Valetina exposed tonight

[CPH]

You have that upside down. Once Val curbed her instinct to lock up and look for a throw, Santos had nothing for her. Val has the blueprint, Thalia has a memory of once having come close to dethroning the goat.

 

[UFCIsNOTRigged]

You have that upside down. Once Val curbed her instinct to lock up and look for a throw, Santos had nothing for her. Val has the blueprint, Thalia has a memory of once having come close to dethroning the goat.

Valentina lost every single round in which Santos could see out of both eyes?

Why wouldn't Santos win 5-0 with a pair of working eyes?

 

[The Schmoop]

Santos seemed bigger and stronger. Her longer build aided her scrambles specifically with that head and arm throw Val kept going back to despite it costing her her back on multiple occasions. Val fought weird that fight and I thought she lost. It was was close and santos did fuck all with very dominant ground positioning so I’m not upset with the decision. Super close fight but I felt Val lost.

 

[CPH]

Pena had similar success for a few minutes before getting armbarred.

Santos can clearly beat her. She will always be able to steal rounds with physicality and grappling.

If she can impose her grappling on what is now going to be a very ground-shy opponent.

 

[CPH]

Valentina lost every single round in which Santos could see out of both eyes?

Why wouldn't Santos win 5-0 with a pair of working eyes?

You are speculating hard. If Valentina continues to do what she did in the latter part of the fight, which is to avoid/break out of the clinch, I don’t see Thalia getting her down, whether her orbital is intact or not.

 

[pinero]

Little??? Santos almost subbed Val dozen times

 

[fortheo]

You are speculating hard. If Valentina continues to do what she did in the latter part of the fight, which is to avoid/break out of the clinch, I don’t see Thalia getting her down, whether her orbital is intact or not.

She did get Val down while Val was fighting that way, though, and that was after the broken orbital. You didn't see it in round 4?

Being confident about either girl in the rematch would likely be a mistake

 

[UFCIsNOTRigged]

You are speculating hard. If Valentina continues to do what she did in the latter part of the fight, which is to avoid/break out of the clinch, I don’t see Thalia getting her down, whether her orbital is intact or not.

No you are the one whose speculating. We saw Santos fight for three rounds with both eyes in tact and she won all three of them on most scorecards.

The striking on the feet wasn't particularly meaningful in either direction for the first three rounds; it more or less cancelled out with a slight edge to Shevchenko.

Valentina only began having meaningful success on the feet after the clash of heads. Theres no reason to believe Santos would not have enjoyed similar success during the final two rounds had the clash of heads not occurred.

 

[CPH]

She did get Val down while Val was fighting that way, though, and that was after the broken orbital. You didn't see it in round 4?

I don’t recall Thalia getting her down once Val stopped moving in to lock up, no. But I am only going by memory of having watched it once, so I might be wrong.

One thing you should factor in though, is that having lost two rounds, Val was fighting much more aggressively than she would otherwise.

 

[fortheo]

I don’t recall Thalia getting her down once Val stopped moving in to lock up, no. But I am only going by memory of having watched it once, so I might be wrong.

One thing you should factor in though, is that having lost two rounds, Val was fighting much more aggressively than she would otherwise.

Yes, but I think you're looking at things from val's perspective. There's a big advantage in taila knowing for a fact that she has the advantage in the grappling, both on the mat and in the clinch. I think both girls would fight differently

 

[morrisondafalln]

Wei would maul shev lol.

 

[GoodBoy]

Also we gotta think everyone has a bad night... buy yeah, a good grappler could make her be in trouble.

 

[ChangeIsComing]

You are speculating hard. If Valentina continues to do what she did in the latter part of the fight, which is to avoid/break out of the clinch, I don’t see Thalia getting her down, whether her orbital is intact or not.

This is how I also see it, Santos gained the dominant ground positions due to Valentina initiating the clinch and grappling. Val definitely underestimated her opponents skill in that area or overestimated her own skills in that area....but to me it was obvious that if a rematch happens and Val avoids pushing the clinch game then she wins easily. Santos did basically nothing from extremely dominant positions for a long period of time.

 

[ChangeIsComing]

Yes, but I think you're looking at things from val's perspective. There's a big advantage in taila knowing for a fact that she has the advantage in the grappling, both on the mat and in the clinch. I think both girls would fight differently

I disagree with the advantage in the clinch...she really did not have one. It was only when Val initiated the TD where Santos gained position. Her size much like what we saw when Val fought Nunes the first time was a big issue in the grappling, personally I think if they rematch Val wins a lopsided decision or finishes her. No way she pushed the clinch and grappling that much again just to pad her ego.

 

[IIIIIIII]

nothing was exposed last night, in my opinion. last night showed that someone who is bigger and stronger than valentina can give her problems, just like amanda nunes did.

 

[Streeter]

To those saying Santos kept taking her down yet did no damage........ I ask what damage did Val do to out show Santos enough to make up for the take downs. Only damaging blow by Vsl I saw was an illegal head butt. Maybe Santos wasn't doing much damage but was taking her down and controlling the fight.

I had it 4 - 1 Santos just because Val didn't do anything either and the only thing to separate the rounds really was the tske downs unless you count the head butt as offense.

 

[Krixes]

It was a super close fight. Santos is better than many thought. I have no problem with the decision but Santos would've won if not for the headbutt (total accident though).

 

[ChangeIsComing]

Valentina lost every single round in which Santos could see out of both eyes?

Why wouldn't Santos win 5-0 with a pair of working eyes?

The success Santos had was due to Val pushing the clinch and going for throws...it was not because of Santos pushing either. What he is saying is that Santos did not show any capability of creating her own success when Val kept distance....even before the accidental headbutt she still did nothing. Santos had her chance but no way Val engages her in a rematch like she did this fight. Honestly it drives me insane watching Val fight sometimes...her Muay Thai is so deadly that it actually pisses me right off when she keeps pushing for grappling exchanges like she did last night...especially when its not her strength, sometime her ego really gets in the way of her output.

 

[Squintz]

3-2 Santos even with the headbutt. Probably would’ve been 4-1 if not for the headbutt.

 

[JKS]

Perhaps it was a bit too early for Santos, first title fight and first 5 round fight. I think the lack of experience contributed here, she is clearly a very good fighter and has the game to beat Val. I think this will be a like Cejudo/DJ where the contender came back stronger after gaining more experience and will take the title.