UFN 74: Holloway vs Oliveira

[SPX]

He really had quite a few squandered opportunities to turn around or even win the DHK fight. Cote's more durable and if Burkman has more brain farts then it's probably an easy Cote decision through wrestling. It's kinda strange to think of Burkman and Cote fighting in the UFC in 2015.

Hey, welcome to the forum! Cool username.

I really think Cote is shot as a fighter. That doesn't mean he can't win fights, but let's say if he and Fitch fought today I have little doubt Fitch would beat him. And I'm not trying to get MMAthematical up in here, but it just seems to me that Burkman is at a better place in his career and is experiencing something of a resurgence. Whereas Cote is getting soundly beaten by Cung Le, KOd by Sakara and has to rely on a robbery to beat Voelker.

But yeah, it is weird to think that these guys are facing off in the UFC in 2015.

[CriticalHit]

Hey, welcome to the forum! Cool username.

I really think Cote is shot as a fighter. That doesn't mean he can't win fights, but let's say if he and Fitch fought today I have little doubt Fitch would beat him. And I'm not trying to get MMAthematical up in here, but it just seems to me that Burkman is at a better place in his career and is experiencing something of a resurgence. Whereas Cote is getting soundly beaten by Cung Le, KOd by Sakara and has to rely on a robbery to beat Voelker.

But yeah, it is weird to think that these guys are facing off in the UFC in 2015.

Thanks, just dipping my toe in. I got invited by someone on another forum.

Anyways, Cote is def. over the hill. I agree with Voelker getting robbed and him basically being near out even before the Sakara hammerfists.

He also fights alot smarter now though. Mostly he sticks to grinding out fights with his wrestling and has dropped brawling completely. Burkman's a strange case. He was making great strides in his technique in his WSOF stint and had some solid wins, esp. the Fitch upset. What makes me less confident in him in this match up is his tendency to make mistakes and get complacent when he doesn't get the early finish and has to go through grueling clinch and ground work like against Carl and DHK. Cote is going to do his best to make this ugly and point score.

I'm not counting Burkman out, don't get me wrong. It just seems like a match up that can screw Josh with judging by leaving 2 rounds too up in the air by fighting Cote's fight. I'm pulling for him since a loss probably gets the axe again.

[Luke]

It's kinda strange to think of Burkman and Cote fighting in the UFC in 2015.

Ain't that the truth? Just think Cote fought for the UFC title once. No wonder Silva's reign was so long

And welcome to the place, man

[SPX]

Thanks, just dipping my toe in. I got invited by someone on another forum.

Well it's good to have you around. We're kind of in a re-building phase right now so good, thoughtful posters are exactly what we need. We should have a contest coming up pretty soon that should be fun and an opportunity win a bit of $ so stick around.

Anyways, Cote is def. over the hill. I agree with Voelker getting robbed and him basically being near out even before the Sakara hammerfists.

He also fights alot smarter now though. Mostly he sticks to grinding out fights with his wrestling and has dropped brawling completely. Burkman's a strange case. He was making great strides in his technique in his WSOF stint and had some solid wins, esp. the Fitch upset. What makes me less confident in him in this match up is his tendency to make mistakes and get complacent when he doesn't get the early finish and has to go through grueling clinch and ground work like against Carl and DHK. Cote is going to do his best to make this ugly and point score.

I'm not counting Burkman out, don't get me wrong. It just seems like a match up that can screw Josh with judging by leaving 2 rounds too up in the air by fighting Cote's fight. I'm pulling for him since a loss probably gets the axe again.

I agree that this is far from a lock for either guy. If Cote wins, I’m not exactly going to be shocked. But I do think the momentum is with Burkman at this point in their careers. Again, not to get MMAthematical, but I have a suspicion that Lombard would’ve killed Cote whereas Burkman was able to keep it fairly competitive thoughout.

You make some good points about Burkman getting caught in long, grinding wars and not responding well to that. That’s something to consider. I need to go back and watch his more recently fights.

[CriticalHit]

Ain't that the truth? Just think Cote fought for the UFC title once. No wonder Silva's reign was so long

And welcome to the place, man

MW has come a long way for sure.

