Well I've had 2 straight awful showing after 3 or 4 good cards. Last week ended down 30u after getting fucked on Max. Oh well moving on to this average card tonight. Nice to see mid-week Fight Island action. I have done much better on the lesser ESPN cards fwiw.
Ige+235 & Ige by SUB +645
Rivera -120 and by decision +140
Ige+235 & Ige by SUB +645
- I'm having a difficult time understanding this line. Kattar is a great boxerwith solid footwork, and he will pick most guys apart on the feet. He's also improved his ability to defend leg kicks, and he's been throwing solid kicks and elbows of his own. He also has decent takedown defense.
- Ige is a much more well-rounded fighter. He's a black belt in jiu-jitsu, and he's a solid striker as well. He has very fast hands that pack power. His standup isn't as crisp as Kattar, but he seems to push the pace more. If this was just boxing, I'd be all over Kattar. But, I just don't see Ige letting this fight take place on the feet for long. He wil l look to close the distance on Kattar, and I expect he'll land some takedowns. All it will take is one takedown and he may end the fight with a submission.
- Ige simply cannot let Kattar stay at range and control the fight with his jab. If you can pressure him and take him to the mat or against the cage, he's beatable. I'd be concerned if Ige didn't have such a solid striking game. He will be able to fight back and get Kattar's respect with his power and speed, so that will help him find the takedown. Ige was able to weather some big shots from Barboza, so I have to believe he'll be able to survive some shots from Kattar.
- The biggest question for me is Ige's cardio. He didn't look to be tiring as much in his last fight, so I'm hoping it's improved. I'm guessing the line would be tighter if this were a 3 rounder.
- I'll be surprised if Ige lets Kattar control the pace and style of this fight. He's a tough fighter, and he's going to close the distance, land some shots of his own, and score takedowns to steal the rounds. I think once he and Kattar start to grapple, the fight could be over at any moment.
Rivera -120 and by decision +140
- Interesting fight...Stamann is on the rise, and Rivera has been on a bit of a slide (albeit against top competition). Rivera’s last fight was an impressive performance against Yan, so I wouldn’t be too worried about the recent losses on his record. Stamann will look for takedowns, but it won't be easy against Rivera. There aren't many fighters better at stuffing takedowns than Rivera. While the fight is standing, Rivera has a significant advantage. He's faster, more technical, and throws heavier. He's also able to work in leg kicks, but he does abandon them at times. Even if taken down, he's a solid grappler. Stamann is looking sharp and changes levels quickly, but he also has a tendency to fade in the 3rd round. He’s coming off a quick turnaround, and it’ll be interesting to see how his cardio holds up after failing a couple of takedown attempts. I don't see either of these guys getting a finish, and I think Rivera will be able to take the 3rd round and one of the early rounds. He should land more significant strikes and avoid being taken down on his way to a decision victory.
