Official Women's Division Discussion #27

[Necrocrawler]

Esparza by Hypetrain crushing.

 

[Kuksenkov]

Ostovich moving up came out of nowhere. Why would she even do that?

They're doing Esparza dirty here. High risk, low reward fight for her.

 

[Eater of Souls]

Esparza by Hypetrain crushing.

I think this is a huge step up for Ribas and definitely favor Carla. Ribas must have stellar take down defense to have a chance here and, IMO, the constant threat of the takedown should open up Esparza's striking.

 

[Xuh]

Boo! I think that's the worst matchup for Esparza in this situation.

Someone lower ranked, but much more dangerous than the other lower ranked fighters. Good striking, good judo base so hard to take down, good athlete, size and reach advantage etc as usual but with the skillz that will be difficult to overcome with vet savvy. Wah!
Plus it will be difficult to sniff back into title contention with a L here.

Well, most of the top 5 are about to disappear so maybe all is not lost... if Clawdja beats Xan maybe Esparza can polish off former-Acai girl at the second asking and move back into contention... or even if Xan wins that's not a terrible matchup for Carla either... maybe not all doom and gloom ? (or maybe, Xan will win then fight Ribas for the title eliminator, and Carla will face Claudia in the 'yesterday's contenders now sliding down the rankings' bout. Doom and gloom! )

 

[leto1776]

Esparza by Hypetrain crushing.

 

[Rizz]

I would like to add a correction. It appears they are saying its a 125 fight now. that makes more sense for Rachael but is Gina really going to make 125?

 

[aerius]

The key question for me with Ribas is whether she fights with confidence against Carla or goes full Grasso and fights to not lose. She's fought well so far against high profile opponents for her ranking, but you never know until it's done. Key for Carla will be planting Ribas on her ass with control. Amanda has a couple quick scramble sequences that she uses when taken down to try & reverse position or grab a sub before she settles into a positional guard game. Carla needs to kill those sequences to keep Ribas grounded and rack up control time. If her takedowns are messy because she's shooting from bad positions like she was against Waterson, Ribas will be able to scramble out and make life suck.

On the feet it's not even close. Ribas actually knows how to use a jab and put punches behind it, plus she has more reach, better footwork, shot selection, and power. She's not a Joanna or Rose, but I'd put her solidly around the confident Grasso level. If Carla can't make her hesitant to throw, she's going to get beaten soundly on the feet.

 

[Rizz]

I like this matchup. Ribas thinks she has what it takes but 115 is a whole different beast once you get to top 5. Now we will find out just how much of a prospect she is. Carla will not make this easy but she might be a good match up for Ribas. Amanda has better striking, knows judo so she can reverse sloppy takedowns and her ground game might be her best attribute.

 

[JarlSkuld]

As they said in "The Princess Bride", never bet against the Cookie Monster when a hypetrain is on the line. I admit, it's strange that she took this fight, but I favor her and it will be a great learning experience (win or lose) for Ribas. And, if Carla and Claudia both win and we get a rematch, which could be interesting.

Jarl

 

[PurpleStorm]

I'm picking Ribas. I think she is genuinely aggressive and talented and will show the world that she has the skills to pay the bills. Thankfully I don't bet.

 

[leto1776]

 

[werepig]

Rewatched Aldana/Smith with coffee today. It was probably more entertaining than I remembered it being, really worth the FOTY bonus. Loved how hard the crowd was behind them at the start of the 3rd round. I am now contemplating a rewatch of Aldana/Chook, but kinda worried it's too Chookagianish (don't really remember anything from the first viewing - so either I have been properly drunk, and/or it was truly forgettable). Should I?

I've noticed that aldana can get pretty skittish... as is holm. my guess is that they'll footwork their way in and out like two bowflies until hopefully one of them can cut the right angle on the other for a clean shot (left head kick for holm/right hook for aldana)

I think this is a huge step up for Ribas and definitely favor Carla. Ribas must have stellar take down defense to have a chance here and, IMO, the constant threat of the takedown should open up Esparza's striking.

swap it around and i agree with you! i don't doubt esparza's grit, but ribas is tricky, tricky tricky.

 

[leto1776]

Juśkiewicz last fought in 2018; competed in Rizin's atomweight GP and fought Joanna in her debut. Wójcik was one of the top prospects in the UK before moving back to Poland last year and has since been training at Shark Top Team (KK's gym). She has close split decision losses to Cheyanne Buys & Ewelina Woźniak. Should be a good fight.

Wòjcik is non stop action. Her fights are must see.

 

[leto1776]

 

[Jackonfire]

Thanks Reebok for sucking all the fun out of the face offs...

 

[Rizz]

Thanks Reebok for sucking all the fun out of the face offs...

This might not be a popular opinion her but I hate cosplay weigh-ins. That is the one thing I hate about Invicta. It lacks a certain professionalism that I think these events should have. However, I also don't like everyone looking the same. Let people wear what they want(except big elaborate cosplay) but just have them not have logos if you must.

 

[Eater of Souls]

Zigano made weight. I really hope she does well as she has been through her fair share of shit the last few years.

 

[Mittens]

It lacks a certain professionalism that I think these events should have.

To be honest, only GSP has ever had "professionalism" when it comes to pretty much anything MMA related.

Anyway, I do like them goofing around in Invicta - the stuff gives it soul and character, and Roxy should be able to do whatever she wants no matter the promotion, but otherwise I dig UFC having Reebok weigh ins.

 

[Rizz]

Zigano made weight. I really hope she does well as she has been through her fair share of shit the last few years.

Cat will do fine. This fight was created to ensure that. Her opponent is (6-5). Looking at her record it seems like she gets used by bellator for an easy win then she fights other places until she is needed again.

 

[Eater of Souls]

Cat will do fine. This fight was created to ensure that. Her opponent is (6-5). Looking at her record it seems like she gets used by bellator for an easy win then she fights other places until she is needed again.

I hope so.