Current hip sayingsm

I'll DJ just about anything, but my greatest knowledge base is in hip-hop and rap in particular UK rap and drill, so that's what I tend to DJ given the choice. I'm looking for ways to mix up the sets and add some variation. Currently I've been experimenting with mixing the beat of one well known song with the vocals of another (sometimes for one verse, sometimes the whole song) and I try to vary my transitions as much as possible, ,but this can only do so much and I feel like there's a secret sauce I might be missing so any tips would be good.

Hello!
I hope we're all doing well!
We did relatively okay last time, with our secondary parlay landing clean! Everything else kinda fell apart, but I did a bit better than I feared i would have done.
Another rough fight night to predict here! Should be a fun event though.
Onwards to the predictions!
(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
Women’s Strawweight
Emily Ducote (-275) (13-8-0, NS) v Vanessa Demopoulos (+220) (10-5-0, NS) - Oh look, a fight that’s probably going to go to the scorecards. Ducote is coming off a relatively strong win against Yoder, she was very capable of stuffing all of those takedown attempts coming her way and matching the tenacity of Yoder on the feet. Now, I am always a bit iffy when it comes to someone with a record like Ducotes’, but I do believe they (The UFC) didn’t quite build her up properly, giving her opponents like Godinez and Hill very early on in her UFC career. Ducote is a fairly well rounded fighter who does well on her feet, but most importantly, her grappling is relatively good, having been capable of defending the takedowns of Godinez, which isn’t a small feat since Godinez is well known for her wrestling capabilities. That ability to defend takedowns is massively important when dealing with someone like Demopoulos, whose main threat in most of her fights are her takedowns and grappling attacks. Ducote has fairly standard striking attacks for a well rounded MMA fighter, she is very quick on the feet and throws a lot of volume when she attacks, which could prove challenging to Demopoulos as she tries to enter range and initiate a takedown. Now, whilst Ducote has a lot of volume and speed to her strikes, she lacks in the “finishing” area, she doesn’t quite have the tenacity to finish her opponents, there’s no hurry. With that said though, she does have a bit of a familiar pattern of touching up her opponents until that right hand finds its mark, then she adds emphasis on that right-side punch. She has, however, one weird tendency to just stand there, staring, whilst in the pocket, with a rather square stance, and whilst that might help her with the offensive output, she is still standing there with minimal defences. That’s something that has contributed to her losses in the past and something that Demopoulos could possibly use as a way to find an entry for a takedown. Demopoulos is coming off a win against Murata, but it was a fairly unimpressive performance with Demopoulos getting taken down a lot, and although she looked fairly good on the feet with powerful single attacks, I don’t quite know how effective she is going to be against a volume-heavy fighter like Ducote. Demopoulos has a few tendencies as a fighter that are great, she is fairly active in the guard off her back, throwing up submissions very quickly, but the problem with that is nowadays if you can’t lock in a submission, then you are losing the fight, and I think if Demopoulos does pull guard, Ducote should have the ability to control her on the ground and avoid submissions. This is a very, very 50/50 fight in my opinion. Ducote has a slight advantage on the feet due to her speed and volume, but on the ground it’s looking like Demopoulos has the advantages there, as she does have great instinct on when to lock in a submission or shift the hips. The safest bet here is either o2.5 rounds or the fight going the distance, this isn’t a ML bet fight by any means in my opinion. As for my prediction, I am very split but i’m leaning towards Ducote to win this one, but it’s the slightest lean one can imagine.
Ducote via UD - (1/3)
Bantamweight
Alatengheili (+150) (16-9-2, NS) v Kleydson Rodrigues (-185) (8-3-0, NS) - This is a fascinating one. Alatengheili was scheduled to fight a month ago but it was cancelled due to an illness, so I fully expect him to fight again this week. The kinda good news about that is he doesn’t really need to have a big camp since he already had the conditioning and cardio from that other camp preparing for Victor Hugo. Alatengheili is a very aggressive and powerful fighter, everything he throws has so much speed and power behind it, and whilst there might not be a lot of volume behind those punches, he shouldn’t be underestimated on the feet because of his explosiveness. Alatengheili also uses that explosive power to wrestle, and he is fairly good on the ground, able to maintain a strong position at all times and just land heavy ground and pound. Alatengheili is powerful but he doesn’t display that power with reckless abandon, he tends to be a bit of a counter puncher, his hands are often low or loose, which lures his opponent in to strike, in which he then propels himself forward with a quick flurry of dangerous punches, then there’s a reset and he waits to lure his opponent in again. That’s his typical gameplan and it works a lot of the time, but I do think he might get exposed by one thing that Rodrigues could do, and that’s chop at the legs to remove or mitigate that explosiveness that Alatengheili relies on. Rodrigues on the other hand has not had as much experience nor octagon time that Alatengheili has had, but his style seems to be a bit of a challenge for Alatengheili, at least from what I can see. Rodrigues is very well rounded, he is very quick on the feet, but most of all, he doesn’t do anything too crazy to be lured into a potential counter-flurry by Alatengheili. Rodrigues loves to kick at range, he is so dynamic and can switch up the angles of the attacks so quickly that he could possibly just keep kicking Alatengheili until the fight is over, as long as he keeps a safe distance from a retaliatory attack. He is very quick at throwing out those kicks and I do think if he attacks the legs early enough he is going to be effective, as Gutierrez was when he fought Alatengheili. Alatengheili is going to have to mix it up in this fight to get ahead, he is going to have to rely heavily on his wrestling in order to get a win here, because we have seen that Rodrigues is mostly a kickboxestriker, and if Alatengheili can push a nasty pace and pressure (something he only does if he is successful with his counters or see’s his opponent is hurt), that completely removes Rodrigues’ ability to kick. However, the biggest danger with any sort of aggressive forward movement from Alatengheili is the ridiculous hand speed of Rodrigues, his boxing speed is ferocious and he doesn’t necessarily overthrow, everything is clean and tight, and given how open the defences are with Alatengheili, I do think a check left hook or an uppercut is going to be a highly effective tool that Rodrigues is going to utilise, especially if Alatengheili is going to look for takedowns. The focus and timing of Rodrigues is something that I really like also, he is so calm but intense in the cage, he sees a lot of his opponents attacks coming, and since Alatengheili’s actions are huge and relatively easy to read (as there is quite a wind up for it) Rodrigues should be able to avoid it or counter effectively. One major thing I want to point out here that makes me lean on Rodrigues even moreso is the striking inaccuracy of Alatengheili, he is a powerful fighter, i cannot state this enough, but it is thanks to that power and his willingness to throw down heavy punches that he often misses. I’m gonna list some stats, so bear with me… These are his striking accuracy stats from a handful of his recent fights, starting from the most recent to ones earlier in his career. Gutierrez with 28% Accuracy, Anheliger with 37%, Lopez with 30% and Kenney with 26%. This is why I emphasized before how important Alatengheili’s wrestling is going to be in this fight, because if you’re going to go up against a very tricky and accurate striker like Rodrigues, you cannot play that accuracy game and risk winging punches against him. With that said though, don’t count of Alatengheili here, his power and explosiveness are always going to be a problem and it should generally be a good idea to sprinkle a little bit of money on him, even moreso that he’s an underdog. My prediction for this fight is a long, drawn out Rodrigues win, but it’s a tough one because we haven’t quite seen that much greatness from Rodrigues.
Rodrigues via UD - (1/3)
Women’s Strawweight
Piera Rodriguez (-175) (9-1-0, NS) v Ariane Carnelossi (+145) (14-3-0, NS) - Normally, a lot of fights interest me, even the ones that don’t interest the vast majority of others… but this one? I have no feelings one way or the other about this one, it seems like a filler fight lol. Rodriguez is a relatively well rounded fighter coming off a tough loss against Gillian Robertson, and I mean, that kind of loss tends to come with the territory of wrestling a well known submission specialist, so I don’t exactly fault Rodriguez for losing in that way. There is very little doubt that Rodriguez is going to have a major advantage in the wrestling department, a lot of her fights involve her taking down her opponent, it's what she does exceptionally well and considering how dreadful Carnelossi’s takedown defence is, it is going to be Piera’s imperative to take down Carnelossi. The problem with Rodriguez is that she's a little bit one dimensional, she doesn’t do too well on the feet and Carnelossi does have very strong strikes, I mean, look at her, she’s absolutely a power puncher. Rodriguez is highly diverse with her striking, both in terms of range and variability of attack, she has excellent fundamentals with the boxing, landing combinations in the pocket and moving away, and one main thing she does extremely well is that jab, its a really long, lunging jab, and the reason why I point that out is because it somewhat masks the takedown, she uses that jab over and over, and because that motion to jab is almost similar to a level change, she doesn’t necessarily feint the jab to get to the level change/takedown position, but her opponents just think another jab is coming. This is going to be a great set up against Carnelossi, attack her with long, prodding jabs, and after a few of those, go for a level change, because its that long lunge that looks like a level change. To put it bluntly, anything to get a level change and a takedown will be highly effective against Carnelossi. Carnelossi is an interesting one to talk about because she had a fun start to her career with an extremely entertaining fight against Liang Na, but if you look closely, she is just a fun fighter, not a great one. Her punching power is probably her biggest asset, because everywhere else she absolutely is not worth talking about, and it’s that punching power that will be evident when she inevitably clips Rodriguez. Carnelossi is one dimensional, but boy is she scrappy and I don’t think Rodriguez can afford to get crazy with her on the feet, because Rodriguez will be hurt by something in the pocket, the smartest thing Rodriguez can ideally do is level change and absolutely remove the power from Carnelossi, and considering that Carnelossi’s power is generated from a very still-standing stance, it wouldn’t take much to take her off her feet. I got Rodriguez winning this one, it should hopefully be a fun fight.
Rodriguez via UD - (1/3)
Middleweight
