Another Sports Podcast
UFC 307 Preview
All right guys, what's up? Obviously, this is going to be pretty much just a UFC only Show unless I decide to drop in there, you know some tidbits about Football if I get if I get engaged. I got the this Exciting Buccaneers Falcons game going on right now on Thursday night Never in my life that I think that I would be Sitting here saying that Wow Baker Mayfield and Kurt cousins that's some quality football, but That's what the Patriots have done to me. They've really turned me into a change man. So This is this is entertaining, but back on to the main subject here UFC 307 this weekend in Salt Lake City, Utah Once again the UFC going over to Salt Lake City, Utah I don't know what exactly is the deal there I They have to have come to some sort of some form of agreement Where they have a card there every single year? Nevertheless, they seem to get good cards over there all the time which good for the folks that at BYU and all that stuff They get some entertaining fights obviously the main event is one of the biggest stars in the UFC at the moment Alex Beheja defending the title against his 205 pound belt against Khalil round tree in the main event a Little bit of a weird matchmaking when it was made Khalil was scheduled earlier this year to fight Jamal Hill and he ends up pulling out because he self-report himself with a steroid violation or I guess should say substance abuse violation Said that he took something that he didn't know how to set a band substance in it and is it up getting sorted out between him and the The new UFC drug testing system He ends up sitting out. I think it was a retroactive suspension I'm not exactly sure. I think it was a retroactive like six-month suspension something like that Nevertheless, he ends up getting the title fight after not really fighting. He fought last in December against Anthony Smith But other than that we have not seen him In action this year, so a little bit of a weird Circumstance to get a title fight I Think it definitely a lot of people raise their eyebrows when you know you got guys like uncle I of and stuff laying in the weights, but Nevertheless, it's I think it's a exciting fight at least I don't think many people have a problem with it because on paper. It's it's a good matchup Two good kickboxers. Obviously Alex Pahaya The best kickboxer in the UFC Technically speaking Which is obviously where you see where Khalil is gonna have some problems Khalil very good kickboxer very fast very Powerful does have a win over I Guess you could say the Alex Pahaya of his time Gokan Saki when he came over to the UFC Alex Khalil knocked him out in what was Gokan's debut fight and Yeah, you know obviously that's not Alex Pahaya Pahaya is a lot bigger than what Gokan Saki is Probably a lot better of a calf kicker or two and just probably just better all around Pahaya has been on a tear Ever since he got into the UFC This is his sixth main event in ten fights. I can't think of anybody that's more Had more accomplishments in such a short period of time I mean, I guess you're sort of you know some of these people came in they got gifted the belt right away. So, you know, I Don't know if it's accurate to say that, but You know, I can't think of anyone that came sort of from the bottom from nothing And just build themselves as fast as Alex Pahaya has in the UFC He's the list of accomplishments that he's been able to achieve and just this this just being his 10th UFC fight is insane and I think that you know he's a surefire UFC Hall of Famer already and You know, he's looking to build upon that legacy. Maybe he moves up after this fight. Who knows? Who knows what's gonna happen? But I guess going into the fight itself, you know, as I mentioned Kaleel very good kickboxer Very fast very athletic very powerful He has a tendency he is a south paw. He has a tendency to leave his right hand low Which if you're facing Alex Pahaya, I can't imagine that he hasn't spent his this entire camp with that right hand glued to his head So I'm gonna expect that he looks a little bit different in this fight Not necessarily and I'm not gonna be doing pretty I'm not gonna be doing, you know Total prediction show that I think those suck who cares who gives a shit? Who gives a shit who I'm picking I'll tell you who I've what I've got money on I'll say that And maybe where I'm leaning but so yeah, so you know round tree he Has a little bit of a tendency to leave his hands down low So you got to watch out for that when you're facing Alex Pahaya I would imagine like I said, I can't imagine he's gonna go through a full camp and Not have some sort of answer for that If not then he just doesn't belong in there, but I I have more respect for