120 Comments
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Ariel Helwani's avatar

that was ... no good

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Zack Payne's avatar

I think the prelims were more entertaining than the main card

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Ariel Helwani's avatar

agree

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Bill's avatar

The main card opener was great, and price vs Oliveira was good too. Although the main event wasn't very exciting, it was nice to see Santos get a win again.

Ariel, who do you think Santos fights next?

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Blake Robbins's avatar

I’m a really optimistic guy, but even Cowboy vs Price didn’t live up to my expectations. It was a weird night.

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Jordan D's avatar

This was all bad

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Newman's avatar

Man I was excited for Lima/MVP, Holland/Daukas and Santos/Walker this weekend and they all were underwhelming. Even the Niko price fight went the distance wtf.

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Bill's avatar

I feel the same way. I was so excited for those three fights. Not quite what I expected.

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Lukegoneloco's avatar

We all loss that fight

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Matt Candelario's avatar

Makes no sense as to why These two stooges were in the main event over Kevin Holland.

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Zack Payne's avatar

Ariel your boy Connor was about to win us a ton of money on that 4 leg parlay if this fight didn't go to a decision... he has 5 minutes or I don't pay my car payment this month

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Andy B's avatar

Ariel? Co main???

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Lukegoneloco's avatar

Going to end in the 2nd one of these dudes is just gonna start swinging

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Sainty's avatar

Walker is in insane shape

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Zack Payne's avatar

Who do you all have in the main? I am going with Santos

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Omeed Khatami's avatar

Walker. Double knee surgery is no joke, hard to return to form ever after that.

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Newman's avatar

I’m going with Johnny Walker after seeing his interview with Ariel.

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Rob Skvirskiy's avatar

I’ve never seen anything like that. Feel so bad for Holland tbh

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Zack Payne's avatar

It looked like Dan was going to stop the fight to but then Kevin woke back up I guess

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Zack Payne's avatar

WOW!

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Newman's avatar

Kevin Holland is hilarious lol

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Zack Payne's avatar

facts lmao i feel like you cant help but laugh when he fights

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Newman's avatar

Damn tough way to lose. Can’t help but root for him.

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Isaac M's avatar

Just watched the Gary Goodridge crucifix KO…. Those early days were crazy even though that was a legal blow in today’s fights too

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Zack Payne's avatar

Wait did cowboy not have his hat on? That might be a first

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Ryan Frederick's avatar

16 kids between these two (and Price has another on the way)

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Sainty's avatar

Stat of the night 😂

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Zack Payne's avatar

Sheeeesh

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Sainty's avatar

Next three fights should be bangers

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Zack Payne's avatar

Ariel did you see Chris Leben just called out Oscar De La Hoya, Jake Paul and Logan Paul via twitter?

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Ariel Helwani's avatar

Oh God

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The champion has a name's avatar

hernandez has come a long way since the "ol day drinkin don" days

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Dinjadai's avatar

Hey Ariel, what do you think of these reaction cams with DC, Joe, etc.? It feels a lot like the "He got jacked up" segments on ESPN football coverage. They aren't going to age well and reflect poorly on the broadcast/ESPN/UFC.

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Ariel Helwani's avatar

They overuse them. And I fear some play to them too much

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Newman's avatar

Rogan overdoes it now. It was funny the first few times.

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Nenad Pantelić's avatar

yea, hopefully he will extend his hunting trip for 2 more years

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The champion has a name's avatar

it does seem kind of tacky

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Ariel Helwani's avatar

I like Cirkunov at 185 😎

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AussieJudoChop's avatar

Not sure which part of "If you take him down you'll finish him' Solecki didn't comprehend.

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Isaac M's avatar

Did you see Nate Diaz Jr? Nick looked so damn happy in that photo too it was warming seeing that after what happen with that whole fight week

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Shelby's avatar

Where?

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Ariel Helwani's avatar

Told y’all about Casey!

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JVl33t14's avatar

I knew she was dangerous. I was really hoping Antonina would be able to weather and recover. It's always sad to see a Schevchenko lose. Long live the Muay Thai Sisters, most interesting team in the UFC

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Andrew Corona's avatar

She’s up next

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Ryan's avatar

Ariel, did you ever go haggis hunting with whiteford?

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Zack Payne's avatar

Does Casey's 0 go?

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Ryan Frederick's avatar

Doubtful

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Pablo's avatar

Hey guys

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The Mummy Cats's avatar

Accidentally bet $2000 on Rosa, thank God she pulled through

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Zack Payne's avatar

Haha how does someone accidentally bet 2k. Glad you won though!

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The Mummy Cats's avatar

Well it is my first time betting online and I thought I was "risking" $300, but I didn't look and it was "to win" $300... Needless to say I wasnt paying attention

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Zack Payne's avatar

Has anyone's retirement fight gone good? I feel like every time we see these retirement fights they go horrible

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Omeed Khatami's avatar

Chris Lytle vs Dan Hardy was a great retirement fight #backintheday

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John Cook's avatar

Khabib..

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Zack Payne's avatar

Yeah I should of phrased it different, I mean like when they announce it before the fight. He was the only one that came to mind though for me

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John Cook's avatar

Generally people retire because they're not good enough anymore or their hearts not in it at the time, so many come back out of retirement though, it's a hard thing to accept

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Zack Payne's avatar

Yeah it's sad seeing people come back out of retirement weather it be for money or even just not accepting it. Like Chuck Vs Tito 3 a few years back

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John Cook's avatar

The amount of unnecessary fights that are happening in combat sports right now is ridiculous, I don't know how a lot of them are even sanctioned. But if there's a market for them and enough people watch to make it seem worth it then it will keep happening. Nick last week, all fight week he was speaking like somebody who didn't want to be fighting but he still went in there and then seemed to give up. It's not nice to see, even though he started half decent.

