I've been holding onto this for a while and just need to get it off my chest. So I had a really close friend from 1st to 7th grade. always sitting next to each other in class and hanging out during the summer. But after I moved to another country in the 8th grade, things changed.
One day, I made a joke on his Instagram post, and he threatened to block me!!. I replied thinking he was kidding, but he actually blocked me on both Instagram and WhatsApp!!. It hit me hard, and it took a lot of time to move on.
Sp six years later, he suddenly reaches out to my dad on social media, asking about me and that he lost contact with me as if nothing happened😂!!. Honestly, I don't care about him now or want to reconnect or anything. Anyway, just wanted to share this experience and ask for your thoughts.

(14/F) 8th grade
In my class I'm always the smart kid, the one that never learn but gets straight A's, maybe even the gifted kid. I help them with homework, I give them my homework to copy, I explained topics for tests, in group project I'm the one doing the work (that's mainly my fault tbh). Everyone in my class likes me, everyone always praises me, the teachers as well. But I rarely get anything back, only a few times a single guy from my class buys me something small to eat or drink (by now the maximum amount he spend on me is about 5€), I didn't even want him to do that but he said "You always help us". Don't get me wrong, I just want something back because I feel used by everyone. My "friends" don't feel like friends anymore. A few weeks ago I was sick and I asked them to tell me about everything they did in class. That's nothing big to ask for, I always do that for everyone that asks me. They didn't tell me a lot, they took a few notes, that's all. They didn't tell me about two upcoming tests, they didn't tell me about the homework, nothing. And they knew about it. On the other hand I don't want to stop giving my classmates the answers to everything, the homework and I don't want to stop helping them, because I want to be liked. I know only half of them actually like me but they act like they like me. I just want to feel liked, accept, acknowledged. I know I don't learn for my grades, but it's a burden sometimes to be the "gifted/smart kid". It's mentally draining.
Is there a way to still give them my answers or help them and actually get something in return? To be honest, I don't even know what they should give me in return. I don't need help in any subject. But at least telling me what they did in class when I'm missing would be nice (I'm missing like one every one/two weeks or sometimes a whole week, but that not too often) or would this be too much to ask for?
And what about my "friends"? When I get a notification, because they send me a message I notice how much I dislike them. But I'm attached. I'm attached to anyone who shows at least some affection towards me, to anyone who likes me. (Also teachers and adults)
How do I get out of this situation without everyone hating me? I just need less pressure, it's getting too much Am I even getting used or am I just overreacting?

So I'm a 13 year old male currently going into the 8th grade and ever since Summer break started me and my best of 5 years haven't been talking all that much. Recently, I tried to call him to see if he wanted to play minecraft with me for fun because that is what we usually do everyday. Well when i try to call him it rings until it sends me to voicemail. Me: "Okay he might just not be in his room right now..." So I wait about 10 minutes and call him again, but this time it doesn't go voicemail he hangs up about the second ring. He sends me a text telling me exactly like this "PISS. OFF." And so i don't know what to say to that then I start texting him and he becomes more of a jerk every few minutes.
So after about an hour of this I finally cut the life support of our friendship for the time being... AITJ?

Hello everyone, I've been thinking about going back and getting an MBA as I feel like I haven't been able to progress in my career. A little about me, I went back to school later in life as an older student - mid 20s, and graduated in 2021. Before that, I was trying to pursue a career in EMS and spent about 2 years in that field as a volunteer EMT. When I went back to school, I was a below average student and graduated with a 2.84 GPA. I dealt with some deep depression issues during my second and third years causing my grades to slip, but brought them back in my final year with mostly As and some Bs (3.43-4.0GPA). I currently only have 3 full years of work experience in a corporate setting.
Here's a breakdown of my profile:
• Asian male
• My undergrad degree is in business admin - finance concentration
• I currently work in the client facing side of Private Wealth Management at a big 4 bank. I help manage a book with $1bn assets under management. I handle more operational things while the portfolio manager handles sales. I have attended client meetings so I somewhat know how to speak professionally while handling these high value relationships
•I was promoted last year to a role that's more client involved, with training to become a PM.
• My portfolio manager and one of our managing directors are both willing to write a good recommendation letter.
• My only extracurricular that may be a plus is that I volunteer in a fine dining restaurants on Sundays. I don't get paid, I'm strictly there to learn and cooking is a hobby of mine. The only reservation I have about that is I feel like if I mention that it will come off as pretentious or bragging and actually be a negative against me.
I'm currently interested in attending USC's online MBA program since I would like to work while also going to school, but I know they are also very selective with a 23% acceptance rate. Given my academic track record and low work experience, does this sub think this program out of reach? If so, what schools should I be aiming for instead?

Quote texts are his comments that I replied to.

It’s been shoved down our throats 24/7 since 2020-2021.

Pride has existed way longer than then. The reason Pride exists, the reason there’s an emphasis on promoting LGBT people in media, is to normalize their existence for millions of people who are often times indoctrinated by their parents into hating those people. Pride is the only reason I broke out of the homophobic, bigoted environment I was raised in and began to accept people.

Prior to that, no one knew or cared about pronouns, now it’s all the rage.

Pronouns have existed for as long as various languages have existed. Even the use of the singular “they” has been used in English since the 1300s. The “rage” surrounding pronouns is merely people stating what shortened form to calling them by their name they prefer. That’s it. You’re acting like this is some “Let’s eat TidePods” -esque internet trend. It’s harmless. I’ve been on the internet in plenty of spaces that had LGBT people, and, in the past 3 years or so, I can count on one hand the amount of times I had to make any effort to remember someone’s pronouns. It’s not that complicated, nor does it signify the downfall of society that you make it out to be.

God forbid I call a man a man, a woman a woman, or people, people.
You literally can’t make any sort of valid criticism towards LGBT without getting labeled a homophobe / transphobe.

Damn. I wonder why they call you a transphobe. What an enigma.

There’s the option to put your pronouns on social media, which is absolutely fucking stupid.

Why? Because you don’t want to use it? Then don’t. There also remains the option to link your other social medias, link your website, post your phone number, advertise your business, pay to promote your own ads on other people’s feeds, direct message celebrities who obviously won’t respond to you, or follow bot accounts that will probably just send your porn or try to scam you out of your money. All of these things have something in common: you can choose to participate, or you can choose to ignore. If it bothers you, just don’t use the feature or delete the app. To your surprise, I’m sure, there are millions of people who gladly use the pronouns feature. You are extremely sensitive and bigoted if this genuinely gets you up in arms. My lord.

There’s people who honestly believe that men menstruate.

Transgender men and intersex men can and do menstruate in many occasions. Cisgender men obviously cannot. When people say “men can menstruate” they are speaking of trans or intersex men. You just choose to ignore this fact because you believe there is no such thing, which you are wrong about.

There’s men dressing up as women desperately trying to get near children to read them books for “Drag Queen story time”.

There’s adult men putting on ridiculous costumes and wearing makeup and attending children’s gatherings to entertain them. What are we gonna do about clowns?
“Desperately trying to get near children” Sounds to me like you can’t imagine a scenario where an adult can wish to read to children they aren’t related to without immediately thinking of sexual abuse. These events occur in public spaces under the supervision of parents. They read to these kids books about loving and accepting yourself and treating people equally. You act like they’re a bunch of sex offenders straight out of prison trying to show children what dildos are. You are absolutely delusional, and your homophobia is showing.

I go to Target, and there’s rainbows and LGBT flags printed all over children’s clothing. Not just in June during “Pride” month. It’s there year-round.

Oh, I know. When I was a kid I had to endure the trauma of reading books about families with straight couples. Oh, the horror! How dare they introduce children to such filth! Leave the kids alone!
I can’t believe they put ideological flags all over kids’ clothes regarding topics they don’t understand. Stop putting those American flags on my kids’ clothes! Quit indoctrinating them into a tribalistic belief of national supremacy!
In all seriousness, why is this an issue? If you believe it’s okay to be gay in the same ways you believe it’s okay to be straight you would not act this way. If you don’t like the existence of gay people (you know, almost like a homophobe), then just say so. Stop pretending to view straight and gay people the same. You don’t.

You have our President announcing Easter Sunday that day is “Trans Awareness” day.