Abus Magomedov (-250) (25-6-1, 2 FLS) v Warlley Alves (+205) (14-7-0, 3 FLS) - It kind of seems like they are setting Magomedov up for success here. Magomedov may have had a tough last two bouts, but considering the fact that he faced Strickland and Borralho, that’s ridiculous levels of competition for a newcomer. Magomedov had one major issue exposed when he fought Strickland and that was his cardio, everything else he looked absolutely incredible at, he has a lot of power in his hands, he’s long and dynamic with his attacks and he has great wrestling, but it was his cardio that made him fall apart. During his Borralho fight, despite losing that bout, those cardio issues didn’t seem as present, he has seemingly learnt to pace himself and he honestly looks to be a decent up and comer now that he’s facing slightly more adjusted competition instead of straight up killers. Magomedov has a massive, massive reach advantage over Alves, and that’s going to be prevalent when Magomedov lands those beautiful strikes at range. He does use his kicks alot, and alongside said kicks are a lot of knee feints, it's a bit odd to look at, it could just be him getting ready to check leg kicks or to feint a kick, but it's just one of those things that I can’t quite figure out. Anyway, Magomedov’s cardio is going to be in question again today, and whilst I did say that he seems to be mostly fine, or at least a bit better than when he fought Strickland, he still tends to overthrow a lot, there is no pitter patter of punches that you somewhat see, they’re all still big actions and those big actions cost him his cardio early on. The best way to kind of describe Magomedov, at least cardio wise, is a slightly more talented and skillful McKinney. My main concern is how exposed his face is to getting hit, all it would take is for Alves to rush in like a bull and throw some heavy overhand punches, make it very gritty in there and make Magomedov tired. That’s the only way I can kind of see Magomedov struggle a lot. Alves is an exceptionally quick starter, he is an absolute firecracker and if he can catch Magomedov early, that’s going to be absolutely massive given the size difference. Everything Alves throws comes with silly amounts of power, and he isn’t necessarily a headhunter, he chops at the legs and body occasionally, he’s quite diverse and I think those leg kicks are going to be problematic for Magomedov, considering Magomedov needs to push forward in order to get his combinations off. Alves is a tough, tough fighter, and whilst he is coming off a savage knockout by Aliskerov, I do think that Alves is still one dangerous fighter to take on, maybe not as technical as Borralho (to compare to Magomedov’s last opponent), but he is an absolute monster when it comes to aggression and that alone could exhaust Magomedov. However, the reach and movement of Magomedov is going to be a major challenge here. I am not completely counting out Alves here, I think he is being a bit underestimated here, but I just think Magomedov has a lot more tools in his arsenal that is going to be boosted by that reach advantage, and it does seem that Alves is fairly susceptible to down the pipe shots, something that Magomedov does well. Range and distance are going to be the main gameplan for Magomedov and his time I think. I got Magomedov winning this one, but i am not very confident in this one due to the volatility of Alves’ actions. He is a wild and fast starter so I expect that first round to be the most sketchiest.
Magomedov via KO R2 - (1/3)
Women’s Bantamweight
Tamires Vidal (+300) (7-2-0, NS) v Melissa Gatto (-410) (8-2-2, 2 FLS) - This is certainly an interesting one. Vidal is coming off a tough loss against Rendon, and it was a bit of a boring fight in all honesty, with Vidal being somewhat effective on the feet with big and powerful attacks, but ultimately succumbing to the wrestling of Rendon. I don’t see that much changing this time around since Gatto is a great wrestler and Vidal has clearly shown major defensive issues in the wrestling department, so to put it bluntly, it just seems like Vidal has a puncher's chance, and if she does land those punches, I do think the tides can change a little in her favour, but it would only take one takedown for Gatto to be in full control for the rest of that round. Outside of her loss to Rendon, Vidal looked fun against Pascual, then again, a lot of fighters of a reasonably low calibre can look good against Pascual, so I think that was one of those “set up for success” fights. Still, the aggression and threat of a knockdown/out from Vidal will be fairly prevalent during this fight. But that’s about it, shes a powerful striker and quite dynamic, but her takedown defence is going to be a problem. Gatto was scheduled to fight Dudakova a few weeks ago, however that fight fell off, which is probably good for Gatto coz she’s ready for a fight regardless, shes still somewhat fresh off camp and was going to probably employ the same strategy against Vidal that she would have against Dudakova, and that was to wrestle. Gatto’s wrestling has always been a bit of a highlight for her, she’s physically strong and is able to do well in advantageous positions, holding her opponents down and either landing ground and pound or just grinding them out, exhausting them for a large chunk of the round. Gatto is also very dangerous on the feet, she has deceptively quick and powerful punches which she uses to both damage her opponents but also as an opportunity to raise their guard so the level change is more easily accessible. No matter what way you cut this slice of cake, I think Gatto’s wrestling is going to be a major problem for Vidal, and Vidal’s only way to win this fight is to keep it standing and just brawl, make it look gritty in there and potentially freeze up Gatto’s ability to wrestle cleanly. I am leaning on Gatto to win this one, but that unpredictability of Vidal’s aggression is going to be a big factor here. No major bet advice here, it seems like there is a possibility of it going over 2.5 rounds, but that’s about it.
Gatto via UD - (1/3)
Light Heavyweight
Oumar Sy (D) (9-0-0, 9 FWS) v Tuco Tokkos (D) (10-3-0, 3 FWS) - ITS DOUBLE DEBUT TIME!!! These are getting rarer and rarer the more we see fighters from DWCS make their way to the UFC, so this is a fun little occasion. Sy is coming into this fight a little bit more prepared, at least physically and cardio wise, than his replacement opponent in Tokkos. Sy is coming off a string of beautiful fights on various promotions, but most importantly he’s been relatively tested on KSW, which is one of the better promotions to come out of the European world of MMA. Sy is a long and rangey fighter who has dangerous head kicks and dangerous wrestling skills that he uses really well, and whilst he has a massive reach advantage over his opponent, he doesn’t exactly strike in any traditional way, you don’t see him throw a lot of jabs, he mostly uses his reach to lock in takedowns (since it’s easier to lock in takedowns with longer arms), and the moment the fight goes to the ground, expect him to find a position to where he can reign down heavy ground and pound. I would love to see him strike a bit more, but most of his fights are him taking his opponents down and landing ground and pound, and if he does that against a replacement fighter in Tokkos, I expect him to dominate and completely shut down Tokkos since it would take preparation to get out of funky positions that Sy puts his opponents in, and I don’t know if Tokkos has that wrestling background to handle the larger and longer opponent in Sy properly on the ground. Tokkos seemingly came out of nowhere this last week, and that one thing that blasted me in the face was the record of his second most recent opponent, Brian Jackson. Dudes got a 1-7 record and Tokkos torched him (expectedly), that doesn’t bring a lot of confidence to me that a guy like Tokkos, coming from a relatively decent gym in Kill Cliff FC, takes on and fights someone like that. Tokkos is overall a decent fighter with some strong wins under his belt, but the main thing going against him here is preparation time, and whilst he does have a fair bit of experience under his belt, I just don’t think he’s ready for someone like Sy on short notice. Tokkos is a relatively well rounded fighter with great wrestling and decent striking, but i just think all of that is going to be possibly negated by the substantial reach advantage of Sy. This is a double debut though, and whilst I normally steer clear from calling someone new to the UFC a lock, I think the fact that Sy has had a full camp for… three fights (Bellato, Trocolli (both cancelled) and now Tokkos), I think he’s ready for this fight and ready for the UFC. He will be an optional lock, but still a 2/3 confidence pick, if that makes sense.
Sy via KO R1 (2/3)
Lightweight
Tom Nolan (-450) (6-1-0, NS) v Victor Martinez (+340) (13-5-0, NS) - Both fighters made their debut and lost in the same way, in the same round, so let’s call this a second attempt at a debut lol. Nolan made his debut against knockout artist Nikolas Motta, and honestly that is a dangerous fight for anyone to take, but it probably made sense to the matchmakers since both fighters are prolific knockout artists. Nolan does finish his opponents very quickly a lot of the time, and I do think he has a massive advantage on the feet against Martinez since Martinez isn’t exactly a big threat on the feet, and his inactivity over the past few years (or lack of solid activity at least) leaves some questions hanging in the air. Nolan has a reach and height advantage here, but the most prominent advantage will be with his reach where he can string together gorgeous straight combinations to decent effect, and that’s what he’s really known for, he’s got awesome boxing and he is very confident in his punching power. He is also relatively defensively sound for someone with his size because I have pointed out before that a lot of taller and longer fighters don’t shell up a lot or have a lot of defensive layers to their style, but Nolan is overall a fairly solid boxer both on the offence and defence, it’s just a shame he got fed to the wolf when he fought Motta. Nolan made the simple mistake when he fought Motta of being in the pocket without care, and i think those kinds of mistakes are easy enough to fix, and considering Martinez is not the same kind of threat on the feet compared to Motta, I do think that gives Nolan a bit more freedom to string together combinations and overall look great on the feet, as he was meant to be, since his whole career up until that loss to Motta has been him having gorgeous striking. Martinez is coming off a KO loss also, but it was by Jordan Leavitt, and that’s just a painful look on anyone's record to get knocked out by someone who is not known for his striking. Martinez is overall a good striker, he has very fast hands, but I have noticed one thing about him that I can see Nolan landing cleanly. Martinez has the tendency to leave his right hand far from a block position, its more of a parry position, in front of him instead of beside him, and he tends to lower that hand when taking a back step, and I cannot help but see the Southpaw striker in Nolan land that left hand to the chin of Martinez. Now, any sort of exchange between either fighter here is going to be a dangerous one for both parties, but that is where reach comes in, Nolan has a diverse boxing skillset and his long attacks allow him to carry power as much as anyone elses short hooks would. One major thing Martinez is going to have to be careful of is a knee up the middle by Nolan as Nolan’s height is going to allow that knee to come up to target without a major loss to momentum, and I mean, if Martinez got dropped by Rosales on DWCS, then by Leavitt, I just don’t know if he has the chin to withstand the battering that comes from Nolan. I got Nolan winning this one, but this is going to be a fantastic fight which isn’t likely to go the distance.
Nolan via KO R1 - (2/3)
Main Card
Women’s Strawweight
Angela Hill (#12) (-160) (16-13-0, NS) v Luana Pinheiro (#13) (+130) (11-2-0, NS) - This is a great fight. Hill is coming off a very strong win over Denise Gomes, and it was honestly such a brilliant performance by someone who a lot of people tend to ignore. Hill is an incredibly diverse fighter, she is tenacious on the feet, highly capable of stringing together strong combinations from all ranges, and as she closes the distance, she’s good at tying up her opponent in a clinch and landing awesome knees and elbows. This is all Hill and her cumulative experience in the Octagon against a wide range of different fighters and styles, and it’s clear to me that her preparation for a lot of her fights involve solid planning and back up plans, because whilst her record reflects a rough run through her career, her level of competition is insane. Hill isn’t a finisher though, but she is someone who can keep a ridiculous pace for three rounds, so I do think that she has the capabilities to overwhelm Pinheiro on the feet, especially since we just saw Ribas do the same thing a little over 5 months ago. Hill will have a striking advantage in this fight, she throws a lot of volume at high speed towards her opponent and they do land effectively, and with a slight edge in reach I do see her having a bit more success on the feet here especially since Pinheiro does not have a lot of head movement or striking defence. Pinheiro is a danger to Hill in the grappling department though, especially in those transitions from standing to ground, she utilises hip throws relatively well and could make this fight ugly on the ground, but I don’t think there is a major submission threat here, I think her style is predominantly control and ground and pound, both things that Hill has experience in dealing with, although she still will lose the round if Pinheiro executes her gameplan well. Pinheiro has power in her hands, she could potentially make Hill a little bit frozen and hesitant on the feet once Pinheiro lands that overhand right that Pinheiro loves to throw early, but she doesn’t throw it often enough to lead to a significant finish, she’s a very low volume, high impact striker and that could play in the favour of Hill if Hill’s volume walks Pinheiro back into the cage. Pinheiro could make this fight dangerous for Hill on the ground, but we have seen a few times now that Hill is very good at the basics of takedown defence, underhooks, whizzers (if i spelt that correctly) and quickly getting back to a standing position, she is not complacent on the ground or in that transition to the ground, and I think any sort of failed takedown attempt from Pinheiro is going to fuel Hill a lot more, since Pinheiro only has a few kinds of takedowns. This is a hard on to pick in all seriousness, I might get the prediction wrong, but I have a strong feeling that we are going to see this fight go over 2.5 rounds, or even hit the scorecards. As for the prediction, looking at this fight, I am kind of leaning on Hill here, because Pinheiro’s wins aren’t as significant as Hill’s wins, and i do think Pinheiro fades a little bit as the fight goes on.
