Morning All
Sorry this edition is late, I have been gripped by a mysterious illness, working around UFC 268 and Cheltenham Festival this week so I am all over the place!
But here we are, letβs get stuck into it.
UFC 268
All of our focus this week is firmly on UFC 268 and itβs so good to see the buzz around a big UFC show in the UK.
MMA is booming over here and the UFC are picking up on that and with all the big names in town to either watch or compete, it feels like a huge PPV week.
The story of the main event is well known.
If you donβt, just listen to the words of the crowd at Fridayβs weigh in..
HEAD SHOT. DEAD.
That moment that Leon Edwards produced in Salt Lake City will go down in MMA history.
It will included in every UFC promo for the next decade.
It was inconic but it didnβt paint the full picture of the fight.
For large parts of that fight, Kamaru Usman dominated Leon Edwards in every department.
In truth, a few more clean shots in round 4 and he might have got the finish himself.
Granted, being close to a finish means nothing.
But it demonstrates just how closely matched these two are.
Who has the final say?
I believe this will be the last time we ever see Leon Edwards and Kamaru Usman share the Octagon but I am not fully confident in either man to get the win.
My biggest worry for Kamaru Usman is the mental scars that have been left since being knocked out in Salt Like City.
Also, there are well known issues around the state of his body as he approaches 36 years old.
Joe Rogan is on tape suggesting Usmanβs knees are in such a bad state that he has to walk down the stairs backwards.
There are other reports that he can barely walk on concrete because of the impact of his knees.
Before MMA, Usman had a long and decorated wrestling career and although that is very impressive. It eventually catches up with you.
I have serious doubts whether Usman will ever reach the level he was at in his peak and that gives Leon a huge chance.
I also have my doubts about Leon Edwards.
What he has achieved is unbelievable.
He is forever in the history books.
But when you become THE CHAMP.
Life changes.
He has had more media commitments than ever before.
More spotlight than ever before.
More attention than ever before.
Itβs hard to remain focused with all that noise surrounding you.
I am not suggesting Edwards hasnβt worked hard or has begun taking his foot off the pedal but the fact is, his life has changed enormously.
We wonβt know if that has impacted him until the opening bell goes on Saturday night.
I am happy to just sit and watch the main event as it can go either way but I think Edwards is overpriced. He is the first and only person to take Kamaru Usman down and I think if his gas tank holds up and he is as focused as he was as a challenger, he can upset the odds.
Support Cast
The co-main event is absolute carnage.
Justin Gaethje is never in a bad fight and he has got a dance partner here who just strikes me as a younger, fresher version of him.
Fiziev is being talked about as a future contender and I think this is the test which reveals all.
To me, he has all the skills needed to become a genuine contender but he has to prove it on the big stage and the UFC have given him the perfect opportunity.
Gaethje, who has a solid wrestling background, could make life easier for himself if he ever decided to lean on that wrestling but he has fallen in love with his hands and fans love him for it.
Once the early feeling out process is done here, I think this one will explode into a brawl and I believe Fiziev is just too fresh, quick and powerful for this version of Justin Gaethje.
Another interesting fight is Casey OβNeill vs Jennifer Maia.
I think OβNeill could go to the top of this flyweight division but this is the toughest test of her young UFC career.
Maia has a 5/5 UFC record but she has fought all the big names and only lost a decision to a prime Valentina Shevchenko.
Timing is everything in MMA and OβNeill is catching Maia at a good time but I think she will have to work for the victory.
Her three stoppages in four UFC fights is really impressive reading but I expect this one to go a little bit longer given Maia has never been stopped.
Casey OβNeill by decision is the play.
Another fight I am really interested in is Marvin Vettori vs Roman Dolidze.
Vettori is a staple of the middleweight division and is much better than he is ever given credit.
I donβt think he will ever be the champion but he is a solid top 10 fighter and is still improving at 29.
However, Dolidze is a fighter that I am quite excited about.
He is a part of this influx of Georgian fighters and they are all making serious headlines in MMA.
He comes into this fight after finishing his last three opponents and I have been really impressed with his variety and finishing ability.
This could be a bit of a banger but I am confident Roman Dolidze can come in here as an underdog and get the win.
Mohammed Mokaev is also on the card and I expect him to continue his surge towards flyweight gold.
He has eyes on becoming the youngest ever UFC champion which would be some achievement but he has a fair way to go before realising that dream.
That said, he is levels above Filho.
Mokaev is a submission threat for every second of every round and for I think his relentless pace will be too much for Filho here.
Mokaev by submission is a confident pick.
Fight To Keep An Eye On
This fight between Lerone Murphy and Gabriel Santos looks nailed on for a bonus.
Murphy is never in a bad fight but has suffered with inactivity that has halted his progress.
He was originally matched with Nathaniel Wood here which would have been a brilliant fight but Santos is more than capable and I think people may be sleeping on this one.
Santos has been brutally finishing people in LFA and although that is a smaller promotion, he deserves a chance to step up here and he has cut a confident figure all week.
I really rate Murphy and think he is criminally underappreciated by British MMA fans and pundits and I think he will be keen to put on a performance to remind everyone he is a contender at featherweight.
I canβt see any backwards steps being taken here and I do favour Lerone Murphy to get the win but can see a fight of the night bonus being handed to both men.
Official Picks
Mohammed Mokaev by submission
Roman Dolidze to win
Casey OβNeill by decision
Conclusion
There is a bit of boxing on DAZN this weekend but to be totally honest, the card is so weak that I didnβt even want to spend the time researching.
More on DAZN next week!
Once again, thanks for the continued support for The Combat Club, the numbers are growing every single week and we have so much more to come.
Enjoy the SHOW!!
Called it with the sub but that knee bar!