Trans Awareness day has occurred on March 31 every year for the past fifteen years. In case you weren’t aware, the date of Easter changes every single year. This year, both events happened to fall on the same day. President Biden acknowledged both events on that day. Anyways, since when is only one celebration allowed to occur per day? Hanukkah and Kwanzaa occur at the same time. Should they fight to see who deserves their holiday the most? That’s like being mad that some people are born on Christmas and celebrate both occasions. Besides, why is it so blasphemous to celebrate those specific events on the same day? If you believe in Jesus, don’t you believe he loved everyone and wanted everybody to care for their neighbor? Why do you fight so valiantly to demean LGBT people? That seems to go against a belief that we are all created and loved equally, but you can just go ahead and make up your own rules to the religion. That’s how it works, right?

Now June is known as “Pride” month, when in reality, it’s Mens Mental Health month.

Now October is known as “ADHD Awareness” month, when in reality, it’s Breast Cancer Awareness month. Fuck your ADHD awareness! My condition takes priority over yours! This month is all mine! No one else’s!
It’s ridiculous and tribalistic to act like every month should only focus on one unprivileged group at a time. I guess we have to consolidate all the cancers into one month, first off. Maybe combine all the historically oppressed minority groups into one month as well. This guy on Reddit knows to focus on the real issues.
Men’s mental health has only gotten worse since the awareness month became a thing in 1994. The month obviously hasn’t worked very well. Especially considering I didn’t even know it was a thing until 10 minutes ago. Pride Month has been celebrated since 1970, and it became official in 1999. Since then, support for LGBT rights has skyrocketed. To claim that a wholly ineffective month takes precedent over something as iconic and impactful as Pride month shows how out of touch you are.
For the record, I’m entirely in support of acknowledging Men’s mental health awareness, and I am sorry for the loss of your friend, but whoever is promoting this month needs to do a WAY better job. Male suicide has only increased since that month became a thing. These days, too many men try hard to act tough instead of admitting their true emotions, resulting in pent up anger that is often times lashed out at innocent people for unnecessary reasons. I think that’s why you have so much hate for the LGBT community; either that or you’re very susceptible to propaganda.
I can assure you the reason men’s mental health is shit is not because of some kinky pride events. It’s because we are a society by men, for men, expecting all men to be breadwinners who are also tall, buff, and attractive. It’s because women have become commodified and it’s way easier to get a boyfriend as a girl than it is to get a girlfriend as a man. There are many things to blame: political leaders, our economic system, our own testosterone…
LGBT people are not one of them.
Shift your focus to the real issues at hand and stop demonizing people who suffer many of the same mental health issues you to claim to care about.

basically I'm in 8th grade and I'm talking to junior and all my friends are telling me to block him but idk if I should or not

A friend of mine passed recently and she absolutely loved to quote a fake album commercial Stephen did promoting “patriotic songs” - she’d always sing a line about thanking god for beef and the constitution
But now for the life of me I can’t seem to remember the exact bit it’s from or what episode it was in - during the bit he’s wearing a cowboy hat or other patriotic gear and standing in front of ridiculous green screen American imagery lol
Hard to find as I’m assuming it was a random cutaway during a monologue or different bit but I think the fake commercial for the album was at least a minute long

I should start by saying that I am not a doctor and that you should consult with one before trying anything listed below, as you should with any recommendation you find on this sub. With that said, I've done countless hours of research on this topic and belive I've found information that some may find useful.
I've been doing a lot of research into CFS and chronic illness and I've really honed in on the mitochondria, as have many researchers. I've started doing things to support my mitochondrial fuction in hopes of producting more energy. The mitochondria is the powerhouse of cells and it's what gives us our energy. There are some very simple things you can do to enhance or even regenerate your mitochondria. This isn't to say it's a cure, but it certainly could help address some issues for some people
Sunlight and movement are two fundamental elements essential for overall health and mitochondrial support. These natural and instinctive aspects of daily life contribute significantly to physical, mental, and cellular well-being.

Sunlight: A Source of Vitality

Sunlight plays a crucial role in maintaining various physiological functions. One of the most important benefits of sunlight exposure is the synthesis of vitamin D in the skin. Vitamin D is essential for bone health, immune function, and the regulation of calcium and phosphorus levels in the blood. Deficiencies in vitamin D can lead to an increased susceptibility to infections and immune system dysfunction. Supplementation of vitamin D is not an adequate replacement for actual sunlight, as sunlight has many more benefits, thus it's recommended by experts to immerse yourself in actual sunlight daily if possible.
Beyond vitamin D production, sunlight exposure also influences mental health. Sunlight helps regulate the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that affects mood, appetite, and sleep. Increased exposure to natural light has been linked to improvements in mood and a reduction in symptoms of depression and anxiety. This is particularly evident in seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression that occurs at certain times of the year, usually in the winter when sunlight is scarce.
Sunlight also impacts our circadian rhythms, the natural biological clock that governs our sleep-wake cycles. Exposure to natural light during the day helps synchronize this clock, promoting better sleep quality and overall health. Disruption of circadian rhythms has been associated with various health issues, including sleep disorders, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular diseases.

Mitochondrial Support: The Cellular Powerhouses

Mitochondria, the powerhouses of the cell, play a crucial role in energy production. They generate adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the primary energy currency of the cell, through oxidative phosphorylation. Both sunlight and movement have direct and indirect effects on mitochondrial function.
Exposure to sunlight, particularly near-infrared light, has been shown to enhance mitochondrial function. Near-infrared light stimulates the production of ATP by activating cytochrome c oxidase, a key enzyme in the mitochondrial respiratory chain. This leads to increased cellular energy production and improved overall cell function.
Physical activity, on the other hand, induces mitochondrial biogenesis, the process by which new mitochondria are formed within cells. Exercise triggers various signaling pathways that promote the growth and efficiency of mitochondria, thereby increasing the capacity for ATP production. This is crucial for muscle endurance and performance, as well as for the overall energy needs of the body.

Synergistic Effects for Optimal Health

The synergistic effects of sunlight and movement on health are profound. Sunlight boosts mood and regulates sleep, which in turn can enhance the motivation for physical activity. Regular movement increases exposure to natural light, creating a positive feedback loop that promotes overall well-being.
In conclusion, sunlight and movement are indispensable for maintaining overall health and supporting mitochondrial function. Their combined benefits range from enhanced vitamin D production and mood regulation to improved cardiovascular health and cellular energy production. It's so important to try to incorporate both of these into your recovery process, even if you can only do a little at a itme and build up gradually.
I've noticed a definite change in my symptoms from moving around the house a little more and sitting outside in the sun every day for at least 30 minutes. Pacing is very important while doing this. I usually have to take a fan or some water spray out with me due to heat intolerance. I gently push through the discomfort without overdoing it and so far, most days it seems to benefit me.
Two other things I've added to support my mitochondria are Coenzyme Q10 and PQQ supplements
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and Pyrroloquinoline Quinone (PQQ) are two compounds that play significant roles in supporting mitochondrial health and function. These compounds impact mitochondria by enhancing energy production, protecting against oxidative damage, and promoting the growth of new mitochondria.

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10): The Energy Catalyst

CoQ10, also known as ubiquinone, is a naturally occurring antioxidant found in every cell of the body, with particularly high concentrations in the heart, liver, and kidneys. It is a critical component of the mitochondrial electron transport chain, where it facilitates the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the primary energy currency of the cell.
1. Energy Production: CoQ10 is essential for the proper functioning of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. It transfers electrons from complex I and II to complex III in the electron transport chain, a process that generates ATP through oxidative phosphorylation. Adequate levels of CoQ10 are necessary to maintain efficient energy production, which is vital for cells with high energy demands, such as muscle cells and neurons.
2. Antioxidant Protection: CoQ10 also acts as a potent antioxidant, protecting mitochondrial membranes and other cellular components from oxidative damage caused by free radicals. This protective role is crucial because oxidative stress can impair mitochondrial function, leading to reduced energy production and increased cellular damage. By neutralizing free radicals, CoQ10 helps maintain mitochondrial integrity and function.
3. Support in Aging and Disease: As we age, the natural production of CoQ10 decreases, which can contribute to reduced mitochondrial efficiency and increased oxidative stress. Supplementing with CoQ10 has been shown to improve mitochondrial function and reduce symptoms in various conditions, including heart failure, neurodegenerative diseases, and muscle fatigue.

