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Hi everyone,
We are working on building an exciting animated series called "Toytown," which blends fantasy and reality, following the adventures of Mini the cactus, her ex-criminal father Marcellus, and their friends in a whimsical yet challenging world. The series explores deep themes through the lens of fantastical characters and settings, offering a unique and engaging viewing experience.
We’re looking for passionate and talented individuals to join our team and bring "Toytown" to life. Although we can't offer monetary compensation at this stage, this is a fantastic opportunity to build your portfolio, collaborate with like-minded creatives, and be credited for your work. If the project succeeds and generates revenue, there will be potential for profit sharing among team members.
Open Roles:

• Storyboard Artists: Help visualize our script and bring scenes to life. Your sketches will set the tone for each episode and ensure visual consistency.
• Character Designers: Create unique character designs that reflect our whimsical world. Your creativity will help define the look and feel of Toytown’s inhabitants.
• Animators: Bring our characters and story to life with high-quality animation. Your work will be the heartbeat of our series.
• Writers: Help develop scripts and story arcs for future episodes. Your storytelling skills will shape the narrative and dialogue.
• Script Editors: Review and refine scripts to ensure high-quality storytelling. Your attention to detail will polish our scripts to perfection.
• Sound Designers: Create and integrate sound effects and oversee the music and audio quality. Your audio expertise will enhance the immersive experience of our series.

Benefits:

• Portfolio Building: Create high-quality work that you can showcase in your portfolio.
• Creative Collaboration: Work with a passionate and dedicated team to bring a unique project to life.
• Credit and Recognition: Receive full credit for your contributions, which can help you in your future career.
• Potential Future Opportunities: If the project generates revenue, there will be potential for profit sharing and possibly paid opportunities.

How to Join: If you're interested, please join our Discord server [Discord Invite Link: https://discord.gg/PQ2NTC2Vg8] and introduce yourself with samples of your work. We are excited to meet new members and collaborate on this exciting journey together.
For more information, ask questions on #questions-general in the server. More details will also be there.
Thank you for considering joining "Toytown"! We are very excited to hear from you. Let’s create something extraordinary together.

This isn't incredibly serious, but it's irked me enough to the point that I just need to get this off my chest. For context, this is a joke campaign that me and my buds have wanted to play for a while, and after much time, we settled on a place and play once or twice a week. We play at a library near us on Saturdays.
Our party was... a bit scuffed, to say the least. We had an Arcane Trickster Rogue (me), an Assassin Rogue, a Cleric (problem player), a Druid and a Halfing Barbarian that joined around session 4 or 5. The first few sessions were a hot mess, and a really god damn fun one at that. I trusted the DM with my character sheet, but for the first two sessions, he forgot to bring it, so the first sessions were pure roleplay, and it was fantastic.
The world was similar to Dune, except it was mostly dirt land. Of course, there were still giant sandworms. There were rocky outcrops which the dirtworms couldn't eat, so we'd have to take refuge there. The first 4 or so sessions were going really good, but then things started to go wrong when Cleric wanted to change his character.
This would be fine, but his character was incredibly important to the story. We had tamed an enormous dirtworm, and via feeding it anything we could find, it grew very large. So, we used it to carry the Clerics church. This church was basically our 'hub-world,' and he wanted to kill his character, basically making the church's existence kinda useless, other than having a place to stay when travelling on the big dirtworm.
He was deadset on changing his character, so we had his character sacrifice himself in the name of the god he worshipped. For the next 2 sessions, he couldn't play because he had no character sheet, but he still showed up at our sessions, so we just played without him while he gamed on his laptop. Finally, he got his character sheet, but in his first session as this new character, he said one or two lines and then just played more games on his laptop for the rest of the session. It's infuriating.
The worst part of his new character is that he decided to make it a third rogue, and a second strength based one at that (Assassin Rogue was strength based). This was really annoying, because his character wasn't stealthy at all. I guess it works as a joke but I still feel irritated about it. This is still far from the worst part, though.
Our last session is the straw that broke the camels back. We had already banned laptops at the table (excusing Barbarian, who used a DnD Beyond Character Sheet) but still, about five minutes into the session, he pulled out his laptop and starting doing something on it, I can't really recall. He did next to nothing last session too, instead opting to say no lines of dialogue but do one single action.
But the worst thing was the 'jokes' he made before the session started. They weren't good jokes, they were shitty, weird, racist-uncle style jokes that made everyone at the table uncomfortable and annoyed, especially because he was saying them really loud inside of a fucking library and we really don't wanna get kicked out (the main one that stuck out was 'Flags are for countries, not people with mental disabilities' before 'faking us out' by saying some shit like 'in racing, y'know? The black and white flag that people go crazy over?' I don't even know what he meant).
Then, halfway through the session, he just started showing everyone else at the table stupid videos. By that point, the first boss was introduced and he slowed down the pace of the game by a huge amount. Obviously, the last session was a mess and not any fun at all, so we are going to confront him the next time we can about his frankly appalling behaviour at the table.

A love that will come to you, and meet you at every timeline, alternate universe, and lifetime. A love that will beat all odds and makes you brave enough to face your fears, even death. Is that kind of love even possible these days? In a world where we lived on forced relationships and easily change the people who let into our lives, Lovely runner reminded us that yes, that kind of love is exists.

This post will be very lengthy, as it become my habit to write about the things and people that have a special space in my heart. Unlike any other k-dramas, where I write reviews and my takeaways, I suddenly thought, what if I write my thank yous?

Soliii, My sol-ah. The bravest k-drama girl I’ve met to date. Everyone talks about men always protecting and sacrificing their lives just to protect the woman they love but have they ever talked about a girl who went through 4 timelines, risked her life so many times to keep the man he love out of danger, even erase his memories and suffer the unbearable pain of not There was never an inch of distraction and even a hint of doubt that she will change their future. Thank you for being so headstrong, and thank you for enduring it all. Thank you for reminding me that I was once like you and there is nothing wrong with risking it all for the one you love. Thank you for teaching me how powerful a woman’s love is. Thank you for teaching me that life doesn’t stop when you face challenges, we are given multiple chances to change it. And to the woman who gave life to Im sol, hye yoonie, you gained a new fan in me. You call this project your most challenging to date, you deserve credit on this show’s success as you’ve become the heart of this show. I am looking forward to the new characters that you will be portraying.


Ryu Sunjae. My heart feels like bursting out whenever I think about you. While I was watching the series, I always say his good and warm-hearted personality don’t even equate to the man I’ve met in my life. What am I even doing? How can a man only have eyes for the same woman in every timelines when these days, cheating becomes a hobby. Thank you for making me realize that all men aren’t all the same(even if you’re just a fictional character). Thank you for teaching me to have faith in memories and how powerful they are. It’s really true that even when the mind forgets, the heart always remembers. Thank you for finding your way back to sol. You literally died a lot of times and cheated death for the woman you love, how can anyone top that?

To the amazing actor Byeon woo seok, I am so proud of you. You’ve succesfully cemented yourself as one of the top actors in Korea to date. What’s meant for you will always find you. And no other actor can ever portray Ryu Sun Jae like you do. Imagine playing a high school student, college student, a member of a successful band, and a man who’s a loser lover all in one drama. And even singing 5 songs in the OST album? It only goes to show how hardworking, and how you poured your heart out into this project. Thank you for giving life to Ryu Sun Jae. And as your fan, I promise that you will only walk on flowery road from now on. I love you so much.


To the whole cast, Director Yoon Jong Ho and to the brilliant writer Lee Si Eun. Thank you for giving us this masterpiece. When I first saw the trailer, I thought, oh Im Sol is just another crazy fangirl like me, but you’ve managed to give us more. I was mindblown by the insane parallels, the attention to even the tiniest details. The show became a trope haven that didn’t jut evolved on the story of an idol and a fan girl. There were even controversies regarding the story line that it was derived from this and that but I’m just so happy that I gave this drama a chance. As Sol and Sun jae’s story came to a close last night, I can’t help but be sad by the fact that my Mondays and Tuesdays will never be the same. My usual grumpy Monday mornings became fun and light while waiting for pre-release and new episodes. I’m just so happy that the team went back to the silly little drama with bunch of loser people. People watching the whole completed series will never understand the feeling of being excited and anxious while waiting for a whole week for another episode. I will never forget the exchange of theories in twitter, the whole Lovely runner community was just so fun, loving and warm. I will miss this k-drama so much and I’m starting to feel empty. But I am a proud Subeom because despite the lack of promotions, sponsorship, and all the hurdles that this show went through, they easily became the most belove K-drama of 2024.

