Rumored Evloev vs Pico in Abu Dhabi, July 26

[Bobby Boulders]

Outside of the fact Evloev should be fighting for the title, I like the matchup

 

[Jawth]

Evloev will win, this is yet another example of the UFC signing a big name from somewhere else and match them up with kryptonite to squash and perception that fighters outside the UFC are elite.

I dont really think you can call Evloev Picos kryptonite, Pico has never been outwrestled. He has been KOed or rocked and subbed.

 

[Eric Silva 2.0]

Evloev will win, this is yet another example of the UFC signing a big name from somewhere else and match them up with kryptonite to squash and perception that fighters outside the UFC are elite.

It's not a guaranteed result but your explanation of the matchmaking is spot on. This one might be two-pronged. If Pico wins they can use that as a reason they gave Yair the title shot instead of Evloev. The other thing going on here is playing keep-away from the title with Evo.

 

[ThaiSexPills]

This is terrible matchmaking tbh but typical UFC, giving the outside big name guy the worst possible matchups right away to make them look bad.

Hope Pico wins

 

[Marko Polo]

Evloev always looks like a typo and infact its Evolvev ,like an evolving fighter

His name is annoying

 

[europe1]

What funny is... it is true that Pico is a dangerous match-up. Being a wrestler with thunderous KO power.

However, this is also probably Evloev's best chance of getting a finish vs a high-level opponent. Evloev is excellent at timing people dashing in, flooring Allan with a jab and Ige with a flying knee. Pico is aggressive and really lacks defensive awareness. He really is the kind of guy to walk into a murderblow.

Pico has never been outwrestled.

Has anyone actually tried though? Outside of panic shoots. Pico's offensive wrestling is quality but I dunno if his defence has ever been properly tested.

 

[Kenny Powerth]

Evloev always looks like a typo and infact its Evolvev ,like an evolving fighter

Absolutely and fucking autocorrect is always trying to change it!

 

[Alpha_T83]

You don't get title shots anymore unless you can sell PPVs. New Dana White rule.

 

[Pancake Sprawl]

Evloev will win, this is yet another example of the UFC signing a big name from somewhere else and match them up with kryptonite to squash and perception that fighters outside the UFC are elite.

yeah, unless Pico sleeps him then he's the new star. it's a win/win for UFC. if Evloev wins "see! UFC #1! this guy didn't even fight for a title yet and he beat Pico ez!" if Pico wins "Here comes a new challenger!"

 

[Pancake Sprawl]

You don't get title shots anymore unless you can sell PPVs. New Dana White rule.

they should call it the PSMF belt. the PPV selling motherfucker belt.

 

[markys00]

I don’t understand this matchmaking… Pico couldn’t even contend in Bellator why is he fighting the legit Number 1 contender?


Evloev has wins ove Arnold Allen, Diego Lopes, Aljo, Ige etc… how much more does he have to do? Does Aaron freaking Pico get him over the hump?

Lets be honest here, the UFC is actively trying to derail Evloev… they don’t want him anywhere near that belt.


If Evloev accomplished half the things he did with a Mexican passport, he’d have an endless supply of title shots.

Oh you understand it.

 

[podsox]

This is among the worse fights they can give Evloev. Pico is no push over and a very good fighter. Very strong wrestling background, he was one win away from making the US olympic team, he beat out like 3 NCAA national champions. And he's solid BB in BJJ, his grappling is not notch. And he's even more dangerous standing, he's got dam good boxing, big power.

Evloev is gonna have his hands full here

Best body puncher in mma imo

 

[podsox]

Who was he supposed to beat? He would've beaten Pitbull if he got the opportunity.

As others have mentioned the Kennedy "loss" doesn't mean shit, and those two bad knockout losses happened when he was 22. He's an outstanding talent and I'm sure he'll do great during his time in the UFC.

I guess jdm should’ve hung up the gloves after starting 0-2 in mma. No room for improvement lol

 

[Legendary]

Pico being brought in to be assassinated.

 

[rjmbrd]

Its an entertaining fight but garbage matchmaking.

Its one thing to say Evloev hasn't earned his titleshot. Its another to give it to Yair instead. Fuck outta here.

Absolutely egregious.

In a world were we could easily swap out opponents and have Yair x Pico and let the real title fight happen, why is this bullshit being pulled?

The UFC is not taken seriously as a sport, at least in part, because of this type of nonsense.

 

[xhaydenx]

Evloev will win, this is yet another example of the UFC signing a big name from somewhere else and match them up with kryptonite to squash and perception that fighters outside the UFC are elite.

No, it isn't lol. What a weird take.

Bellator doesn't exist. The UFC are not wasting money to shit on an org that doesn't even exist anymore. Pico was a Bellator fighter. He had one fight in the PFL vs Bellator event and he only fought a guy who had never fought in PFL also lol.

They're signing Pico and putting him in a big fight right away because that's where they think he can hang, and also because they need stars. Pico is a pretty exciting fighter. They're not going to blow money signing him just to turn him out. That makes zero sense business wise for the UFC. Killing potential stars doesn't make money. Why would they do that?

And how is Evloev kyrptonite to Pico? Evloev is kryptonite to strikers who can't wrestle. Pico is a more accomplished wrestler than Evloev or anyone Evloev's faced by a huge margin lol.

Aljo is the best wrestler Evlo has faced, and Aljo was a NCAA D3 level. Pico on the other hand has beaten NCAA D1 champs and almost qualifed for the olympic team. He's wreslted at a way higher level than Aljo or Evlo.

 

[SalvadorAllende]

Fuck Yair

And fuck the UFC for killing Evlove or Pico as contenders

But mostly fuck Yair

 

[mkess101]

Evloev already beat Aljo.............. I think it will be an uphill task to suggest Pico is a better wrestler than Aljo.

That was an absolute coin toss fight and Aljo easily could have gotten the decision. (No issue with Evloev getting it for the record nor would Aljo getting have been bad. Literally as even a fight as you'll see).

Pico has more power than Aljo standing too. He absolutely presents a threat Movsar.

 

[Mmmmmmma1234]

I love this fight.
But I do think volkanovski should be fighting this guy.

 

[CC27]

Not a fan of this booking. If Movsar wins you're in the same boat you are now with him but you just hurt a big signing coming in.

yeah I guess if Pico wins its great and instantly puts him as contender and knocks off the guy they dont really like but I'd have maybe done Movsar/Murphy and given PIco maybe Emmett or Sterling. Still tough top ranked fights but not number 1 guy.