Hill via UD - (1/3)
Bantamweight
Adrian Yanez (-350) (16-5-0, 2 FLS) v Vinicius Salvador (+275) (14-6-0, 2 FLS) - I love this fight. Yanez is coming off two painful back to back KO losses, whenever a young fighter comes into the UFC, tears through the division, then hits a losing skid, it’s always a concern to any fan or pundit. However, I do think that leg kick KO is anomalous to the UFC, it rarely happens and I don’t think Salvador is much of a leg kicker anyway so the threat isn’t there. However, I do want to add that the psychological factor of maybe getting leg kicked to oblivion is going to weigh heavy on Yanez’ mind, and I do wonder if Yanez has drilled checking leg kicks before. Now, Yanez is still a dangerous opponent for anyone to take, he still has incredibly technical MMA boxing, and that’s going to be on full display this weekend. Yanez is so fluid and yet tricky on the feet, he’s very good at gauging range and firing away from different angles, as well as timing his shots off his opponents striking attempts, everything involving striking exchanges will most likely be in the favour of Yanez, he thrives in that space and I do believe his experience and his wins prior to those two devastating losses are going to shine this weekend. My only concern about Yanez is his ability to not get carried away and show his chin too much, because whilst Salvador is yet to get a win in the UFC, he still has had some mild striking success against fighters like Altamirano and Vergara, and it wouldn’t take a lot for Salvador to find the chin of Yanez. Salvador is a very funky and unorthodox fighter, and whilst that always brings positive attention to him, I also think that has been a product of failure for him also since the more cleaner fighters outbox him, are generally a lot faster and just find their mark a bit quicker, if that makes sense? I mean, Salvador’s stance is fairly loose, his chin is in the air and his shell is rather loose, and that’s not good news, especially if he’s facing a vicious fighter like Yanez. Salvador thrives in chaotic fights though, he is awesome and making it dangerous and risky for his opponents to fight in the pocket, but his style emanates a lack of self preservation. He is a kill or be killed kind of fighter in my opinion, and I firmly believe that when he got dropped numerous times in that first round against Victor Altamirano, it only showed us, and any future opponent (via tape watch in prep) that he is very hittable, his head is right there and the only reason it wasn’t there for Vergara was due to the significant difference in height and reach. Salvador moving up to 135 could make him a lot more interesting in terms of being able to explode more often and having more power behind his punches, but I also think it means he is dealing with more harder hitting fighters, and with the accuracy and boxing skill set of Yanez, I just think Salvador is going to get outdone here. I got Yanez winning this one, but I am interested to see if Salvador has what it takes to win and upset a lot of parlays out there.
Yanez via KO R2 - (1/3)
Welterweight
Ramiz Brahimaj (+170) (10-4-0, NS) v Themba Gorimbo (-205) (12-4-0, 2 FWS) - Brahimaj is coming back after two tough years away, and the reason why it’s tough is because he has been dealing with a spinal injury, and boy do i empathise with that. Now, his injury is mostly C-Spine and shoulder area nerve damage, this is terrible for a fighter because it effectively eliminates your ability to comfortably strike, sprawl, wrestle, underhook/overhook stuff, everything that you see in a fighter typically comes from shoulder rotation and all that stuff, so for Brahimaj to be out for two years, dealing with all of that, does not give me a lot of confidence in him being 100% coming into this fight against Gorimbo. Brahimaj is a dangerous grappler who thrives on the ground, he is honestly only dangerous on the ground, but the problem is that Gorimbo is very good on the ground himself, at least good enough to know what is being set up, and it’s on the ground where Brahimaj has his only chance to win. Unfortunately for Brahimaj, it’s going to take some work to get the fight to the ground and Gorimbo is more than willing to keep the fight standing, so honestly, I just don’t think Brahimaj is going to be as well rounded or as effective as he needs to be in order to get a win here. Gorimbo is riding some momentum coming into this fight, as he is coming off a lightning quick KO over Pete Rodriguez, and I mean, Rodriguez sucks, he’s one of the worst fighters in the UFC and that KO means nothing in the grand scheme of things, it’s just an additional win on a record with barely any weight to it. Gorimbo is going to be a lot more confident in his boxing though since that win, that feeling of getting knockouts is an addictive one and I think he’s going to be using his incredible reach advantage to look to get another KO this weekend over the possibly rusty Brahimaj. Gorimbo is a very well rounded fighter who honestly has a lot of potential to be a star, he has excellent boxing, and honestly very good wrestling and grappling, and I do think if the fight does go to the ground, Gorimbo has the fight IQ to notice set ups coming, neutralize them and remain on top in control, landing ground and pound or just advancing to his own submission positions. The most likely scenario though is Gorimbo keeps this fight standing and overwhelms Brahimaj on the feet, because he probably wants to chase another KO since that feeling is notoriously addictive. I got Gorimbo winning this one, I can’t wait to see how far this man goes in his career.
Gorimbo via KO R1 - (2/3)
Co-Main Event
Welterweight
Khaos Williams (-125) (14-3-0, NS) v Carlston Harris (+105) (19-5-0, 2 FWS) - This feels like a classic Striker versus Grappler fight. Williams is a strong, powerful striker who is such a threat on the feet, especially early on when he wants to push a nasty pace and land those devastating punches. He is known for being a bully, crashing forward with crazy power and aggression. There is no clean technique coming from Williams, it is mostly wild, wild punches and he is confident in his ability to knock out his opponent, that’s what makes him a dangerous threat to his opponents, that confidence. The right hand is Williams best weapon, his right overhand or hook is going to be the one that knocks out Harris if it lands, but that’s all he is, a powerful right side puncher, and if Harris times a takedown well, all of that threat is gone. On the flip side, Harris is primarily a grappler with a solid grappling base, and whilst he has faced his fair share of dangerous strikers, I believe Williams’ power is something different. Now, Harris has the potential to take this fight to the ground, I know that according to UFC stats that Harris has an 80% takedown defence, but there has not been enough wrestling in his fights, by his opponents, to fully prove that his takedown defence is that great, it’s only been used sparingly against him since most of his fights are absolute wild exchanges and beautiful displays of violence on the feet. Williams' propensity to head hunt could lead to an opening for a level change by Harris, but it’s a risky thing to do because any punch that lands on Harris is going to hurt him, and considering the age factor here, its possible his chin isn’t going to hold up well against the power of Williams. Now, Harris was getting ragdolls and outwrestled by Wells when they fought, and whilst that isn’t a great look for Harris, I don’t think Williams has the wrestling capabilities that Wells has, so I think the main submission threat from Harris in this fight is going to come from the clinch, so guillotines and front head choke variants are going to be on the menu for Harris this weekend, it’s just a matter of if he gets into that position or if he gets his head blasted over and over by powerful punches from Williams. This is a dangerous fight to bet on if you’re thinking of Moneyline betting, it can easily go either way since both excel in their respective styles, the safest and smartest bet here in my opinion is that this fight doesn’t hit the judges scorecards. As for my prediction, I don’t think i’ll be getting this right due to the volatile nature of this match up, but…
Harris via Sub R2 - (1/3)
Main Event
Featherweight
Edson Barboza (#14) (+125) (24-11-0, 2 FWS) v Lerone Murphy (-150) (13-0-1, 5 FWS FWS) - Man this is a funky main event. Barboza is a legend of the sport, but most importantly, and perhaps most relevant to this write up, he is an old dog who can still hang with the toughest. His last two wins have been against Yusuff and Quarantillo, two very difficult fighters to take on at 145 and it’s his win over Yusuff that I want to highlight… Yusuff exploded in the first round, looked for that finish and Barboza survived and thrived throughout the rest of the fight, it was a beautiful display of heart, toughness, and adaptability, because that was not the first firefight that Barboza has been in, and considering his current opponent, it sure as shit won’t be his last. Barboza is well known for his outstanding kicks, but he’s also just overall a ridiculously dangerous striker. An understated aspect of his whole game though is his wrestling and grappling, he might not be looking for a lot of takedowns when he fights, but he is well versed on the ground, having taken down Yusuff 3 of 4 times in the final round of a high pace main event is testament to his cardio and conditioning, despite the concern surrounding his age. Barboza is going to be a true test on the feet for Murphy, and I think it’s going to be the toughest fight of his career. Murphy is coming off a string of strong victories in the UFC, with his most recent one being against Culibao, and I gotta say, Murphy is one of those dangerous prospects that we all should keep an eye on. Murphy is a rapidly improving fighter who adds weapons to his arsenal every single time he comes out. He was originally a boxer with outstanding punching power and speed, he was ridiculously slick on the feet, but after each fight he adds more kicks, more movement and wrestling, he has slowly become a very well rounded fighter, and this makes his upcoming bout against a very tested veteran who is still here to stay in Barboza incredibly fascinating. There is a slight catch to all of those additional things added into his arsenal though, and that’s each time something has been added, the next opponent has something else to prepare for. I firmly believe that Murphy’s rise to this position and to this fight is not from his outstanding skill level, but from his incredible repertoire of techniques he has acquired and learnt over his UFC career. Unpredictability is king when it comes to new fighters, we have seen new fighters add things to their game that have completely changed and accelerated their growth, and that’s exactly what we have seen for Murphy. Murphy has a wide variety of strong strikes he uses effortlessly, from standard boxing combinations to a very snappy high kick, to strong grappling and control on the ground, he hasn’t mastered any of these things, but since they are added along each and every time he fights, his opponents are rarely prepared. This is not going to be the case for Barboza, Barboza is very, very well rounded and well versed in almost every aspect of MMA. Ill keep this short. I got Barboza winning this one, but I am still going to be a fan of Murphy, regardless of result.
Barboza via UD - (1/3)
Primary Parlay: Ducote/Demopoulos o2.5 or GTD + (optional Gatto/Vidal o2.5 or GTD) + Nolan/Martinez ITD + Hill/Pinheiro o2.5 or GTD + Barboza/Murphy R3 Starts
Locks of the week: Optional Sy + Nolan + Gorimbo
Alt Bets: Alves KO R1, Pinheiro Sub R2 or 3, Williams KO R1, Murphy KO R1 2 or 3 (combo rounds)
And that's it!!!!
Prediction accuracy as of 2024: 64.6%
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Lets have a fun and friendly discussion down below about this weekends card!
I hope you all have an amazing day, look after yourselves, and enjoy this awesome event!

