GDT: UFC 221: Romero vs. Rockhold

[1specter]

i just realized Blaydes is just 26 years old. So, he's basically got 14 years left to realize his potential at heavyweight lol

He's 26? What the f***

 

[MD thaivuN]

Meh I didn't care either, the interim belt is just a promotional tool, at this point it's basically just the "#1 Contender Belt".

I was essentially cheering for Romero to voiding that interim belt lol

 

[m9]

Yeah, it wasn't long ago that Blaydes was the top HW prospect in MMA. Lost to some no-name Ngannou and the hype got derailed. He's a serious problem for anyone at HW. I saw people that were ripping on him for his style - probably the same people cheering when Lesnar used the same strategy on Hunt.

Great knockout for Romero. Overall some great finishes tonight.

 

[mightyquack]

Just got back from the event, definitely was worth getting up at 6am to get there in time for the fight pass prelims. Overall card was super fun, great fights and finishes and got to see some new fighters that had never seen before. I feel sorry for people who got refunds and didn't go because Whittaker pulled out, as they missed out on a great card (and Perth probably won't get another PPV in the next decade).

Crowd was pretty insane during the Pedro fight, the noise when he went for the finish was crazy.

 

[Neutrinos]

Lol Luke wanted nothing to do with him when he tried to talk to him after the fight

And rightfully so!

Whatever Romero wanted to say to Luke could've been said back stage at a later time, or the next day over the phone, etc.

Getting in his face and kissing him was nothing more than theater. He wanted everyone to see how humble and respectful he is in victory

But it's not humble or respectful to force your way into someone's face when they clearly aren't interested in whatever you're selling

 

[crazychimp]

Damn..


Edit: Update via Yoel's Manager

 

[1specter]

Damn..

I wonder why he was hobbling at the weigh in?

 

[MD thaivuN]

Kinda looks good one Rockhold seems a bit cocky. I wonder what the guys at AKA think of him after leaving.

He didn't leave tho. He's cross-training between AKA and Henri Hooft's team. The AKA coaches still cornered him for this fight.

 

[dss97]

Gotta think Yoel rematches Jacare for #1 contender now, you can't give a title shot after a guy misses weight.

 

[m9]

Give Romero the title shot. Not sure on other upcoming fights, but Jacare v Gastelum makes sense to me.

 

[Avs_19]

Dana already said Romero gets Whittaker next.

I'd like to see Jacare vs. Weidman to determine the #1 contender.

 

[Neutrinos]

Why not Bisping vs Whitaker in London for the title?

Romero can face the winner

 

[Neutrinos]

Dana already said Romero gets Whittaker next.

I'd like to see Jacare vs. Weidman to determine the #1 contender.

Bisping should be ahead of both of them in the rankings

 

[Avs_19]

Why not Bisping vs Whitaker in London for the title?

Romero can face the winner

Bisping should be ahead of both of them in the rankings

Bisping just got choked out by GSP and then knocked out by Gastelum in a span of three weeks so he’s not even in the title conversation anymore. They’ll give him a winnable fight against a lower ranked fighter and then he’ll retire.

 

[Neutrinos]

Bisping just got choked out by GSP and then knocked out by Gastelum in a span of three weeks so he’s not even in the title conversation anymore. They’ll give him a winnable fight against a lower ranked fighter and then he’ll retire.

Not gonna lie, I forgot about the Gastelum fight

But Romero was able to fight for the interim title after a loss, and it could be argued that Bisping should be given a pass for the Gastelum fight since he was helping the company out and likely shouldn't have been fighting in the first place

It's also doubtful Bisping would beat Whitaker anyway, so the UFC still gets a Romero vs Whitaker rematch

 

[MD thaivuN]

Between Romero and Whittaker, they've essentially cleared out the division. The rest of the top of the division needs a few fights to rebuild their status. Personally, this is where the UFC should do a tournament because there's no one close with a claim to get a title shot over Romero and the division is in serious need of a buildup.

have Whittaker vs Romero II
and a two card tourny between Rockhold, Jacare, Weidman, Gastelum, Paulo Costa, Thiago Santos, Carlos Junior and Branch. Use the first card with all the tourny members fighting. Have the semi with the 4 remaining members and final on the 2nd card. No excessive dragging for 6+ months or a year.

 

[m9]

Hard to create a tournament when the timing will be off with everyone.

Rockhold won't be ready for awhile, and to be honest it wouldn't be surprising if he moved up to LHW soon.

Branch and Santos are already fighting each other in April and Costa is fighting Uriah Hall on the same card. Easy enough to have the two winners square off.

Carlos Jr is fighting Tim Boetsch, also in April.

Weidman, Gastelum, Jacare, Romero, and of course Whittaker are the ones on the side. If you do Romero v Whittaker 2, then you are left with Weidman, Gastelum, and Jacare. Weidman just beat Gastelum, so it's probably Weidman/Jacare that makes the most sense with Gastelum getting shafted.

 

[LSCII]

Hard to create a tournament when the timing will be off with everyone.

Rockhold won't be ready for awhile, and to be honest it wouldn't be surprising if he moved up to LHW soon.

Branch and Santos are already fighting each other in April and Costa is fighting Uriah Hall on the same card. Easy enough to have the two winners square off.

Carlos Jr is fighting Tim Boetsch, also in April.

Weidman, Gastelum, Jacare, Romero, and of course Whittaker are the ones on the side. If you do Romero v Whittaker 2, then you are left with Weidman, Gastelum, and Jacare. Weidman just beat Gastelum, so it's probably Weidman/Jacare that makes the most sense with Gastelum getting shafted.

No amount of training is going to fix his glass jaw. He's been exposed twice in his last 3 fights now, and I don't think it's going to get any better for him going forward either. If anything, moving up a class will only expose it more, imo.

 

[MD thaivuN]

No amount of training is going to fix his glass jaw. He's been exposed twice in his last 3 fights now, and I don't think it's going to get any better for him going forward either. If anything, moving up a class will only expose it more, imo.

there's some correlation with bad durability and massive weight cut. plus, at light heavyweight, everyone will be slower, so easier to see shots coming (awareness also comes into account in the ability to take a shot).

 

[darko]

Between Romero and Whittaker, they've essentially cleared out the division. The rest of the top of the division needs a few fights to rebuild their status. Personally, this is where the UFC should do a tournament because there's no one close with a claim to get a title shot over Romero and the division is in serious need of a buildup.

have Whittaker vs Romero II
and a two card tourny between Rockhold, Jacare, Weidman, Gastelum, Paulo Costa, Thiago Santos, Carlos Junior and Branch. Use the first card with all the tourny members fighting. Have the semi with the 4 remaining members and final on the 2nd card. No excessive dragging for 6+ months or a year.

Touneys are one of the best things about Bellator.

Will be hard to do but I'm all for it.