UFC 173: Barao vs. Dillashaw

[Guest John Hancock]

http://media.ufc.tv/Articles/barao-dillashaw-173.jpg

 

May 24th

MGM Grand Garden Arena

Las Vegas, Nevada

 

Renan Barao © vs. T.J. Dillashaw

Dan Henderson vs. Daniel Cormier

Robbie Lawler vs. Jake Ellenberger

Takeya Mizugaki vs. Francisco Rivera

Jamie Varner vs. James Krause

-

Michael Chiesa vs. Francisco Trinaldo

Ton Ferguson vs. Katsunori Kikuno

Chris Holdsworth vs. Chico Camus

Al Iaquinta vs. Mitch Clarke

-

Anthony Njokuani vs. Vinc Pichel

 

[video=youtube;4OPRa2809Sc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OPRa2809Sc

[Guest The Beltster]

Some good fights there but that main event...that show is going to BOMB! And I dunno if its just me, but man I hate Renan Barao with almost unreasonable passion and its mainly down to how f*cking pig ugly he is and that retarded little dance he does when he wins. He's such a c*nt. Edited May 1, 2014 by The Beltster

[Guest John Hancock]

The dance really is pretty obnoxious. I don't mind him too much, because he fights for finishes, but if he was wrestling dudes to decisions, and THEN doing that dance, I'd hate.

 

Agreed about by the butyrate too, this will be the least watched UFC pay-per-view of the year by far.

[Guest John Hancock]

This show is tonight. Act accordingly.

 

Also, has anyone else been watched UFC's new online series Embedded? It's their replacement for both Dana White's video blogs, and UFC Primetime, and they're actually pretty cool. They're going to become a regular thing from now on, and they're basically just short little "a day in the life" clips, following Dana White and, in this case, Cormier and Henderson, day by day, in the week leading up to the fight. If you like behind the scenes stuff like I do, they're really cool.

 

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[video=youtube;gJTB3L91hYY]

 

[video=youtube;LRLqwi6_HlA]

[Guest Magic]

Oh this is tonight? I might just indulge, seen as I have the next three days off. Not crazy on the main (wee guys, eugh) but I'll look forward to the Cormier and Lawler fights.

[Maxximus 353]

If I don't go see the Gorilla Whale tonight I'll probably end up watching this too. I have 4 really nice IPA's on chill so what better time to drink them? Edited May 25, 2014 by Maxximus

[Evil Gringo 279]

As ever I'll still be up and watching it. All I've done today since 3pm is watch sport - the play off final between QPR and Derby, the Heineken Cup final, then the Champions League final and then capping it off with this.

 

I didn't like TJ when he was on the Ultimate Fighter, he acted a bit like a self indulgent git sometimes due to the fact he was already a highly thought of Alpha Male team member so I'd quite like Barao to beat his ass. Face it, if Faber, in the best form of his career, the King Alpha Male, couldn't hurt Barao and beat him then what chance does TJ have?

 

Looking forward to Lawler v Ellenberger though, that fight is going to be a hell of a slug fest, not to excited to see DC lie on Hendo against the cage for 15 minutes though.

[Guest John Hancock]

Here's the last episode of that Embedded series just before the main card kicks off.

 

[video=youtube;yafYnxtptUE]

[Guest The Beltster]

Embedded has been a really cool deal I like it alot. And TJ Dillashaw...wow! What an ass whoopin!

[GENE 86]

I think Daniel Cormier will beat Jon Jones, the guy is a beast!

[Guest Magic]

Just watched the show this morning. What a performance by TJ. Unbelievable.

 

Rest of the show was a bit meh, but that main was great. And there was me not really up for it :lol

 

Cormier is a beast. Him and Jones will be great, I can't pick a winner. If pushed, I think I'd say Cormier.

[Guest John Hancock]

If Cormier beats Jones, it'll be the most boring fight of all time. Jones would f*ck him up standing, and probably avoid most of the conventional takedowns. For Cormier to win, he'd have to suplex Jones to the ground at the start of every round, and then just lay on him, because he won't be able to wear out Jones like he did Hendo. Hendo's a 43 year old middleweight, Jones is a 26 year old heavyweight, and a much more fit and athletic man than Cormier.

