8 out of 10. Damn good main card if it stays and it has so many questions going into the fights.
- Can the Sherdog forums all come together in happiness by watching Mitchell get knocked out?
- Big test for Prates. Can Prates crack the top 10?
- Does Pitbull have enough in the tank to be a top 10 fighter in the UFC?
- To me this is do or die for Chandler. Is Pimblett a legit contender at Lightweight and can Chandler get a win finally after 2 years+?
- Is this the final call for Volkanovski at Featherweight?
- Can the Sherdog forums all come together in happiness by watching Mitchell get knocked out?
Sadly no, there are still some Bryce fans who love his "bold honesty" to put it kindly.
- Big test for Prates. Can Prates crack the top 10?
Yes, Neal is still fast but limited in his weapons and predictable - Prates has some of the best stand-up in the division, only guys who can wrestle well will likely give him problems.
- Does Pitbull have enough in the tank to be a top 10 fighter in the UFC?
Highflying doubtful - he's really shop-worn in terms of fight miles and will be facing guys who are younger and taller/longer with higher output and more diverse weapons. He could probably be top 15 and beat guys like Kattar/Ige/Mitchell, but I don't know if the UFC will let him hang around if he loses badly to Yair and then a follow-up fight after against someone like Emmett or Murphy.
- To me this is do or die for Chandler. Is Pimblett a legit contender at Lightweight and can Chandler get a win finally after 2 years+?
Time to die Chandler. He's getting older and worse (despite what he says about getting better, he's not), makes ridiculous in-fight decisions that prove his fight IQ is non-existent and he just wants to be "exciting" to please the brass. Paddy has some rough striking defense in spots but he's younger, less injuries/miles, taller and longer with way better kicks, just has to avoid getting blitzed early by a right-hand. I don't know if beating Chandler makes him a "legit contender" though, Paddy really needs to be beat a real top fighter i.e. a top 5 fighter - Chandler is 2-4 in the UFC, 1-4 in his last 5 with the only win being the ghost of Tony Ferguson (whom he got dropped and almost lost the first round against), yeah he only loses to elite guys but they only match him up with elite guys
- Is this the final call for Volkanovski at Featherweight?
Sadly I think it is - Lopes is young, hungry, full of confidence and Volk's chin just got obliterated twice against Islam and Illia. Lopes has really bad defense on the feet though, relies on pure aggression and volume/toughness to just overwhelm guys and get them hurt/panicked. It's kind of a question where Volk's head is at - pre Islam/Illia he'd likely school Lopes with footwork/feints/angles/out-fighting tactics, but you really got to wonder how he reacts and changes once he gets clipped hard (which will happen early). I hope he can take the early damage and adjust because the later the fight goes the more likely he is to start styling on Lopes, but I have serious doubts.
