mexico card where guys like Cain and Giblert gassed pretty bad. Cains were very publicized as well.

Then again fighters aren't the smartest bunch and probably 90% of the card can't really afford to move camp anyways.

Yeah I didn't expect this to be much of an issue for professional athletes, but watching Cain there shifted my perspective.

Offtopic: Does anybody know whats going on with TUF? I'm reading some tweets people speculating its being cancelled ... I'd understand that since the reality part is braindead and if I couldn't fast forward through 70% of the episode I wouldn't watch it either, but that d suck, cause the fights this season are the best ones I've seen since I've been watching TUF
Then again cancelling @ end of season would be quite retarded

There has been 2 events in Mexico thus far, and only one of those was in Mexico City.

Yair Rodriguez was the only fighter who didn't gas out and get tired during the first Mexico City card.

Regarding wrestlers and grapplers who aren't Mexican, they might get separated faster than they would in USA.

Its one thing the elevation in Mexico, but the air quality is also shit.

On October 28 2016 02:54 Montrachet wrote: Its one thing the elevation in Mexico, but the air quality is also shit.

Smog is usually at higher altitudes I dont think it has any relevant impact in closed doors.

On October 27 2016 21:25 Stim_Abuser wrote: Then again fighters aren't the smartest bunch and probably 90% of the card can't really afford to move camp anyways.

They should train non-stop with those weird air-restricting masks, anyone who isnt preparing properly for the altitude is going to lose.

Ferguson is in Mexico City now (October 28).

----------

RDA has changed his training camp; he's no longer with Kings MMA. He put his own team together and trains out of California: "I'm training with Philipe Della Monica, Eduardo Pachu, Beneil Dariush, Edwin Najmi, Arthur Estrazulas, Rodel Mayol. I'm representing Evolve MMA and myself, Team RDA."

http://globotv.globo.com/sportv/sense...orner-apos-sair-da-kings-mma/5408513/

Yea I always thought RDA was overrated. Not that he is not a great fighter (he is), just that he was not the unstoppable monster some people were picturing him to be. That being said I think he beats Ferguson anywhere (location)

RDA is like my perfect MMA fighter. Insanely aggressive and violent, uses every single aspect in MMA from boxing to leg kicks to wrestling and BJJ. Even his slaps at the end of the Nate fight are violent as fuck. None stop cardio and humble as fuck. He made no excuses after Alvarez beat him nor did he say it was a lucky punch. Just said Alvarez was the better man that night and he'd be back.

He's got insanely unlucky and hurt his foot 11 days out of the Conor fight and went from making 5+ million in that fight to headlining a fight night against Alvarez and didn't bitch once.

RDA is the fucking man, I hope he comes back and destroys fools and gets his big payday with Conor and destroys him as well.

Fucking cannetti I was Waiting for that rematch

offtopic (of this thread) but still ontopic (of mma in general)
i was just watching highlights of dillashaw vs cruz and I think that was the best fight ive seen this year from a technical point of view. these guys are def among the p4p best fighters out there imo, it was such a crazy display of ability. what you guys think? i think there were more exciting fights (cant think of any right now but im fairly sure other fights were more entertaining for me this year just cant single out one to make a point right now) but this one was probably that one that made me in awe of how great both fighters were.

It was such a crazy display of agility* -- they're probably the best at that respective style, and probably among top p4p, but its not to say that style's technique is on another level.

Joe Soto steps up on 4.5 days notice to fight Marco Beltran in Mexico City.

Soto is known for good cardio and overwhelming his opponents in Rounds 2 & 3. Beltran will have the technical striking advantage (mostly kicks) and height + length advantage, but Soto will have the wrestling + BJJ + higher striking output advantage. If this fight wasn't on short notice, I'd take Soto all day.

Since Soto is taking it on 4.5 days notice and he's fighting at extremely high elevation and never fought there before, I'm not sure who I'm picking to win just yet. If it goes to a split-decision, Beltran could get the decision just cuz he's a Mexican fighter from Mexico.

Beltran

• longer + taller
• better kicker
• better movement
• hometown advantage

Soto

• wrestling advantage
• massive BJJ advantage
• more aggressive / in your face
• better boxing
• higher striking output
• better cardio, but he's taking this on short notice at extremely high elevation

Update: Soto vs. Beltran will be contested at a catchweight of 140 lbs.