I write games for a living and I've been playing Homeworld since 1999. For the past few weeks I didn't buy Homeworld 3 because all of the story backlash this game has been getting on this sub. The idea that they squandered HW3's story broke my heart and I didn't want to tarnish my view of the series.
But turns out, they didn't screw anything up. The story is competently done. It respects the original games, takes you to many great missions and has a nice dose of unexpected team ups. The villain is mostly two dimensional, but she was given an interesting ending that was way more interesting than anything the villain of HW2 ever got.
The fact that we got this game at all is a miracle, and the hate HW3's story is getting is totally out of proportion. I totally understand the premise that "Homeworld should be a story about a people, not individual characters", but that stopped being the case since Homeworld 2. That was all about 2 characters.
But to be fair, If I had written it, I would personally have focused on the people angle - but they decided to pick up Homeworld 2's baton and to focus on something else. And while it may not be everyone's cup of tea, it was competently done, not the trainwreck that many people are implying.
The story is good, way better than your average game. And the game is good too. If you are a fan, you won't want to miss on any of it.

I'm currently working on a superhero story I'm super super passionate about. I've watched over 1,000 movies and TV shows about superheroes and drew inspiration from each and every one of them.
Unlike most writers, I’ve put a lot of effort into crafting characters with unique superpowers and rich backstories. I believe my story stands strong and will offer something new and exciting to the superhero genre. My goal is to create characters whose abilities and adventures can rival those of any fictional character out there, as if that hasn't been done and claimed before a million times.
However, despite my confidence and ego that my story is the best out there, I can't help but fear that my perfect book won't get the attention it deserves. Because it's so good it shouldn't be drowning in the competitiveness of the entertainment industry but I'm concerned that it might and people wouldn't see what a great story it is.
Still, I know my work can contribute to the superhero genre in a meaningful way and inspire people. And I'm sure my work will introduce a new wave of competition in the superhero franchise, offering fresh perspectives and narratives that enrich the genre even further. I'm excited about the possibilities of me being super successful and remain positive that my efforts will eventually be recognized and appreciated by fans of superhero stories everywhere because my work is just that good.
Oh by the way I won't share anything about my book because my ideas are so precious and unique I don't want people to steal them so please don't ask about it.

Creating a backlink strategy encompasses a range of techniques aimed at securing links from other websites, either through passive or active efforts. Their critical role in SEO highlights the need for businesses to understand the best backlink strategies. The diversity in methods provides multiple avenues for enhancing the possibilities for optimization. Therefore, it’s pertinent that you understand how to make backlinks SEO strategies effective.
Implementing the right backlinking strategy isn’t just about improving rankings; it’s about setting the foundation for a robust online presence. Well researched link building and content that naturally attracts backlinks, as well as maintenance, is key for sustained SEO success. Moreover, the process represents a comprehensive approach to developing a backlink strategy that aligns with best practices and ethical standards in digital marketing.
Highlight Summary:

• Backlinks are often considered the backbone of SEO.
  
• A mix of link types from different reputable sources enhances your website’s SEO performance.
  
• Backlinks contribute to the long-term reputation and credibility of a website.
  
• Monitoring and maintaining your backlinks is an ongoing process that requires regular attention.
  
• To succeed, filter opportunities based on domain-level metrics, content quality, and relevance.
  

Understanding the Importance of Backlinks in SEO

Backlinks, often considered the backbone of SEO, serve multiple pivotal roles in enhancing a website’s visibility and authority online. Understanding their multifaceted importance can significantly improve your backlink strategy:

• Votes of Confidence: Each backlink acts as a digital nod of approval from one site to another, signaling to search engines that the content is valuable and trustworthy. This “vote” is not just a number; its quality, relevance, and the authority of the linking site play crucial roles in its impact on SEO.
  
• Influence on Rankings: High-quality backlinks from sites with substantial domain authority not only increase organic traffic but also elevate a website’s position on Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs). This elevation is not solely due to the number of backlinks but also their quality, relevance, and the authority they carry from the source to the target site.
  
• Building Authority and Credibility: Beyond the immediate SEO benefits, backlinks contribute to the long-term reputation and credibility of a website. Engaging in guest blogging on reputable platforms, for instance, not only garners valuable backlinks but also establishes the author and the website’s authority in their niche. This process of building E-A-T (Expertise, Authority, and Trustworthiness) is essential for a sustainable and respected online presence.
  

These aspects underscore the necessity of a strategic approach to backlinking, emphasizing quality over quantity, relevance, and the ongoing effort to cultivate a network of authoritative backlinks.

Identifying Quality Backlink Opportunities

Identifying quality backlink opportunities requires a strategic approach, blending research, analysis, and outreach. Here’s how to start:

• Diversify Your Link Profile: Aim for a mix of link types from different reputable sources to enhance your website’s SEO performance. This includes securing backlinks from unique domains, which are crucial for a strong backlink profile. Consider also using HARO to connect with journalists for authoritative backlinks and writing press releases for industry-specific publications.
  
• Competitor Analysis: Begin with competitor research to understand the types of backlinks they’ve secured and identify potential opportunities for your website. Next, utilize tools like Semrush’s Backlink Analytics to analyze competitors’ backlink profiles, focusing on their authority score, referring domains, and the types of content they’re linked from. Finally, leverage the Backlink Gap tool to find sites that link to your competitors but not to you, revealing untapped backlink opportunities.
  
• Outreach and Engagement: Identify websites, journalists, or influencers who may be interested in your content. Research your industry or niche to find popular blogs or websites for potential collaboration. Once done, look for guest blogging opportunities by using Google search methods, the influencer method, and the competitor backlinks method. Filter these opportunities based on domain-level metrics, content quality, and relevance. Moreover, engage with publishers who have linked to similar content before, focusing on those with high domain authority and a history of using do-follow outbound links.
  

This process, from diversifying your link profile to conducting thorough competitor analysis and engaging in targeted outreach, lays the foundation for securing high-quality backlinks that bolster your SEO strategy.

Creating High-Quality Content That Attracts Backlinks

Creating content that naturally attracts backlinks involves a blend of originality, relevance, and engagement. Here are key strategies to enhance your content’s backlink potential.

Original and Comprehensive Content

• Original Research and Data: Share unique findings, surveys, or studies that provide new insights into your industry. Original research is highly valued and often cited by other content creators, leading to natural backlinks.
  
• In-depth Guides: Publish thorough guides on specific topics within your niche. These resources become go-to references, attracting backlinks from various sources looking to provide their audience with detailed information.
  
• Case Studies: Document real-life examples or success stories relevant to your industry. Case studies not only showcase your expertise but also attract backlinks from those interested in practical applications of theories or strategies.
  

Engaging and Interactive Content

• Infographics: Design visually appealing infographics that summarize complex data or ideas. Due to their shareability, infographics are linked to 3x more than any other type of content on social media.
  
• Interactive Content: Create quizzes, polls, or interactive videos. Such content encourages engagement and is more likely to be shared and linked to, increasing backlink opportunities.
  

Content That Solves Problems

• How-to Guides and Tutorials: Offer step-by-step solutions or teach new skills. These are often used as reference material, leading to backlinks from those seeking to guide their audience through similar challenges.
  
• Problem-Solving Content: Address common issues within your niche with actionable advice. This type of content is frequently cited by others as a practical solution, enhancing its backlink potential.
  

By focusing on creating content that is both valuable and shareable, you lay the groundwork for attracting high-quality backlinks naturally.

Monitoring and Maintaining Your Backlinks

Monitoring and maintaining your backlinks is an ongoing process that requires regular attention to ensure the health and effectiveness of your backlink profile. Below I have explained a few strategies that are easy to utilize.

Regular Audits and Analysis

Perform regular backlink audits to identify and disavow any low-quality or spammy links. This ensures they do not harm your SEO efforts. Use backlink building tools like Semrush to conduct a comprehensive backlink analysis. This includes checking the authority scores of referring domains, anchor text diversity, and the ratio of ‘follow’ to ‘nofollow’ links.
Furthermore, Google Search Console, Ahrefs, and Moz offer valuable insights into your backlink profile, including top linking sites, keywords, top backlinked URLs, page authority, referral traffic, and link status. These tools are essential for monitoring new and lost links, as well as analyzing the quality and relevance of linking websites.

Recovering and Optimizing Backlinks

Address broken backlinks by updating them to point to functional pages or contacting webmasters for external link fixes. This helps maintain search engine optimization benefits and improves the user experience.
Optimize your backlink strategy by monitoring redirect chains and ensuring do-follow links are of good quality. Regularly optimize anchor text to enhance user experience and improve your website’s relevance and visibility in search engine rankings.