Thanks

Well it's good to have you around. We're kind of in a re-building phase right now so good, thoughtful posters are exactly what we need. We should have a contest coming up pretty soon that should be fun and an opportunity win a bit of $ so stick around.




I agree that this is far from a lock for either guy. If Cote wins, I’m not exactly going to be shocked. But I do think the momentum is with Burkman at this point in their careers. Again, not to get MMAthematical, but I have a suspicion that Lombard would’ve killed Cote whereas Burkman was able to keep it fairly competitive thoughout.

You make some good points about Burkman getting caught in long, grinding wars and not responding well to that. That’s something to consider. I need to go back and watch his more recently fights.

Yeah, Burkman would have tossed Cote around the cage and gotten an eventual gnp stoppage I suspect esp. considering he was roided up.

[SPX]

Ain't that the truth? Just think Cote fought for the UFC title once. No wonder Silva's reign was so long

MW has come a long way for sure.

Ha, yeah. Funny to think that Marquardt, Cote and Leites were once the best the division had to offer as far as guys who weren't Anderson Silva. Now we have Weidman, Rockhold, Machida, Jacare, Romero, etc.

[CriticalHit]

I have to admit, Leites had me believing he might put a run together towards another title shot. I knew Bisping would be a rough matchup though with that constant movement, volume striking, and TDD(still a very competitive fight).

Nate is done and Cote will follow him before the end of 2016 I think.

[Luke]

Was just thinking: if you're going to take Oliveira, you may as well take him by sub. Its +325 vs +200. Oliveira only has one win that's not by sub in the last 5 years

[SPX]

I have to admit, Leites had me believing he might put a run together towards another title shot. I knew Bisping would be a rough matchup though with that constant movement, volume striking, and TDD(still a very competitive fight).

Nate is done and Cote will follow him before the end of 2016 I think.

I don't want to take anything away from Leites. He's been doing very well and has had a very successful late career resurgence. No idea where he goes from here but I suppose there's no reason to think he can't continue to win fights for at least a handful of years to come.

As for Nate, yeah, I think he's done. It's unfortunate. When I saw him destroy Woodley for the SF belt I was like, "Nate the Great is fucking BACK!" And now he's gone like 1-5 since then.

[SPX]

Was just thinking: if you're going to take Oliveira, you may as well take him by sub. Its +325 vs +200. Oliveira only has one win that's not by sub in the last 5 years

That's not a bad idea, especially against someone like Holloway who is primarily a striker.

[CriticalHit]

Was just thinking: if you're going to take Oliveira, you may as well take him by sub. Its +325 vs +200. Oliveira only has one win that's not by sub in the last 5 years

Yeah, that's by far the most likely way he wins. I'm still extremely impressed by the ground wizardry against Hioki. Hioki's UFC career def. didn't pan out well but submitting him is a huge feather to have in your cap.

Oliveira will do some funky things to get it to the ground too. I wouldn't be surprised if he started things off with a flying guard pull or a scissor sweep.

[poopoo333]

I won't bet big on Burkman/Cote at all. At most to win $100. Not the type of fight I will bet big on. Luke and I learned our lessons betting on...wait or it..

BUMS. (SORRY X)

I think Oliveira is the play after watching fights. His wrestling has came a long way. My biggest concern is how he tends to fold/quit when things get kind of rough. I really don't think he likes getting hit.

Best play on this fight IMO: Fight does not go distance. It's -300 but...fuck it.

[CriticalHit]

Oliveira def. has had a tendency to wilt in the past. He did fight on against Lentz in the rematch despite having trouble seeing and that was a grueling fight on the other hand.

[Ludo]

I like Burkman to beat Cote. Burkman's fight IQ worries me, but at the current line I'll be betting Burkman. I think he is a better striker than Cote and can/will keep it on the feet.

After the fight with Stungun I'd be very hesitant to play Burkman on anything. Dude had a clear advantage striking in that fight, and hurt Stungun every single round in standing exchanges, but insisted on trying to clinch with a guy who's entire game revolves around Judo trips an top control. And despite that, Josh still almost won that fight in a couple spots. Some people just can't be saved from themselves.

[Éire]

Tough card. I'd stay away from the Holloway fight unless you want to pick the favourite. I personally think Holloway handles Oliveira with ease.