• Barzola: well-rounded fighter as seen on TUF and his real UFC fights where he showed wrestling skills in one fight, and striking skills in others; his line of -550 is a joke and means he's a lock to win this fight, and Barzola shouldn't be -550 against anyone in the UFC, but they pick him to win. Avila: he's a poor version of the Diaz brothers; he's young and might be able to make big improvements in-between fights.

• Reyes: he takes a bunch of punches to land a bunch of punches; he got knocked out against Horacio Gutierrez, and got dropped by Dong Hyun "Maestro" Kim and seems chinny; Reyes goes life-and-death against jobbers in MMA, and is always vulnerable against low level fighters because he's a brawler with low fight IQ; he doesn't have a winning style, it's a blood bath style; Novelli: trains at Cerrone's camp in New Mexico; Novelli will be the taller and rangier guy; he'll have the longer strikes and better jabs. Both pick Novelli to win.

• Alex Nicholson lives and trains in Florida, the state with the lowest elevation in USA. He went to Mexico City 2 weeks before his fight to acclimate to the super high elevation. They pick Alvey to win because Nicholson leaves himself open to counters.

• Andrade: he's explosive but has low striking output, and this is his first fight outside of Brazil; he gasses in his fights, and this fight is at super high elevation; Andrade hasn't fought in 1.5 years. Briones: a brawler with a good chin; good cardio; hometown advantage in Mexico; Briones hasn't fought in over a year. Both pick Briones to win.

• Griffin: good striking with his hands; he showed nothing in his UFC debut, and didn't use his hands when he was given the chance to stay on the feet; Montano: terrible take down attempts; low fight IQ. Both think Griffin will win if he keeps the fight where he wants it.

• Soto vs. Beltran is a 140 pound catchweight. Soto is more skilled in every area, but the 5-day short notice at super high elevation is the deciding factor, especially since Beltran has the hometown advantage.

• Arantes' main training partner for striking is Thomas Almeida. Arantes only loses to big featherweights, and Perez isn't big. Arantes said he doesn't need to worry about high elevation, and he travelled to Mexico City during fight week (he didn't come early to acclimate). Perez does the thing that Arantes doesn't like his opponents to do: close the distance and smother him.

• Grasso vs. Clark: both think Grasso will win, and they don't really care about the fight.

• Magomedov: calm; calculated; slows down the fight and sets his own pace; good at counters; Tony Martin took Magomedov down and almost submitted him; Gilbert Burns took down Magomedov; this is a step up in competition for Magomedov; this Saturday marks 1 year since Magomedov last fought; Magomedov spent his training camp in Florida, the flattest state in USA; Magomedov is a thinking-striker, as shown in the fight with Burns, as he countered his kicks every time. Dariush: if he gets Magomedov down, he'll likely submit him; good left kicks to the body and his striking is improving in every fight, thanks to Master Rafael Cordeiro; he lost in the clinch to Ramsey Nijem, but fixed this issue in his later fights; Dariush fought and beat a higher level of competition than Magomedov; Dariush addressed the altitude issue by training in Mammoth Lakes, which has slightly higher elevation than Mexico City; Dariush isn't a thinking-striker and strikes how Cordeiro does, and should be easy for Magomedov to counter once he figures him out; Dariush wilted in the Chiesa fight, and got knocked out by Nijem, and seems a little chinny.

• Lamas: more heart, but more chinny; it's possible that Lamas might get old over night, like Dana White says many fighters do. Oliveira: less heart, better chin; he's taking this fight on short notice.

• Sanchez: possible chin issues; not from Mexico, but he's Mexican and will be a fan favorite in Mexico. Held: not impressive at all; overrated; his striking isn't good; he has cardio issues, and he's fighting at super high elevation in his UFC debut against a guy who is known for good cardio; expected to get tired and lose a decision to Sanchez.