Feb, nagkainjury ako and i was advised ng doctor ko to lessen stress ko sa likod and hips (walking, running for long period) so matic, di ako pqede magcommute. Pumayag naman yung company ko for me to WFH after 12 sessions of PT kaso after 12 session, di parin magaling and sbe ng doctor ko possible na dala ko na to for the rest of my life pero kaya ako nagp-PT is for prevention and para di lumala.
Mar to May, nakakalabas naman ako like mga 2 to 3 times na sa QC for checkup sa doctor kaso pag uwi ko talaga masakit parin and may weakness sa legs ko, so naiisip ko talaga na mahihirapan ako kapag bumalik ako ng 2 days rto sa office.
This May nagrequest ako ng permanent wfh with doctor's advise sa HR pinadala kaso sbe ng manager ko mukhang di maggrant due to compliance.
May laban pa ba ako if ever gusto ko talaga mag-wfh sana permanently o talagang wala na and after ng current 12 sessions ko na PT eh mag oonsite na talaga ako? i have all the docs kaso iniisip ko baka madale lng ako sa compliance and iterminate ako basta basta. pwede ba yun? thanks!

So I have been seriously working out for about a month or two, and my main goal is muscle hypertrophy and muscle gain.
I have also been on a calorie deficit for around a month, trying to lose weight to better my physique.
Below is my current PPL split workout plan, i usually go to the gym 3-4 times a week with the rest of the days as rest days, around 2-3min rest inbetween each set, and around 1.5h spent in the gym every session + minimal cardio:
Push day:

1. Machine Chest Press: 3 sets x 8 reps (pecs, delts, triceps) [25kg]
2. Machine Shoulder Press: 3 sets x 8 reps (main delts, pecs, triceps, core) [11kg]
3. Pec Deck: 2 sets x 8 reps (pecs) [20kg]
4. Lateral Raise Machine: 2 sets x 8 reps (lat, delts, a bit of traps) [18kg]
5. Tricep Pushdown: 3 sets x 10 reps [13kg]
6. Overhead Extension: 2 sets x 8 reps [14kg]

Pull Day:

1. T-Bar Row: 3 sets x 8 reps (lats, rhombs, traps, rear delts) [25kg]
2. Lat Pulldown: 3 sets x 10 reps (pecs, rhombs, traps, lats) [23kg]
3. Cable Curls: 3 sets x 10 reps (biceps, brachialis, forearms, delts) [40kg]
4. Rear Delt Fly (Pec Deck): 3 sets x 10 reps (pecs, delts) [20kg]
5. Machine Preacher Curls: 2 sets x 10 reps (biceps, brachialis) [14kg]
6. Seated Row: 2 sets x 8 reps (rhombs, traps, biceps) [31kg]

Leg day:

1. Sitting Calf Raise: 4 sets x 8 reps (solutes, calves) [20kg]
2. Back Squat: 4 sets x 12 reps (lower back, glutes, hamstrings) [30kg]
3. Leg Press: 4 sets x 12 reps (quadriceps, glutes, hamstrings, calves) [63kg]
4. Reverse Lunge: 3 sets x 10 reps (core, glutes, quadriceps, hamstrings, calves) [14kg]
5. Leg Extension: 4 sets x 12 reps (quadriceps, femoris) [32kg]
6. Hamstring Extension: 3 sets x 12 reps (hips, knees, hamstrings) [32kg]

Sex: m Age: 17 Height: 169cm Weight: 81kg
I do progressive overload each week as well to ensure and maintain that i will be getting muscle definition and muscle gain.

Currently in school for cyber security and I'm super intimidated by everything I'm reading. I'm my late 30s never knew anything about computers till I jumped in this class. I was mostly into hip hop and doing immoral things in the streets to make money now I'm trying to go legit. I have so many questions with no one to talk to about any of this cause I. A. Still don't know shit, and B. Know more than almost everyone I know. Any advice or words of encouragement?

Hello Everyone,
I've done countless research and searched around, alot of answers and comparisons are from a bunch of years ago for alot of posts so I was curious if I could get some help for more recent times.
Currently I am using Sennheiser HD599se, had a bunch of 'gaming' ones but closed-back caused massive headaches plus I don't like the feeling. These were amazing but are falling apart, I kinda want to splurge a bit but nothing to crazy.
I am Canadian so it's a bit hard to get some exotic headphones - would prefer Amazon mainly if possible.
I currently want to use them for competitive gaming (high rank - prefer large sound-stage, wanted HD800s but saw price) and even single player games for a cinematic. Want to enjoy and have a warm fun kind of sound for movies or casual tv shows, want to enjoy music and have a all rounder.
Currently I'm a bit confused because I see now there are Planar Magnetic Headphones also but unsure if they are worth it or not.
Budget is ~$550 CAD if possible.
Currently I managed to find these:

1. Audio Technica ATH-R70x (Constantly hear about this but some people mention its muddy/over hyped)
2. Hifiman SUNDARA
3. Sennheiser HD 600/650 Open (I don't know the difference between the 650/600/600S2/6xx the names are confusing)
4. AKG K702
5. AKG 712 Pro
6. HIFIMAN Edition XS
7. Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO
8. GRADO SR80x Prestige Series (Unsure if this brand is realiable/good?)
9. Philips SHP9500
10. Linsoul HarmonicDyne Zeus (Heard the wire's were fantastic)
11. FiiO FT3 HiFi Studio (These were hyped because of the massive drivers but unsure which ohm version and if they are hidden gems)
12. Audeze MM-100

Can someone please help me figure which one is the best or if there is something else that is open-back, is enjoyable to use without EQ'ing to much? Or even what the top 3 current ones are?
TL;DR: Budget: $550 CAD preferred Type: Open-Back Goals: Sound-stage/Clarity/Immersive/Good Bass (Not Main Focus) Main Usage: Competitive Gaming/Single Player Immersion/Music (Rap/Hip-Hop, R&B, Classical (Zimmerman/Interstellar Like stuff), Rock/Afro-beat Side Usage: Movies/TV Shows Prefer warm and rich sounds but not muddy, prefer clarity - can even be cool and airy.