Pyrroloquinoline Quinone (PQQ): The Mitochondrial Booster

PQQ is a redox cofactor that plays a unique role in mitochondrial biogenesis, the process by which new mitochondria are formed within cells. This compound is found in various foods and has been recognized for its potential to enhance mitochondrial function and overall cellular energy production.
1. Mitochondrial Biogenesis: PQQ activates key signaling pathways that stimulate mitochondrial biogenesis, including the PGC-1α (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha) pathway. This activation promotes the growth of new mitochondria, increasing the cellular capacity for energy production. Enhanced mitochondrial biogenesis is particularly beneficial for tissues with high energy demands, such as the brain, heart, and muscles.
2. Antioxidant Properties: Similar to CoQ10, PQQ has strong antioxidant properties. It protects mitochondria from oxidative stress by scavenging free radicals and reducing the overall oxidative burden on cells. This protection helps maintain mitochondrial function and prevent damage that could lead to decreased energy production and cellular dysfunction.
3. Neuroprotective and Cognitive Benefits: PQQ has been shown to support brain health by enhancing mitochondrial function and protecting neurons from oxidative damage. Studies suggest that PQQ can improve cognitive function, memory, and overall brain health, making it a potential therapeutic agent for neurodegenerative diseases and age-related cognitive decline.

Synergistic Effects of CoQ10 and PQQ

The combined use of CoQ10 and PQQ offers synergistic benefits for mitochondrial health. While CoQ10 primarily enhances mitochondrial energy production and provides antioxidant protection, PQQ promotes the formation of new mitochondria and also offers antioxidative benefits. Together, these compounds can improve mitochondrial efficiency, increase cellular energy levels, and protect against oxidative damage more effectively than either compound alone.
The last part I plan to incorporate is cold exposure therapy. This can have a profound effect on mitochondrial function and also inflammation
Cold exposure, also known as cold thermogenesis, has garnered attention for its potential health benefits, particularly regarding its effects on mitochondria and inflammation. When the body is exposed to cold temperatures, several physiological responses are triggered that can enhance mitochondrial function and modulate inflammatory processes. This can be achieved simply by turning your shower to the cold setting at some point during your shower and standing in the cold water for longer and longer periods. (this is something you have to build up over time, don't be discouraged if you can't tolerate it for long at first, it can be quite shocking)

Effects on Mitochondria

1. Mitochondrial Biogenesis: Cold exposure stimulates the formation of new mitochondria, a process known as mitochondrial biogenesis. This occurs through the activation of key signaling pathways, such as PGC-1α (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha). PGC-1α is a transcriptional coactivator that regulates genes involved in energy metabolism and mitochondrial biogenesis. Increased mitochondrial biogenesis enhances the cellular capacity for energy production, which is particularly beneficial for tissues with high energy demands, such as muscles and brown adipose tissue (BAT).
2. Enhanced Mitochondrial Function: Cold exposure can improve the efficiency and function of existing mitochondria. It increases the activity of enzymes involved in the electron transport chain, thereby boosting ATP production. This enhancement in mitochondrial function ensures that cells have adequate energy to perform their functions, especially under conditions of increased metabolic demand caused by cold stress.
3. Activation of Brown Adipose Tissue (BAT): Cold exposure activates brown adipose tissue, a type of fat that is rich in mitochondria and specialized in generating heat through non-shivering thermogenesis. When BAT is activated, it consumes glucose and fatty acids to produce heat, a process that relies heavily on mitochondrial function. This thermogenic activity not only helps maintain body temperature but also increases overall energy expenditure and metabolic rate.

Effects on Inflammation

1. Anti-inflammatory Effects: Cold exposure has been shown to reduce inflammation through several mechanisms. One of the key responses to cold exposure is the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, which leads to the release of norepinephrine. Norepinephrine has anti-inflammatory effects, as it can reduce the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and increase the release of anti-inflammatory cytokines.
2. Reduction in Chronic Inflammation: Regular cold exposure can help reduce chronic low-grade inflammation, which is associated with various metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. This is partly achieved by the reduction of pro-inflammatory markers such as TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor-alpha) and IL-6 (interleukin-6). Additionally, cold exposure can increase the levels of adiponectin, an anti-inflammatory hormone produced by adipose tissue that enhances insulin sensitivity and has protective effects against inflammation.
3. Improved Immune Function: Cold exposure may also improve immune function, which helps modulate inflammatory responses. Cold-induced activation of the immune system can enhance the activity of immune cells such as natural killer (NK) cells and lymphocytes, which play roles in controlling inflammation and protecting against infections.

Synergistic Benefits

The combined effects of cold exposure on mitochondria and inflammation suggest a synergistic benefit for overall health. Enhanced mitochondrial function ensures that cells have sufficient energy, which is crucial for maintaining cellular processes and metabolic health. At the same time, reduced inflammation helps protect tissues from damage and supports immune function.
Overall, mitochondrial dysfunction is believed to be one of the central factors in the pathophysiology of CFS, leading to reduced energy production, increased oxidative stress, impaired mitochondrial biogenesis, metabolic abnormalities, and chronic inflammation. Addressing mitochondrial health is therefore considered a potential therapeutic approach for alleviating symptoms and improving quality of life in CFS patients.

Hi I’m an upcoming rapper located in Pennsylvania in westlawn area. I need pictures taken to help promote my upcoming song. So if any photographers are will to help that would amazing.
The kind of pictures that need to be taken are head shots and full body shots.
I need it due by June 7th or 8th.
The location are these train tracks located in west lawn and sinking spring are in Pennsylvania.
Budget I would assume actually I don’t know that’s something we can discuss as a one on one.

Lifetime - Staked: 921.15u, Profit/Loss: +14.81u, ROI: 1.61%, Parlay Suggestions: 177-69 Dog of the Week: 13-18, Picks: 8-3 (73% accuracy)
2024 - Staked: 274.05u, Profit/Loss: -18.55u
As always, scroll down for UFC Louisville Breakdowns. The following is just a recap of last event’s results.
~UFC 302 (PREVIOUS CARD)~
Staked: 12.5u
Profit/Loss: +7.64u
ROI: 61%
Parlay Suggestions: 3-0
Dog of the week: Cesar Almeida ❌
Picks: 8-3
Underwhelming card, but as expected it was a pretty easy one to predict. The favourites were mostly consistent, and most of the expected methods of victory landed. Nice profit made for once, but I think I had some fantastic reads on the card in spots that I didn’t bet. I said I expected Poirier to be competitive, and that Islam ITD wasn’t the lock people said it was. Matthews Decision was one I wanted to bet. I warned people that Hafez or Morono were the most likely bed-shitters. Basically, I think last week’s post would have been very useful to read.
✅ 2u Sean Strickland + Over 1.5 Rounds (-130) (won +1.54u)
✅ 2u Sean Strickland in R4, 5 or by Decision (+175) (won +3.5u) (accidentally edited this to 1u on the previous post, which wasn’t the intention. It’s was originally listed as 2u, and was tracked as such on my BetMMA record).
✅ 2u Kevin Holland + Grant Dawson (+110) (won 2.2u)
❌ 2u Cesar Almeida (+125)
❌ 1u Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos (+150)
✅ 2u Ailin Perez + Over 1.5 Rounds (-120) (won +1.66u)
✅ 1u Makhachev, Strickland, Holland, J. Almeida (+224) (won +2.24u)
❌ 0.5u Morono, Matthews, Hafez, Perez (+401)

~UFC Louisville~
Good to see more touring cards, and a slight step up in calibre from the usual Apex shit. Not a lot of spots I am confident in, I have to be honest…but I see a few underdogs that I’m sprinkling on.

