|GR Fight Club |OT2| Combat Sports Discussion | Welcome to the Moneyweight Era

and I support aj as a boxer but he certainly seems a bit touched in the head since the whole breakdown thing - most interviews I’ve seen aside from Theroux he puts himself across as aloof and disconnected in a somewhat bizarre way

Maybe it’s the psychologists he’s got or something

Lotus wrote:

Drumstick wrote:I think AJ's rep has taken a couple of hits; 1) his obsession with fighting in Saudi Arabia and not in front of his own fans, 2) the fact that he was quite gun-shy for a few fights after the Ruiz loss. Both of these have seen him lose a bit of his shine with the public. He gets flack from me on the first point only, not the second.

Isn't AJ a massive racist as well? Feel like that can't help his likeability, although people do seem to like to make excuses for him on that.

Slightly surprised that the fight looked so easy, but Ngannou is ultimately an amateur boxer, and it showed. Boxing's such a joke - why is one of the top HWs in the world going up against an amateur? It's just money and sportswashing with zero credibility.

I'm obviously going to defend the sport I love but I think boxing over the last couple of years has been in a better spot than in decades.

It's often said on Talksport and similar that the big fights aren't made. But almost every week we have top contenders fighting one another, particularly in the lighter weight classes. And even in heavyweight, this May we're getting undisputed, and in June in light heavyweight we're getting the number 1 v number 2 for undisputed. Canelo fought all top contenders at super middleweight recently to go undisputed at 168. Jai fought Briedis at Cruserweight as no. 1 vs 2. Etc etc

I do get that boxing is hard to follow due to all the weight classes and belts. But if you put the time in it's undoubtedly in a very healthy position right now.

Though with the progress of society I don't think it ever gets back to where it was, as by its nature it's brutal as hell.

False wrote:and I support aj as a boxer but he certainly seems a bit touched in the head since the whole breakdown thing - most interviews I’ve seen aside from Theroux he puts himself across as aloof and disconnected in a somewhat bizarre way

Maybe it’s the psychologists he’s got or something

I think he's always been touched in the head. He comes off false due to all the media coaching, but he does get punched in the head by the hardest punchers in the world for a living. Would never expect him to have great nuanced positions on things.

False wrote:

Albert wrote:So can someone help me understand why did Fury struggle so much when Joshua just took him apart? Was Fury just not fit?

Is AJ now able to step up to someone like Usyk or was Ngannou just that poor?

not claiming to the the authority on boxers, but fury is more of a scrapper and aj was absolutely surgical

it’s true about ngannou being very hard mf but ultimately at this level, an amateur as far as the skill set goes, and after the first knock down I think he slowed, lost the aggression, dropped the guard too much

it was probably a shock for him as I believe it’s essentially the first time he’s ever been dropped and so mentally speaking that would figure heavily into the second round approach and probably, a level of fear he hasn’t had before

I think Fury was very badly prepared physically, and came in with a terrible gameplan.

Post-Wilder 2, you can see Fury has slowed noticeably. He's learned to hold his feet and bang much more; if you watch the Klitschko fight he's beautifully technical and much lighter on his feet.

Since he went to the Kronk gym he's been taught to hold his feet and use his size at every opportunity to bully - particularly in the clinch.

Unfortunately for Fury, Ngannou is bigger and stronger with a wrestling background. Fury had never faced someone before who could shrug off his clinch, and clearly didn't expect to ever meet someone like that. Without the Cardio from preparing properly, and without the ability to rest and bully in the clinch as normal, he looked considerably more lost than usual.

Unfortunately (I really amnt a big fan of Fury) this is why I still make Fury favourite vs Usyk. Against the smaller man, Fury should be able to unleash a couple of shots, clinch, hold, hit in the clinch, then wait for the ref to separate. Then repeat for 12 rounds.

I'd lean Fury to bear Usyk, AJ to beat Fury, and we've already seen Usyk's masterclasses vs AJ.

Fury vs Usyk is still intriguing due to the sheer skill of Usyk though. Magical technicality and footwork on the guy.

If AJ were to fight Usyk again it's tough to call. AJ seems to be putting it all together well right now- which the Wallin fight showcased better than last night. But, if we got the same version of Usyk as a couple of years back, I'd still favour Usyk.

The issue is that Usyk has a ton of miles on the clock.

If usyk can pull off the win in May I think he retires - once his footwork slows a little too much it's going to be a relatively large decline, which he can't afford due to his size disadvantages.

It's worth noting as well that Usyk is one of the greatest boxers of all time. Losing twice in clear fashion without getting dominated is no shame.

Thanks False/Roc, all makes sense!

I would have thought Usyk would be far the favorite against Fury, but what the hell do I know!

