GDT: UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs. Ortega

[Avs_19]

Date: December 9, 2017
Venue: Save Mart Center
City: Fresno, California
Time: 10pm ET/7pm PT
Viewing: FS1, TSN 5

MAIN CARD (FS1, TSN 5)

Featherweight bout: Cub Swanson vs. Brian Ortega
Featherweight bout: Jason Knight vs. Gabriel Benítez
Bantamweight bout: Marlon Moraes vs. Aljamain Sterling
Lightweight bout: Scott Holtzman vs. Darrell Horcher
Middleweight bout: Eryk Anders vs. Markus Perez
Bantamweight bout: Albert Morales vs. Benito Lopez

PRELIMINARY CARD (FS1, Fight Network/UFC Fight Pass)

Women's Flyweight bout: Alexis Davis vs. Liz Carmouche
Bantamweight bout: Luke Sanders vs. Andre Soukhamthath
Flyweight bout: Carls John de Tomas vs. Alex Perez
Bantamweight bout: Frankie Saenz vs. Merab Dvalishvili

PRELIMINARY CARD (UFC Fight Pass)

Bantamweight bout: Alejandro Pérez vs. Iuri Alcântara
Lightweight bout: Chris Gruetzemacher vs. Davi Ramos
Middleweight bout: Antônio Braga Neto vs. Trevin Giles

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[m9]

Obiously not the best card, but some interesting stuff.

I think Swanson v Ortega is a great fight to make - some perfect matchmaking by the UFC. Ortega's weird - technically undefeated and has some nice wins, but hasn't really looked good at time and has saved himself with some 3rd round wins in finishes in fights he was losing. I think he's rightly the underdog in this fight, but I think by the end of this card we will have a much better idea of what Ortega is.

Jason Knight in the co-main already had his "test" fight and got got absolutely killed. He should be able to bounce back here.

Have to like Marlon Moraes to beat Sterling. Sterling hasn't really developed like was expected, and this is a tough one.

Looking forward to seeing the very raw but exciting Eryk Anders. Big chance for him here on a main card.

I don't see too much of interest on the prelims.

 

[Asiantuntija]

Even TUF finale was way more entertaining than this event.

 

[td_ice]

I think that was an early stoppage. Sanders was blocking the last few, and was getting up.

 

[td_ice]

This is a good one, Morales and Lopez.

 

[td_ice]

I think Perez realizes he is in a fight and has dropped the clown act.

Anders taking it to him.

 

[m9]

I think Perez realizes he is in a fight and has dropped the clown act.

Anders taking it to him.

Perez looked good early - did a good job circling away from Anders' left.

Once he got tired he started circling the wrong way.

 

[td_ice]

Real good showing from Anders, standup and on the ground.

 

[td_ice]

Two real good fights so far on the main card.

 

[td_ice]

Haha....wow, the ref really quick to stand them up.

Felder- "that's the third standup for absolutely no reason."

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

This ref is terrible, why is he standing them up? The guys working, advancing position...just a poor standup

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

Wow! That was a nasty head kick!

Edit: Actually, turns out that it's a knee that Sterling dove right into.

 

[td_ice]

Brutal knee.

 

[m9]

Oh wow, Moraes with the huge knockout on Sterling. Thought he would win fairly easily, but that was great.

 

[td_ice]

Haha.....Moraes- "I'll be honest with you, I was going for a kick......"

 

[MD thaivuN]

i want to see Moraes vs Garbrandt.

 

[td_ice]

Knight docked a point for biting a finger.

 

[td_ice]

Damn, now an eye poke by Knight on Benitez.

Benitez just quicker getting off his shots tonight than Knight.


Knight is probably gonna need a KO/submission to win this one.

 

[td_ice]

Swanson saved by the bell there. Another 15 seconds and he is out.

 

[td_ice]

Ortega, a submission beast.

 

[m9]

Great win for Ortega. Guy just knows how to finish.

 

[darko]

Damn Cub

 

[1specter]

Damn, Ortega looking legit. Could be the next best contender at featherweight soon. Max would definitely outstrike him but Ortega is a huge threat with his BJJ. Dude can pull out a flash submission with ease.

 

[Avs_19]

Only caught the last three fights and all three were great performances by the winners. Ortega took some shots but his submission game is just on another level. Both Ortega and Moraes should be another big win or two away from title shots.

 

[m9]

Hard not to be impressed by Ortega. Loved this matchmaking coming in so we could get a better gauge on Ortega, and he passed the test. I think if you do Edgar v Holloway next, doing Lamas (as long as he wins this week) v Ortega wouldn't be bad.

Speaking of Lamas, a guy that he killed last year in Knight got beat decisively again. This hype train has derailed in a hurry. I thought Benitez was kind of a tune-up fight for Knight, but he earned a bigger opportunity in his next fight.

Not much else to add about Moraes win. Glad Sterling is okay, but this was a signature win that Moraes needed. Excited to see his next fight.

I thought Eryk Anders looked alright, though I was looking for a bit more from him. Looked a bit stiff and methodical in there. He's a great athlete, he just needs to work on transitions between striking, clinching, grappling, etc. Some guys eventually get it, some don't. I think a matchup with someone like a Sam Alvey would be fine, or maybe something with Elias Theodorou.

On to Winnipeg FOX card, which looks pretty great on paper.