~Jared Cannonier v Nassourdine Imavov~
Not another Nassourdine Imavov five rounder! I’m a fan of his skillset, but I think his cardio is suspect across 25 minutes, which ultimately makes his fights tricky to predict in spots like this. He’s not exactly a potent finisher, and I can’t trust him to win rounds four and five…so I think his path to victory is therefore limited by principal. A Nassourdine Imavov in a main event relies heavily on him winning R1, 2 and 3.
On the other side, Jared Cannonier is a guy I’ve never truly given the respect he deserves. A split decision win over Sean Strickland in a 25-minute fight is certainly impressive, as is the absolute beating he put on Marvin Vettori straight after* (* I believe Vettori has declined massively and is washed, so I won’t be going crazy in overreacting to that). Cannonier is a hard hitter, but he’s also gotten really comfortable in upping his volume across five round too, landing 141 and 241 significant strikes in those two aforementioned bouts respectively. The quantity didn’t dip in rounds 4 and 5 either, which is key considering my comments on Imavov’s cardio.
So I give Cannonier an advantage in R4 and 5, but what about across the other three? Well, the power advantage also goes to him, but the diversity with grappling and submission attempts falls with the Frenchman. Cannonier has started mixing takedowns into his game a bit more, which does present an opportunity for Imavov’s nasty front chokes…but other than that I’m not really sure where else I give Imavov a clear advantage outside of age and height. He’s the bigger fighter, but Cannonier is a strong dude and has looked just fine against other Middleweights (no one of Imavov’s size, to be fair).
Jared is now 40 years old, which is a bit of a dreaded number, which I think is the reasoning for this line being the way it is. People seem keen to blindly fade that age, regardless of whether it’s presented itself on tape. I see what they’re getting at, but Cannonier has put in two of his best performances of his career in his last two…I am not convinced it’s as simple as fading a 40 year old here.
So with that aside, I see far more merit to Cannonier’s side than Imavov’s, so the +100/-125 betting line feels off to me. I understand that Nassourdine just put in convincing performances against Roman Dolidze and Chris Curtis, but personally I think both of those fighters are a cut below Jared Cannonier (and I bet Nassourdine in both spots there). Cannonier would have looked good there too.
However, we have seen Imavov challenged against some of Middleweight’s common names, such as Sean Strickland and Joaquin Buckley…whilst Cannonier has looked good everywhere except against Izzy and Whittaker (he did drop a couple of rounds to Kelvin Gastelum, but it’s hardly raises alarm bells to me as Kelvin’s a tough guy to beat across 25 minutes of kickboxing).
I would personally make Cannonier the favourite here, anywhere between -125 and -150, and I assume the dreaded age of 40 is the reason for the odds here. I ask you this…if Jared Cannonier was 35, would the line be different? I believe it would be, and age is relative in MMA. It’s something to take seriously, of course, but I don’t think Cannonier even looked like he had started to decline in his most recent fight against Vettori last year.
I’ll be backing the underdog here at +100 or better. The line looks to be moving in Imavov’s favour so I will be patient.
How I line this fight: Jared Cannonier -137 (58%), Nassourdine Imavov +137 (42%)
Bet or pass: 1u Jared Cannonier to Win (+100 or better)
Prop leans: None
Live Betting Leans: If Cannonier looks to have won any of R1, 2, or 3 but is still a bettable price going into the championship rounds, I think he should be favoured to win those so could be a good entry in-play.

~Dominick Reyes v Dustin Jacoby~
This one should be fun for the live audience, but it’s an incredibly volatile fight for the bettors.
Very obvious to see why that’s the case for Dom Reyes – he’s got heaps of potential on a good day, but his chin is dust at this point. Seriously, he got knocked out cold by the jab of Ryan Spann. In a striking based fight at 205lbs, that’s all you need to know to decide that putting money on him is an uncomfortable idea.
Dustin Jacoby on the other hand is not the most potent finisher at Light Heavyweight, which immediately makes me think that Dustin isn’t the kind of guy you’d want to play executioner when he’s the favourite against someone with a flaw like Reyes’ chin. You want someone you can trust to put dudes to sleep in one punch – I don’t think that’s Jacoby (having gone the distance in seven of his 11 fights in this second UFC stint, and winning via leg kicks in one of the stoppages). Also, he’s not even particularly reliable to win rounds either, given that he was supposed to be the more technical fighter compared to Alonzo Menifield, Khalil Rountree, Azamat Murzakanov, and Maxim Grishin – where he was a moderate/big favourite every time, and never covered the price.
I still expect Jacoby to probably be the superior fighter across 15 minutes, but his -225 price tag definitely implies that a finish is expected by the oddsmakers…and I just have a whole lot less confidence that he lands it. From there, I also have less confidence that he’ll be the one winning rounds, given how easily he’s fumbled that in the past…so I just don’t see how you can have around 70% confidence in him winning here. Honestly I don’t really think Jacoby can ever justify that kind of pricetag at a UFC level when we have seen him shit the bed so many times.
On the other hand, I couldn’t trust Dominick Reyes’ chin to survive a strong gust of wind, so there’s no way I’d want to play him either. A very easy pass. I’ll pick Jacoby to win though, but I’d never bet him at this number.
In terms of thinking about props, I might be interested in looking at the Over 1.5 Rounds here, given that I disagree with the oddsmaker’s believe in Jacoby’s finishing ability. That’s going to be a horrible bet to sit through, so I’d probably need a decent price like +150 or better. We’ll see what they’re offering, but I doubt it’s that good.
How I line this fight: Dominick Reyes +175 (36%), Dustin Jacoby -175 (64%)
Bet or pass: Over 1.5 Rounds (+150 or better…no idea if that’s anywhere near what we’ll get)
Prop leans: See above

~Julian Marquez v Zach Reese~
Julian Marquez is a really fun fighter to watch, I’m glad to see him back inside the cage. He’s never been the most talented, but he’s a C+ at everything and has A grade heart. To beat him, you need to be clinical or vastly superior in one area, or Marquez might surprise you and turn the fight into a war of attrition.
Zach Reese is a 6-1 fighter that lost his debut Cody Brundage (I actually bet Brundage there, haha). Talk about fumbling the bag. He just seems like a classic DWCS fighter, who scores quick finishes against taxi drivers and then is suddenly expected to be diverse and talented enough to take on an actual trained professional that’s been competing against a much higher level for years. The difference between the regionals and the UFC has always been vast, and DWCS proves that time and time again.
Zach Reese’s longest fight time is 4 minutes and 13 seconds. He has literally never been in a fight that’s hit the second round. Julian Marquez, on the other hand, has gone longer than that in five of his 6 UFC appearances to date – and his opponents have all competed in the organisation at least five times. I genuinely think that tells you all you need to know.
And the craziest part is that Zach Reese ain’t even an inexperienced young gun. Him fumbling the debut wasn’t like Tom Nolan, a 24 year old kid that believed his own hype and got sloppy in his debut. Reese is THIRTY YEARS OLD.
The gulf in experience is massive, and the difference in age isn’t. I know Julian Marquez’s UFC record isn’t pretty at all, but how well do you think Zach Reese would fare if he faced the same opponents at the time Marquez did? I reckon he’d be 0-6.
Maybe I’m crazy, but Julian Marquez deserves better than to be a + money underdog against a literal regional opponent. Reese has tall man’s defence, he got tagged in both fights in DWCS/UFC and they were on the feet about 20 seconds combined. Yes he’s clearly got a great submission game on bottom, but Marquez has never been submitted, is a BJJ purple belt and has trained at decent camps before. He’s currently at the MMA Lab and has been training with Cannonier for this one.
I’ll be rolling the dice on the more proven fighter at +100.
How I line this fight: Julian Marquez -150 (60%), Zach Reese +150 (40%)
Bet or pass: 1u Julian Marquez to Win (+100)
Prop leans: None
Live Betting Leans: R1 finishers often have bad cardio, so if we get to the stool then Marquez is definitely worth a bet to turn the tide.

