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UFC 308: Topuria vs. Holloway

Stat_Collector said:
This fight puts him in contention for a big money fight with Alex. it’s now or never.
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He'd need 2 more wins after this MINIMUM to even be on the radar. Hell, the UFC doesn't even want Alex to fight Ank and he's won how many in a row?

Rakic coming off a KO loss to Jiri then getting an upset win over Ank wouldn't move the needle much for him in terms of a title shot imo. With Rountree they could at least push the "5 KO wins in a row" narrative even though he was relatively unknown to casuals.

Alex is what, 37? They've got a finite amount of time left with him as a big star so I gotta believe they're gonna choose his opponents carefully. They can't deny Ank again if he wins but if Rakic pulls the upset, they're gonna look at HW, or see what other options are there that get them a lot of buzz.
 
mkess101 said:
He'd need 2 more wins after this MINIMUM to even be on the radar. Hell, the UFC doesn't even want Alex to fight Ank and he's won how many in a row?

Rakic coming off a KO loss to Jiri then getting an upset win over Ank wouldn't move the needle much for him in terms of a title shot imo. With Rountree they could at least push the "5 KO wins in a row" narrative even though he was relatively unknown to casuals.

Alex is what, 37? They've got a finite amount of time left with him as a big star so I gotta believe they're gonna choose his opponents carefully. They can't deny Ank again if he wins but if Rakic pulls the upset, they're gonna look at HW, or see what other options are there that get them a lot of buzz.
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Rakic stock goes up if he derails the scary russian. Everyone likes a good underdog story. They might wait until Jones/Stipe fight gets settled.
 
Stat_Collector said:
Rakic stock goes up if he derails the scary russian. Everyone likes a good underdog story. They might wait until Jones/Stipe fight gets settled.
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Obviously it wouldn't HURT his situation, but he's not sniffing a title shot coming off one win imo.
 
mkess101 said:
Obviously it wouldn't HURT his situation, but he's not sniffing a title shot coming off one win imo.
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I think Rakic believes he’s next in line, regardless if Dana wants it.

I think he’s going in there so he can then call out Alex, that would be the smart thing.

I think the topic is rather Rakic is motivated to show up this saturday, i believe he is, it puts him slightly below Jiri maybe number 3 or 2 ranked.
 
Stat_Collector said:
I think Rakic believes he’s next in line, regardless if Dana wants it.

I think he’s going in there so he can then call out Alex, that would be the smart thing.

I think the topic is rather Rakic is motivated to show up this saturday, i believe he is, it puts him slightly below Jiri maybe number 3 or 2 ranked.
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Oh yeah in his head he may think so. But he doesn't move the needle at all. Especially coming off one win and being KO'd the previous fight. Now the exception would be if he does something truly memorable Saturday that has everyone buzzing. Those things can't be predicted and he's ranked highly enough that something like that could conceivably boost him to the front of the line. But a decision win using leg kicks? No chance he gets next shot. They'd beg Alex to drop a little weight and fight DDP at a catch weight first imo. They'd do SOMETHING other than give Rakic a shot coming off one win.
 
mkess101 said:
He'd need 2 more wins after this MINIMUM to even be on the radar. Hell, the UFC doesn't even want Alex to fight Ank and he's won how many in a row?

Rakic coming off a KO loss to Jiri then getting an upset win over Ank wouldn't move the needle much for him in terms of a title shot imo. With Rountree they could at least push the "5 KO wins in a row" narrative even though he was relatively unknown to casuals.

Alex is what, 37? They've got a finite amount of time left with him as a big star so I gotta believe they're gonna choose his opponents carefully. They can't deny Ank again if he wins but if Rakic pulls the upset, they're gonna look at HW, or see what other options are there that get them a lot of buzz.
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If Ank wins Alex is going to be watching heavyweight results imo. Jones/Alex is the biggest fight that could be made right now, unlucky for Tom. Ank has little in the way of motivation for Alex, boring and not a big name. He'll move up if he gets the right dance partner
 
burge13 said:
If Ank wins Alex is going to be watching heavyweight results imo. Jones/Alex is the biggest fight that could be made right now, unlucky for Tom. Ank has little in the way of motivation for Alex, boring and not a big name. He'll move up if he gets the right dance partner
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Agreed. In a year he's catapulted himself into that area where he can just look for "big fights". The one thing is that Alex is kinda wired differently. They offer a name and he's like "Joe Blow? This Saturday? Sure, why not?"