I really like Canelo, but beyond that struggle to find a boxer I find likeable. Usyk is prob the most likeable until someone shows me a Wikipedia article about him drowning puppies.

Albert wrote:Thanks False/Roc, all makes sense!

I would have thought Usyk would be far the favorite against Fury, but what the hell do I know!

I really like Canelo, but beyond that struggle to find a boxer I find likeable. Usyk is prob the most likeable until someone shows me a Wikipedia article about him drowning puppies.

The betting line has been switching on the Usyk fight, basically on how fat/coked out Fury looks at any given time. If Usyk manages to win and go double undisputed it'll probably be the greatest achievement in modern boxing.

I like Canelo too. He's a drugs cheat, but they all are. I like the way he encourages his son to cry when feeling emotional pain and seems to be quite naturally funny. Usyk also seems a decent guy.


Really good UFC card on tonight.

I love UFC, bar two issues.

1) I find the ground/clinch game really boring. I know it's skillful and effective, but I just can't find it interesting and immediately makes me switch off.
2) There seems to be so many competitions and fighters, and I have trouble keeping up with who is what and their backgrounds.

I have about 15 seasons of "The Ultimate Fighter" Which I really need to get round to watching, as I am sure there are a few well known names in there, and something to build my support off.

Albert wrote:I love UFC, bar two issues.

1) I find the ground/clinch game really boring. I know it's skillful and effective, but I just can't find it interesting and immediately makes me switch off.
2) There seems to be so many competitions and fighters, and I have trouble keeping up with who is what and their backgrounds.

I have about 15 seasons of "The Ultimate Fighter" Which I really need to get round to watching, as I am sure there are a few well known names in there, and something to build my support off.

Ah mate rather than watching any ultimate fighter, just watch the embeddeds and videos on the official ufc yt channel. I find some of thr ultimate fighter show boring as hell, and many of the fighters you'll never see compete in ufc anyway.

I find it relatively easy to follow through their youtube channel and ufc reddit but then I am used to a way more convoluted set of organisations in boxing.

The ground game can be a bit boring aye. I've learned to enjoy it more over time but there are still times for me where it gets dull.

The Dana white slap fight series covered the old ultimate fighter itch for me, it was so funny

And I think for me it’s usyk > aj (good day) > fury

twitter.com/BBCSport/status/1776697808390611264

This strawberry floating guy.

Just standard Jones behaviour. UFC won't give a strawberry float, they're desperate to hold onto one of their only stars.

Looks like Conor McGregor is back for UFC 303. Nearly 3 years since that brutal ankle break and fighting at 170lbs / welterweight.

Must be the first time any speech in the UFC referenced Ludwig von Mises and the Austrian school of economics.

twitter.com/the_posts/status/1779301277668925527

300 was absolutely incredible

Rocsteady wrote:300 was absolutely incredible

It was. From start to finish, it had it all. When the card was announced, I was a bit "meh" but it delivered big time. As for McGregor coming back, I hope he gets wiped out. He is no longer the example that he used to be and has turned into quite the opposite. He might be Chandler and that will probably get him a title shot but that is where it ends. He has a crap tank so at 170 with all those muscles, hes in deep water if he doesn't finish Chandler in the first.

Managed to get tickets for UFC 302.

Don't ask for how much they cost.

Grumpy David wrote:Managed to get tickets for UFC 302.

Don't ask for how much they cost.

Oh gooseberry fool, congrats!

Whereabouts will you be sitting? How much did they cost

I go to quite a bit of regional mma but I've sat basically cage side the last couple of times as its way cheaper than ufc.

I'm gonna keep an eye on ufc manchester, tempted to splash out and try and get close to the cage. Thinking the absolute most I'd spend is a grand though so might be tough.

Rocsteady wrote:

Grumpy David wrote:Managed to get tickets for UFC 302.

Don't ask for how much they cost.

Oh gooseberry fool, congrats!

Whereabouts will you be sitting? How much did they cost

Ticketmaster adding on BS fees of $190 brought the total cost to $1,003.

I'm miles up too, might be easier to watch on the giant screens unless I bring binoculars or something.

Grumpy David wrote:

Rocsteady wrote:

Grumpy David wrote:Managed to get tickets for UFC 302.

Don't ask for how much they cost.

Oh gooseberry fool, congrats!

Whereabouts will you be sitting? How much did they cost

Ticketmaster adding on BS fees of $190 brought the total cost to $1,003.

I'm miles up too, might be easier to watch on the giant screens unless I bring binoculars or something.

Jesus, strawberry float ticketmaster man. Aye I'd imagine that'll have to be a big screen watch, had a few of those. Atmosphere should be incredible though, especially for the main and co main.