~Brunno Ferreira v Dustin Stoltzfus~
I can’t figure Dustin Stoltzfus out. He’s always presented himself as a good but one-dimensional grappler, judging by performances against high level competition such as Rodolpho Vieira and Gerald Meerschaert…but the way he showed up against Punahele Soriano made him look like a completely different guy. He was supposed to be easily outgunned on the feet there, but he looked seasoned and composed in the striking, and ultimately ended up getting a finish that I think very few people saw coming.
Brunno Ferreira is a super explosive Brazilian powerhouse that hasn’t gone past the halfway point in a fight yet. He throws heat and has that madman style, but his fights are so short I’ve no idea if he actually has any redeeming qualities from a technical or minute-winning perspective. As you probably know by now, my least favourite fighting style is ‘big strike go brrrr’. Ferreira has also had some bizarre results himself, pulling off a huge upset against Gregory Rodrigues, and then getting starched by Nursulton Ruziboev.
The only thing I know about Brunno is that he’ll go to war with an opponent that wants to meet him in the middle…I’ve no idea if Dustin Stoltzfus really wants to do that. He handled himself really well against a similar kind of style in Puna Soriano…but he’s also the same guy that got womped in under 20 seconds by Abus Magomedov.
To conclude, I think I could easily see Brunno Ferreira scoring an easy KO inside a couple of minutes, but I could also see this one looking way more competitive and close than the betting line suggests if Stoltzfus makes it to the stool. Lots of different possibilities, not a lot of confidence in any one outcome.
Brunno Ferreira kind of presents similar red flags to Zach Reese in the last breakdown. The difference between the two, and the reason I am fading Reese and not Brunno, is that I have confidence and knowledge that Marquez can handle that early chaos. I can’t say the same about Stoltzfus, so I won’t be taking a stab on him. Personally I think he’s absolutely the value side though, so if you’re someone who wants to bet every fight then absolutely take him.
I will also be picking him to win, but not because I think he does so 51% or more of the time…just because Ferreira is only known to have a limited path to victory that could easily fall apart.
How I line this fight: Such a volatile fight, I have no idea.
Bet or pass: Pass
Prop leans: None

~Punahele Soriano v Miguel Baeza~
Speak of the devil!
Punahele Soriano is so, so overrated. I have no idea how he’s even still in the UFC, or how he even got there in the first place. He was hyped up by Dana and the promo team as this scary and lethal striker….but then he pussy’d out and grappled his way to a decision win against Jamie Pickett on DWCS. Surprisingly they rewarded him with a contract (but didn’t want Brendan Loughnane!). Since then, lethal KO artist Puna has scored just three knockouts…but in the four fights he hasn’t, he’s looked like absolute shit. Getting schooled on the feet by Dustin Stoltzfus and Brendan Allen is a really bad look when you’re being advertised as a striker…and losing a decision to Nick Maximov isn’t a good look either!
To their credit, this fight against Miguel Baeza is a genius pairing by the UFC matchmakers though, because Baeza’s career has kind of panned out the same as Soriano’s. A hard hitting DWCS graduate, Baeza got off to a decent start with three consecutive finishes, most notably against Matt Brown. He stepped up the level of competition to face Santiago Ponzinibbio, which resulted in a life and death decision that he narrowly lost. Unfortunately, the losses snowballed dramatically as he was later KO’d by Khaos Williams and Andre Fialho. The latter result the most shocking, given that Fialho is dogshit. Baeza has since taken two years off…and everyone forgot he existed.
Apologies for taking two massive paragraphs to give you both men’s life stories, but it really does paint the picture of this fight from a betting perspective. Both men are overhyped KO artists - with one lacking in durability, and the other lacking in brain cells.
Puna is probably more likely to walk away with the KO win due to Baeza’s declining durability, but he’s also the more likely to get out-struck and styled on if this one turns into a longer distanced fight. Who wins that kind of fight? I have absolutely no idea. I’m just glad that one guy gets to stick around after this fight is over, because I’d be keen to fade both guys in the future.
I have little confidence so it counts for nothing, but I’ll pick Baeza simply because I like to fade finish-reliant fighters, and Miguel seems to be the more technical. His leg kick should work nicely here.
How I line this fight: Punahele Soriano +125 (45%), Miguel Baeza -125 (55%)
Bet or pass: Pass
Prop leans: None

~Raul Rosas Jr. vs Ricky Turcios~
I’ve copy/pasted my breakdown for this fight from the UFC Mexico event, and made some updated changes:
I’m still pretty gassed about hitting the fade on Raul Rosas Jr with Christian Rodriguez – definitely one of my favourite bets of 2023. I saw an untested 18 year old that was the beneficiary the UFC hype machine, and a then unknown opponent who had proven tricky to beat with the style Rosas Jr has. I saw it as a pick’em, and Rodriguez was +200. Easy bet to make.
In that fight, Rosas Jr kind of cardio-dumped and gave up once it was obvious that early finish wasn’t going to present itself, and that’s certainly a concern until we see him fight competently for 15 minutes at this level. I can think of countless UFC hype trains that hid their shocking minute winning ability behind dominant and exciting R1 finishes (Edmen Shahbazyan was my initial example, but since writing this Joe Pyfer has given another great recent example), and I therefore simply cannot trust Raul Rosas at this stage in his career when he’s still going to be sitting at -250 on the betting line due to his popularity.
Is Ricky Turcios worth the gamble as an underdog? I don’t really think so. He has been taken down seven and six times in two different UFC fights, has losses to Aimann Zahabi and Boston Salmon, and his wins were against Kevin Natividad and Brady Hiestand…which were both splits. The UFC are clearly treating this as a lay-up fight for Rosas Jr, but without feeding him a promotional newcomer or a fellow inexperienced guy. I don’t mean lay-up as if it’s a squash match, but it’s assumed that he SHOULD win here, instead of them throwing him to the wolves or making him go up against a fellow serious prospect.
Stylistically this one all revolves around the cardio for me, because I don’t think Turcios has what it takes to win this fight off the merit of his own skillset. He needs Rosas Jr. to gas out first, if he’s going to have any hope of having his way here. We have no way of knowing whether or not Rosas will gas, as it could have just been a one off and he’s so young that he could make the improvements quickly.
Personally, I’d be willing to give Rosas Jr the benefit of the doubt. The Rodriguez loss really should have opened his eyes, and it’s often the best thing for a young prospect to get that wake up call sometimes, as he was probably starting to believe his own hype. If the cardio is fixable, I assume he’s done all he can to fix it. He therefore deserves to be the favourite, but I won’t be betting on it.
How I line this fight: Raul Rosas Jr -200 (67%), Ricky Turcios +200 (33%)
Bet or pass: Pass
Prop leans: I was originally going to bet the Over 2.5 rounds, but I’ll pass on that now.

~Eduarda Moura v Denise Gomes~
Eduarda Moura’s UFC debut did not impress me at all. I didn’t bother researching her regional footage, and from what I saw in that debut she’s a size/weight bully that isn’t even that amazing at what she does. Yes she outgrappled and mauled that Mexican woman, but the size difference was comical and she couldn’t have found an easier opponent to beat if she tried.
I had one of my best bets of 2023 on Denise Gomes’ last fight against Angela Hill (big up Angie for winning a couple of weeks ago, she’s such a money train for me), opting to fade the scary finishing ability of a WMMA fighter for a more technical and historically durable veteran on the return. Not only did Angie school her, she even managed to mix in some grappling to make the win even more stylish. That gets the alarm bells ringing here, as Moura’s MO is definitely to grapple, and Angie’s no grappler.
I don’t have a strong opinion on this one, because both women give me very strong fraud vibes. I think Moura is absolutely going to be one to fade in the future, and Gomes has already been faded in the past. Personally I don’t think the equally limited Denise Gomes is the woman to give Moura her first L, because stylistically this looks like a tricky fight for her. Fingers crossed Moura wins and the fade opportunity is live next time. It’s an easy pass for me.
How I line this fight: No idea, they’re both frauds
Bet or pass: Pass
Prop leans: None

~Puja Tomar v Rayanne Amanda (dos Santos)~
Some people believe in the narrative that you should try and fade Indian fighters. That worked pretty well last time Jeka Sarragih fought!
I bet on Rayanne dos Santos in her UFC debut, and she lost a split to an inexperienced opponent with bad cardio. I was impressed with her striking in Invicta, but she struggled to do anything meaningful stuff in that UFC debut. By the looks of the early line I’m seeing, she’s about -180 here. Who the hell is going to bet that!?
I obviously know nothing about Puja, but her record shows she’s fought two serious opponents. You know I love WMMA more than anyone else, but I have absolutely no interest in doing tape for this one. Pass.
How I line this fight: No idea
Bet or pass: Pass
Prop leans: None