Kaleel than that Prayer, you know, he can't really just walk in on a round tree in a straight line Definitely Not gonna be able to do I don't think he's gonna be able to do what he did to Jamali able to call out round tree I think Kaleel round tree just presents a lot more athleticism and power coming back at him and I think that if he is gonna get him he's gonna get him a little bit later I have just as far as my money goes. I do have a bet on Pereira and over one and a half rounds. I feel like it's gonna probably be somewhere in that Late second, you know third fourth round the later the fight goes. I feel like it's better for Pahaya round tree will slow down and Some of that power pop will come out of his punches, and I think it'll allow Pereira to stock him down And eventually probably get the finish, but it should be an exciting fight for however long it lasts it it might just be a quick fight, but I do think it's it's gonna go I Do think it's there's gonna be some some tenure there and hey I will say Utah has been the headkick capital of the MMA world With the past two times they've been there Usman gets head kicked by Leon Edwards In the last minute of the fight and then last year Justin Gaechee and Dustin Poire Gaechee wins that fight by knockout with the headkick both times by the underdog by the way So who knows we might see another spectacular headkick knockout All right moving on obviously a co-main event Leads a little to be desired Raquel Pennington and Julianna Peña for the Women's Bantamweight Championship, which I can't think of a division that makes more people I Guess roll their eyes then the women's Bantamweight division and It's a shame. It's a little bit of a shame This used that was pretty much the premium. It was the only women's division for a period of time and It does seem like we've fallen off a little bit Especially transitioning out of Nunez and you know the the last two title fights this one included There really just isn't a lot of buzz there. I will say that Despite what might be lack of technique from the two of them it might be So bad, it's good If that makes any sense it might be a Little bit of a sloppy drag them out just sort of you know Barbara Between the two because if there's one thing, you know a lot of people want to crap on Julianna Peña because she has She has no wins against anybody. That's actively in the UFC She talks a lot she doesn't fight very often and she seems to be finding herself into these title spots And it's it's very easy to figure out why people don't like her But she does come to scrap so you know she you got to give her some respect in that regard Raquel Pennington also sort of same thing does come to scrap Again, maybe not the most technical person. Maybe they're both not really the most technical person But I think it could be an intriguing fight in that regard. I'm leaning towards Raquel She's just more active and she obviously has wins over people in the current roster I think and I'm gonna get into this but I think it's pretty obvious that The UFC would prefer if Julianna won so that way they can The dream scenario for them with that band and weight division is Julianna wins Kayla Harrison wins earlier on the main card It sets up the fight between those two because Julianna does talk a lot of shit Kayla talks a lot of shit They can at least get some fan intrigue for that. I Don't think Raquel I Respect her, but you know, I don't think Raquel Cells that fight as but as well as Julianna does so I just think that the promotion is probably leaning towards They want Julianna Peña to win that fight But we'll see but we'll see also on the card Jose Aldo UFC Hall of Famer fighting Mario Batista. He's decided to go on a Fuck your prospects tour and I respect it Comes back to the UFC after a brief retirement Fights Jonathan Martinez in his last fight look very good Fighting a guy now another sort of up-and-comer Mario Batista on a six-fight win streak But he says never fought a guy at Josay Aldo's level and if you give me Josay Aldo at plus money like he is right now. I took him at plus 120. I think he's actually gone up to plus 130 If you give me Josay Aldo a plus money, I'm gonna take him every single time I think that this is a tougher fight than the Jonathan Martinez fight I think I was actually going I went back and watched that fight The other day and I feel like it wasn't as dominant as I originally thought it was I I feel like Jonathan Martinez got a little spooked in there And so if Mario can if Mario Batista can sort of fight the I get rid of the I guess not put Josay Aldo on such a pedestal that he's a little too respectful in there I think he's got a shot. I think he's got a good shot. I Don't think you'll be