UFC 298: Volk vs Topuria Official Discussion Thread

[Schnitzl]

Who you got? Can't believe Volk is being dismissed by so many with his only losses coming from Islam. He's beat Max 3x, Yair, Ortega, Aldo, Mendes.

This is Topurias UFC record

Spoiler!

Volk by KO
Costa by KO
Neal
Merab decision
Kopylov
Tafa
Ribeiro

[GreenMintTea]

Volk, Whittaker, Dvalishvilli, Tafa. Those are the only ones I've looked at so far that I really like

[MinisterOfLust]

My body is ready from now to 300

[Barteh]

My body is ready from now to 300

298, 299 and 300 are all great cards. Good times to be an MMA fan.

[Gringo12]

Topuria - first or 2nd round tko (otherwise volk by dec/ko via head kick
Whittaker - Dec
Neale - 2nd or 3rd ko
Merab - dec
Kopylov - 1st round ko

[Gainzzz]

Volk
Costa
Garry (sadly)
Merab
Never watched Kopylov

I think a Geoff Neal KO would hit harder than the Holly Holm headkick on Ronda, srs. That kunt needs to be humbled and forced to shut the fuk up.

[dingler]

Volk, Paulo, Neal, Merab

[PrimarisIn]

In like Flyn

I got Volk, Whittaker and Merab/Cejudo over 2.5


Let's get it on!!!

[bicmane123]

=
Who you got? Can't believe Volk is being dismissed by so many with his only losses coming from Islam. He's beat Max 3x, Yair, Ortega, Aldo, Mendes.

Ilia might be the best striker Volk has faced. Ilia also has a wrestling base so if he can deny Volks takedowns, Volk can definitely get ko'd just like against Islam.

Big Volk fan, but I think he might need the take down or get ko'd.

[Schnitzl]

Garry (sadly)

I can't justify Garry taking it easily vs a veteran like Neal. He showed very very crisp boxing & counters vs Rakhmonov where Garry got dropped by Song Kenan. Neal's flow state is biuriful to watch.

Same with Volk vs Topuria.

Does Ilia wrestle as well as Islam?
Does Ilia high kick as well as Yair? I heard that Ilia has never thrown a high kick in his UFC career (might be misinformation).
Does Ilia have the same level of boxing as Holloway?
Subs like Ortega?

No to all.

[bicmane123]

Does Ilia have the same level of boxing as Holloway?

Hmmm possibly even better. Way better defense in his boxing, takes far less shots than Max, definitely more power.

[Schnitzl]

Hmmm possibly even better. Way better defense in his boxing, takes far less shots than Max, definitely more power.

Bold statement as Max is widely considered a top 5 if not the best boxer in UFC. Interested to hear why you think Topuria is better?

[CellyTech]

Volk gets this done in RD4

[Gainzzz]

I can't justify Garry taking it easily vs a veteran like Neal. He showed very very crisp boxing & counters vs Rakhmonov where Garry got dropped by Song Kenan. Neal's flow state is biuriful to watch.

Same with Volk vs Topuria.

Does Ilia wrestle as well as Islam?
Does Ilia high kick as well as Yair? I heard that Ilia has never thrown a high kick in his UFC career (might be misinformation).
Does Ilia have the same level of boxing as Holloway?
Subs like Ortega?

No to all.

[youtube]yAF0bIDlWcE[/youtub]

[youtube]tMdB1MSNvU4[/youtub]

I put a little something on a Neal/Costa double a few weeks back. I have always been a fan of Geoff Neal and when healthy (mentally and physically) I think he's a handful for anyone. I've just got a feeling Garry will win and continue to be insufferable.

People picking Ilia are probably assuming Volk is washed, and that is what it comes down to. This card is so good because there are so many questions. Anything could happen in the last 4 fights imo.

[Gainzzz]

Damn Volk looks in rough shape on the weigh in show. Going up and down in weight has never benefited any fighter ever.

[bicmane123]

Bold statement as Max is widely considered a top 5 if not the best boxer in UFC. Interested to hear why you think Topuria is better?

imo he just doesn't have enough power and relies on his chin too much, which is bad defensive boxing.

max currently is probably not a top 5 boxer in the UFC

[akmerle]

I love Volk, but the numbers sure dont look favorable for lighter weight classes when you are over 35 years old like Volk, for guys who cut a substantial amount like Volk, who've been bouncing between weight classes like Volk, and guys who have been having mental issues like Volk. Topuria looks like a killer, so will be curious to see how the fight goes. I see Ilia coming out fast / heavy, trying to mimic Islam. Then tiring, and Volk using his experience and cage intelligence to win in a decision.

Super pumped to see Whittaker and Costa finally meet. With it only being a 3 round fight, I could see Costa really trying to put the pressure on early to test Whittakers chin like DDP. I think Whittaker is too smart / controlled to get into a slugfest with Costa (but said the same things vs DDP, so who knows), so see him playing it safe with a decision win.

Dont like Cejudo talking retirement with a loss, but totally understand given his accomplishments / age. I get him answering all questions with legit answers, but never bodes well when a guy has retirement as his "out" with a loss. Merab via decision.

Garry decisions Neal

Hernandez via R2 sub over Kopylov

Hate picking all favorites, so I'd have to pick Costa over Whittaker as an upset based off how poorly Whittaker looked his last fight. Hard to fault Volk too much on his last performance on short notice, up a weight class, and against arguable the best P4P guy on the planet.

[Reserrection]

Nice fight card

[Schnitzl]

Justin Tafa out with injury, his brother Junior Tafa steps in on 1 day notice. What a guy, a former Glory kickboxer mind you. Samoans are built different.

