The Review & Preview - #8
IZZY IS KING | Joe Joyce Is Back + Holloway vs Allen Preview.
What a weekend!!
Firstly, well done to everyone who won a few quid.
We had plenty of winners this week and enjoyed seeing all the winning slips in my DM’s.
Only one place to start isn’t there?
ISRAEL ADESANYA.
After writing last week’s preview, I realised that I was one of the only people backing the former champion to win in fashion but I always believed he had this type of performance in him.
I have always believed he is a better mixed martial artist than Alex Pereira.
I’m not going to lie now and say I wasn’t nervous when Pereira backed him up to the fence and was landing blows to head and body but he has always shown he can hurt Pereira when he lands.
And he landed, perfectly.
The finish is a thing of beauty.
To have the presence of mind to evade punishment and then throw the right hand he did with that level of precision is freakish.
It doesn’t just take an insane level of skill, it takes bravery.
Bravery that 99.9% of the population just don’t have.
To have a clear mind in that moment is GOAT level.
The question now is, does he enter the conversation?
What’s Next?
The win for Adesanya actually puts him in a weird spot.
His options are pretty limited.
He has cleared out most of the division.
The most competitive fight would be Robert Whittaker. He has beat him twice.
Pereira 3?
Not yet.
Khamzat?
He has a lot to prove at middleweight before a title shot and I am sure Izzy won’t be in a huge rush to hand him a shot.
Maybe a fight with Dricus Du Plessis.
They’ve had a lot of back and forth with some harsh words exchanged.
It would sell, especially in Africa but it’s not competitive.
Adesanya runs through Du Plessis inside three rounds.
We don’t need to see that.
For Pereira, the next step is much easier.
205.
He was HUGE on Saturday night.
Look at this picture below next time heavyweight contender Jailton Almedia.
It’s ridiculous.
I can’t even imagine what the weight down to middleweight done to him and it impacted his performance, without doubt.
He would be a force at light heavyweight and the division is stacked with fighters who like to strike. Especially the champion.
Pereira matches up well with the top 10 at light heavyweight and he would be a very interesting addition to 205.
Time For A New King?
Jorge Masvidal called time on his long career after defeat to Gilbert Burns and it was good to see him go out on his own terms.
Since 2019, we have become accustomed to Masvidal being a PPV superstar but it hasn’t always been the case.
‘Gamebred’ has given his life and soul to the art of combat but its been a long two decades full of up’s and downs.
He is testament to the attitude of MMA fans.
We don’t really care for unbeaten records.
We care about fighters who give us everything.
You could say we are a very selfish fan base. You wouldn’t be wrong.
But Masvidal was happy to give us that.
Every time you watched Jorge, you were entertained.
He won. He lost. He always turned up.Unfo
He may not get the Hall of Fame call any time soon but he is a fans favourite and I think that means more.
A true fighter.
As for Gilbert Burns, I said he was the most dangerous man inside the welterweight top 5 and I stand by it.
Dana is lining up Colby Covington for Leon Edwards but I believe it should be Burns.
Unfortunately, in any sport, bulls**t sells and that’s why Colby will be in the opposite corner in July but Burns’ time will come.
I don’t know how a fight with Edwards will go but I want to see it.
Elsewhere
I put down Gastelum and Curtis as the fight to watch and it DELIVERED!
I was very happy to see Gastelum get back in the win column but Curtis lost nothing in defeat.
When I researched this fight, it was clear how well matched these two are.
They may never reach title level but they both have life left in their career.
If you haven’t watched this fight yet, go back when you get a chance.
Yet another reason why MMA is the best sport in the world.
The Funny Old Game Of Boxing.
Last week I told you all that Boxing has pushed me to the edge but I should have been more clear.
BRITISH BOXING IS PUSHING ME TO THE EDGE.
Internationally, the sport is thriving.
We are an absolute joke.
But watching the action from this weekend, it’s clear that boxing, internationally, has so much to be excited about.
Shakur Stevenson, for one.
It doesn’t take a genius to work out Stevenson is capable of multiple world titles in multiple divisions but it is getting to the point were we have to start talking about just how far we can go.
I don’t believe we have even seen 40% of his true potential.
That’s a scary thought.
This was a routine knockout victory against a fighter who he wouldn’t even bring in for sparring but straight after he was on the mic about the winner of Haney vs Loma.
He is a throwback, in that sense.
He wants the big fights.
They met as amateurs, the history is there.
They are both calling for it, too.
We have to get behind fighters like these two and perhaps forget about fighters, promoters and drug cheats that are ruining the sport close to home.
BIG JUGGERNAUT.
The most exciting heavyweight in the world (ok, maybe that’s a bit strong) returns this weekend and will be hoping to take care of Zhilei Zhang before a big showdown with either Fury, Joshua or Usyk.
Joyce is becoming unmissable and his ability to absorb punches before knocking his opponent out is astonishing.
He is yet to fight an elite level heavyweight but would you bet against him in a fight with any of the big names?
I wouldn’t.
Zhang is a decent enough heavyweight and was an exceptional amateur but I don’t see how he beats Joyce.
He can box and I am sure they will be his tactics here but he was caught and hurt by Hrgovic last time out and based on that, Joyce has all the toys to get to him.
As usual, it may take some time but Joyce will land and he will hurt Zhang.
Can’t wait.
A Brit & A GOAT.
In the UFC, we have another big card coming and one of our unsung heroes takes his place in the main event.
Arnold Allen is undefeated in the UFC but his quiet nature has meant he has been kept in the shadows.
Until now.
This weekend he takes on Max Holloway and it’s a fight with huge repercussions.
With Holloway hoping to keep hold of his #1 contender spot at featherweight and Allen hoping to punch his ticket and emerge as the clear contender for the winner of Alexander Volkanovski and Yair Rodriguez.
Allen is far from the finished article and this is a huge step up but if there is a good time to fight Max Holloway…it’s now.
He is only 31 but with 26 UFC fights under his belt, there are miles on the clock.
That’s not to say he is finished or on the decline but after that last performance against Volkaovski, he has questions to answer.
We see these moments a lot in the UFC, when experience meets the surging star.
We seen one this weekend in Yanez vs Font and a lot of the time experience comes out on top.
It wouldn’t be wise to bet against Holloway this weekend but if he is a faded force, Allen can take his career to a whole new level!
Update
There will be a Wednesday Newsletter this week.
There is so much going on in MMA and Boxing that I will give my opinion on a lot of the talking points.
Once again, thanks for all your feedback!
Big things coming soon.
Catch you Wednesday!