Not so hot take: Tom will dominate and Alex will take his time moving up, asking for another defense @ LHW before his last dance

[whocares]

I absolutely agree that it make sense for Poatan to take another fight at LHW, just to shore up his legacy. And Ulberg is a game challenge so why not. I absolutely do not think Alex is scared of Tom, odds be damned. The goal is triple champ. Gay Jon is out of the picture. The only way to glory is through Tom, or if Alex gets lucky, through Gane, who is also no cakewalk for Alex. He ain't skurred. But yes another fight at LHW, absolutely. Things still have to play out.

 

[SuperNerd]

Better hot take: Tom looks human and Jon asks for fight

 

[Substance Abuse]

 

[NextGen]

I highly doubt Poatan ever fights Tom. Like his buddy Jon, he knows it's a losing battle.

 

[Rubios]

Alex can chase the triple belt and still fight Jones if he doesn't get it, unless he looked very bad.
But he couldn't ask for a TS @ HW if losing against Jones.

It's that simple, IMHO.

 

[Rubios]

I like tom but the sack swinging on here is a bit much. To say he rolls Alex and Jones with no problem at all is kinda dicey. I think both have a legitimate shot at beating him. He’s not the greatest fighter ever and he’s def hittable

I could be totally off, this Saturday we will know better.
But I think Tom is that guy.

 

[chillyoo]

I’m sure Tom would be favored but AP really doesn’t have any reason to fear that matchup imo.

Tom has tds but he’s no D1 wrestler. Is he a better wrestler than Ank? I doubt it.

Striking does AP fear anyone? He shouldn’t

 

[Rubios]

I’m sure Tom would be favored but AP really doesn’t have any reason to fear that matchup imo.

Tom has tds but he’s no D1 wrestler. Is he a better wrestler than Ank? I doubt it.

Striking does AP fear anyone? He shouldn’t

I agree, Alex has nothing to lose. Well, consciousness, but it's betting with house money for him. All the glory (the first 3 divisions champ ever) in victory, no shame in defeat.

And it's MMA and HW so anything can happen.

That said, Tom is a better wrestler than Ank. Because he is -can be- an actual wrestler.
On the ground, his foundation is BJJ and he started as a little child (his father is a BJJ institution in the UK).
And he's been training standup for quite some time with Rico.

IMHO he is as good as the hype suggests, if not better.

 

[markg171]

I agree, Alex has nothing to lose. Well, consciousness, but it's betting with house money for him. All the glory (the first 3 divisions champ ever) in victory, no shame in defeat.

And it's MMA and HW so anything can happen.

That said, Tom is a better wrestler than Ank. Because he is -can be- an actual wrestler.
On the ground, his foundation is BJJ and he started as a little child (his father is a BJJ institution in the UK).
And he's been training standup for quite some time with Rico.

IMHO he is as good as the hype suggests, if not better.

A HW champ who's a fellow striker shooting on a LHW champ making his HW debut at 39 years old is pure cowardice. The LHWs and MWs didn't even do do that to Pereira.

In before some retard brings up Randy/Tony like it's the same thing. Randy actually was a grappler. He was shooting regardless like he always does, whether it's Tony or some striking bum. That's his actual game. Tom's game is striking, no matter how long ago his initial grappling background was.

Tom can shoot on Pereira if he finds himself in an Ank situation where he's already hurt. Not before otherwise that's just sad.

 

[Rubios]

A HW champ who's a fellow striker shooting on a LHW champ making his HW debut at 39 years old is pure cowardice. (...)

I get your point, but I don’t see it that way at all. I share my POV:

Even though he’s past his prime (father time is undefeated), standing and banging with Alex would still be only slightly less stupid than doing it with Semmy, IMHO.
Poatan’s got a longer reach than Tom, and he’s held a Glory belt eight times.
He’s literally one of the 25 (30 being conservative) best KBers of all time

Tom’s a well-rounded, younger, MMA fighter with really good striking.
And he trains with Rico, who definitely knows exactly how far Tom’s striking can go.

This is MMA: if Tom takes Alex down, I wouldn’t see that as cowardly. Not at all.

 

[mkess101]

A HW champ who's a fellow striker shooting on a LHW champ making his HW debut at 39 years old is pure cowardice. The LHWs and MWs didn't even do do that to Pereira.

