Welcome to "Missing The Point," on this episode, we're talking everything UFC and MMA related. In this episode, Dave is joined by two guests joining us in today's episode. First, we have Ben P., a seasoned MMA analyst who has covered the UFC for many years. And second, we have Matt, a UFC enthusiast who follows the sport closely and has a keen eye for up-and-coming fighters.
In this episode, we will discuss UFC 285, which is shaping up to be an exciting card. Overall, we're impressed with the UFC matchmaking for this card and think it has the potential to be one of the best events of the year. That being said, we acknowledge that some recent cards have lacked depth and have not been as exciting as we hoped.
First, we'll discuss the Ian Garry vs. Kenan Song fight. Ian Gary is a promising up-and-coming fighter making waves in the MMA world. We'll be analyzing his fighting style and questioning whether he is a victim of his own myth. We'll also be discussing whether the UFC is grooming him correctly and whether he has the potential to be the next Conor McGregor.
We'll also analyze two preliminary fights: Giuliana Marquez vs. Marc Andre Barriault and Amanda Rebus vs. Viviana Araujo. We'll discuss each fighter's strengths and weaknesses and the betting odds for each fight.
Next, we'll be discussing Derek Brunson and Dricus Du Plessis. We'll talk about Brunson's recent fights and appearance, including his reasons for taking a break from fighting, his improved training and fighting stance, and criticism of his fighting technique in the past. We'll also discuss Du Plessis as an opponent, including his recent win over Darren Till and training with Hamza. Finally, we'll make predictions for this fight and discuss both fighters' betting odds and value.
Finally, we'll discuss unlikable fighters in the UFC, including TJ Dillashaw and Dominick Cruz. We'll also talk about confidence fighters, particularly Cody Garbrandt, and how his lack of confidence affected his performance in the Octagon. We'll emphasize the importance of maintaining mental and physical health while training and not engaging in cheating or unsportsmanlike behavior.
And how can we forget the return of Jon "Bones" Jones to the octagon for the first time since 2020 after multiple suspensions due to performing enchanting drugs?
Jones added 43 pounds for this fight and will be fighting for the Heavyweight title vs. Ciryl Gane.