• RDA: he trained at Mammoth Lakes for this fight, which has slightly higher elevation than Mexico City; prior to getting rocked by Eddie Alvarez, he lacked the forward pressure and body kicks that he is known for; the fight against Alvarez wasn't the first time he got rocked, he got rocked and did the chicken dance in his fight against Gleison Tibau, and this was after RDA's titanium jaw surgery when people thought RDA would somehow have a stronger jaw cuz of the medal; we've seen what RDA has to offer and has had a resurgence in his career where he made himself into a new fighter that looked unstoppable, however, it's highly unlikely RDA will transform into a 3rd version of himself and be as dominant as he once was, and we've essentially seen RDA's ceiling as a fighter which may or may not work against him in this fight. Ferguson: he walked through everything Barboza threw at him and kept the pressure, and was smart enough to use a dirty move (illegal kick) and only got a warning (warnings are standard, and works in favor of the guy doing the damage); Ferguson spent his camp at Big Bear, which is not the same as Mexico City, but still high elevation; he got knocked down once by Lando Vannata, not twice like most people think (he slipped on the Metro PCS logo when he went to stand up and fell back down); Ferguson's head movement defense and feet movement defense isn't good and he eats a lot of shots, but has the ability to eat punches so that he can throw his own strikes and keep the pressure on you until you can't take it anymore; Ferguson is younger in fight years, on the rise, wants it more, taken less damage over high career, murderous puncher, amazing willpower, sneaky everywhere; cardio wise, he might look tired, but he'll never stop trying to kill you and RDA will be the one who will take breaks in the fight, if either of them do; Ferguson's elbows don't get enough credit; they both pick Tony Ferguson to win.

• Their best fight pick: Under 3.5 rounds at +115, and they'd still take it at even odds.

Side note: the first Mexico City card had 11 fights on it. Out of the 11 fights, 7 fights went to a decision, while 4 ended ITD. Out of the 4 fights that ended ITD, 1 of them ended two minutes into Round 3, and the other ended in-between Rounds 2 and 3 when Marquardt's coach threw in the towel and didn't want his fighter to keep taking shots for another 5 minutes because he was a sitting duck to a fighter in Gastelum who couldn't finish Marquardt.

funny that light weight is peso ligero instead of peso leve. lol i just watched the fake weigh in video, the announcer seems to be rooting for rda and what a shitty translator that woman is holy shit

Fight Pass just started. Barzola vs. Avila is up first.

Go Barzola

On November 05 2016 22:50 alejandicto wrote: Go Barzola

I'm pretty sure that I could've gave Barzola a tougher fight than Chris Avila did. xD

Haha yeah avila sucks balls

Thank goodness the Fight Pass fights are over. Those kinda sucked.

The next 10 fights will be on Fox Sports 1.

Briones is fighting better than I expected. I bet on Andrade Soto and Puelles

Shit briones is tough as fuck

What a fucking fight. Briones is fucking durable.

Fight of the night for sure and possible ko of the night for Andrade

Early stoppage in the Briones/Andrade fight.

Yeah thats for sure but I was afraid of Andrade getting robbed. Briones could have continued for sure.

Nice win for Max Griffin.

Sup bras, just fired up the old ufc machine, threw a bet on griffin to lube the wheels, easy $

lets kill it.

parlay:

griffin + beltran + perez + grasso + magomedoz + held + ferguson - $10 to win #301


next bet as we go:

beltran > soto via decision +211

soto short notice vs dat mexican cardio cant be good for more than 1` rd

for anyone it may help link 5 on firstrow is top quality for me for fs1 stream

On November 06 2016 00:49 soberstone wrote: Soto short notice vs dat Mexican cardio cant be good for more than 1` rd

Hard to say.

Soto is better than Beltran in every area of MMA aside from kicking.

Soto usually has a good gas tank and always turns it up in Round 3, but he's taking this fight on 5 days notice and he's fighting in super high elevation.

Beltran lives and trains in America (I think Chicago), but he arrived in Mexico early (not sure when).

Haha, he didn't even need a round. Hilarious when people go out and go down the path that is the only way that they are likely to lose Going submission for submission with Soto in the first round. Good job genius.,

Nica Soto

406068326-1 11/5/16 9:11pm $10.00 $14.00 Pending 11/5/16 9:30pm MMA Props Fighting 1611 Perez wins by 3 round decision +140* vs Not Perez by 3 round decision

406068326-2 11/5/16 9:11pm $5.00 $61.25 Pending 11/5/16 9:30pm MMA Props Fighting 1625 Perez wins in round 3 +1225* vs Any other result

+ Show Spoiler +

Perez 3-0.

His knee buckled at the end of R3, he didn't get dropped. I thought his left knee was fucked up, but his right knee gave out. Maybe both knees are fucked up.