Competitive Backlink Monitoring

Keep an eye on competitors’ backlinks to identify opportunities and potential threats. Tools like Ahrefs and Semrush provide features for monitoring competitors’ backlink profiles, helping you uncover backlink opportunities and replicate successful strategies.
By adhering to these strategies, SEO professionals can maintain a healthy backlink profile, contributing to improved visibility and authority of their websites.

Effective Outreach Backlink Strategies

Effective outreach strategies are pivotal in crafting a successful backlink strategy. These strategies can significantly increase website visibility and credibility when executed correctly. For personalized outreach use the recipient’s name and mention specific details about their work to make your pitch stand out. Highlight how your resource adds value to their content, increasing the likelihood of securing a backlink. Also, a single follow-up email can boost response rates; however, avoid excessive follow-ups to prevent appearing needy or spammy.
Utilize tools like Boomerang or Snvoio for scheduling emails and Canned Responses for efficiency without sacrificing personalization. Other ways are to engage with potential backlink sources on platforms like LinkedIn before outreach to build rapport. Assess backlink quality using tools like the ones I mentioned already to ensure relevance and authority.
To avoid pitfalls, steer clear of mass emailing and ensure each outreach email is customized to reflect genuine interest and authenticity. By testing various strategies, including influencer marketing and HARO, you can identify what works best for your specific needs.
By integrating these strategies, your business can enhance its backlink profile and strengthen its SEO efforts.

Backlink Strategy – A Short Summary

Throughout this guide, I’ve journeyed through the crucial steps of developing an effective backlink strategy, from understanding the innate value of backlinks in SEO to executing advanced outreach for quality backlink acquisition. This comprehensive exploration underscores the significance of diversity in link building. It also highlights the importance of high-quality engaging content and the strategic methods of guest blogging. Each step provides a roadmap to bolster your business presence and performance through ethical and impactful backlinking strategies.
Moving forward, the insights drawn from these strategies should fuel continuous improvement and adaptation, as the digital landscape evolves. To thrive in this ever-changing environment, adopting a proactive approach to backlink acquisition and maintenance, combined with a commitment to creating value-driven content, will remain paramount for your SEO success. For professional link building services, visit our contact page and send us a message.