~Cody Stamann v Taylor Lapilus~
Very disappointed by the betting line here. When a fight like this gets announced, I immediately get excited because I think there’s a chance the books might get caught out and give a very bettable price on a fight that seems close on paper, but should be quite one-sided in reality, due to the stylistics.
Taylor Lapilus deserves to be -200 here, maybe even steeper. Reason being, he’s great where Stamann is average, but he’s also good where Stamann is good. The Frenchman is a slick striker that should certainly be expected to land the more eye-catching shots, when compared to Stamann’s T-Rex boxing. He will enjoy a 9-inch reach advantage, and should just be able to hit and not get hit. Stamann barely has any power either, so even if he does land a punch for every two he absorbs, I doubt it’s going to do much to convince the judges to credit him as the round winner.
Cody Stamann has veered away from his wrestling roots in recent fights, but you’d think it would serve him well here, given the reach and technical disadvantage he will find himself at. Whilst this would be true against another opponent, Taylor Lapilus has a very good anti-grappling game. His takedown defence is good, but even when he does get floored he works hard and effectively to get back to his feet, or at the very least nullify his opponent. His most recent fight was an exception to that as Farid Basharat made light work of him…but that was a very impressive performance that I don’t think many could replicate.
So in summary, I think Stamann is going to be shut out here, and I don’t think he’s going to really be able to find success anywhere in this fight. He will either stand at distance and clearly get outstruck by the fighter with the better footwork that will keep him at range…or he attempts to wrestle and likely has little luck at finding any real success. At the very least, the success he does have probably won’t be enough to erase the striking deficit he’s already accrued.
On a more narrative based note, Stamann also appears to have regressed a fair bit in recent years. He was once a gatekeeper to the top 15, drawing with the likes of Song Yadong and even winning a round against Merab…but since then losing decisions to 37-year-old Douglas Silva de Andrade and winning questionable decisions against Luan Lacerda. I’d say this is a tricky fight for Stamann in his prime, but Cody’s trending downwards too.
As I said in the opening paragraph, I’m disappointed that the books didn’t offer a better price on Lapilus, and I’m interested to see if money comes in on Cody still. Personally I’d be happy to bet Lapilus at -175 or better, but I’d need the line to improve slightly before I could play it. I might parlay him with someone on next week’s card once I get further down the line researching it.
How I line this fight: Cody Stamann +225 (31%), Taylor Lapilus -225 (69%)
Bet or pass: No bet, for now.
Prop leans: None

~Brad Katona v Jesse Butler~
The less time spent talking about this one, the better. Brad Katona is possibly the least intimidating MMA fighter to have ever graced the UFC, both in the way he fights, and his demeanour. The former is more important, because he can sometimes struggle to win rounds because he’s outgunned most of the time. He needs to put on a perfect defensive display to win striking fights, because if he gets wobbled he probably can’t get the round back.
Jesse Butler is a can with about as much of a right to be on the UFC’s roster as I do. He has no striking ability, as seen in his 23 second KO MASSACRE at the hands of 40-year-old Jim Miller (one of my favourite KOs of 2023 that one, definitely recommend if you didn’t see it!). That lack of striking ability, both offensively and defensively, means that he is very unlikely to get the better of a good point fighter like Brad Katona. But everyone has a puncher’s chance.
Katona is nearly -600 here. Mostly justified, but also eye-wateringly steep at the exact same time when you consider Katona’s path to victory is almost exclusively by decision! Pass.
How I line this fight: Brad Katona -400 (80%), Jesse Butler +400 (20%)
Bet or pass: Pass
Prop leans: Me to fall asleep watching this one (+200 or better)

~Ludovit Klein v Thiago Moises~
Two guys I have historically had a very tricky time analysing. I was high on Klein when he made his debut, then I turned my back on him after the losses to Trizano and Landwehr – and since then he’s been pulling off upsets and continuing to prove he was worth the hype he entered the UFC with. The dude has some of the best high kicks I’ve ever seen from a fighter.
Thiago Moises has always been credentialed and talented, but he’s failed to deliver on the promises his abilities make on paper. Moises is capable of taking fighters down and submitting them early, but it’s genuinely taken nine UFC fights for him to actually go out there and do that. And then he did it twice in a row (against Giagos and Melq Costa).
So I think that does a good job of explaining why I am going to be non-committal and just leave this fight alone. Klein is great when he’s on form, but he’s shown himself to be capable of dropping the ball in fights he really should win. He’s proven himself to be a guy that you back as an underdog, but avoid as a favourite. He’s barely either here, but he does have a minus next to his name.
Moises is also too inconsistent to trust either. I think there’s a chance that this could be a winnable fight for him, as his grappling will definitely be superior if he can force things to the floor. That sounds like a great opportunity for a +100 fighter…but Moises definitely won’t look that number if he decides to stand and trade – and his 1.64 takedowns landed per 15 minutes statistic is enough to assume he won’t.
The oddsmakers are right in lining this one close, because both men have very legitimate paths to victory with only a few small factors landing in their favour. I’d argue that Klein is the rightful favourite (and therefore my pick) due to all fights starting standing and Moises’ track record…but this is a close one.
How I line this fight: Ludovit Klein -125 (55%), Thiago Moises +125 (45%)
Bet or pass: Pass
Prop leans: None

~Charles Radtke v Carlos Prates~
If you’re a regular reader of my posts, you may know that historically I am someone who genuinely thinks Trevin Giles has some redeeming qualities. In fact, I claimed in his recent fight against Carlos Prates that the line was wide, and that Giles may be able to find a way to have some success. Having watched that fight back, I think I was justified to feel that way.
I liked what I saw from Prates on DWCS, with the way he mixed up volume, pressure and power…but ultimately that performance against Giles was a bit concerning. He definitely lost round one, and by the end of the fight he was outstruck almost two to one. Of course, he won via KO…but to expect a fighter to be bailed out by their raw power every time is a bit foolish.
Charles Radtke is ironically a fighter I’ve had nothing but bad things to say about. I slated his debut win against Mike Mathetha (the artist formally known as Blood Diamond), and tried to fade him when he faced Gilbert Urbina. Boy did he look great in that sophomore appearance, I was really impressed. His striking just seemed so tight, accurate and crisp, I couldn’t believe how easily he pieced up Urbina.
I’m obviously not super confident in my analysis here, simply due to the lack of tape we have on both guys…but I don’t really understand what we are supposed to have seen from Prates to justify a -200 pricetag? He was struggling against Giles, and had he not landed the precise punch that ended things…he could easily have lost that one! I get that he has a big size advantage…but Urbina was taller and Radtke approached the striking gameplan perfectly. He also has Belal Muhammad in his corner (or at least he did vs Urbina), who I rate as a pretty intelligent fighter.
This one feel like it could develop into a very competitive fight, and the finishing ability is strong on either side. Radtke has also shown a diverse game and an ability to mix in grappling when necessary, which could serve him well here. For those reasons, I’m happy to roll the dice on yet another underdog here, and back Charles Radtke for 1u at +150 or better. I’ll be waiting a little bit to see what the initial line movement does.
How I line this fight: Charles Radtke +100 (50%), Carlos Prates +100 (50%)
Bet or pass: 1u Charles Radtke to Win (+150 or better)
Prop leans: None

~Daniel Marcos v John Castaneda~
I’m quite high on Daniel Marcos. I just think he’s a really talented striker. I bet him heavily against Aoriqileng, and were it not for the unfortunate NC, I think that would have looked like a really smart bet (not the only time that’s even happened to me this year…thanks Piera Rodriguez). People still hate on him for potentially getting a robbery over Davey Grant…but Grant is a very tricky guy to look good against at the best of times. The likes of Jonathan Martinez, Adrian Yanez, and even Marlon Vera have all struggled to decisively beat Davey.
John Castaneda is certainly the more well-rounded martial artist here, as the way he’s mixed takedowns into his game has been really intelligent. He’s also shown much more dangerousness than Marcos, landing a knockdown in four of his six UFC performances, and even scoring a submission win over Miles Johns.
For as long as this one stays standing, I think it’s a close fight that’s hard to call. Whilst I give a slight minute winning edge to Marcos for his higher level of technicality to his striking, I think Castaneda’s power can be a great equaliser, as can his ability to mix in takedowns. I’ve not seen much of Marcos’ anti-grappling to believe he can fend off a takedown threat if Castaneda wants to force things there.
So yeah, a non-committal breakdown but I think this is a close fight to call. There certainly isn’t any betting value to a fight this close anyway. I’ll pick Castaneda and give him the slight edge on the betting line for his diversity and finishing upside.
How I line this fight: John Castaneda -125 (55%), Daniel Marcos +125 (45%)
Bet or pass: Pass
Prop leans: None

