UFC 258: Usman vs. Burns

Date: Saturday, February 13
Main Card (ESPN): 4:00 LP.net / 7pm PST / 10pm EST
Preliminary Card (ESPN): 2:00 LP.net / 5pm PST / 8pm EST
Preliminary Card (ESPN+): 01:00 LP.net / 4pm PST / 4pm EST
Live Streams: http://ripple.stream/mmastreams




Main Card (ESPN+)

Kamaru Usman (17-1) vs. Gilbert Burns (19-3) (Welterweight Championship)
Maycee Barber (8-1) vs. Alexa Grasso (12-3) (Women's Flyweight)
Kelvin Gastelum (15-6) vs. Ian Heinisch (14-3) (Middleweight)
Ricky Simon (17-3) vs. Brian Kelleher (22-11) (Featherweight)
Maki Pitolo (13-7) vs. Julian Marquez (7-2) (Middleweight)

Preliminary Card (ESPN/ESPN+)

Rodolfo Viera (7-0) vs. Anthony Hernandez (7-2) (Middleweight)
Belal Muhammad (17-3) vs. Dhiego Lima (15-7) (Welterweight)
Polyana Viana (11-4) vs. Mallory Martin (7-3) (Women's Strawweight)
Andre Ewell (17-6) vs. Chris Gutierrez (15-4-2) (Catchweight - 140 lbs)

Preliminary Card (ESPN+/UFC Fight Pass)

Gabriel Green (9-3) vs. Philip Rowe (7-2) (Welterweight)

First impression of the match-ups:

• Burns > Usman
• Barber > Grasso
• Gastelum > Heinisch
• Gutierrez > Ewell
• Marquez > Pitolo
• Green > Miller
• Viera > Hernandez
• Muhammad > Lima
• Viana vs. Martin (dunno)
• Kelleher > Simon
• Green vs. Rowe (dunno)
• Robertson vs. Maverick (dunno)

Leaning Maverick, Barber, Burns. And the under 2.5 for Pitillo vs Marquez.

Kelleher over Simon? I’d like to hear your thought process on that.

On February 11 2021 04:47 captainhook wrote: Kelleher over Simon? I’d like to hear your thought process on that.

These two were supposed to fight a few different times, but it keeps getting postponed.

Most people are expecting Ricky Simon to use his wrestling and spam take downs, but I like Kelleher's progression with his overall MMA skill set. I don't think Kelleher should be favored, but I do like him as the dog and give him a decent shot to win, which is the opposite mindset of most other people.

Kelleher has the better striking and betting subs, while Simon has the better wrestling. I am hoping Kelleher can keep this on the feet long enough to win a decision, or even catch Simon with his sneaky power in his hooks.

Man Usman is the worst champion ever lol

You don't care if he wins or loses. Woodley was at least annoying in a Mayweather sense

Usman is just super solid

On February 12 2021 00:00 Spitfiree wrote: Usman is just super solid

I think Usman should be favored, but I don't know how much.

If Usman can't hold Burns against the cage to wall-n-stall, then how does he win? That being said, Usman trains his striking with Trevor Whitman, and Whitman does wonders for people who need to upgrade their boxing. I wouldn't be surprised to see a new and improved striker in Usman.

I already made my bet on Burns +236 for $200.

On February 12 2021 00:24 PuertoRican wrote: Show nested quote + On February 12 2021 00:00 Spitfiree wrote: Usman is just super solid If Usman can't hold Burns against the cage to wall-n-stall, then how does he win? .

I think that's the question that applies to any of his fights, but your bet makes sense imo.

Usman understands that he'll eventually meet someone he can't hold and that's why he's been working on his stand-up game.

On February 12 2021 10:46 Spitfiree wrote: Show nested quote + On February 12 2021 00:24 PuertoRican wrote:   On February 12 2021 00:00 Spitfiree wrote: Usman is just super solid If Usman can't hold Burns against the cage to wall-n-stall, then how does he win? . Usman understands that he'll eventually meet someone he can't hold and that's why he's been working on his stand-up game.

I was so sad about Colby Covington's performance against Usman. Colby only threw a few kicks early in the fight, but the kicks were part of what was going to set him apart with his striking. He basically just boxed the entire time and managed to keep it close (2-2) until the final round when he got clipped. If he used kicks in rounds 3, 4, 5, he would've won, imo.

Colby being the better striker is why I bet on him in that fight, but then he turned into a pure boxer and made the fight a coin flip that he eventually lost.

Colby's fighting IQ is so poor

Welterweight Championship: Kamaru Usman (170) vs. Gilbert Burns (170)
Flyweight: Maycee Barber (126) vs. Alexa Grasso (125.5)
Middleweight: Kelvin Gastelum (186) vs. Ian Heinisch (185.5)
Lightweight: Jim Miller (155) vs. Bobby Green (156)
Middleweight: Maki Pitolo (185) vs. Julian Marquez (185)
Middleweight: Rodolfo Vieira (186) vs. Anthony Hernandez (186)
Welterweight: Belal Muhammad (169.5) vs. Dhiego Lima (171)
Strawweight: Polyana Viana (116) vs. Mallory Martin (155.5)
Catchweight (140 lbs): Andre Ewell (138.5) vs. Chris Gutierrez (140)
Featherweight: Ricky Simon (145.5) vs. Brian Kelleher (145.5)
Welterweight: Gabriel Green (169.5) vs. Philip Rowe (171)
Flyweight: Gillian Robertson (125.5) vs. Miranda Maverick (125.5)

"Dana White: Bobby Green collapsed backstage following UFC 258 weigh-ins. It is unknown at this point whether Green’s fight with Jim Miller will remain on the card."

Gillian Robertson vs. Miranda Maverick is canceled.

Bobby Green vs. Jim Miller is canceled.

10 fights remaining.

Vieira just got submitted by the biggest underdog on the card, but at least my U1.5 bet cashed.

Marquez vs. Pitolo was crazy!

Barber is super overrated. Honestly surprised at how many people had her to win.

On February 14 2021 05:34 Into Infinity wrote: Barber is super overrated. Honestly surprised at how many people had her to win.

She was trying some new shit she learned in the gym during Rounds 1 and 2, and then went back to her usual style in Round 3 and won that round.

She's still super young, but it is annoying that she is making these mistakes. I'm not mad at betting her opening line at +156. She closed at -103.

R1: Burns (Even odds after R1. Usman closed at -139.)

Gilbert was already slowing down in Round 2 after doing well in Round 1. He was getting dropped by jabs once he slowed down (2-3 times before he got finished).

I liked my bet on Burns +236 originally, but after seeing that his cardio looked worse than usual, I don't know what to say.

Oh well.