Hello!
I hope you're all doing well!
Gonna try to keep this under 40k characters... so, the main event is going to be a bit shorter than usual, so if you have questions about that particular fight (or any, really), let me know and i can expand on thoughts and answer those questions!
Also, if you have feedback about the slightly new format, let me know!
(c) - Champ
D/DWCS - Debut/Dana Whites' Contender Series
FLS - Fight Lose Streak
FWS - Fight Win Streak
NS - No Streak
(#x) - Rank in division
x/3 - Confidence Levels
Lets go!
Prelims
Flyweight
Andre Lima (8-0-0, 8 FWS) v Mitch Raposo (D) (9-1-0, 4 FWS) - I feel for Lima here, three changes in opponent during this entire camp, that can’t be easy for the mental stress, but I do think that this last minute change gives Lima that advantage in preparation and cardio and such.
Lima is coming off quite an interesting debut result, in which his opponent straight up chomped on Lima’s arm. For the most part prior to that unique moment, Lima was doing relatively well on the feet, his boxing was crisp and whilst Severino was being pretty effective with his wrestling and pressure, you can almost see Lima settle in the longer the fight went on, and in the second round, he was finding his punches fairly easily, landing at a 66% rate in that second round. That has always been Lima’s main attribute as a boxer, his accuracy is oftentimes high when he fights, never wasting many shots as he sets his own pace and finds his timing, and it’s going to be relatively effective against Raposo who has a slight disadvantage in reach, and has a rather funky style himself, and sometimes funk is fun, but not when you have a sharp boxer opposite you.
Raposo is someone who tried to get into the UFC a while ago via Dana Whites’ Contender Series, but didn’t quite succeed due to a loss against Jake Hadley. Raposo is a fairly well rounded fighter but from the footage that I have seen, he is mostly a stand up fighter who utilises variations of a two to three punch combination, with a bit of an emphasis on his wide right that he tends to swing from a somewhat loaded up position. Now, I do want to point out in a positive light that he does come from the New England Cartel, and that gym generally produces outstanding strikers, but I just think Raposo is a few steps (or leaps) behind the stars of the gym in Kattar and Font. Now, there are positives for Raposo, he shells up relatively well and he doesn’t stay in firing range the whole time, especially when shelling up, he circles away whilst keeping his guard up. The one thing I cannot help but notice though is how exposed his body is to attacks, he isn’t that adaptable when it comes to his defences, and whilst he has a very typical high shell, I can just see Lima exposing the body with strong punches, and given that Raposo isn’t quite prepared properly for a fight against Lima, those body punches could shut him down. Now, Raposo does have a strong right hand, the one he tends to wind up and throw from the same angle at the same speed and such, but once it lands it could certainly cause trouble for Lima.
Lima has incredible potential in the UFC, his boxing is very sharp and I do think that the fact he has been preparing for a fight for quite some time now shows that he has the cardio and the durability to perhaps outlast Raposo, especially if those body shots that I predict will be there, land effectively. I almost want to make him a 2/3 confidence pick, but since he’s new to the UFC, and Raposo does have a bit of danger himself, I don’t feel comfortable putting him that high of a confidence pick. This is a fun first fight of the night.
Lima via KO R2 - (1/3)
Women’s Bantamweight
Joselyne Edwards (+210) (13-5-0, NS) v Ailin Perez (-265) (9-2-0, 2 FWS)
Edwards has had an interesting time in the UFC, she has had rather lacklustre performances against some of the more lower skilled fighters in the division. Edwards was introduced to us fans as a kickboxer from Panama, and for the most part her performances have echoed that style of kickboxing, but she walks into two metaphorical brick walls which hinder her performances. First, her cardio tends to fall apart relatively quickly, she does look fatigued after the second round, heck, even during it, and I do think considering Perez’s skillset is heavily wrestling based, that the fatigue problems will be a bit more prevalent, but that also tends to lead to a different issue that Edwards walks into, and that’s her weight. See, Edwards missed weight a few times in the UFC so far, and whilst those issues on the scales are perhaps anomalous to those two incidences, it does somewhat connect with her fatigue problems, she carries a lot of weight on fight day and that’s all a major contributor to exhaustion and fatigue. As for her record, it’s been stated many times, but she’s been gifted quite a few scorecards… She arguably lost to Pascual, Pudilova and even went to a split decision against Kim Ji-yeon. To say her record is pretty sketchy is putting it lightly. Her style is pretty standard for a boxer or kickboxer, she often strings together decent combinations with a fair bit of power given her size, but her major weakness is defending takedowns, and given that Perez is perhaps the first major wrestler that she is going to face, I suspect she’s going to be struggling to defend those takedowns, especially the longer the fight goes on, when that fatigue problem kicks in (if it kicks in).
Perez on the other hand is slightly more newer to the UFC, having had her debut at 145 against Egger before moving back down to 135 to take on Ashlee Evans-Smith and Pudilova, and it was in those two fights that we truly saw what Perez is capable of. Perez is very dependent on her takedowns, she does not strike a whole lot on her feet, she often uses some strikes to close the distance then level changes for a takedown or a judo throw, in which she then unleashes a lot of ground strikes, and it’s a bit obvious to me that she is going to utilise that exact style against the much taller and longer Edwards. Now, the longer this fight remains on the feet, the more chance Edwards has of pulling away with a win, but I only say that because I know that Edwards is going to have a striking advantage, but her kicks perhaps would be shut down by the wrestling threat of Perez.
This is very much a wrestler versus striker bout, and whilst you might argue that Edwards has shown some wrestling in her last fight against Cornolle, it’s important to know that Cornolle most definitely was not a wrestler so those takedowns would have been relatively easy, and there’s no doubt that Edwards has worked on her wrestling just so she is a more well rounded individual. I still firmly believe that Perez is going to get a win here through her wrestling, and the longer the fight goes on, the more Edwards is most likely to feel that fatigue. I am predicting a KO here, but it is going to be one of those ground and pound TKO’s. It’s also very possible this fight goes the distance so if you want to place a bet, either double chance this one or just have it go o2.5 or something.
Perez via KO R3 - (2/3)
Welterweight
Mickey Gall (+225) (7-5-0, 2 FLS) v Bassil Hafez (-290) (8-4-1, NS) - There is honestly not a lot to say about this one, Gall is severely overrated and a bit of a failed product of the Lookin’ for a fight show, and Hafez still has quite a lot to show us given he went three rounds against future contender Jack Della Maddalena.
Gall is coming off back to back losses over two years ago, so not only is he coming into this fight with a tough losing streak on his record, but those two years away are certainly muddying the waters a bit here. Anyway, Gall is mostly a submission artist, he somewhat thrives on the ground, although that would be a major gamble given the fact that Hafez is very wrestling oriented, and I mean, let's be honest, as long as a wrestler is in top control, it’s very rarely that they get submitted, and it’s not like Gall is some high level BJJ fighter with an impeccable record, he is just someone who has been given somewhat name-worthy opponents and that’s practically it. Gall's best chance to win this fight is on the ground, he needs to stick to his guns in this fight and be incredibly active on the ground or Hafez is going to shut down all of the submission attempts and just smother Gall in pressure. There is a possibility of Gall being somewhat effective on the feet, but a lot of his striking is fairly standard, often really using his grappling over anything else to get a win. One thing I don’t particularly like seeing when it comes to Gall’s striking is he is very still and perhaps too calm when he’s standing in front of someone, he doesn’t move his head a lot and his lead leg is often very out there and exposed, and whilst he does have quite a bit of power in his hands, I just don’t think he’s that capable of being a strong striker, his best skillset really is his BJJ. He is often quick to tie up his opponent or at least grab for a guillotine, and that guillotine will be there for him the more Hafez looks for takedowns, that will probably be the main threat coming from Gall for Hafez in my opinion.
Hafez has only one fight in the UFC but it was against one of the toughest opponents one can possibly debut against in Jack Della Maddalena, and whilst Hafez was simply outmatched on the feet, he persevered and still looked for those takedowns that he very much needed. It is the style of Hafez that will test Gall in this fight, because if Hafez attempted 20 takedowns against JDM who has exceptional takedown defence, I just think Hafez is going to have a bit of an easier time against Gall who is mostly a BJJ fighter who typically has terrible takedown defence, and I mean, this is something i’ve gone on and on about many times before, a good wrestler is a lot better than a good BJJ fighter, and whilst this is not exactly a case of Gall being a good BJJ fighter and Hafez being a good wrestler, that style clash is basically the same. Even if Gall does put up a good defence/offence on the ground, I do think Hafez and his grappling skillset is more than enough to deal with it. Hafez has gorgeous double leg takedowns, I mean, look at this beautiful takedown he used just seconds into his debut against JDM, he can do this over and over again, and realistically, he just needs to do this for the first two rounds, then he pretty much gets a win, but I think it’s going to be a relatively one sided wrestling attack by Hafez, and a few defensive submission attempts by Gall like guillotines or arm triangles off his back.
This is a great fight to be honest, I was rather impressed by the grit and determination of Hafez, he was getting torn up on the feet by JDM but still was willing to try and wrestle, resulting in a split decision loss, but an immeasurable amount of experience gained. I think Hafez gets a win here, but I only say that because I just don’t know how Gall is going to look coming off of a two year hiatus. We have sometimes seen insane improvements from fighters who take a few years off, so it’s possible Gall could look incredibly good, but based on what I know for “certain”, I think Hafez has this one.
Hafez via UD - (1/3)
Welterweight
Niko Price (+210) (15-7-0, 2 FLS) v Alex Morono (-260) (24-9-0, NS)
Morono is coming off a fairly competitive back and forth fight against McGee, and whilst he got the win, he didn’t look too great in there in all honesty. Morono does quite a few things with his striking that looks very funky and silly, he plods around a lot, his open elbow stance leaves him very open to being attacked, which often plays into his speed advantage in his fights as he can easily retaliate very quickly and land some thunderous punches. Morono is a very powerful boxer and he often uses a very quick left body or inside/outside leg kick with his boxing combinations just to add more sting to the sequence. However, as much as I find his striking style to be very unorthodox, what I do love about him is his grappling. Morono has ridiculously good BJJ, and whilst he doesn’t have the best takedown defence to take full control of his grappling ability, he is very, very good off his back. During his fight against Court McGee, he jumped the Guillotine, and whilst he didn’t successfully submit McGee, he was proactive in chasing an armbar off his back instead… It is the activity off the bottom that makes him a dangerous grappler and it’s always great to see. Now, Morono most likely has a fairly big power advantage here, and given that Price is coming off back to back KO losses, there is some question about whether or not his chin is durable enough to handle the right hand of Morono, and boy that right hand is a tough one to deal with.