Phew, missed 3rd rd and saw a split, I'm like wtf?

$26.42 $17.50 Pending 11/5/16 10:00pm MMA Props Fighting 1511 Grasso wins by 3 round decision -151* vs Not Grasso by 3 round decision

easy $

That was the worst performance from Grasso and Clark that I've ever seen.

I wonder if the altitude owned them.

magomedov > dariush su $30 to win $30

magomedov > dariush via decision $30 to win $57

looking forward to this fight, i want to see how good magomedov really is. im high on him but he hasn't been tested.

Benny 3-0.

I give R3 to Dariush as well. Close in strikes landed, imo, but Benny's aggression and control against the cage is the difference.

Rashid allowed himself to get stuck in a Thai plum in every round, which cost him cuz it allowed Benny to put him against the fence and keep him there a lot.

lame fight, disagree with scoring, especially unanimous 30-27's on 2 cards

i hope and wish RDA kisses the canvass. hard.

Nice submission by Lamas. I thought Oliveira was gonna be okay in that guillotine.

I thought it had some space in there too but I clearly was wrong lol

I think Oliveria definitely gives up in a lot of spots many fighters would fight through.

Held ended R1 super tired, especially after Diego wall-walked off the cage to get out of that front choke.

Diego "The Nightmare" Sanchez is back, baby!

Damn Ferguson looking beastly as fuck.

RDA seems gassed. Fucking Mexico city.

Clear win for Tony Ferguson. Either 3-2 or 4-1.

and the ferguson crush train continues. He's going to have the belt sooon.

yea clear win, 3-2 imo.
-edit- actually if rda had won a close 5th round i'd still feel bittersweet about a victory in that scenario since tony was so superior in the rounds he won as opposed to rda who won a close 3rd round, not to mention the difference in visible damage, although that shouldnt be considered.

ty tyvm.

Eye pokes are so +ev

Great performance by Tony either way though.

That was a great close fight, between 2 savages, yet a clear win for Tony Ferguson. Really impressive considering the altitude, how both guys cardio holded up.

Now give El Cucuy his title shot. LW division is just sick.

Cucuy v Cerrone will be great. Khabib v Michael Johnson. Conor vs Eddie. Nate vs anyone
LW is just the most stacked division

That was a contender match between Ferguson and RDA.
Will be funny if Ferguson goes from " Who the fuck is this guy? " to " This guy knocked me out stone cold " :D - I don't expect Alvarez to win vs McGregor that is

Diego could´ve got his neck snapped there. What a retard move.

Ferguson was really fun to watch... really creative striker, reminded me of Condit and Thompson.

Im not sure if RDA simply got tired too early but he seemed happy with trading shots at a distance with somebody who excels at it, I dont get why he didnt pressure him as he usually does, maybe the last KO made him hessitant/cautions?

On November 07 2016 22:02 Baalim wrote: Im not sure if RDA simply got tired too early but he seemed happy with trading shots at a distance with somebody who excels at it, I dont get why he didnt pressure him as he usually does, maybe the last KO made him hessitant/cautions?

Both guys paced themselves. They didn't want to gas-out, so they didn't go wild like they usually do. They performed "good," but it was a more patient fight than we're used to seeing from both guys.

Overall, a lot of fighters were smart with their cardio on this card. Only a few people got tired due to the altitude.

On November 08 2016 00:48 PuertoRican wrote: Show nested quote + On November 07 2016 22:02 Baalim wrote: Im not sure if RDA simply got tired too early but he seemed happy with trading shots at a distance with somebody who excels at it, I dont get why he didnt pressure him as he usually does, maybe the last KO made him hessitant/cautions? Both guys paced themselves. They didn't want to gas-out, so they didn't go wild like they usually do. They performed "good," but it was a more patient fight than we're used to seeing from both guys. Overall, a lot of fighters were smart with their cardio on this card. Only a few people got tired due to the altitude.

But its not about gassing or not, its about tiring your opponent before you do, so I figured the obvious way RDA should have fought was to make this an aggressive fight where he forced Ferguson against the cage shove his forehead in his chest, make it a wild and angry fight, sure he would gas quick but he would also force Tony to get tired, but fighting in the center of the ring trading single long strikes obviously was a strategy that heavily favored Ferguson.

Speaking of the crazy stacked LW division, why is Cerrone ranked so low?