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Zack Payne's avatar

Nick literally got paid the most last week to which is crazy

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Rob Skvirskiy's avatar

Ariel, do you think Paiva is a good match for Sean O'Malley? Lot of people saying he's a can but I feel like he's a formidable opponent.

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Hey's avatar

This is Sean's 15th pro fight facing an opponent with a record of 21-3

Khabib in his 15th fight fought someone who was making his debut(0-0). And yes I think Paiva is a killer and a good opponent.

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Garry Hamill's avatar

Ariel, you’re picking Walker to win but do you see him getting the finish? Santos is as tough as they come

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Zack Payne's avatar

I see Walker/Santos only ending in a finish. I would be shocked as hell if it goes to decision

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Garry Hamill's avatar

Agree with you, think Walker gets the win. Santos since the Jones fight hasn’t looked the same, albeit against elite competition.

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Chase Kissane's avatar

Agreed. inside 2 rounds

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Chase Kissane's avatar

Do you know what the ranked fighter, Rosa, is in the blue corner, while the unranked fighter is in red?

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Chase Kissane's avatar

why, not what

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@nftkhabib's avatar

Have you seen anything more impressive this year than Tony Ferg’s no tap in round 1 vs Oliveira?

Note: both those guys need to get on the show ASAP!

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Zack Payne's avatar

Ariel how do you see Daukus & Holland playing out? I hope we get to see how Hollands wrestling is, I am guessing with Daukus we will get to see that for sure! I have Daukus by submission

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Ariel Helwani's avatar

Holland decision imo

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Darren McKay's avatar

I was waiting for the Bellator event yesterday, but sleeping on this Fight Night. It has some good fights coming up tonight - pleasantly surprised.

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Isaac M's avatar

Ariel quick question: if City kickbox moves state side where do you see them lading? FL, LV, maybe OR? FL has tax free but lots of camps already out there. LV has the pi

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Ariel Helwani's avatar

I was told LV, SD, TEXAS, FL being considered

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Isaac M's avatar

I wouldn’t be surprised about TX, SD had that NZ vibe they would be use to. Thanks for the Wednesday shows also love your work

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Darren McKay's avatar

No one ever suggests Maine. They never get any love. Lol

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TMayer89's avatar

That finish was super impressive. What work in the clinch by Malarkey

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AussieJudoChop's avatar

Malarkey is a beast. Cardio for days. Even if he didn't get the finish after draining the tank, he would have recovered soon after and still overpowered Smith.

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Bill's avatar

Ariel, do you think Santos will grant Jonny Walker's wish by making him "comfortable" and taking him to the depths of hell?

Gotta give you credit for that interview, and all your interviews. I can't get enough of your work, you are an inspiration!

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@nftkhabib's avatar

Price Oliveira who you got ?

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Ariel Helwani's avatar

Price

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Darren McKay's avatar

The UFC is really pushing to make sports gambling a large part of their business. We went from no odds, to opening odds for each fighter, and now round-by-round odds as they change mid fight.

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Ariel Helwani's avatar

I think it's smart

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Bill's avatar

Ariel, do you think Santos will grant Jonny Walker's wish by making him "comfortable" and taking him to the depths of hell?

Gotta give you credit for that interview on Wednesday, and all your interviews. Can't get enough of your work, it's inspiring!

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Ariel Helwani's avatar

thank you! I think it goes past 2

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Ariel Helwani's avatar

I like Casey O’Neil. Think she could be a player. Also Cirkunov at 185 is tasty

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Isaac M's avatar

New week same substack 💪🏾 Thanks Ariel

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Ariel Helwani's avatar

🙏

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tjrdds's avatar

But, if I had to choose, I pick Santos

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tjrdds's avatar

Hard to call...2 unpredictable fighters, either is capable of winning, depending which version of fighter shows up.

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It's me Maaarioo's avatar

This fight ain't going the distance

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PikeP's avatar

I don’t like Santos’ chances here, after blowing out his legs vs Jones he hasn’t looked explosive at all and that was his best attribute with his power

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Silver's avatar

Santos by violence

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Carter Pivnick's avatar

Do you think UFC is gonna change anything with weight cuts so we don’t see another situation like Aspen Ladd this week. Scary

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It's me Maaarioo's avatar

There is no clear cut solution. Needs a cultural change or year long weight testing. Neither seem all that feasible

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Palki's avatar

Unfortunately weightcutting is done by nearly every fighter currently and it would therefore have to be be a massive change .. I hope they did something about it but I think it will sadly have to take a life until that happens

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July Souter's avatar

Don’t think the fighters would want it to happen either. I see both sides. It’s very dangerous for health reasons. But at the same time. I’m 6ft 200 pounds. I couldn’t last a second with guys in LHW. Probably not 185 division as well. I know if I wanted to I could drop to 170 and if I did the cut over a long time 155 though it would be very dangerous. So if I fought I’d want to take my chances in 155-170 because it would be an advantage which a lot of fighters want

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Garry Hamill's avatar

Do you think that Holland has genuine title aspirations? Feels like even if his wrestling improved significantly it wouldn’t be good enough for the top tier guys.

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Bill's avatar

I think he can do it. He's shown some exceptional striking, rocked both Brunson and Vettori

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Garry Hamill's avatar

Yeah his striking is fantastic, really hope he can make strides with his wrestling as he’s fun as hell to watch.

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