Price is indeed coming off a KO loss against Robbie Lawler, and whilst it’s a tough loss for anyone, I do think that he still offers a great deal of threat for Morono, and whilst one might imagine the threat is going to be mostly his punching power, volume and other delicious words, I firmly believe that Price is going to chew up the legs of Morono very early and very often. Price is a fantastic leg kicker, he lands about one third of his strikes to the legs most of the time, and given that Morono is a very “plodding” stance fighter, I just cannot help but imagine that Price is going to land phenomenal leg kicks throughout this fight. However, the counter for leg kicks is, as we all should know by now, a power side attack, and if Price gets hit by that right hand, the momentum could shift very quickly. Now, if the fight ends up on the ground, I do think that Morono is going to swarm Price with overwhelming pressure and activity, given that Morono has excellent BJJ, and Price isn’t exactly that well versed on the ground.
As long as Price avoids the grappling and wrestling of Morono, he has a solid chance to win this fight, but I do think if he attacks the legs early and slows down the forward aggression of Morono, he could pull out an upset here, but that’s a bit of a big order given the threat of Morono’s quick one-two and his ability to utilise a wide range of attacks throughout all three rounds. This is very much a 50/50 fight though, I don’t feel confident at all in either fighter to win, and whilst I think Morono has more tools and more pathways to victory, Price could indeed surprise us this weekend.
Morono via UD - (1/3)
Welterweight
Phil Rowe (+135) (10-4-0, NS) v Jake Matthews (-165) (19-7-0, NS) - This is certainly a fascinating fight, but the first thing that screams at me is the size difference between Rowe and Matthews.
Rowe is coming off a back and forth, relatively slow and unimpressive fight against Magny, and whilst the fight took place in the clinch for the large majority of the fight, I did enjoy watching him use his reach by throwing that quick one-two down the pipe, and its that one-two that is going to be fairly problematic for Matthews given the fact that Rowe has an 8 inch reach advantage. I do believe that if Rowe keeps this fight clean, he has a major advantage here, but there is a glaring problem that I can see Matthews expose, and that’s the lack of defence that Rowe has. Whilst his ranged attacks are relatively effective, I do not like how hittable he is because he does not use footwork a lot, he just stands in front of his opponents target zone, kind of eating punches whilst trying to maintain his range. This is a problem for Rowe in this fight because Matthews is the type to push forward at a strong pace and let his own hands go effectively. Rowe has a phenomenal right hand, it is very accurate and thanks to the reach advantage, I don’t think he needs to show it off too much for it to be effective, he would just need to pop it out there in order to have it land. Now, Magny did make the fight gritty in the third round when they fought, and I did notice that whenever a pocket exchange is initiated, Rowe is on the receiving end of the harder shots, and that is primarily due to his lack of footwork and evasive movement in that particular bout, and whilst he did underperform during his fight against Magny, I do think he has the sharper, straighter punches that could be problematic for Matthews if Matthews is unable to close the distance and enter the pocket effectively.
Matthews is coming off a tough loss against Michael Morales, and it was in that fight that we saw Matthews get hit the most in his UFC career, receiving 84 significant strikes, although I think it’s fair to say that Matthews’ incredible defence allowed him to absorb those significant strikes without much serious damage. Matthews’ defence is actually one of the most impressive things I have seen, he shells up so effectively whilst leaving his stance open enough for aggressive retaliation. Everything Matthews throws comes with him immediately shelling up and moving off the centre line, he is impeccable with his defensive timing, and whilst he has been stumbled and rocked before, he has never really been in dire trouble. I do see Matthews using his overhand left followed by a quick duck followed by a straight right, that is his best entrance for the pocket and it is something he has used incredibly well against Morales. It is this exact style which makes his fight against Rowe a phenomenal match up because we have seen Rowe struggle when an opponent enters range, and I think Matthews is a lot more quick and explosive with forward momentum than Magny is. Plus, it helps that Matthews is such a gritty fighter, constantly moving forward and putting on strong pressure even if he gets hit, and that’s mostly due to his defence, he is just so good at absorbing and blocking damage whilst moving forward.
It honestly is a bit of a story between who can initiate their gameplan a bit better. For Rowe, he needs to be active at range, on the feet, he needs to use that quick one-two to freeze up Matthews and just eventually find the chin, because the chin is there, especially if feints are involved because Matthews does instinctively shell up a lot when something is coming his way, feint or otherwise. However, I do see Matthews making this a chaotic fight, especially since he loves to enter the range by weaving into the pocket, where Rowe is perhaps at his most uncomfortable. I got Matthews winning this one, I think his experience is going to shine here, as well as the fact that his defensive habits are going to be pivotal in mitigating a lot of the dangerous shots coming his way. I am not very confident in Matthews, I do see Rowe being dangerous at range still, but I just think Matthews ability to enter the pocket here is going to be the main story here.
Matthews via UD - (1/3)
Lightweight
Grant Dawson (#15) (-320) (20-2-1, NS) v Joe Solecki (+250) (13-4-0, NS)
Dawson is coming off a rough KO loss against Bobby Green, and that was always going to be one of the main outcomes for that fight since Green has excellent boxing, and thankfully for Dawson, that boxing or striking threat will be mostly gone here since Solecki isn’t at all a striker. Dawson is a very well rounded fighter who is incredibly effective on the ground, he is someone who is able to keep up a high pace of activity and still have enough cardio to be explosive, and I do think that the UFC is kind of making this fight a “comeback” fight for Dawson because I honestly don’t think Solecki has enough of an all round threat to make this interesting for Dawson. Dawson is going to employ the same strategy he has done in almost all of his fights, and that’s wrestle and control, he is so good at maintaining advantageous positions on the ground and the longer he is in top control, the worse it is for Solecki whose only chance to win this fight is to find a submission off his back, but since Dawson has ridiculously good wrestling and grappling himself, I think he can see any set up that Solecki attempts coming. On the feet I could say Dawson has the advantage here, but I don’t think a lot of the fight is going to take place on the feet, I think there’s going to be a lot of wrestling involved with Dawson being in the better positions.
Solecki is a sneaky fighter though, and whilst he has had some underwhelming fights, I do think the threat of his submissions are going to be fairly prevalent. I don’t think those submissions are going to land. Now, I will put a major disclaimer here saying I have struggled to find a lot of “working” tape for Solecki, and I have been unable to find what submission attempts he used against Alex Da Silva when they fought two years ago, I only bring this up because I believe Solecki is active off his back and if he is lucky he could at least make Dawson’s control time a bit more difficult, but I still don’t think Solecki has that kind of threat to catch Dawson in anything, so whilst he might be active off his back and in the guard, it’s going to be the kind of activity that results in Dawson just adjusting over and over.
I don’t really have much else to say about this one, Dawson is the better all round fighter and a much better wrestler, and I do think that whilst both fighters have outstanding BJJ, Solecki’s submission output could make it a bit gritty for Dawson, but this isn’t new for Dawson, Dawsons faced excellent grapplers before (Ismagulov, Madsen and Gordon to name his recent wins). Dawson should win this one in my opinion.
Dawson via UD - (2/3)
Middleweight
Roman Kopylov (-135) (12-3-0, NS) v Cesar Almeida (+115) (5-0-0, 5 FWS)
Kopylov is coming off a tough submission loss against Alexander Hernandez, and it was a competitive fight up until that point. One thing that I like about Kopylov is his diversity with striking, he is ridiculously quick on the feet for a Middleweight and that allows him to simply flick out anything and there’s some certainty that it’s going to land. He has a very quick and sneaky lead leg kick that he often uses to change target very quickly, usually kicking the leg then following up with a left straight, instead of what we see in typical combinations where the leg kick is the final attack in a sequence. Kopylov does get hit a lot, and he does leave his right hand a bit far from his face, which makes me think that Almeida and his fantastic left hook is going to be a major problem for Kopylov. However, Kopylov does have some grappling in his arsenal, although we have yet to see it in the UFC, but since he is a multiple time sambo champion, I can’t help but think that he is going to be using his wrestling a fair bit in this fight, especially since he is facing one hell of a dangerous kickboxer, it would only make some sense, right? Now, on the feet, there are two attacks that Kopylov is going to put a major emphasis on, that is the liver body kick (left roundhouse) and the left straight, those two attacks are going to be his most damaging and I do wonder how effective it will be in slowing down Almeida.
Almeida is coming off a strong debut win against Budka, and whilst Budka isn’t exactly a tough debut, he still managed to test Almeida a little bit on the ground. However, as I highlighted in my last write up about Almeida, his defensive grappling is very, very good, he has adapted exceptionally well to MMA. Now, Almeida is one hell of a dangerous kickboxer, he is stupendously sharp on the feet and he is tight with his combinations, and it is for that reason alone that I think Kopylov needs to wrestle in this fight, use his Sambo to mix it up and make it frustrating for Almeida. Now, Almeida is outstanding at all ranges, but I think he excels in the pocket where he can land his tight left hook, a left hook that’s eerily similar to Pereira, it’s just a clean left hook that has no read and a lot of power behind it, and I think Kopylov is going to have to be the first one to start the action in order to not let Almeida settle in to throw that hook.
This is going to be a fantastic fight though, and honestly a fascinating match up for Kopylov who, up until this moment, only faced standard MMA strikers who throw big power with not that much technique, so this is going to be fascinating. Going with the underdog here, but it will absolutely not be a high confidence pick.
Almeida via KO R2 - (1/3)
Main Card
Welterweight
Randy Brown (-155) (18-5-0, 2 FWS) v Elizeu Zaleski (+130) (24-7-1, 1D/2FWS) - This is going to be absolutely awesome.
Brown is coming off a fantastic KO over highly touted kickboxing veteran Muslim Salikhov, and despite the fact that Brown did defeat Salikhov, it did not come without a lot of damage coming his way. Brown suffers a little bit from what a lot of longer and taller fighters suffer from, and that's a lack of fundamental striking defence, his range and reach is his defence, if someone can penetrate that reach difference and enter the pocket, then Brown is a vulnerable target in that moment. However, when Brown is at range and he’s in the zone, he is incredible. His long jab is his best weapon, he uses it to both damage his opponent and to set up subsequent punches, and these shots aren’t always the same, there are so many permutations of that same set up, as soon as you see Brown throw more than one jab, you know he is setting up a clean combination. However, he has shown a bit of a weakness and that’s his legs, he is so easy to leg kick due to his height and size, his lead leg is ripe for the taking and there is little doubt in my mind that Zaleski is going to chew up those legs early, as that was the game plan for Salikhov before that one-one-two combination came his way at ridiculous speeds.
Zaleski is coming off a draw against Rinat Fakhretdinov, and very early on we saw Zaleski struggle with the pressure and power of Fakhretdinov. That pressure and power is not exactly the style of fighting that Brown utilises, Brown is a lot more patient and systematic with his approach, never pressuring his opponent but keeping a constant pace of a wide sort of attacks. Zaleski has ridiculous power in his hands though and he has the speed and explosiveness to enter the pocket and land those dangerous punches that are going to land whenever he is going to enter the pocket during this bout. However, Zaleski does not have the best defence, he often leaves his hands a bit low, and whilst that’s great for an explosive overhand or a quick burst of action that’s hard to read, I don’t think that’s a good kind of defence when you’re fighting someone who has a 5 inch reach advantage and a 4 inch height advantage. Zaleski is not a safe fighter, he is here to perform and look for highlights, he is an incredible finisher, but he is also reckless, he is also susceptible to getting hurt, and whilst he did exceptionally well against Fakhretdinov, that was mostly due to Fakhretdinov’s predictable attacks. Now, Fakhretdinov threw the same attacks over and over, and since that same attack was the one that dropped Zaleski, he kept using that same thing. In order to be effective in any combat sport, especially against a veteran, you need to have different combinations, and that’s exactly what Brown has, he has such a wide range of attacks, including his very snappy front and head kicks, so there is little doubt that Zaleski is going to be somewhat overwhelmed on the feet if Brown finds his groove early on.