 

It's already a cliche, but, as everyone said, what a great fight from Dillashaw. That was Team Alpha-Male's first title, and it was on the exact last day of Duane Ludwig's time as head coach, what a way to go out. I wonder how many of the team's fighters will follow him to his new gym.

[Guest The Beltster]

They dont have to leave Team Alpha Male to go and train with Bang, I'm sure alot of the guys will still fly him in for their camps etc.

 

And I think Cormier will beat Jones if he can figure out a way past his reach early and take him down. It might be boring (although I like watching Cormier work on the ground so to me I'd be happy with it) but anything that results in Jones losing is good.

[Guest John Hancock]

They dont have to leave Team Alpha Male to go and train with Bang, I'm sure alot of the guys will still fly him in for their camps etc.

 

They'd have to go to him in Colorado. One of the reasons he's left is that he doesn't like being based in California, plus, I doubt the new head coach would be okay with the old head coach flying to run training camps. Ludwig's said if Alpha Male guys want him in their camps full time, they have to go to him, not the other way round.

[Guest The Beltster]

Well either way its the same thing, I'm sure they will still use him plus training camps aren't just run by one head coach, guys who are part of certain teams dont only train with those teams, they fly here, there and everywhere to train with other guys its not like people from AKA or whoever will only train with other AKA guys and its all headed by one main guy. Thats why people are so well rounded now as opposed to even as recently as the Chuck Liddell era for example. I've no doubt that Dillashaw will still use Ludwig during his camps for his striking and so on.

[Guest John Hancock]

I hope so, because, without Ludwig, that's a boring team of wrestlers. With him, they're exciting maniacs.

[Guest The Beltster]

He's worked wonders with them, the Barao fights aside, he's rejuvenated Fabers career.

[Guest sanJmaru]

Dillashaw...................my goodness.

[Guest John Hancock]

He's worked wonders with them, the Barao fights aside, he's rejuvenated Fabers career.

 

It would be cool if one of them really did just fully break away and go to Denver so we could have Dillashaw vs. Faber.

[Guest The Beltster]

Dillashaw heel turn.

[Guest John Hancock]

Nah, it's got to be a Faber heel turn, he's the jealous, pretty-boy friend. That was supposed to be his belt, he wanted it, the UFC wanted him to have it, he was given a thousand chances, and then his weird little friend gets to win it? Faber should throw him through a barber shop window during his victory party.

[Evil Gringo 279]

Given the relationship with TJ and Chad Mendes with Bang then I can see them going to Denver along with him and then Faber cussing out TJ like Johnny said, causing a Jones v Evans type situation and grudge match.

 

I'd so love to see Faber get whacked right in his dimple by Dillashaw.

 

I actually warmed to TJ last night, he actually turned up and was humble and worked his ass off for a change and gave the performance of a career. It was like when Frankie Edgar finally knocked BJ Penn off the top of the 155lb division and we were all in shock - it was that exact same feeling.

 

However man of the night award goes to Varner - guy breaks his ankle a minute in and proceeds to fight for the next four minutes without giving up as he is constantly kicked in that same leg and even looks to bang and scramble to get the finish inside a round because he knows, once the round is over his corner are giving it up.

 

Guy has megaballs.

Edited May 26, 2014 by Evil Gringo

[Guest The Beltster]

Noooo its gotta be a Dillashaw heel turn, theres your swerve and the young, pretty boy cocky guy who beat the unbeatable and took his aging friends belt...thats money! And he should throw him through a barbershop window at the weigh ins.

[Evil Gringo 279]

TJ: "Faber, don't you see it? You're done, no one likes you're entrance music, no one likes you're cornrows and guess what Faber, when I said I liked the Guillotine Choke.... I LIED!"

 

UF: "What... but it's the best... We're Team Guillotine!"

 

TJ: "Not anymore... I'm on Team Anaconda!"

 

Dillashaw quickly Superman punches Faber in the dimple and as he sags TJ is on him, feeding his own arm through the armpit of the slumped Faber before clamping it onto his bicep and then rolling in one smooth motion to the floor as Faber's legs thrash and his face starts to turn purple...

 

TJ: "TEAM ANOCONDA FOREVER!!!"

 

That is how it should go down whilst Rogan just stands their, wide eyed and wide mouthed in surprise...

[Guest John Hancock]

And he should throw him through a barbershop window at the weigh ins.

 

At least we're agreed someone's going through a barbershop window.