~Andrea Lee v Montana De La Rosa~
It’s always tricky to navigate the fade when you see a fighter with a glaring deficiency that keeps taking losses. Andrea Lee is on a sharp downwards slope – she’s 35 years old, she cannot stop takedowns, and she’s got a 3-7 record in decisions in the UFC. Those are some pretty damning facts, but what’s worse is that Lee’s decline is really showing in her performances. I confidently bet Miranda Maverick against her at near pick’em due to her grappling superiority, but I was very surprised to see Maverick actually clearly outrstriking Lee across 15 minutes. That was a terrible look because Maverick’s striking really has never looked good. That should not have happened.
The reason I began by saying that it’s difficult fading a fighter in Lee’s position, is because there comes a time where the calibre of opponent clearly takes a downwards step. I’ve always been a big believer in Miranda Maverick, and I believe she’s top 10 in the division, so trusting her to feast on Andrea Lee’s carcass was easy. This time however, we’re being asked to trust Montana De La Rosa, a clearly inferior fighter, to do the same. Historically, Lee is certainly a cut above her, and Lee’s 30-27 victory over MDLR in 2019 demonstrated that perfectly.
Montana’s not bad bad, she’s just lacking in physicality to really be able to get her game going. She’s definitely a grappler, but a 31% takedown accuracy and poor top control means that she struggles to really find openings to do her best work...so she just kind of survives in fights if she can’t grapple you. Just looking through her UFC fights and it’s so obvious where her calibre lies…none of the girls she’s beaten apart from Ariane Lipski have been in the UFC for years, and even some of the names she’s beaten aren’t super elite either. And back when she fought Lipski, the Brazilian had some of the worst anti-grappling we’d seen in WMMA.
So this is clearly one of those fights where my predictions and probabilities for the fight weigh more on how either woman loses, as opposed to how they win. Right off the bat, that’s an awful premise to be considering a bet, so I can easily tell you this is one to avoid…and I haven’t even looked at the betting line yet.
Yep, Andrea lee sits around -130. I expected exactly that, as it’s a coin-toss as to which woman is inferior, but history is worth something and Lee does have a win over her opponent here. I guess Andrea Lee is the pick because MDLR already landed five takedowns the first time and did fuck all with them, but I have little to no confidence here. I’m sure no one is even reading this far into the breakdown because no one even cares about WMMA like I do. It’s a pass. I'll keep an eye out for Lee by Decision, assuming it's around the +200 mark.
How I line this fight: Andrea Lee -150 (60%), Montana De La Rosa +150 (40%)
Bet or pass: Pass
Prop leans: None

Bets (Bold = been placed)
1u Jared Cannonier to Win (+100 or better)
1u Jacoby v Reyes Over 1.5 Rounds (+150 or better….I could be way off the mark there)
1u Julian Marquez to Win (+100)
1u Charles Radtke to Win (+150 or better)
1u Andrea Lee to Win by Decision (+200 or better...might not get anywhere near that number, idk)

Parlay Pieces: Julian Marquez, Taylor Lapilus
Dog of the Week: Jared Cannonier
Picks: Jared Cannonier, Dustin Jacoby, Julian Marquez, Dustin Stoltzfus, Miguel Baeza, Raul Rosas Jr, Denise Gomes, Taylor Lapilus, Brad Katona, Moises/Klein, Radtke/Prates, Marcos/Castaneda, Andrea Lee

In this sub (and the larger HP fandom as a whole), I find the idealization of ‘lazy genius’ characters very over the top. Take James Potter and Sirius Black, for example. All we really know about their intellects is that they were referred to as “exceptionally bright” by McGonagall and the “cleverest students in the school” by Lupin. They have quite impressive achievements to match those tellings, of course - brewing the complex Animagus Potion and creating the Marauder’s Map using an advanced spell called the Homonculous Charm. But ultimately, besides that, we don’t know their skills all that well. We make assumptions that they’re these lazy geniuses (because they weren’t stressing during O.W.L.s?), that they outstrip any characters not named Dumbledore, Snape, and Voldemort in terms of magical talent, and a plethora of various far-reaching claims.
And then, let’s compare this sub’s thoughts on hard-working characters - take, say, Hermione Granger. Almost every other week, there seems to be a think piece on her level of smarts, with the majority usually coming to the conclusion that she’s just a bit above average, and Harry would easily catch up with her if he put in the same amount of work. But given her canon feats…it’s just kind of baffling?
During every summer, she seems to do a complete and thorough read through of every textbook (claims so in her first year, gains a perfect score on Lockhart’s first day quiz, quotes the DADA book verbatim in OotP to prove to Umbridge that she had already read it by the first class, etc.). That in and of itself is extremely unusual - there’s a reason teachers exist, after all. Autodidacticism of that level is simply not normal. And we know she actually understands the material, since her practical ability reflects it - she’s already gotten multiple spells right on her first few tries by the first year train ride (for context, they cast their first charm on Halloween), practices the Summoning Charm on the train in GoF (taught in November), and generally shows herself to be far beyond her peers during the school year (only one to change her needle, only one to change teacups into tortoises, etc.). Even outside of academics, she’s still pretty clever. Hermione figured out the Chamber plot, Lupin’s condition, Skeeter’s Animagus ability, outsmarts Umbridge at various turns, etc.
But despite it all, people put her down for her hard work. That’s ignoring the fact that most of the time, Hermione is clearly either unnecessarily over-working or doing extracurricular studies. We see the studying unrelated to current schoolwork throughout all the books - in PS, her knowledge of Dark Magic, Switching Spells, and Alchemy, in CoS, her usage of Revealing Charms Harry didn’t know, in GoF, her taking practice O.W.L.s and reading about Human Transfiguration, in OotP, her SNEAK jinx, knowledge of other jinxes (Harry said she knew the most jinxes in all of the DA, which included NEWT students), and creation of the DA Galleons, and in DH, her usage of protective charms, the Undetectable Expansion Charm (which required a license to legally cast), the Memory Charm (which she got right her first try, in a stressful scenario), and the False Memory Charm (said by Dumbledore to be “a complex bit of magic” in reference to sixteen year old Riddle casting it). And the overstudying is, again, showed time and time again - bringing “three bulging bags” of books compared to Harry and Ron’s one in PoA (despite her only taking two more classes), having “piles of books on [her] table” to do one Arithmancy assignment, freaking out and cramming before the O.W.L.s despite Harry thinking she could breeze through them if it weren’t for her anxiety, and more. Her literal boggart is Professor McGonagall telling her she failed all her classes! Hermione over-studies because of her own personal problems, not because she needs to.
In fact, I’d say this applies to a lot of “hard worker” vs “effortless genius” debates in general. We tend to assume that people only work as hard as they need to, but that’s simply not true, both in real life and in fiction. In the real world, that even applies to widespread trends - studies prove that girls work much harder than boys in academics, but in standardized tests, their scores are basically equal. This is despite the fact that we know girls and boys both have an average IQ of 100. Other studies even support the idea that in many instances, smarter people tend to work harder for the same grades, probably because they have formed an attachment to their intelligence (from being praised at a young age), and fear they will be proved as an impostor if they don’t overwork themselves.
All this is to say, smarts don’t necessarily have an inverse relationship with diligence. Just because James and Sirius weren’t worried about the OWLs and Hermione was, that doesn’t mean she’s less talented or knowledgeable. It just shows she’s an anxious person with a crippling fear of academic failure. Similarly, Percy isn’t surely dumber than Fred and George just because they skive off and self-study while he studied for school. All it shows is that he has different priorities. When it comes to discussing canonical intellects, this sub’s idolization of characters who don’t worry about school much is simply factually inaccurate.
TL;DR: Diligence in schoolwork shows little besides one’s priorities, and this sub’s focus on “lazy geniuses” and diminishing of “hard workers” shows little but our own biases.