able to take Aldo down, which is where he's best at is on the ground But he is a volume striker He landed a hundred and eighteen strikes on his last fight against Ricky Simone So this should this is obviously a sneaky pick for fight fight of the night No, I guess not even really sneaky It should be a barn burner again. I'm leaning Aldo because I'm always gonna take a mo any time you give me a UFC veteran that plus money I'm probably gonna end up taking them. I Know I didn't take where take a over Lopez last time, but that was a little bit different scenario then this one also Caitlin Viera and Kayla Harrison obviously Kayla Harrison Sort of trying to bring back some life into that 135-pound division Which has been tough sledding ever since man and noon as Decided to retire It seems like it's pretty obvious that the plan is to get Kayla the belt and then Set her up with a man and noon as they've already been teasing it. I Say they It's really between the two of them not really the UFC, but You know those things are you know in the weeds those things are in the weeds Caitlin Viera former title challenger if I recall Let me just double check that actually before I speak out of pocket here, but Caitlin Viera at least was At one point, you know really considered to Be a real threat At a hundred and thirty five pounds and she just never really Lived up to life. She actually never she never got she never got to the to the title to the title shot. Wow. I thought she did My mistake my mistake. She never did get to that title shot I guess you can say for its former title contender Caitlin Viera You know this should be a little bit of a step up from the Holly home fight for Kayla Harrison But I wouldn't expect anything Other than Kayla Harrison in a dominant victory her grappling is just Next level it really is for anybody any of those any of those girls in that in that division So tough sledding there for Caitlin Viera Roman de Lidze and Kevin Holland usually I would say or de la de I don't know how you pronounce it Usually I would say you got a Do Roman de la de on your own time, but I guess I'll entertain it here good grappler Fighting Kevin Holland who also was a little bit crafty off his back I think that de la de is going to have the advantage on the ground And I think he's going to have the advantage and the takedowns It's just a matter of whether he will actually take Kevin Holland down or if he gets sucked into a striking fight I know that de la de has fought with a little bit of a 10 cent head at points in time and you know Hey shit happens and then probably wrapping up with Stephen Thompson and Joaquin Buckley in the featured pre limb Stephen Thompson we haven't seen in I think about a year now Since he fought Shopcott rock Monoff Yes, it was back in December of 2023. So almost coming up on a year 10 months Since he fought shopcott rock Monoff God dominated in that fight walking Buckley been a little bit on its hair Goes through Vicente luke and then his last fight he fought that was a was a boy of guy Who's a big dude and he ended up taking him down sort of late in the fight So a lot of people look at Buckley on a four-fight win streak and You know they look at him and and he's the favor in this fight Lot people think he can maybe take Wonder Boy down a Little bit interesting, you know, it's tough for me to pick against Wonder Boy in this spot because he's Only really lost to guys that end up fighting for the title. So he's lost a belaw. He's lost a guilt burns. He's lost to You know shopcott rock Monoff who seems like he's in line to fight for the belt and you know when you talk about a guy like as good as Stephen Thompson, you know, I don't know if Joaquin Buckley is Is really ready for this type of fight, but It's a good it's a good match. It's good matchmaking You know, I guess I should say ready to be the favorite in this type of fight I wouldn't play this one if I'm betting it. I just think that you know It's too much of a question of whether or not Stephen Thompson is Cooked because we really haven't seen him that much over the past two years and Buckley is sort of like, you know, he's got an impressive win there over Vicente loop gate where she he's sort of dominated But you know if if Wonder Boy is still Wonder Boy, this he's he's taking it two steps up Two steps up So, you know, we'll see how that goes, but should be a good night of fights The whole card is pretty much a good top to bottom. It's not a you know All-time great fight all-time great card But I would say for 2024. It's pretty damn good card, you know, they've been a little bit tough to come by this year so I'm just glad that we get a good night of fights and Yeah, that's all I have for you. Take care everybody