UFC giving N'gannou the Ronda/Conor push

[Ananth]

Just look at this.

Stipe is going to lose, but still hes a throw back to fighters/champions of old. Willing to defend against all comers and immediately. Massive respect. UFC did a good job booking this fight as fast they have. They really need a big star and N'gannou has potential.

I think after the disaster of year 2017 was, 2018 could be amazing for UFC. Conor/Khabib/Tony Ferguson to settle their scores, N'gannou becoming the baddest man on the planet, potential return of Jon Jones and JJ/DC 3, TJ/DJ super fight, Holloway potentially moving up. Things are looking up.

 

[OnMcGregorNutz]

hype train about to be derailed. guarantee dude has no ground game, and stipe will get him there with some GnP call it easy work for mr, fireman

 

[HelloJapan]

Stipe isn't brave for fighting him sooner then later, it's just sensible. You want to fight this monster when's he's even better a year or two from now? Stipe knows his best chance is now. If he beats him, maybe he retires on top.

 

[loyalyolayal]

Wme coming for that Cameroonian ppv cheddah!

 

[cakemuncher]

He's definitely marketable.

If he wins the title, Dana will keep him there as long as possible without defending the title, just like Conor.

 

[IK00PA]

Stipe isn't brave for fighting him sooner then later, it's just sensible. You want to fight this monster when's he's even better a year or two from now? Stipe knows his best chance is now. If he beats him, maybe he retires on top.

Retires? damn if he wins he defends against cain for another huge payday

 

[Beastos]

Not surprised, hes very marketable. KOs sell

 

[HUGHPHUG]

I don't think there was anything wrong with the way Ronda was handled, she was head and shoulders above her opponents for a time, fought two or three times a year, fought who was put in front of her, fought the best the UFC had to offer at the time.

Conor on the other hand had hand picked opponents and was allowed to skip the cue to get title shots.

N'gannou has had a couple of high profile KO's but has been fast tracked to the title. Though to be fair HW is so shallow it needs to be shaken up

 

[wookie brawl]

My guess is Stipe will hit the deck before he gets Ngannou on the ground. Stipe likes exposing his big chin & often has his hands low.

 

[Clear Winner]

Hope he's not on the same boat as the other guys

 

[SeaLevelMizugaki]

Stipe will kill the hype.

 

[RandomUser12]

Rogaine needs to be banned from these promo videos.

"Oooooooooh!"
"Wowwwwww!"
"Scaaaaaaary!"


He sounds like Vince McMahon doing bodybuilding commentary:

 

[TheLegionnary]

hype train about to be derailed. guarantee dude has no ground game, and stipe will get him there with some GnP call it easy work for mr, fireman

The fact that we didn't see N'Gannou on the ground doesn't mean he has no ground game, he ko people left and right why bother going on the ground ?... But thanks to sherdog great posters and mma fans, if N'Gannou lose, I predict an apocalypse with great thread like "N'Gannou never beat anyone except cans", "he was overrated" and also "It was a matter of time before he got exposed".

I don't think there was anything wrong with the way Ronda was handled, she was head and shoulders above her opponents for a time, fought two or three times a year, fought who was put in front of her, fought the best the UFC had to offer at the time.

Conor on the other hand had hand picked opponents and was allowed to skip the cue to get title shots.

N'gannou has had a couple of high profile KO's but has been fast tracked to the title. Though to be fair HW is so shallow it needs to be shaken up

Yes, plus she had the armbar phenom on her side. Agree for Connor and N'Gannou worries me because he seems to become too confident (cocky ?) recently.

 

[melvinj0]

He's a scary fucker, if he brutally KO's Miocic it will be really easy to hype him as super star.

 

[The Natural Born Runner]

Which is exactly why I cannot cheer for him.

Cannot stand hype-machines.

 

[MyEnglishIsPeperoni]

 

[Ananth]

I don't think there was anything wrong with the way Ronda was handled, she was head and shoulders above her opponents for a time, fought two or three times a year, fought who was put in front of her, fought the best the UFC had to offer at the time.

