UFC 294: Volk vs Islam, Usman vs Hazmat
Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2023 6:50 pm
This card deserves a thread.
Spoiler:
Silva v Magomedov [MW]
Magomedov by SUB - Silva has been kind of up and down in his fights, I think the home crowd and fight No. 1 gives Mago a boost and he gets the finish.
Jinh Yu Frey v Dudakova [W-SW]
Dudakova by SUB - Feels like throwing an up and comer that's a challenge at Frey who may be on her way out after some uninspiring performances. Taking Duda.
Wood v Naimov [FW]
Wood UD - Nathaniel Wood is better on the feet than Naimov's best win imo he's gonna inflict enough damage and resist subs.
Jubli v Breeden [LW]
Jubli SD - A rough fight to pick, Breeden is not great but Jubli is untested, I think this fight is one to stay away from in the bet world.
Dumas v Azaitar [MW]
Azaitar by TKO - Dumas has 3 minutes of stamina and that's it, he's low-IQ and despite looking dangerous vs DWCS competition he's been flat to me in UFC, so home crowd gets this going and as much as I hate Azaitar, he'll pound Dumas on the mat to TKO
Basharat v Henry [BW]
Basharat UD - Javid is a machine. Henry can submit but Basharat is really imposing on the ground and feet. Great stamina.
Yahya v Peek [LW]
Peek by KO - explosive fight and Peek is a car crash, just picking a KO by insanity.
Ellliot v Mokaev [FW]
Mokaev by SUB - Mokaev is too good
Nurmagomedov v Gafurov [BW]
Nurmagomedov UD - clear mismatch, Said is very good all around.
Aliskerov v Alves [MW]
Aliskerov by TKO - short notice for Alves flyign across the world for this fight in Aliskerov's dangerous territory (as this is the best place for Russians to visit for a fight) should be a brutal night for Alves in my guess.
Ankalaev v Walker
Ankalaev by TKO - Dangerous striking vs suspect chin, gotta go with the guy who fought Jan to a draw and has impressed in most of his fights rather than the risk-reward fighter of Walker. Walker still can win but if he's not getting a KO in R1 this fight gets harder and harder for him I think
Usman v Chimaev
Chimaev by SUB - Usman is a beast and a badass for gettign this fight going and saving the card after Costa's injury. I still think Khamzat is just too much and will take Usman down in a rush, just like some other guys, and impose his will. Going for a triangle or RNC...
Makhachev v Volkanovski
Volkanovski by TKO - I had it 3-2 Volk in fight 1, UFC just reposted it to Youtube for your pleasure... I can be convinced it was 3-2 Islam, but so close.
R1 - Islam was knocked back heavy with a punch and Volk went to a knee, he was taken down but was in no danger and hit back at Islam pretty well. 10-9 Volk. This was a round every judge scored for Islam
Maybe I'm the problem.
R2 - lots of control by Islam and a couple shots landed by Islam gives him this rd 19-19 All
R3 - good work on both guys but Volk had better shots imo. They showed significant strikes and I wasn't sure how they scored Islam getting sig. strikes in this round he didn't generate a lot of offense 29-28 Volk.
R4 - Islam TD but also didn't connect much dmg on the ground, I think Volk defended great and still lost round 38-38 All
R5 - close round but the big shot by Islam not enough to win the final bit where Volk dominated the last 2 minutes on the ground 48-47 Volk
So basically that R1 where every judge scored 10-9 Islam was the deciding factor for me because I didn't really think Islam did much at all.
This fight is gonna be great honestly, it was a close fight and a lot of hand fighting - control work on the ground for each guy, and against the fence. Islam wants to thai clinch and knee, but Volk really negated that well, I think Volk will look to do more dmg on the ground and Islam will want to do mroe than try for a RNC. If the gas tank is okay for Volk on short notice I see him taking it. Islam will win if Volk is tired after R3. I'm picking Volk to TKO anyway.
Magomedov by SUB - Silva has been kind of up and down in his fights, I think the home crowd and fight No. 1 gives Mago a boost and he gets the finish.
Jinh Yu Frey v Dudakova [W-SW]
Dudakova by SUB - Feels like throwing an up and comer that's a challenge at Frey who may be on her way out after some uninspiring performances. Taking Duda.
Wood v Naimov [FW]
Wood UD - Nathaniel Wood is better on the feet than Naimov's best win imo he's gonna inflict enough damage and resist subs.
Jubli v Breeden [LW]
Jubli SD - A rough fight to pick, Breeden is not great but Jubli is untested, I think this fight is one to stay away from in the bet world.
Dumas v Azaitar [MW]
Azaitar by TKO - Dumas has 3 minutes of stamina and that's it, he's low-IQ and despite looking dangerous vs DWCS competition he's been flat to me in UFC, so home crowd gets this going and as much as I hate Azaitar, he'll pound Dumas on the mat to TKO
Basharat v Henry [BW]
Basharat UD - Javid is a machine. Henry can submit but Basharat is really imposing on the ground and feet. Great stamina.
Yahya v Peek [LW]
Peek by KO - explosive fight and Peek is a car crash, just picking a KO by insanity.
Ellliot v Mokaev [FW]
Mokaev by SUB - Mokaev is too good
Nurmagomedov v Gafurov [BW]
Nurmagomedov UD - clear mismatch, Said is very good all around.
Aliskerov v Alves [MW]
Aliskerov by TKO - short notice for Alves flyign across the world for this fight in Aliskerov's dangerous territory (as this is the best place for Russians to visit for a fight) should be a brutal night for Alves in my guess.
Ankalaev v Walker
Ankalaev by TKO - Dangerous striking vs suspect chin, gotta go with the guy who fought Jan to a draw and has impressed in most of his fights rather than the risk-reward fighter of Walker. Walker still can win but if he's not getting a KO in R1 this fight gets harder and harder for him I think
Usman v Chimaev
Chimaev by SUB - Usman is a beast and a badass for gettign this fight going and saving the card after Costa's injury. I still think Khamzat is just too much and will take Usman down in a rush, just like some other guys, and impose his will. Going for a triangle or RNC...
Makhachev v Volkanovski
Volkanovski by TKO - I had it 3-2 Volk in fight 1, UFC just reposted it to Youtube for your pleasure... I can be convinced it was 3-2 Islam, but so close.
R1 - Islam was knocked back heavy with a punch and Volk went to a knee, he was taken down but was in no danger and hit back at Islam pretty well. 10-9 Volk. This was a round every judge scored for Islam
Maybe I'm the problem.R2 - lots of control by Islam and a couple shots landed by Islam gives him this rd 19-19 All
R3 - good work on both guys but Volk had better shots imo. They showed significant strikes and I wasn't sure how they scored Islam getting sig. strikes in this round he didn't generate a lot of offense 29-28 Volk.
R4 - Islam TD but also didn't connect much dmg on the ground, I think Volk defended great and still lost round 38-38 All
R5 - close round but the big shot by Islam not enough to win the final bit where Volk dominated the last 2 minutes on the ground 48-47 Volk
So basically that R1 where every judge scored 10-9 Islam was the deciding factor for me because I didn't really think Islam did much at all.
This fight is gonna be great honestly, it was a close fight and a lot of hand fighting - control work on the ground for each guy, and against the fence. Islam wants to thai clinch and knee, but Volk really negated that well, I think Volk will look to do more dmg on the ground and Islam will want to do mroe than try for a RNC. If the gas tank is okay for Volk on short notice I see him taking it. Islam will win if Volk is tired after R3. I'm picking Volk to TKO anyway.
