UFC Vegas 55

Tape Study Notes

UFC Vegas 55

Holly Holm vs Ketlen Vieira

Holm has been off for about 2 years now. She has had a bunch of injuries and medical problems holding her back. She was diagnosed with hydronephrosis — a disorder that causes swelling in the kidneys, which can lead to severe pain, nausea, fever and urinary issues. After getting that dealt with she injured her knee that sidelined her again. Despite turning 40 Holm states that she feels better than ever now that her knee is cleaned up and she has her kidney disease under control. She states that she just toughed through these problems in the past. “I’ve been dealing with that for fights over and over so some of that stuff is actually helping me be healthier and be better at 40.” She looked so good against Irene Aldana. Holm is a complete fighter. She is technical in every aspect and the way she gameplans for oppenents is GSP esque. One of the best women fighters of all time

Ketlen is 10 years Holm’s junior. she’s 12-2 in her career. She is a grappler, but proved in her last fight that her striking has come a long way. She was patient against Tate and was able to land hard counter shots all night, before opening up with strong combos later in the fight. She has some impressive wins including wins over zingano, Mcmann and Eubanks and now Tate. She’s a big strong girl. Is one to watch on the scales. Has had bad weight cuts before. Gas tank held up in her fight against Tate, but I still am hesitant to not worry about it at all.

For as good as Ketlen is, I just don’t see her beating Holm. Holm is very hard to take down and will have a big striking advantage. Holm wins by decision

Santiago Ponzinibbio vs Michel Pereira

Santiago was on an absolute tear from 2015-2018. He was then sidelined for 3 years do to injuries. Upon his return he got knocked out by the Leach. Was it ring rust? Idk. He fought Miguel Baeza in his next fight and showed he is still game. Santiago dug deep in that win and showed people he is back. In his last fight he went to war with Geoff Neal. He lost a split, but I actually thought he won. Both guys did a lot of damage and Santiago showed his heart and his striking skills in that fight. He’s 35 years old and if he wants to move to a title it has to be now. 

Pereira is on a 4 fight winning streak that includes 2 big wins over Khaos and price. He beat Fialho (fialho was on short notice) in his last fight. He is enormous for the division and is a freak athlete. Loves back flips and Superman punches. His ring iq isn’t the greatest, but he really is a pretty well rounded fighter. Even though he still does crazy shit throughout his fights, I do think he learned something from the loss to Connelly. 

Michel Pereira looks like he’s coming in a little leaner than normal and I think that’s a good thing. Pereira can hang with Santiago on the feet and I think he mixes in takedowns a bit better. Pick is Michel by decision

Chidi Njokuani vs Dusko Todorovic

Chidi is an interesting one. He spent most of his career in Bellator. He’s 6’3 and has an 80 inch reach. He’s a striker. He won his contender series fight and then followed it up by knocking out MAB.  I wasn’t overly impressed with what I saw of chidi on the contender series and it’s hard to know what to take away from that KO. MAB legit ran face first into his fist.

Dusko was a pretty big prospect coming into the ufc at 9-0 with mostly finishes. He has disappointed so far. He got over powered by Soriano and he took ALOT of damage against Rodriguez. He showed toughness in that fight though and one judge even gave dusko the third round. He is a striker and he always moves forward. Throws good combos, but is bad defensively. He really showed me something against Maki in his last fight. This dude is slick on the ground and has brutal ground and pound

Tough one to call. I lean Dusko and I lean the under

Polyana Viana vs Tabatha Ricci

Viana is a violent fighter. She tries to throw heat on the feet with hopes of getting it on the ground. She is not scared of the takedown, in fact she is willing to pull guard. She pulled guard against Martin and got an armbar out of it. She won her last two fights by sub.