It's really the UFC that's gonna be picky. Rountree was fine because even though he's obscure to casuals, he was a striker so the UFC liked the odds of Alex putting on a show and winning. Ank is obscure AND is an actual threat because he could wrestle fuck Alex and that's not what the UFC wants.
 
mkess101 said:
Oh yeah in his head he may think so. But he doesn't move the needle at all. Especially coming off one win and being KO'd the previous fight. Now the exception would be if he does something truly memorable Saturday that has everyone buzzing. Those things can't be predicted and he's ranked highly enough that something like that could conceivably boost him to the front of the line. But a decision win using leg kicks? No chance he gets next shot. They'd beg Alex to drop a little weight and fight DDP at a catch weight first imo. They'd do SOMETHING other than give Rakic a shot coming off one win.
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I dont think Rakic believes he’s not tho.

Fighters are hungry for titles, they all make call outs even when they are far lower ranked like Rountree. I don’t think Rakic is thinking he needs two fights to get a shot.

Ankalaev is next right now. There is no one else for Alex to fight. Dana said he’s not a fan right now of Pereira making a jump to hw. These weight class jumps are just speculation so far.
 
Stat_Collector said:
I dont think Rakic believes he’s not tho.

Fighters are hungry for titles, they all make call outs even when they are far lower ranked like Rountree. I don’t think Rakic is thinking he needs two fights to get a shot.

Ankalaev is next right now. There is no one else for Alex to fight. Dana said he’s not a fan right now of Pereira making a jump to hw. These weight class jumps are just speculation so far.
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For motivation sure he could have made himself believe he's that close even if it's probably not true. I'll buy that.
 
Stat_Collector said:
if he’s ranked #2 how is he not at least in the conversation?
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Wait, he's not ranked 2nd is he??? Coming off back to back losses, finished in both? He literally hasn't won a fight in THREE AND A HALF YEARS. If he's ranked #2...holy shit the rankings are more of a joke than anyone even realized.
 
Stat_Collector said:
anyone have a Decision or ML play they are eyeing?
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Murphy decision is kinda the obvious one imo. I think he's just a little better than Ige everywhere but Ige is basically indestructible and unsubbable so can't see Lerone finishing him.
 
mkess101 said:
Agreed. In a year he's catapulted himself into that area where he can just look for "big fights". The one thing is that Alex is kinda wired differently. They offer a name and he's like "Joe Blow? This Saturday? Sure, why not?"

It's really the UFC that's gonna be picky. Rountree was fine because even though he's obscure to casuals, he was a striker so the UFC liked the odds of Alex putting on a show and winning. Ank is obscure AND is an actual threat because he could wrestle fuck Alex and that's not what the UFC wants.
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Hes talked about HW before. I think if Jones wins, April next year we'll see Alex/Jones. Jones will retire otherwise and Alex may move up but less likely v Aspinall

Hes also talked about 185 though. Surely he couldn't make that anymore?!
 
mkess101 said:
Wait, he's not ranked 2nd is he??? Coming off back to back losses, finished in both? He literally hasn't won a fight in THREE AND A HALF YEARS. If he's ranked #2...holy shit the rankings are more of a joke than anyone even realized.
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he’s ranked 5 now. where would you rank him if he wins? Hill, hasnt beaten anyone since Glover, Jan last fight was a loss to Alex and Anklaev, and Jiri is the #1 , you’d have to put him there.


anyways doesn’t matter. Lets not stray too long here on this subject, it’s not that important imo on the fight.
 
Liking Fereira, Rakic, Whittaker as dogs, have only pulled the trigger on Fereira so far. Expecting more money to come in on Ankalaev and Khamzat so if I cant get Rob at +200 and Rakic at +350 I'll be happy.

Shara dec or Shara+O1.5 if the odds are decent. Armen is solid but I don't think he's the one to give Shara his first L.

Topuria by KO if the odds are good, I think he cracks Max's chin and is the next long reigning FW champ.
 
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