This is a fantastic fight, perhaps one of the best fights on this card, I expect there to be fireworks and a lot of adjustments as the rounds go on, but I do think that Brown is going to get a win here, his reach and height advantage gives him a lot of additional set ups and effective strikes, those front kicks up the middle could be effective given the loose shell of Zaleski, and those long one-two punches that Brown uses are just beautiful to watch. This is going to be awesome. Now, before I get to the prediction… Zaleski has the right tools to make this messy enough to get a win here, so there will be an alt bet here for a Zaleski Points/KO Double Chance.
Brown via UD - (1/3)
Heavyweight
Jailton Almeida (#6) (-300) (20-3-0, NS) v Alexandr Romanov (#14) (+240) (17-2-0, NS)
Almeida is coming off a KO loss against Blaydes just a few months ago, and I mean, losing to someone like Blaydes isn’t too big of a deal since Blaydes is a genuine talent in the division, but I do wonder how Almeida has improved since that loss. Almeida is a very grapple heavy fighter who has torn through a division full of unathletic brawlers, and now he is facing fighters who have a very similar style and skill set that he has, which makes this fight all that more interesting because I have been very high on Romanov in recent years, mostly due to his style being unique in the heavyweight division. Almeida has ridiculous cardio for someone at heavyweight, and whilst you could argue that his lay and pray style does not really reflect great cardio… how often are we going to see Blaydes get taken down 9 of 13 times. 13 fucking attempts against someone who has one of the best wrestling backgrounds in the UFC at heavyweight? Almeida’s wrestling is going to be a problem for a lot of people, even as we move up the division, but it comes at a cost. Almeida is very one dimensional, he has a heavy reliance on those takedowns, and if he doesn’t get them, you get a repeat of what Blaydes did to him. On the feet I don’t see a lot happening, Almeida has shown to be a bit more free with his boxing, only to open up his opponent to takedowns, and that could very well be the gameplan for Almeida this weekend, box a little then shoot for a takedown, and it could be effective against Romanov who is a bit more one dimensional than Almeida.
Romanov has somewhat stagnated a tiny bit in his career, with a not-very-recent win over Blagoy Ivanov, and for the most part it was a strong showing of his wrestling ability and strength, however I do question the quality of opponent that Romanov has defeated in comparison to Almeida’s… It seems that Almeida has been given the more star-power names whereas Romanov has been climbing the ranks in a more natural way. Anyway, I like Romanov, but I genuinely don’t think he is going to fare well against someone like Almeida. If an old 40+ year old in Espino can out wrestle Romanov, there is no doubt that a younger and perhaps more athletic fighter in Almeida can replicate that same kind of style and just overwhelm Romanov. Romanov is a strong competitor though so I think there might be enough resistance in the wrestling department to make this fight a long, gruelling one.
A very fun clash of similar styles here, which I find pretty important since Almeida is a very impressive fighter, and I think the more we see him take on opponents with a similar style to himself, the more we get to see what he is truly capable of. I got Almeida winning this one, it should be a fun fight!
Almeida via UD - (2/3)
Middleweight
Kevin Holland (-250) (25-11-0, 2 FLS) v Michal Oleksiejczuk (+200) (19-7-0, NS) - Oh man do I love this fight.
Holland is coming off back to back losses against JDM and MVP (Jack Della Maddalena and Michael “Venom” Page”), and whilst back to back losses could easily make people dismiss Holland, I do want to bring up how competitive his fight against JDM was, and how durable and tough he was when MVP was taking his soul in what was such a brilliant display of unorthodox kickboxing. Holland has always been a game fighter, he has a chin that allows him to hang in there with the hardest hitters, and he is genuinely a very skilled fighter who has outstanding boxing and such an expert at range and luring his opponent into an angle that gives him an advantage. Holland is coming back up to 185 after a fun stint at 170, and since Oleksiejczuk has very little wrestling threat, I am excited to see if we witness Holland be himself once again, because prior to his losses against Brunson and Vettori at 185, he was a dangerous fighter. Holland has a substantial reach advantage coming into this fight which is only going to shine even more when Oleksiejczuk tries to box him in a typical boxing range. Holland is also a fairly experienced grappler, he has quite a few submissions on his record and I do think that if he wants the path of least resistance when fighting Oleksiejczuk, he is going to look for that takedown and find a submission. However, that’s not how Holland fights, he is a crowd pleaser and is most likely going to want to keep this fight standing so he can land his quick combinations at range and just put away Oleksiejczuk that way.
Oleksiejczuk is coming off a tough sub loss against Pereira, and I honestly learnt nothing else about him during that fight, he was still looking for those heavy punches, and he still had somewhat bad takedown defence. I do think that Oleksiejczuk’s best chance to win this fight is to put Holland away, but it’s just a bit of a tall order because if Holland couldn’t get knocked out by the ridiculous power of MVP, I don’t think Oleksiejczuk is going to achieve that success that MVP tried to chase. The reach disadvantage is going to be fairly prominent here too, it’s going to make Oleksiejczuk rush in a little bit with some explosive forward movement in order to cover the distance, but Holland is so good at crowding punches and being hard to hit that I just don’t think Oleksiejczuk is going to land too cleanly on Holland.
With that said, I’ve always been a fan of Holland so maybe there is a bit of bias here, but I think Holland wins this one, i’m just mostly curious to see how he looks when he returns to 185 this weekend.
Holland via KO R2 - (2/3)
Co-Main Event
Middleweight
Sean Strickland (#2) (-205) (28-6-0, NS) v Paulo Costa (#8) (+170) (14-3-0, NS)
Strickland is coming off a very competitive fight against Dricus Du Plessis, and whilst he arguably won that fight, what I was most impressed with was the little amount of damage he absorbed, even by one of the most powerful punchers in DDP, and if Strickland could absorb that little amount of damage from DDP, I can only think that he is going to be relatively fine against Costa. Strickland does struggle a little bit in turning up the pressure when pressure is needed, he does have a bit of a predictable style which has been talked about for ages, but it’s a style that works, and if he sets a high pace of steady volume and walks Costa back throughout the fight, he can easily win this fight. The only thing that Strickland needs to be careful of is the power of Costa coming back his way.
Costa is coming off a tough loss against Whittaker, and whilst he did display that power late into the first round, he struggled to keep up with the speed and footwork of Whittaker. Now, the good news for Costa is that Stricklands footwork only involves walking forward, and occasionally taking a step back, there is no tricky blitzes or anything, so the striking success rate for Costa should be at least more stable numerically in the second and third if he doesn’t succumb to the pressure and slow down in those two rounds. However, I don’t trust Costa’s gas tank that much, he may be a physical specimen but the power he throws with is unsustainable for a three round back and forth, and it’s certainly not the first time Strickland has fought a powerhouse. My main concern however is the judges scorecards, and I know its a bit weird to talk about judging, but when you have big action fighters throwing things that aren’t super effective, the visuals reflect effectiveness, regardless of the supposed damage received, will the judges this fight see Costa throw heavy, despite not landing cleanly (which is hard to do against Strickland) and give the rounds to Costa? If that is the case, then a Costa Decision certainly should be in your books, but I just think that Strickland and his 4 inch reach advantage is going to be too effective in stifling the aggression of Costa.
I ultimately have Strickland winning this fight, I never really have been big on Costa, he’s a fun fighter to watch, but when you have Strickland taking away a lot of that fun by marching down a lot of his opponents, you get a Costa that struggles to keep up a bit. This is going to be a low confidence pick due to the judging factor, I have a weird feeling about this one lol.
Strickland via UD - (1/3)
Main Event
Lightweight Championship Bout
Islam Makhachev (c) (-480) (25-1-0, 13 FWS) v Dustin Poirier (#5) (+360) (30-8-0, NS)
Makhachev is one of the most well rounded fighters in the UFC at the moment. Everything he does is with clean technique and outstanding timing, and he has the cardio to keep up a ridiculously high pace for 5 rounds. There is no doubt in my mind that he is going to be using his brilliant wrestling and grappling to slowly dismantle Poirier, because Poirier’s grappling is rudimentary at best, it does not hold a candle to Makhachevs wrestling. There is a lot of discussion about Poirier landing a guillotine on Makhachev, but it’s all hype and hope at this rate because if he could not land a guillotine on BSD, he probably isn’t going to land one against a high level wrestler in Makhachev. Makhachev is a few steps behind when it comes to boxing though, I do not see him being successful against Poirier on the feet, Poirier’s striking is sublime, it is the most brilliant close range striking that you’ll probably ever see in the LW division, those tight hooks he uses is something nasty.
Poirier is on his last legs career wise, there is quite a lot weighing on him for this one as it is his final chance to get a belt, so that’s already a lot of pressure, but I guess he thrives in this kind of environment. Poirier is going to have to contend with the almost instant wrestling pressure and pace of Makhachev, and given that Poirier is not at all a wrestler, he is going to get taken down, he got taken down quite a few times when he fought a very depleted BSD, and now he’s coming up against a very physically ready Makhachev, I just don’t see Poirier doing too well in the wrestling department against Makhachev. However, when it comes to the striking, Poirier holds all the cards here, he has incredible timing with his lead hook and if he times it right, that uppercut could be disastrous for Makhachev. It’s going to be the hook and the uppercut that catch Makhachev, but if Makhachev can survive those attacks and get his hands wrapped around Poirier, it’s not going to matter if Poirier rocks Makhachev in the process, Makhachev is insane in top position.
That’s the story here, Poirier’s boxing versus Makhachevs wrestling and grappling. I got Makhachev winning this one, but it is always a good idea to sprinkle a bit of money on a Poirier KO, especially since he’s such a big underdog here.
Makhachev via Sub R2 - (2/3)
And that's it!
Primary Parlay - Price/Morono o2.5 or GTD + Dawson/Solecki o2.5 or GTD + Almeida/Kopylov ITD + Makhachev/Poirier ITD
Secondary Parlay - Price/Morono o2.5 or GTD + Almeida/Romanov R3 Starts Yes + Strickland/Costa o2.5 + Makhachev/Poirier u3.5 or ITD
Locks: Perez (optional), Dawson, Almeida, Holland and Makhachev.
Prediction Accuracy for 2024: 64.3%
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Hi everyone,
I'm a long-time fan of DC Comics and have read a lot of standalone stories and graphic novels like Batman: Year One, Kingdom Come, All-Star Superman, Superman for All Seasons, and Up, Up and Away. However, I've never been able to follow ongoing series like Action Comics or Detective Comics because I'm not sure where to start.
I want to dive into the present continuity of DC Comics, especially for major characters like Superman, Batman, and other heroes. Could anyone guide me on where to start with the current runs? Any specific issues or years I should begin with to follow the latest developments?
Thanks in advance for your help!