[Cartiac]

Who you got? Can't believe Volk is being dismissed by so many with his only losses coming from Islam. He's beat Max 3x, Yair, Ortega, Aldo, Mendes.

I think the doubt is fairly reasonable due to the mental state he displayed not that long ago. He was broken in a major way and it is hard to fully recover from that. But I still think Volk can work this guy for a decision. Topuria hasn't faced anything close to the skills of Volk and he is not going to be able to wing punches while leaving himself wide open down the middel against Volk as he has done against everyone else.

Definitely rooting for Costa, Neal and Merab as well.

We got a pretty incredible series of events lined up, it is going to be fun.

[Schnitzl]

I think the doubt is fairly reasonable due to the mental state he displayed not that long ago. He was broken in a major way and it is hard to fully recover from that. But I still think Volk can work this guy for a decision. Topuria hasn't faced anything close to the skills of Volk and he is not going to be able to wing punches while leaving himself wide open down the middel against Volk as he has done against everyone else.

Definitely rooting for Costa, Neal and Merab as well.

We got a pretty incredible series of events lined up, it is going to be fun.

TBH I think the mental health thing was taken to 15/10 when Volk just lost via. head kick to a fighter that would have elevated him to greatness. He even confirmed it wasn't that serious but everyone is acting like old mate was suicidal and taking Islam in a week's notice was the only thing that talked him off the ledge.

[viccruise420]

TBH I think the mental health thing was taken to 15/10 when Volk just lost via. head kick to a fighter that would have elevated him to greatness. He even confirmed it wasn't that serious but everyone is acting like old mate was suicidal and taking Islam in a week's notice was the only thing that talked him off the ledge.

Volk seems to be in a strong place mentally. I think he still has the mental resilience to not let that loss slow him down. Topuria was shaking trying to be the bad guy and stirr up drama and volk was entirely unphased. At the ceremonial weigh in topuria still looked a little nervous to be face to face with volk, broke eye contact first and put his head down. I think topuria is struggling with the over confidence he is displaying.

I wouldn't count volk out just yet.

[CellyTech]

I love Volk, but the numbers sure dont look favorable for lighter weight classes when you are over 35 years old like Volk, for guys who cut a substantial amount like Volk, who've been bouncing between weight classes like Volk, and guys who have been having mental issues like Volk. Topuria looks like a killer, so will be curious to see how the fight goes. I see Ilia coming out fast / heavy, trying to mimic Islam. Then tiring, and Volk using his experience and cage intelligence to win in a decision.

Super pumped to see Whittaker and Costa finally meet. With it only being a 3 round fight, I could see Costa really trying to put the pressure on early to test Whittakers chin like DDP. I think Whittaker is too smart / controlled to get into a slugfest with Costa (but said the same things vs DDP, so who knows), so see him playing it safe with a decision win.

Dont like Cejudo talking retirement with a loss, but totally understand given his accomplishments / age. I get him answering all questions with legit answers, but never bodes well when a guy has retirement as his "out" with a loss. Merab via decision.

Garry decisions Neal

Hernandez via R2 sub over Kopylov

Hate picking all favorites, so I'd have to pick Costa over Whittaker as an upset based off how poorly Whittaker looked his last fight. Hard to fault Volk too much on his last performance on short notice, up a weight class, and against arguable the best P4P guy on the planet.

I actually have a parlay exactly like this, only I bet kopylov by KO. Although I can very easily see him getting subbed too.

[Schnitzl]

I actually have a parlay exactly like this, only I bet kopylov by KO. Although I can very easily see him getting subbed too.

I usually remember newer fighters but the name Hernandez said nothing to me while looking at the whole card. Then I checked his resume and remembered some of his fights. Dude is a certified beast.

- Had a crazy war with Vieira, tired him out and subbed him. For those of you who don't know, this is Vieira: A four-time Brazilian Jiu Jitsu World Champion, seven-time Abu Dhabi World Pro champion, two-time Pan American and European Champion as well as ADCC Submission Grappling World Champion, Vieira is regarded as one of the best heavyweight BJJ competitors of his generation.

- Subbed Marc-Andre Barriault who had never been subbed before.

- TKO-ed Edmen Shahbazyan

That fight is gonna be a banger

[CellyTech]

I usually remember newer fighters but the name Hernandez said nothing to me while looking at the whole card. Then I checked his resume and remembered some of his fights. Dude is a certified beast.

- Had a crazy war with Vieira, tired him out and subbed him. For those of you who don't know, this is Vieira: A four-time Brazilian Jiu Jitsu World Champion, seven-time Abu Dhabi World Pro champion, two-time Pan American and European Champion as well as ADCC Submission Grappling World Champion, Vieira is regarded as one of the best heavyweight BJJ competitors of his generation.

- Subbed Marc-Andre Barriault who had never been subbed before.

- TKO-ed Edmen Shahbazyan

That fight is gonna be a banger

Yeah I had to go back and amend that pick to NGTD.

Went with:
Volk/Topuria O3.5
Merab Dec
Garry Dec
Rob Dec
Kopylov/Fluffy NGTD
Lemos ML
Nakamura KO
75/1

[bicmane123]

Chinese dude is legit. Nice short fight.

[dingler]

If anyone needs a stream rep me and let me know.

[goingcia]

Lmao at this Vera guy.

I'm thinking

Kopylov
Cejudo
Neal
Whittaker
Volk

[iwant2beswole]

Lmao there’s levels to mma

Tafa making de lima look like prime Jon jones

[dingler]

Lmao at this Vera guy.

I'm thinking

Kopylov
Cejudo
Neal
Whittaker
Volk

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