Conor on the other hand had hand picked opponents and was allowed to skip the cue to get title shots.

N'gannou has had a couple of high profile KO's but has been fast tracked to the title. Though to be fair HW is so shallow it needs to be shaken up

How do you explain protecting Ronda from the biggest fight possible vs Cyborg. That was a sure shot million dollar or more PPV, but still she got protected from that fight.

145 was never a issue, Ronda has competed at higher weights and started her career at 145. Cyborg was ridiculed by the UFC management till Ronda got smashed, then they hopped onto the Cyborg wagon. Clear case of favoritism.

Conor although his 155 run and belt is a sham, his 145 run was legit. He wrecked Holloway when both were green, took a risky fight with Mendes, and KO'd the 145 Goat in 13 seconds. Conor started getting the push, when the UFC knew Ronda was done.

There was a point in time where Conor was not half as big as Ronda, and both entered around the same time.

 

[HUGHPHUG]

How do you explain protecting Ronda from the biggest fight possible vs Cyborg. That was a sure shot million dollar or more PPV, but still she got protected from that fight.

145 was never a issue, Ronda has competed at higher weights and started her career at 145. Cyborg was ridiculed by the UFC management till Ronda got smashed, then they hopped onto the Cyborg wagon. Clear case of favoritism.

Conor although his 155 run and belt is a sham, his 145 run was legit. He wrecked Holloway when both were green, took a risky fight with Mendes, and KO'd the 145 Goat in 13 seconds. Conor started getting the push, when the UFC knew Ronda was done.

There was a point in time where Conor was not half as big as Ronda, and both entered around the same time.

Good point about Cyborg, but really that fight didn't benefit the UFC as much back then as it would now. Now there would be no way of ignoring it. There was a time when folks said Ronda dropped to 135 to escape Cyborg.

Also disagree with Conor's route to the title, he got a shot after beating Dennis Siver and Dustin, that was not the cream of the crop or the top challengers

 

[Ananth]

Stipe isn't brave for fighting him sooner then later, it's just sensible. You want to fight this monster when's he's even better a year or two from now? Stipe knows his best chance is now. If he beats him, maybe he retires on top.

We had champions like Bisping who waited long enough for Romero to retire or get knocked off by someone else. We have champions like Conor who has to face a interim champion or the uncrowned king, but is asking people to beg him to fight him. We have Mighty Mouse refusing to fight TJ, whos willing to drop down to 125. Woodley is another one, who has put in possibly the 3 worst titles fights and in a row. The guy doesn't want to fight in there.

Stipe on the other hand accepts fights quickly and usually has quick turnarounds except for the one time he was contract negotiating. And he comes to bang.

I thought Stipe will ride this N'gannou storm for a while, and make him fight another contender, but props to taking up the challenge immediately. That's what champions should be like.

Its funny Stipe is the one on the 4- fight 1st round KO streak, but no one mentions that in any of the promos. I dont blame the UFC though, this is the best way to market this fight.

 

[Ananth]

Good point about Cyborg, but really that fight didn't benefit the UFC as much back then as it would now. Now there would be no way of ignoring it. There was a time when folks said Ronda dropped to 135 to escape Cyborg.

Also disagree with Conor's route to the title, he got a shot after beating Dennis Siver and Dustin, that was not the cream of the crop or the top challengers

Dustin was on a three fight win streak and Conor obliterated him. Conor took up an extra fight with Siver, because he wanted to stay active and he knew Siver was no threat. Aldo was on the sidelines after Mendes 2.

Only other guy who had a claim to a title shot at the time was Cub, and he had already been dispatched in under 5 seconds by Aldo. Fresh match up, a star on the rise, logical choice.

I agree with you on that UFC had nothing to benefit from seeing Ronda get mauled by Cyborg, but thats the kind of push and favoritism, she was given during her run. She got enormous media support from the UFC as well.