Hello, I'm Hailey! I'm 21f looking for an 18+ writing partner who uses discord. For this I'd be playing as an oc and you'd play as one of the characters or as your own oc if you'd prefer that. I'm a pretty "go where the story takes us" kind of person so I'm more than happy you add any ideas or interests you'd like to add to the story. I write in first person personally but if you need to write in a different style feel completely free too. Thank you for taking time to read and dm if you're interested, I hope to hear from you soon😊

Hi, I just finished books 1 and 2 and started 3, but it’s just not for me. However, I am a little attached to the characters/story and am curious on some plot points.

1. How does Caleb and Tory’s relationship end?
2. What was the fight between Darcy and Tory that they needed to make up for in the next book (this is in one of the later books)
3. Are Sofia and Diego special mates or something, I know Diego dies but what happens to Sofia? 3a. How does Diego die?
4. So as I understand, Darius and Tory were mates but she refused and so therefore are star crossed. He dies, gets brought back and then what are they still not together?? How does their relationship end.
5. Do Darcy and Orion end up together happily in the end? Are they Elysian mates?
6. Anything super cool that you think is worth knowing, I’m curious to know.

A lot of stories basically gloss over the effort involved in "catching Harry up" when it comes to learning how to learn, building up an academic mindset, etc. The more fleshed out the better -- course outlines, class, exam, and assignment syllabi, learning objectives, etc.
Always bugs me when characters get a pass on methodology via handwave when their entire shtick later ends up being "studied hard" or "read a lot" -- that shit doesn't cut it.

To start, I have no clue how it actually ties into Sukuna's CT but it's mechanics have been revealed and I have seen a lot of misunderstandings about them.
The ability itself is called furnace in English and is stated to have a lot of fire power but lacks in speed and range. This is only when used as normal with no binding vows or any kind or anything to boost it.
Sukuna since before the start of the story took steps to supplement the speed and range. The steps being a binding vow which goes as follows: in exchange for giving furnace the necessary speed and range for it to be practical in battle it must be used after cleave and dismantle have both been used. To boost this further furnace can only be used on a singular opponent when not within Sukuna's domain, when in the domain furnace can be used on multiple opponents at once and rather than burning the opponent it works like a dust explosion.
We see Sukuna use furnace only with the binding vows both outside and inside the domain a total of three times during the manga. Never has he used it without the vows and based on his fight with Gojo would never use it without the vows. He uses it outside the domain against Jogo and basically turns him into a burnt cup cake and inside the domain against Maho, evqporating him and Shibuya, and against Yuki and Co, evaporating Choso T.T.
Onto the misconceptions surrounding the domain clashes between Sukuna and Gojo.
The one I see the most is that Sukuna could not have use furnace during the clashes which is untrue for some of the clashes and true for others. The reasons (there are two which are technically the same reason tbh) we are given for why Sukuna didn't use furnace during the clashes is 1. Sukuna verbatim says he wants to prepare for any future encounters with the limitless by having perfect counters for it via making Maho adapt and then adapting whatever Maho came up with to his own CT and body and 2. He just straight up chose not to use Furnace and just kept it sealed. At no point in the manga does it actually state he could not have used Furnace against Gojo.
The second misconception I see going around is that because dismantle and cleave were barely putting any damage on Gojo then Furnace would not have done much to him, which is straight up untrue. We see that Sukuna's slashes do little to no damage on the cast right before he uses the domain and furnace but then he uses both and eviscerates not only the area but Choso and everyone else caught in it would have followed Choso to the grave had they no been saved by Todo. This includes Maki who we see tank crazy dismantles and cleaves from Sukuna. The destructive force of furnace specially in Sukuna's domain is leagues above the destructive force of cleave and dismantle by so much it's not even funny. Gojo would have been very much harmed by Furnace had Sukuna used it... How much idk but definitely way more than what cleave and dismantle did to him.
The third and final misconception I see is that Sukuna couldn't use Furnace against Gojo because it is slow and lack range... This is just people straight up ignoring that the binding vow which prevents Sukuna from using furnace at any time and limits him to using it until after cleave and dismantle have been used fixes both the speed and range of the ability. So reasoning that Furnace is too slow to be used against Gojo is just straight up wrong.
Now time for some delulu speculations
This is pretty much regarding the first and only the first domain clash. Here we see that Sukuna fulfills all the conditions for using Furnace but doesn't (see above for why) had he used Furnace here I think Gojo would have lost much, much faster than he did. I do not think that Gojo would have been one shot by Furnace but bro would have been in a situation in which he would have to choose to either restore his CT and domain or restore his body. This is how Sukuna wins without using Mahoraga 10/10 times. There are other ways he wins without using Maho which leave the fight a 50-50 and personally I don't think in character Sukuna would ever use Furnace right off the bat against anyone.
Edit: diction...

New Czech Magazine Interview with Viktor Bocan, Lead Technical Designer:
https://cc.cz/jini-podvadi-se-zombie-a-roboty-my-s-kingdom-come-2-sazime-na-jeste-realistictejsi-stredovek-rika-vyvoja
Coolest Bits IMO:

You've been looking at people all your life, and any inaccuracy, which is inevitable with digital work, hits you in the eye. That's why so many developers cheat and make zombies or robots.

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We've made a lot of improvements to the dialogue system, both player to player and character to character, to make the world even more colourful. We've significantly transformed the controls. And of course there's the blacksmithing minigame as a completely new element.

/

Actually, at the beginning, we were thinking whether to do the story from here or to play it safe and move the game somewhere in England. ... But who are we to invade a foreign culture and write a story about some Englishmen? We know it here, we understand it (a little) here, who else should show the beauty of the Czech landscape and Czech history but us?

/

We have to remember that we're using technology that beautifully depicts nature, but the original creators designed it for a fairly intimate shooter where you meet a few enemies and one deer if you're lucky. So designing those systems to work for hundreds and thousands of people in a big city was extremely challenging.

/

I think the first thing that hits the eye is an even more vivid and real world. If anyone's had Kingdom Come: Deliverance felt like the forests were almost real, now they should be able to mistake a walk in them for a real world video of a road trip. It's not just the graphics, though you'll definitely notice that first. It's about the life, the people, the travellers, the wildlife. Our goal is not to show you the Middle Ages, but to take you there - and we're definitely one step further in that.

