Blagoi Ivanov is UFC's new hope for creating a star in their lackluster HW division

[TRT Champion]

I noticed the UFC spent a lot of effort and resources in order to promote and introduce an unknown fighter like Blagoi Ivanov to the casuals.
I have this feeling uncle Dana and company are hoping Ivanov beats JDS and becomes a new contender in the HW division. Mark my words: if he wins against Junior, the UFC will promote the fuck out of him as the next coming of Fedor.
This is all great and I am rooting for Blagoi, because he is from the same country as me, but I don't think it will be as easy as Dana imagines it...
Blagoi has his hands full - JDS is a fucking monster. I am VERY scared for my countryman, but I am hoping for the best.
War, Baga!

 

[LouisBolanos]

 

[AimedWithV]

I noticed the UFC spent a lot of effort and resources in order to promote and introduce an unknown fighter like Blagoi Ivanov to the casuals.

What effort? Which resources?
Proof please.

 

[da best eva]

Lol what time and resources are you speaking of

 

[ThunderL1ps]

Nothing says marketable fighter like, "Blagoi."

 

[LLD2008]

JDS by ko

 

[europe1]

JDS is a poor match-up for Blagoi. Ivanov likes to moves backwards, stand against the cage and then explode out with power punches. Kind of like Tyrone Woodely. JDS big issue has always been people who pressure him, exploit his poor footwork, herd him against the cage and then beat him there. That's not the tools that Blagoi has.

 

[SalvadorAllende]

Ivanov has to self promote himself in order to create interest. I think that there are guys out there who could be stars but they dont know how to do it.

Put Curtis Blaydes in a Colby Covington trashtalk routine and see what happens.

Also if they wanted to build Ivanov they would have put him in a favorable matchup. Junior is a though fight for him.

 

[europe1]

I noticed the UFC spent a lot of effort and resources in order to promote and introduce an unknown fighter like Blagoi Ivanov to the casuals.

They don't have his profile in the line-up on their website though

 

[TRT Champion]

What effort? Which resources?
Proof please.

He is all over UFC's Facebook. They made a lot of noise about him signing with the org. They spent Money paying PFL for the rights to show his fights in their new video promos. Something they have not done for anybody else before.
Plus they are matching him against a former UFC champion in his very first UFC fight, which also happens to be the main event of the evening.
Need more proof?

 

[Harmonica]

They don't have his profile in the line-up on their website though

JDS is fighting Noob Saibot?

Sweet!

 

[svmVR2097]

What would a win over a JDS who hasn't had back to back wins in 6 years do to make him a bigger potential star than Volkov? Volkov who owns a submission win over Ivanov, is 2 years younger, and coming off a win over Werdum. Werdum, unlike JDS, was also not coming off a loss, not coming off a year layoff, and was champion more recently.

 

[norsuu]

I hope junior ko's him !!!!!!

 

[Joseph_McBride]

JDS is a poor match-up for Blagoi. Ivanov likes to moves backwards, stand against the cage and then explode out with power punches. Kind of like Tyrone Woodely. JDS big issue has always been people who pressure him, exploit his poor footwork, herd him against the cage and then beat him there. That's not the tools that Blagoi has.

Yeah I was watching ufc 166 last night and I picked up on a few of JDS's bad habits. He only circles to his right, never to the left. Ever. He also relies on his check-hook way too much. His jab was 90% throw away to set up something he often never even threw because Cain's pressure. The straight right, high & low, as well as uppercuts should be his main weapons against pressure. He landed a cpl rear uppercuts but never threw the lead. Cain was constantly ducking under the left hook. If JDS added a slip + quarter turnout it would open up counters & give him the ability to move naturally to his left. A technique used brilliantly by Aldo at UFC 200 & Canelo vs GGG. He also doesnt do much defensively with his hands. No parries, no high guard, decent head movement when he is stationary but not at all while moving backwards.

 

[europe1]

He also doesnt do much defensively with his hands.

Notice that he often keeps one hand very low -- so to grab an underhook if someone shoots in on him (didn't save him vs Cain obviously)

Good write up btw.

His jab was 90% throw away

He does jab the body repeatedly though. That's something you rarely see in MMA, let alone the Heavyweights. Doing it repeatedly set up his overhand that KO'd Cain in their first bout, if memory serves.

 

[sonhow]

 

[Vehap1]

What would a win over a JDS who hasn't had back to back wins in 6 years do to make him a bigger potential star than Volkov? Volkov who owns a submission win over Ivanov, is 2 years younger, and coming off a win over Werdum. Werdum, unlike JDS, was also not coming off a loss, not coming off a year layoff, and was champion more recently.

Because JDS is pretty good.
And should be in his prime now at age 34

 

[Ghost in the Dark]

Baga is about to end JDS's career and become a MAJOR force at 265.

 

[Vehap1]

Why would he be a new star?

Does he like to brag about money and throw items at people?

He sure doesnt have the look

 

[judge wolf]

Baga is about to end JDS's career and become a MAJOR force at 265.

Even if that happens, I wouldn’t count out he gets stabbed or shot in near future like before.