Hello!
My BF needs a hip recon (or replacement?) but doesn't want to talk to a doctor about it until it's worse, but it IS affecting his quality of life and his work (60M tradie).
I've said he needs to get the ball rolling and see his GP so he can get on the public waiting list and find out the ins and outs. We only have basic private health (enough to qualify for the tax rebate) and it doesn't cover joint reconstructions. I'm currently researching how much the cost/wait times are for a higher cover, but I can say it's not ideal (he works contracts on/off).
He's scared of the costs (which we have no idea about) and wants to 'time it' with a good contract so he can get income protection. I've said you can't time anything with public health and I don't know how IP works. He doesn't want to say anything to anyone (ie GP, our PHI, his income protection provider) in case it gets flagged for some reason and then denied, so I'm busily researching it (yes I am googling!).

• has anyone here had a hip recon under the public system?
  
• if so, how long were you waiting and were you happy with the outcome?
  
• what were your final out-of-pocket costs via public?
  
• if you've had it done privately, can you recommend your PH provider?
  
• if done privately, what were your out-of-pocket costs?
  
• can you recommend a surgeon?
  
• how long were you off work and back to handle walking/stairs etc?
  
• can you provide any insights into the process?
  

Thank you for any information or links, experiences you can share.

Been dealing with a 9 month l4/l5 herniation. Currently on holiday and walking 20-30k steps per day and have been sciatica free at the start of the trip but suddenly now woken up with terrible back and hip pain and on off sciatic pain again. Have I overdone it on walking? 😢

Hi there!
I’m 27F and have just been diagnosed with mild bi-lateral hip dysplasia. I’ve had lower back pain for most of my life, and have developed right hip pain in the last year or so. After going for a small run 3 months ago, the hip pain has been excruciating. So I went to the physio who reccomended I get an x-ray and ultrasound to confirm if I had hip dysplasia.
I’m due to see a surgeon in a few weeks to see what my options are. But in the meantime is there anything that anyone recommends for pain management?
Currently I’m waking up in a lot of pain, struggling to walk up stairs, as the pain is also in my knees. I’m taking Voltarin, ibuprofen and trying to get back into swimming.
Any advice would be appreciated!

🆘🆘URGENT * URGENT * URGENT🆘🆘
🚨 Honey Graham (#A546098) is now URGENT. She needs RESCUE PLACEMENT by TOMORROW, WEDNESDAY 5/15 or she will be EUTHANIZED. She is at Orange County Animal Services, ORLANDO, FL🚨
She needs RESCUE & FOSTER and PLEDGES 🙏❤️😭
Sharing a post from Urgent Dogs of Orlando:
https://www.facebook.com/61554543816308/posts/pfbid029GF211Kg84gqUhF85TRRnXp1HDC3qbr5vrKErUpPwCThm3vQdsyCqwHCUb5xpE78l/?app=fbl
🚨🚨 FINAL POST NEEDS RESCUE PLACEMENT BY TOMORROW, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15TH or she will be euthanized.
She is at Orange County Animal Services in Orlando, FL. We posted her before, now she has an urgent deadline. She was abandoned behind a store and she should not have to die because no one seems to want her. She also cannot sit endlessly at the shelter waiting for help. She's friendly. She might need surgery. Please help share. Please tag any Rottie lovers you may know.
HONEY GRAHAM #A546098 - This dog is an unaltered female. This dog is currently located in CLIND18. This dog weighs approximately 50.0 lbs., is 3Y and has tested negative for heartworm disease. This dog is being posted to rescue due to medical.
Meet Honey Graham!
She was found at the backside of Sally's store on OBT. She was panting and having trouble walking and was taken to the VEC as she was found after hours. Once at the shelter and upon x-rays, our veterinarian discovered that she has a subluxated hip (right) and she might need surgery.
Presenting problem/concern: Transfered from VEC with reported subluxated right hip Additional history: (See records from VEC) Mentation: OAR Temp & Pulse:not done - visual exam only
Respiration: Eupneic
Physical Exam/Observations: No nasal or ocular discharge. Weight bearing all four limbs. Unwilling to walk. Last dose of pain medications at 2am 4/24/24 (Hydromorphone). Rimadyl and Cerenia on 4/23/24. No radiographs provided. Assessment: Reported subluxated right hip. Recommendation(s): Requested radiographs, BupeSR, and intakes. **If this pet is returned to its previous or original owner and has medical conditions, please issue an official notice for follow-up vet care (see OCAS veterinarian for timeframe.
SHE IS CURRENTLY ON ANTIBIOTICS DUE TO PRESENTING SIGNS OF AN UPPER RESPIRATORY INFECTION
Honey Graham is friendly and when walked around other dogs, she was indifferent to them. She is also HW negative!
➡️ If you are a rescue and can help Honey Graham, please email the shelter at: Rescue.Coordinator@ocfl.net
➡️ If you want to foster for a rescue, please also email the shelter and send a private message to Urgent Dogs of Orlando on Facebook.
List of rescue partners for Orange County Animal Services (Orlando, FL): http://www.ocnetpets.com/ProgramsServices/Rescues/RescuePartners.aspx
Link to her Shelter Profile:
https://www.ocnetpets.com/Adopt/AnimalsinShelter.aspx?animalid=A546098
📌 If you cannot foster Honey Graham, but you can PLEDGE to help her, please post a comment below with your pledge amount or post your pledge on the original post. No amount is too small.
Please help save Honey Graham! Please share her 🙏❤️

Hello so my family are brand new to breeding German shepherd’s and I wanted advice on puppy trading. We have two females one Ckc another Akc. We also have a Akc male as well that will obviously be our stud. My mom basically wants an all black male so we have four to start our program with. The current three we have fit our requirements and health checks that we wanted for our stud and bitches.
So naturally I’ve been looking everywhere to find the perfect breeder for us that fits these requirements. In total we have had 6 German shepherd’s and have literally bought them from everywhere. Craglist,Pet store aka puppy mill, reputable breeder you name it. So we are very firm on what we are looking for. Some of these requirements include purebred German Good hips eyes and no cardiac issues. While looking I came across a breeder I really liked on instagram so we began talking on the phone.
We honestly vibe with him as a person his dogs that he showed in his program were amazing. Also I loved the way he was talking about his program! Basically, these people checked all the boxes for us. So we are talking and he basically explains that he just started his program. Which I thought was also really cool because we were getting this dog to add to our new program. I told him that my females were in a heat a little while ago and we think one of them did successful get pregnant. So that after everything hopefully goes well with this litter we would be looking to buy.
He found out that his puppies do date wouldn’t be until around June. Which is the same as us if our female was pregnant which she is. He also liked my program. With the current male and females we have and said hey, if you’re up for it we would be more than willing to do a puppy trade. So I’m trying to find as much information as possible. This is because I’m not trying to be irresponsible and say yes, without knowing what this means so any information please do let me know. Thank you.
Edit: I just want to state we will absolutely not be getting a puppy from this person unless the medicals and The other requirements we have checks out. This post is just if that stuff does happen if you guys have ever done a puppy trade what happens because I want to be as prepared as possible! Also thinks in advance for even responding

Trying to get advice:
For the most part I’ve played or hit the range almost every day the past 6 months and am looking for advice. I’ve played in the past but didn’t take it seriously until this year.
I feel like I’m outgrowing the driver I have. It’s a flex shaft which I’ve read is usually for beginners/ seniors. I feel like when I hit it my club speed is quicker and my hips are popping through faster than the club itself is coming around. I hit my friends stiff shaft big Bertha last weekend and was hitting much straighter and farther than what I can hit with the driver I currently have.
I guess overall I’m trying to figure out if it could be a club problem or if it may be more of a swing problem. Any suggestions are appreciated!