Very pumped tbh.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

This isn't a 100% fix, and I wouldn't recommend printing this. It'll probably kill your printer lol. This also is editing Firefox's theme so it'll change all websites. However reverting this is as simple as doing it.
EZ How 2:

• Go to Firefox settings (should be able to type "about:preference" in the search bar)
• In Home, scroll down to Language and Appearance
• Find the sub-section on Colors
• Click Manage Colors
• Look at/memorize your default settings. There isn't a "return to default option", but the boxes we're changing are just black and white.
• Make the Text color box, white. Then make the Background color box, black.
• This will flip the colors.
• Then set the drop down under: "Override the colors specified by the page with your selections above" to always.
• When opening a pdf.file inside Firefox, this process will screw with the colors making them easier on the eyes.
• When done revert the Text and Background color boxes

Took a quick screenshot of what it'll look like here.
I frequently use the free DnD 5e character sheet pdf that WotC provides. However I usually just open them on Firefox cause I am on a Laptop w/ limited space and don't want to install Adobe Acrobat. (I'm also just lazy and my brain thinks doing this is easier then setting up adobe once.)
I made the How 2 Guide really, really, straight forward. I'm not insulting your intelligence, i'm questioning the *guy-next-to-you's* intelligence. Most websites (that I frequent) assume that you'll use the default color options, and don't like it when you change it. Youtube, Reddit, and Imgur look really bare-bones compared to what they should look like. Idk HTML or any programming language so I couldn't explain it, just identify it.
As an added bonus the 5e wiki dot site is also in darkmode!

In the quaint village of Briarbrook, nestled between rolling hills and whispering pines, lived a curious soul named Eliza. Her days were stitched together by the rhythm of the seasons, each passing year marking a new chapter in the symphony of her life. From the tender age of six, Eliza had a penchant for collecting seashells, each one a treasure imbued with memories of seaside escapades that lingered in her heart.
Through the lens of her youthful gaze, the world was a canvas painted with the hues of wonder and possibility. The winding cobblestone paths of Briarbrook, once familiar and comforting, now seemed to whisper tales of distant lands and untold adventures.
Eliza's transformation began with an unexpected encounter in the heart of the woods. She stumbled upon a mysterious figure, cloaked in stories and secrets, weaving tales spun from threads of wisdom and curiosity. The old sage, nestled beneath the gnarled branches of an ancient oak, imparted cryptic advice that sparked a yearning for discovery within Eliza's soul.
As seasons melted into one another, Eliza embarked on a voyage of self-discovery, a journey shaped by trials and revelations. She encountered peculiar companions along the way—a nomadic storyteller whose words painted vivid landscapes of far-off realms, a silent gardener who nurtured seeds of wisdom in the fertile soil of her mind, and a spirited bard whose melodies echoed the songs of forgotten legends.
Each encounter left an indelible mark on Eliza's spirit, illuminating hidden facets of her identity. The trials she faced—challenges that tested her courage, tempests that stirred her resilience—were the forge where her character was shaped and honed.
With the passage of time, Eliza's once small world expanded like a blooming tapestry unfurling to reveal the vastness of existence. Her footsteps led her beyond the village's borders, across sun-kissed meadows and moonlit forests, as she chased the elusive whispers of distant horizons.
The crescendo of her journey was not marked by a definitive destination but by the realization that the pilgrimage itself was the essence of her metamorphosis. The soul-stirring melodies of life's harmonies resonated within her, guiding her toward a profound understanding—that growth was an eternal dance, an ever-evolving rhythm that echoed the cadence of the human spirit.
In the end, Eliza returned to Briarbrook, her heart brimming with the treasures of her odyssey. The village, once suffused with familiarity, now appeared adorned with newfound hues and shades, each cobblestone and each whispered tale a testament to her evolution.
As she gazed upon the horizon, Eliza knew that her journey had only just begun—a boundless expanse of tales awaiting to be unwoven, mysteries yearning to be unraveled, and the infinite depths of her own soul waiting to be explored.
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In the shimmering metropolis of NeoArc, where the glow of neon lights danced upon sleek skyscrapers, lay a world teetering on the edge of evolution. Here, in the heart of innovation, the threads of society intertwined with the fabric of cutting-edge biotechnology, genetic engineering, and the pulsating rhythm of biometrics.
Enter Marcus, a young engineer whose fascination with the fusion of biology and technology bordered on obsession. His world revolved around the labyrinthine corridors of the Research and Development sector, a sprawling enclave where the echo of mechanical hums harmonized with the whispers of experimental breakthroughs.
The city's pulse throbbed with advancements, where cybernetic enhancements were the new frontier, and genetic modifications promised to redefine humanity's very essence. Marcus was entangled in this web of progress, driven by an insatiable curiosity to decipher the symbiosis between man and machine, the convergence of flesh and circuitry.
In the shadowed alleys and clandestine laboratories of NeoArc, Marcus found himself embroiled in clandestine projects that skirted the edges of ethical boundaries. The allure of pushing the boundaries of biotechnology to transcend limitations beckoned, blurring the lines between ambition and moral compass.
As Marcus delved deeper into the intricacies of biopunk, he encountered factions entrenched in clandestine operations, each vying for control over the enigmatic possibilities offered by genetic manipulation. The allure of power and the pursuit of human enhancement became a battleground where ethics clashed with ambition, morality tangled with scientific prowess.
Yet, amidst the chaos and ethical dilemmas, Marcus found a beacon of hope—a glimmering thread of purpose that intertwined with his quest for knowledge. He realized that the true essence of biopunk wasn't merely about the advancement of technology but the ethical responsibility tethered to wielding such unprecedented power.
The climax of his journey wasn't marked by a groundbreaking scientific discovery or an engineered revolution but by the profound realization that the future of biopunk lay not solely in scientific marvels but in the conscientious application of its possibilities.
In the hum of NeoArc's bustling streets, Marcus emerged not as a trailblazing scientist pushing the boundaries of biotechnology, but as a steward of ethical innovation. His resolve to tread the path of biopunk with ethical integrity became the cornerstone of his legacy—a testament to the convergence of humanity and technology in an era poised on the brink of revolution.
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bio punk
In the heart of the sprawling city of NeoArc, Marcus stood amidst the fluorescent glow of the Research and Development sector, engrossed in the rhythmic hum of the lab. His quest for scientific breakthroughs was a symphony composed of ambition and ethical contemplation, interwoven with the threads of intrigue that pulsed through the cutting-edge world of biopunk.
Character Development:
As Marcus meticulously tinkered with strands of genetic code, he navigated the labyrinth of his own moral compass. Each experiment, each ethically ambiguous choice, etched a subtle mark upon his conscience. His devotion to scientific advancement wrestled with the nagging tendrils of ethical responsibility that coiled within his mind.
Plot and Literary Devices:
One fateful night, a clandestine meeting in the dimly lit alleys of NeoArc beckoned Marcus into the clandestine underbelly of biopunk's potential. The dialogue between Marcus and a shadowed figure unfurled like a carefully crafted riddle, each word laden with intrigue and veiled warnings.
"Marcus, you possess the ingenuity to redefine the very fabric of humanity," murmured the shadowed figure, the words laced with both temptation and caution.
The plot thickened as Marcus found himself entangled in a web of intrigue, navigating a plot steeped in mystery and ethical quandaries. The external dialogue mirrored the city's pulsating energy, shrouded in the secrets of illicit experimentation, while his internal dialogue echoed with the reverberations of moral dilemmas.
Inner Dialogue: "Can scientific progress eclipse moral boundaries? Is the pursuit of advancement worth compromising ethical standards?"
External Dialogue: "I seek answers, not just to revolutionize science, but to wield its power responsibly," Marcus countered, the gravity of his words underscoring his ethical stance.
Development Through Dialogue:
Conversations with clandestine researchers, heated debates with colleagues, and ethical discussions within the corridors of the lab epitomized Marcus's journey. Each dialogue was a canvas upon which his character evolved, transforming from a zealous scientist fixated on progress to a vigilant guardian of ethical innovation.
The climax unfurled in a crescendo of moral reckoning—a pivotal moment where Marcus had to choose between the allure of unchecked progress and the moral imperative to wield biotechnology responsibly.
Conclusion:
As the neon-lit streets of NeoArc bathed in the city's nocturnal luminescence, Marcus emerged not just as a scientist but as a beacon of ethical responsibility within the realm of biopunk. His character arc encapsulated the fusion of scientific curiosity and moral consciousness, painting a portrait of growth that mirrored the city's ever-evolving skyline.
This journey through Marcus's inner and external dialogue, intertwined with plot and ethical dilemmas, encapsulated the essence of character development within the intricate tapestry of the biopunk genre.
🤧🤧🤧🤧🤧🤧🤧🤧🤧🤧🤧🤧🤧🤧🤧🤧
Remember these were generated by ChatGPT and have not been edited. They were prompted using the same writing genre prompts that were provided to you, and I was trying to make an example of how to respond but instead, this is what was churned out from different sessions. I'm still working on it but let me see what happens when humans respond!