I don’t even know how to explain this. Ever since 5th grade, I have been bullied by people in my class/school. They did things like spread rumors about me, steal my stuff, locking me in bathroom stalls for hours and stuff like that. I about 8th grade it stopped and it was honestly a huge relief, because I wasn’t that scared to go to school anymore. When I still used to get bullied, I used to beg my parents not to make me go to school, crying and even sometimes throwing up, because I was just too scared to go. I got very depressed and it took a big mental and physical toll on me, making me sleep all day or not at all for days and keeping me from eating or taking care of myself. After the bullying stopped, it got better and apart from a few different things like struggle to take care of myself sometimes and forgetting to eat sometimes, I feel like I have a regular life. Well, a few weeks ago, I met some people on social media and we all started talking to eachother on discord. They also used to get bullied or are still getting bullied and I feel like their experiences are much worse than mine, because the things their bullies did were worse and they are still impacted very much worse that I am. I did also tell a bit about my experience, but they didn’t look like they cared too much and said things like „oh yeah…“ and then started talking about their experience. Now I just feel like I don’t have a right to still feel bad about what happened, because others had it worse and I feel like something worse needed or needs to happen to me, for my problem to be taken seriously. I know this sounds weird, but I just dont know what to do and I dont know how I am ever gonna talk about the bullying I experienced to anyone ever at all.

so for a little context im a rising junior who always has been pushed to do well in school but never really went too deep into college admissions. i sort of realized i need help making a potential college list and honestly idrk how to research so many schools so maybe yall could help
major: public health but honestly im still considering a lot of career paths
GPA (as of current): 4.0 unweighted, school doesnt do weighted
SAT: 1560 single sitting (770 english 790 math)
courseload (as of what i’ve already completed and what i’m already registered fowill 100% take): 8 honors, school doesnt offer APs; 6 DE completed, will complete 5 more first semester next school year. some of the more notable ones are:
calc 1-2 (took soph year) calc 3 (will take 1st semester junior) gen chem 1 (will take 1st semester junior) physics with calc 1 (will take 1st semester junior)
and in total i will have completed 25 DE by the time i graduate
extracurriculars: 1. nearing completion of an app that promotes beach/tourism safety in my local area; im planning to publish it in the android play store within the next 2 months, and have already made agreements to implement it in multiple local businesses 2. team leader of a social/political activism cohort of 20+ undergraduate interns. i led meetings and organized weekly tasks surrounding issues like civic literacy and climate 3. co-manager of a family rental business; i maintained a rental property for the past 3 years (stepping down when school starts tho) and helped manage $90k+ in revenue annually along with inquiries, reviews, and physical maintenance 4. spent 150 hours shadowing doctors across 4 specialties. i helped carry out menial tasks like retrieving paperwork and medicines alongside just learning the “inside” of outpatient care 5. internship at a decently large mental health advocacy nonprofit; i worked together with college students nationwide to create media and develop frameworks for mental health awarneess 6. i have an officer position for math club at school. we are in a rural area so i research competitions we take part in except we’ve only done like one so far. i was one of the founding members 7. i track tropical cyclones and have my own tropical weather bulletin online. meteorological science is a big interest of mine and i collaborate with several other enthusiasts to issue personal forecasts. been doing this for like 5 years now 8. teaching myself guitar. big time sink because when i start i cant stop haha 9. weightlifting. not really much to say 10. i also spend some of my free time writing as a hobby
awards: 1. international essay award; not john locke level but i was one of five chosen in north america out of a few thousand, one out of 25 worldwide 2. national rural and small town award (is this worth anything?) 3. will graduate with an associates degree 4. okay so this one i haven’t done yet but i think its reasonable to say that i’ll get national merit semifinalist.
additional info:
i skipped 9th grade (high school credit thing in middle school) so i went straight from 8th-10th. im super lost on where to start for college admissions and have really just been doing what seems interesting for me so idk if that would help or hurt

Just a random questionaire from a fellow aspirant to be promoted to grade 12.

I am an indian student and I have studied french as third language for 4 years from 5th grade till 8th grade and I still retain most of that and i can still read and comprehend fench and to some extent speak also, so i was thinking about completing my french certification. So can anyone please guide me about it.

Growing up, I didn’t have many friends since I was quiet and timid, but when I did have friends it was mostly biracial or non-black kids or sometimes “awkward” black kids like myself. My biracial friends were pretty much outcasts like I was and they didn’t mind that I was “weird” since they understood how it felt to be rejected for being different. Some of them were getting bullied for being mixed/half-white or appearing “dirty/messy” (like having unkempt hair and a lot of white moms with biracial kids don’t know how to handle their kids’ hair). I had some white and Latina friends too, but they moved on and we stopped talking after middle/high school. Most of them were goth/emo, and we both shared our love for drawing, writing, and other “weird” hobbies and we were both in those IEP or “special ed” classes. The “weird” black kids I was friends with had a lot in common with me and they were often bullied for “acting white” because they were quiet and shy, well-spoken, or had different hobbies/interests than most other kids. Most of them were very nice and sweet despite being treated like trash by the other black kids. We were both socially awkward and share our love of drawing, writing, anime, and geography. I used to love learning about foreign countries and listening to foreign music in 8th grade, but people would make fun of me and call me “weird” for it. I miss them and I wish I still kept in contact with them. Now looking back, I’m starting to wonder if those “weird” black kids I met in school were possibly autistic like me.

Hey guys, I think the title is pretty self explanatory. Telling my story will give you all insight into why I slip up and will hopefully allow you guys to give me more targeted advice. Here we go...
It all started when I was in 5th grade during a Super Bowl commercial (Steelers vs Cardinals; crazy Santonio Holmes catch game for all my football fans). I saw a really loosly dressed lady, with an invitation to visit a website correlated with the add. I felt an immense pull then to visit the site. Later that week, I visited the site (wasn't a corn site, just a regular ad domain website) but these crazy feelings persisted. I kept searching for more soft pictures of other women, and eventually I found myself on a corn site for the first time. I immediately closed the site quickly, as it was the most horrifying thing I'd ever seen as an 11 year old. However I would still look at soft images here and there.
Fast forward 3 years, (8th grade, summer before high school) one of my good friends introduced me to instagram. I made my first instagram account, and even back then it was filled with all sorts of soft core stuff. I had an overabundance of soft core images, and it was then I masturbated for the first time. I thought to myself, "I wonder if I could do this with that corn site I saw when I was younger, how would that feel?" It was then I masturbated to corn for the first time, and I was hooked instantly. Throughout high school I would do it every single day, sometimes multiple times a day. Our school gave us iPads, and every day I was masturbating to corn. As a freshman/sophomore I thought it was the best thing in the world. If only I knew how ignorant I was.
The summer between my sophomore and junior year was the first time I experienced no fap benefits. I went to a camp where we weren't allowed to have our phones (or any other technology) and I went on my first streak of 17 days, and I felt like an entirely different man! I had no problem talking to strangers, felt more confident around girls, and it just felt like people gravitated towards me. It was honestly one of the best times of my life. This is when I knew porn was a problem and I needed to stop, but right when I got back home I relapsed on my phone instantly. This is when I knew I had a problem.
I tried to stop but just couldn't. I got my first girlfriend my senior year of high school and lost my virginity with her, but my mind was still dominated by corn. Once we broke up my corn use escalated dramatically to taboo genres. I even started to experience some PEID. This carried over to college, where my porn use was out of control.
Fast forward to now, and I am still struggling. I recently discovered the nofap thread; I had heard of nofap before, but I was never an active member in the subreddit since I was never big on using reddit in high school/college. I have had previous streaks of 27 and 30 days (Both in college) but I always end up back to corn. Here I am now, a 24 y/o man. I feel like I have a good life, graduated college and have a decent job, trying to go to medical school. But I just can't shake this thing. It feels like I'm trapped in an inescapable prison. My mind is dominated by immoral thoughts, and it seems like I lust over almost every women I see.
However, I know there is light at the end of the tunnel. I know I can overcome this addiction, one day at a time. I know the best is yet to come for me, and I know a greater life awaits me out there. I am glad to be apart of NoFap, and if you have read my long ass story up to this point, I am grateful for you. I am thrilled to start a new attempt, and to start a new journey here on NoFap.