🆘🆘URGENT * URGENT * URGENT🆘🆘
🚨 Honey Graham (#A546098) is now URGENT. She needs RESCUE PLACEMENT by TOMORROW, WEDNESDAY 5/15 or she will be EUTHANIZED. She is at Orange County Animal Services, ORLANDO, FL🚨
She needs RESCUE & FOSTER and PLEDGES 🙏❤️😭
Sharing a post from Urgent Dogs of Orlando:
https://www.facebook.com/61554543816308/posts/pfbid029GF211Kg84gqUhF85TRRnXp1HDC3qbr5vrKErUpPwCThm3vQdsyCqwHCUb5xpE78l/?app=fbl
🚨🚨 FINAL POST NEEDS RESCUE PLACEMENT BY TOMORROW, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15TH or she will be euthanized.
She is at Orange County Animal Services in Orlando, FL. We posted her before, now she has an urgent deadline. She was abandoned behind a store and she should not have to die because no one seems to want her. She also cannot sit endlessly at the shelter waiting for help. She's friendly. She might need surgery. Please help share. Please tag any Rottie lovers you may know.
HONEY GRAHAM #A546098 - This dog is an unaltered female. This dog is currently located in CLIND18. This dog weighs approximately 50.0 lbs., is 3Y and has tested negative for heartworm disease. This dog is being posted to rescue due to medical.
Meet Honey Graham!
She was found at the backside of Sally's store on OBT. She was panting and having trouble walking and was taken to the VEC as she was found after hours. Once at the shelter and upon x-rays, our veterinarian discovered that she has a subluxated hip (right) and she might need surgery.
Presenting problem/concern: Transfered from VEC with reported subluxated right hip Additional history: (See records from VEC) Mentation: OAR Temp & Pulse:not done - visual exam only
Respiration: Eupneic
Physical Exam/Observations: No nasal or ocular discharge. Weight bearing all four limbs. Unwilling to walk. Last dose of pain medications at 2am 4/24/24 (Hydromorphone). Rimadyl and Cerenia on 4/23/24. No radiographs provided. Assessment: Reported subluxated right hip. Recommendation(s): Requested radiographs, BupeSR, and intakes. **If this pet is returned to its previous or original owner and has medical conditions, please issue an official notice for follow-up vet care (see OCAS veterinarian for timeframe.
SHE IS CURRENTLY ON ANTIBIOTICS DUE TO PRESENTING SIGNS OF AN UPPER RESPIRATORY INFECTION
Honey Graham is friendly and when walked around other dogs, she was indifferent to them. She is also HW negative!
➡️ If you are a rescue and can help Honey Graham, please email the shelter at: Rescue.Coordinator@ocfl.net
➡️ If you want to foster for a rescue, please also email the shelter and send a private message to Urgent Dogs of Orlando on Facebook.
List of rescue partners for Orange County Animal Services (Orlando, FL): http://www.ocnetpets.com/ProgramsServices/Rescues/RescuePartners.aspx
Link to her Shelter Profile:
https://www.ocnetpets.com/Adopt/AnimalsinShelter.aspx?animalid=A546098
📌 If you cannot foster Honey Graham, but you can PLEDGE to help her, please post a comment below with your pledge amount or post your pledge on the original post. No amount is too small.
Please help save Honey Graham! Please share her 🙏❤️

I'm looking for someone local. Please be interested in pursuing an actual relationship. If you're not ready or not looking for an actual relationship, I'm not the girl for you. I'm clingy, and I like my bf as obsessed as I am with him. I know what I want, and I don't like wasting time.
As for who I'd be interested in dating - someone with at least the same taste in music and who likes horror and tattoos. I prefer heavily tattooed guys, younger than myself (I don't look my age, as the picture should show), and having a motorcycle would be a bonus, but just a bonus. I don't currently own one, but saving up for a beginner street/sport bike.
My favorite band right now is Ice Nine Kills, but I'm also into Bad Omens, ADTR, Falling In Reverse, Sleep Token, Chris Webby, Ekoh, Motionless In White, and some Korean hip-hop/rap.
For movies, I'm kind of a horror flick fiend. I don't care if it's jump scare, gore, thriller, slasher, or b-rated horror, I'll watch it! My favorites include Psycho, Halloween, Nightmare on Elm Street, Evil Dead, and Hellraiser.
I love coffee and other caffeinated beverages, dark fantasy books, Korean food, tattoos/piercings, crime dramas, serial killer documentaries, and cupcakes.
That's pretty much me in a nutshell, but of course there's a lot more to my personality and interests. Let's talk! Send me a message or a chat - either one works. Since I posted a picture, I'd appreciate one in return.
https://imgur.com/a/1r85PDm

**I am NOT OP. u/ThrowRAexnocustody is the OP of this story.**
Trigger Warnings: Physical abuse, emotional abuse, drug use
AITA for telling my daughter's biological mother that she doesn't deserve to call herself a mom?, Posted October 14th, 2023
I (26F) am engaged to my fiance (33M) Brandon and have grown close with his daughter Lucy (4F). Lucy's biological mother Natalie (30F) has lost all physical and legal rights to her daughter due to neglecting her severely when Lucy was an infant, not to get into great detail but Natalie is addicted to opioids and Lucy had a withdrawal period.
Lucy and I have gotten close as I have dated my fiance for almost 4 years, Lucy was born 9 months before I came into Brandon's life, we met at the hospital as Lucy had some major health issues in her infancy due to Natalie and I have a chronic illness that pushes me into pancreatitis. She now calls me Mama even though neither I nor my fiance asked her to do so. I read her bedtime stories and I'm helping her learn to add and subtract.
During a get-together for Brandon's birthday I hosted at his house, Natalie showed up with her new boyfriend neither were invited. She tried to give Lucy a hug but Lucy didn't know her. She came to Brandon and me instead and told us a stranger had come. She then asked me to make up her plate because Natalie began to throw a tantrum in the middle of the party shouting about how she was going to take Brandon to court and because she's the mom she'll win full custody because she deserves to be in her daughter's life. During this time Brandon took Lucy inside because she had started crying because she was scared.
I admit I snapped. I told her she has no right to call herself a mother because she abandoned Lucy to go get high and sleep around. She hurt my baby so bad that she's 4 and needs to go to therapy and has physical health issues because of her. That she refuses to put her baby first and at best she's an egg donor. I told her to get the fuck out of my house and never come back. She wailed all the way back to her boyfriend's car.
I admit I think I went too far. I know that drug addiction is a disease and people who suffer from substance abuse disorder need help, I think I went too far saying she was at best an egg donor. Brandon said I did nothing wrong. AITA?
Final Verdict: NTA
Relavent Comments:
NTA
MARRY then ADOPT Miss Lucy

As soon as we finalize our marriage!

NTA but prepare for worst:
It's concerning she got into your birthday celebration. Who told her about the time and place? Who opened the doors? Talk with a lawyer about all the possibities.
Ex-mom is delusional and selfish. There are two most probable outcomes: your extreme and emotional reaction knocked some sense into her that she has zero chance to make it work. Or, worse, she will retaliate and fight for custody just to prove to herself you were not right and she is not a bad mother.

I think my STBMIL told Natalie's mom. As Lucy has a relationship with her bio grandma.

Sounds like it's time for a talk. This may have been a slip up or you may have a leak.

It was a slip up. She posted about the "Last BBQ of the year" And "Happy Birthday!" on Facebook.

YNTA. This person showed up uninvited at your fiance's birthday party and became unhinged? If it happens again, call the police so it is documented. I know she is an addict but she has no right just showing up. Have her parental rights been terminated? It sounds like she has lost her rights but there is thing called a TPR. Also if Brandon had an attorney he should let them know this happened. Let Lucy's therapist know too. You are in effect the mother and I hope you get married right away.