Ricci is 6-1 but she is a life long martial artist. She is wild on the feet. Charges in with wreck less abandon. She likes to get in close force it against the cage and it’s when the fight hits the ground that she has a bunch of success. She moves very well on the ground staying heavy on top

Very interesting fight. Both are wild on the feet and both want to get it to the ground. I ultimately prefer the top control and strength of Ricci over the subs of Viana. Picking Ricci by Dec

Eryk Anders vs Jun Yong Park

Anders is a great athlete. He played d1 football at Alabama. If Nick Saban likes you as an athlete than so do i. He is a good striker and he’s shown increased ring iq. That has to be attributed to training at fight ready. Such a good gym. Jon Jones has been putting in time there and that has to help anders. He beat the shit out of Darren Stewart twice and then got a fight against Andre Muniz. Anders was way over his head in that fight on the ground and got submitted in the first round. Anders is huge for the division and is dangerous on the feet. He has a good get up game and was able to get back to his feet against muniz in the first ground exchange

Park is my guy. He beat Marc Andre Barriault and Tafon nchukwi. He has really good wrestling and a stiff jab. He’s a smart fighter and when he is beating you in one area he will keep going back to the well. Really like this kid and he was beating the crap out of Gregory Rodriguez in the second round before getting finished himself. Very underrated fighter

These are both guys I typically like betting on, but I have to go with park here. He’s the more well rounded guy and he should have success mixing takedowns and striking here. Anders is a step down in comp from the guys he’s been fighting

Joseph Holmes vs Alen Amedovski

Joseph Holmes is only 7-2 and he looks it. He is extremely raw and even though he won on DWCS he did not get a contract. All 7 of his wins are by finish and he rarely goes past the first round. He is very long and athletic. Throws a real nice kick that he throws often to the head and body. He is more of a submission fighter, but has power in his hands and feet. He is hitable 

Amedovski hasn’t fought since 2019 where he was knocked out in 19 seconds. He’s an explosive fighter with 5 of his 8 wins coming by knockout. He had 3 fights scheduled and canceled. He will be a question mark coming into this fight

Idk about this one. Not high on either guy. Maybe the under? Maybe pass. I don’t like this fight

Jailton Almeida vs Parker Porter

Almeida is making his return to the ufc and he will be competing at heavyweight. Not sure why he’s moving up. I’m guessing just to stay active? Maybe a quick turn around after this fight. Either way Jailton is probably my number one favorite prospect in the ufc he finishes Parker Porter in round 1

Omar Morales vs Uros Medic

Omar Morales is 11-2 with his loses being to Giga by decision and he got choked out by Jonathan Pearce in his last fight. He Has some good wins over Shane young and Gabriel Benitez. Morales is a striker. He throws good kicks. Seems to effortlessly reach his opponents head with kicks and knees. No wind up or tell at all. He looked pretty good in the Giga fight. Showing great heart and never gave up on himself. He’s huge for the division at 5’11 has a 74 inch reach and has a massive frame. Don’t know how he makes weight. He uses strength to get takedowns at times. He struggled with the takedowns of Pearce and that is a hole going forward

Medic is 7-1 and is yet another contender series fighter. He has looked like a savage and has finished all 7 of his opponents. He has yet to fight anyone in the ufc who didn’t come from the contender series so this will be a good test. He’s an amazing striker with a diverse arsenal. Has a good jab. Throws head kicks with easy. Uses good knees as well. Very fast on the feet. He’s tall for the division at 6’1 and has a 71 inch reach. Medic got beat pillar to post against Turner. He got rocked on the feet and dominated on the ground. Showed he isn’t this finished product we may have thought

This should be a striking battle and I think the speed of medic will cause problems for Omar. Hate to say it but Omar might be done. Medic by tko

Jonathan Martinez vs Vince Morales

I actually don’t think this fight is close at all. We were all over martinez In his last fight and we will be all over him again. This kid is legit and this is a step down in comp for him. Martinez rolls with crisp boxing and great takedown defense

Chase Hooper vs Felipe Colares

Not sure why Chase Hooper is in the UFC, but I don’t think he will be after this fight. Hooper only has a submission game and he doesn’t really have the strength to get it there or finish. Colares fought Guitierrez to a split and has a win over Luke Sanders. Colares very easily

Elise Reed vs Sam Hughes

This is an interesting battle. I don’t think either fighter will ever be a contender. Reed won a split over McKenna which she def one. McKenna was able to get her down a few times which isn’t good going against Sam Hughes who is basically a pure wrestler. This is a few weeks turn around for Hughes which I don’t love. I’m going with the wrestler in Hughes, but this is another fight I don’t love