In before some retard brings up Randy/Tony like it's the same thing. Randy actually was a grappler. He was shooting regardless like he always does, whether it's Tony or some striking bum. That's his actual game. Tom's game is striking, no matter how long ago his initial grappling background was.

Tom can shoot on Pereira if he finds himself in an Ank situation where he's already hurt. Not before otherwise that's just sad.

Man, so glad you posted this. MMA is about all the aspects involved. Each fighter steps into the cage knowing exactly what he and his opponent are allowed to do to win the fight. Cowardice? You're a fucking loser that's likely never set foot in a gym, let alone stepped into a cage or ring across from another dude that's looking to knock you out or take home one of your limbs.

That you want to put stupid, fake parameters on a match up tells us all exactly what an absolute hack you are.

"Well durr...if he's hurt then it's okay to take him down but not before then!" Fucking clown.

He wasn't hurt vs Volkov but took him down twice and then subbed him. Only your dumb ass would think that's "cowardice" and only because you have a bizarre, irrational hatred of the guy who did it. Us sane people see that and think "Oh, there he's showing off a different part of his game."

You really are objectively a terrible poster. There's no debate, that's not just my opinion. You suck.

 

[mkess101]

I get your point, but I don’t see it that way at all. I share my POV:

Even though he’s past his prime (father time is undefeated), standing and banging with Alex would still be only slightly less stupid than doing it with Semmy, IMHO.
Poatan’s got a longer reach than Tom, and he’s held a Glory belt eight times.
He’s literally one of the 25 (30 being conservative) best KBers of all time

Tom’s a well-rounded, younger, MMA fighter with really good striking.
And he trains with Rico, who definitely knows exactly how far Tom’s striking can go.

This is MMA: if Tom takes Alex down, I wouldn’t see that as cowardly. Not at all.

You can just reply to Mark that he's a moron, it's nice that you're respectful but he doesn't deserve it.

 

[markg171]

Man, so glad you posted this. MMA is about all the aspects involved. Each fighter steps into the cage knowing exactly what he and his opponent are allowed to do to win the fight. Cowardice? You're a fucking loser that's likely never set foot in a gym, let alone stepped into a cage or ring across from another dude that's looking to knock you out or take home one of your limbs.

That you want to put stupid, fake parameters on a match up tells us all exactly what an absolute hack you are.

"Well durr...if he's hurt then it's okay to take him down but not before then!" Fucking clown.

He wasn't hurt vs Volkov but took him down twice and then subbed him. Only your dumb ass would think that's "cowardice" and only because you have a bizarre, irrational hatred of the guy who did it. Us sane people see that and think "Oh, there he's showing off a different part of his game."

You really are objectively a terrible poster. There's no debate, that's not just my opinion. You suck.

Aspinall stands with HWs but shoots on a LHW.

It's a bad look no matter how many novels you want to write.

 

[mkess101]

Aspinall stands with HWs but shoots on a LHW.

It's a bad look no matter how many novels you want to write.

You ever typing anything or opening your mouth to speak is a worse look, yet here we are.

 

[Kung Fu Kowboy]

After the Ankalaev fight... It sounded like Pereira wants Jones and nothing else.

 

[RockyLockridge]

Alex.could be waiting to see if Gane wins.

I agree Alex and his team probably know Tom is a VERY tall order for him.


Gane is no walk in the park either, but going from MW to LHW to HW it should be expected to be difficult task

Gane is as good a shot as Poatan could ask for.

Striker
Not a ton of KO power relatively speaking
Very weak ground game (relative to championship level)

If Tom wins, I suspect Alex and Jon to campaign to fight eachother at the WhiteHouse.

If Gane wins, I suspect Alex to possibly try his luck for a 3rd belt

Gane Vs poatan would be the most amazing fight that's a strikers dream it's way more interesting/exciting stylistically than any other HW fight for poatan. It's also the one that gives poatan a better chance as the fight would almost certainly be taking place standing

 

[Brokenpromise]

Tom clearly showed his ability to block punches with his nasal cavity tonight. Only difference the fight would make after Tom eats the L is in the post fight comments when Tom wakes up and says he took a set of knuckles to the eye socket and he wasn’t able to see much after that .. Alex usually can put fist instead of his fingers in an opponents face well.