Yes they have been terminated.

OP, in your post you mentioned that Natalie has left the family to sleep around. Do you and your partner know for sure he is the bio father? I have no idea where you live and how family law works under these circumstances, but maybe just make sure you are on the safe side? All the best for you and your little family.

Yes, to get full custody, Lucy and Brandon had to get a DNA test, he's the dad.

Why did he get an addict pregnant in the first place?

He did not know she was an addict at the time and she poked holes in their BC.

Super off topic but right?! And in 9 months he found someone else to essentially become a mom to her. Oof.

We were friends almost a year before we started dating, my room was the one next to the picu, and he'd pop in for a chat every so often when we were there at the same time. He is a walking green flag who takes responsibility for his actions.

So instead of him being concerned for his kid... he comes and flirts with you. You were only 22 at the time and he was almost 30. Why are you fighting his battles for him? He should have been speaking with BM not you. Plus he had a new chick to raise his kid for him. You see green flags while I see red.

He walked into a quiet room while Lucy was getting a babygram... he looked exhausted so I let him play Assassin's Creed II on my console and we got talking. I told him I wasn't perma but was having an extended stay so if he wanted to talk to an adult about anything but babies my room was between the PICU and the Mat ward.

ESH. She shouldn't have shown up causing a scene unannounced. But she's not your baby. This was not your fight to have, it was your partners. You overstepped. You did go too far.
And I don't believe she has anything to do with a four year old being in therapy for something that you claim all happened when she was an infant.

She is in physical therapy for a hip dysplasia that she struggles with due to Natalie dropping her when she was an infant, she also has significant trauma from the severe neglect.

I'm not doubting the physical issue. I'm doubting the therapy. You said she lost custody for neglect when she was an infant were you hyperbolizing or was she actually under a year old?

No she has major emotional trauma from the extreme neglect. She has night terrors and she doesn't know how to explain them. It's play therapy for now, but will transition to talk later on.

NTA
You have been this child's mom. You.
Bio-mom cant just come rushing back into the child's life on a whim. She lost her rights (im assuming) by court decree. That means If she wants her rights back, she has to go through the courts and prove that she has changed. Obviously that hasnt happned yet.
You do have the right to react like you did, but since Lucy is in the dark as to who this other woman is, you would have better served her by just telling the woman to get out of your house. These comments may be used against you later with relatives and the courts, although who knows to what effect. Its still going to be a headache for you.
The judgmental comments (while I agree with them) are something you dont technically have the right to make yet. Once you are married and better established as a family unit, you will have a better leg to stand on. While I hope bio-mom gets her head out of her arse and gets her life together, I dont have much faith in that.
If you eventually are allowed to adopt, please do so, as that child needs you. Keep up with being the good mom that you are though.

Lucy is aware that she came from another mommy's tummy and that I'm an adult who loves her, and whom she considers her mom. She is aware that she has a biological mother and that I am not her bio-mom. She doesn't know her bio-mom was Natalie. If she got clean, Brendan and I would want Natalie to meet Lucy.

OK, thats fair. When this woman gets clean...
Well, you stepped up to be a mom when you didnt have to. Once you get married, that will solidify your right to claim being Lucy's mom. Time will build on that.
While I doubt that bio-mom will get clean in time to have any real relationship with the child, while she is still a child, I also worry how this woman will behave once she actually does get clean. Ive personally seen too many recovering addicts that have some bizarre notion that now that they are clean, all will be right with the world, they will get custody, and everything will go their way.
I hate being a pessimist.
Like I said though, keep being the good mom that you are to that girl. That is the positive, good, and right thing to focus on.

She is currently not attempting to get clean. - her mother told me this.

Not enough info. So where was the father when the mother was neglecting their child? And how has it come so that the father’s been dating you 9 month after a birth of his child?

He was in Kuwait. He's a veteran. My hospital room was right between the mat ward and the picu. So I was an adult who was alone surrounded by kids and I had my grandpa drop off my consoles at the hospital due to an extended stay, Lucy was suffering with health issues of her own. We met while I was playing Assassin's Creed II in one of the quiet rooms.

Ok. I saw your update where you had written about Lucy’s mother is no more than an egg donor. No, she is more than that. She gave birth. And by your logic you are no more than a caregiver. Lucy deserves to know who her mother is. And the best thing everyone around can do is to help her mother to stay in Lucy’s life. Her father decided to abandon his wife and mother of his child. When did her problems with drugs start? Before or after she gave birth? Like he had no idea what was going on? He did nothing about it. He decided it’s better to go bang another chick and have “a fresh start”. ESH.

She was never his wife. Her problems with drugs started before his deployment. And well before Lucy's birth. He did not know because she hid it from him. When he found out he had her rights severed.

Well I want to apologize. It's a triggering theme for me and now I understand why. You're going through a rough period, I wish you to stay strong. Taking a kid to a safer place is a good decision. Accepting a kid who is not blood related to you is not something everyone might do, and you're a good person. Calling a woman who gave birth an «egg donor» is awful, but people say even worse things being under emotions, your reaction is totally justifiable. I can imagine the Lucy's mother is suffering, but if she can't help herself, she doesn't deserve to be around indeed. You are not the asshole. I am.

You're not an asshole for a trauma response :) Happy Healing!

INFO: have you or the dad done anything to help this victim of the opioid epidemic or have you only demonised them and nothing else? Has the bio mother been given a chance to change and improve their life? How did they get addicted?
Just to clarify both Natalie and Lucy are victims of the opioid epidemic here. Being a victim doesn’t necessarily make the mother in anyway blameless, but how those around her acted and supported her is very important context here.

She started taking opioids at parties, not due to injury. I know because that was a piece of evidence that led to her rights being taken away.

UPDATE: AITA for telling my daughter's biological mother that she doesn't deserve to call herself a mom?, Posted October 20th, 2023
Original Post: https://www.reddit.com/AmItheAsshole/comments/1773wj4/aita_for_telling_my_daughters_biological_mothe
Hello everyone! It's been a very interesting few days and I have an update. So a few days after she crashed the party Natalie got arrested and arraigned for possession with intent to sell an illicit substance. From what her family says, the substance was cocaine, not opioids.
Lucy is doing fine and is loving her first year of kindergarten. My Fiance asked her if she wanted me to become her mama on paper. She said yes and now we're planning on doing family vows at our wedding. We are getting married on the 15th of December, as that is a very significant day for us (The day Brandon and I officially started dating.)
We have spoken to a lawyer and he has told us that even if Natalie got clean she would never get her rights to Lucy back, so we don't need to worry. I hope she gets clean in prison.
I want to add that even though I am not Lucy's biological mother, she will always be my daughter. And Brandon and I are not going to have children together so she'll be our only kid. Thank you so much for your support and your criticism!
**Reminder - I am not OP**

Hi, I've been an MC user for about 8 months now, and it's changed my life. Up until recently I've been able to be mobile and pain free after years of limited mobility and constant low level pain. But ... the recent floods in Vic destroyed most of the tracks I need to drive over in the tractor every day, all day. This has caused inflammation in my back and hip to the point where I can no longer walk to the toilet and back (about 20 steps each way) without needing to sit or lie down for 20 minutes or so. I can't work at all atm. I've seen my gp (had ultrasound and ct scans) and have cortisone jabs scheduled in two weeks time, which should help (it has before), but I'm maxed out on all my mc scripts (that is, full daily dose), panadol and panadeine forte are not doing the job and I'm using them all in combination.
I'm 63 and these are degenerative issues. I currently have scripts for cbd & thc oils, and 22% flower. I'm not at my daily recommended dose for flower and I'm already pretty much non functional.
So I'm looking for any and all advice that might help reduce the pain until I can get the jabs please.