UFC 234 came and went. I’ll get into how the fights played out, whats next for them, and how I did on my picks.
Kelvin Gastelum vs Robert Whittaker
Oh, the fight that didnt happen. I am a little bit happy, because I made a bold prediction, picking Gastelum. Whittaker is a very smart fighter and his hit and run style could’ve beat Gastelum. I still love Gastelum’s chin though, which is his best weapon, and I think that he can beat Whittaker more easily now, knowing his injury. Can you say, push-kick to the gut?
Israel Adesanya vs Anderson Silva
This fight didnt end the way I thought it would, and I’m happy it did not end the way I thought it would. What we saw was a modern day Kung fu fight, and it was delightful. We really needed to see these guys for five rounds, but it seems as if the MMA Gods hate Australia. Adesanya will dismantle Gastelum if he faces him, and as for Anderson Silva, I see he’s still playing with his consciousness by intentionally taking shorts to the head.
Rani Yahya vs Ricky Simon
I called it perfectly. Yes! Get your betting money ready and check http://unbrokenmma.com. dont do that. Gambling on MMA is stupid. I think Ricky Simon can beat TJ Dillashaw, that’s how highly I rate him right now.
Montana de la Rosa vs Nadia Kassem
I should’ve rolled with the Texan here, but in truth, I wasn’t familiar with either woman, and I’m surprised they made it to the main card, even after the main event was called-off. I thought Nadia Kassem was more aggressive, and I should’ve went with the lady with the better ground game. These two have a long way to go, to challenge for anything at the moment.
Jim Crute vs Sam Alvey
I knew Crute would take it. I just didnt know how it would end. Alvey was a little hard done with the early stoppage, but he legitimately got rocked a few seconds before that. I’m high on “The Brute”, who is actually a very smart fighter, but I want to see more of him.
Devonte Smith vs Dong Hyun Ma
I nailed this one too. Devote Smith has very advanced striking. It was a total mismatch. He wants Trinaldo, and I think that is a tough fight for him. Trinaldo is durable and powerful, I still think he could win though, but damn that fight is enticing. Dong Hyun Ma has no place in the UFC right now. Sad to say
Shane Young vs Justin Arnett
Both guys are not very talented. Justin Arnett is very not talented. I have no idea whats in store for either fighter.
Kai Kara-France vs Raulian Paiva
I think Paiva has the higher upside, he just didnt establish himself in this fight, and I think that he hurt KKF in this fight, and he didnt get significantly hurt himself. I lucked out on this pick
Teruto Ishihara vs Kang Kyung-ho
I got this wrong. I thought Ishihara was just going to be wilder, and fight like his career is on the line. He did that, but he didnt do it smartly. Kang was a tad more technical in the end, and got the win, and I doubt we’ll see Ishihara’s “amadeus” tattoo in the UFC anymore.
Lando Vannata vs Marcos Rosa
I picked Vannata to win, but I thought that Rosa would last a little longer than the first round. I was almost right, for whatever that matters. Groovy Lando ended up finishing him with 5 seconds to go in the first round. Marcus Rosa looks very weak. Vannata basically brought him down with a belly to belly, then finished him with a Kimura. Drink your milk kids.
Jalin Turner vs Callan Potter
What I thought would happen, happened. I was afraid to name the first round, but I should have. Turner needs a wrestling threat, to see where he’s at.
Wuliji Buren vs Jonathan Martinez
They threw Martinez a can, and he played around with the can for 3 rounds, instead of crushing it. I picked him to win in the first round, but, I no longer think he has a high upside. He’s way too tentative.
8/10 aint too bad.
Check out the picks I made here
The Ricky Simon pick was unBroken