Official Mixed Martial Arts Thread

[Yobo Ahoy]

Yep. Obviously Rumble hits harder than anyone but Bader's boxing has come on in leaps and bounds - shame he didn't have enough faith in it to go toe to toe for a while at least.

Anyway, I can't believe we are now at the stage where we have to consider Rothwell a viable HW contender. Not really sure where they go from here, stick with Cain/Werdum 2 (if the stars align for long enough) and then Miocic/Rothwell as a #1 contender fight?

[schmojo]

That was a good card, but a bit frustrating. Bader was a great example of someone who stuck rigidly to a game plan to his detriment. He needs more adaptability. It makes me a little sad that getting a UFC title shot would've been the pinnacle of his career, something he could look back on as an achievement, but he was robbed of it due to bad timing.

Also, Rumble’s power is as scary as ever. Which says volumes about DC’s chin. Jones arguably has an even better chin, so I’d like to see how AJ fares against him.

Glad to see Northcutt falter. Not because I wish him any ill (though he’s a weird Ivan Drago type), but because I hate Dana’s willingness to force stars on account of them being lucrative. It’ll only serve to create a bigger wealth gap in the company as Dana seeks to reward his favourites.

Ben Rothwell is so frustrating. His technique is dire, but he can eat big punches and then throw his heavy, sloppy hands in return. And his subs look like fearsome shows of strength, if not the most elegant.

The fact that he’s beaten so many better fighters is a little heartbreaking. I wonder if they’ll start telling a story of him being a freak of nature, against the odds.

[Doomguy]

Pleased to see Benson Henderson has signed with Bellator. I see this as the calm before the storm with a lot of fighters heading over there just to make what they were making pre reebok / UFC sponsor tax.

Ben Rothwell is so frustrating. His technique is dire, but he can eat big punches and then throw his heavy, sloppy hands in return. And his subs look like fearsome shows of strength, if not the most elegant.

The fact that he’s beaten so many better fighters is a little heartbreaking. I wonder if they’ll start telling a story of him being a freak of nature, against the odds.

I'm still surprised he's got this far. It's just bizarre and it seems a stretch to even call what he does a martial art - he's like a throwback to the tank abbot days.

[Yobo Ahoy]

The Bendo news made me raise both eyebrows. Both! Such a big deal for Bellator - Davis was an ice breaker in terms of leaving at his peak, but Bendo is a former champ and probably just as importantly a fighter that UFC made a conscious effort to build up on Fox rather than PPV.

I see Dana couldn't resist a dig about him being past his best, he's apparently 'a top 15 guy now'. Nothing to do with the fact he's fighting at WW now (and he got royally stiffed by the judges in his last LW fight against Cerrone). Dick.

[Doomguy]

I see Dana couldn't resist a dig about him being past his best, he's apparently 'a top 15 guy now'. Nothing to do with the fact he's fighting at WW now (and he got royally stiffed by the judges in his last LW fight against Cerrone). Dick.

That's hilarious. I've never been much of a Bendo fan but he'd smash Connor and has already beat most of the top 5 at Lightweight. Plus he's 32, that's pretty much prime fighting age?

[schmojo]

Bendo is a great get for Bellator.

He may be have a lot of decisions on his record, but he's always game. He's also highly credible, and arguably worthy of being top 10 in 2 divisions.

Once he acts as a proof of concept for making more money outside of the UFC, we might well have a few following suit. Money guys like Cerrone, the Diazes. People burned by the Reebok deal. People who are just generally getting short shrift, like Tim Kennedy. Or maybe guys who won't get further title shots due to having already had one or two.

I wonder why Phil Davis v McGeary hasn't been announced yet? Once Phil takes that title, the Bellator LHW division will have arrived somewhat.

[Yobo Ahoy]

I'm hoping it's going to be announced along with the London show. Will be all over that providing it's not extortionate UFC prices.

[angel]

Danas little dig was hilarious, he's only ranked 15 because he weight class hops, he's easily top 5. Look forward to more high profile crossovers and more abuse of reebok.

[Floyd]

That was a good card, but a bit frustrating. Bader was a great example of someone who stuck rigidly to a game plan to his detriment. He needs more adaptability. It makes me a little sad that getting a UFC title shot would've been the pinnacle of his career, something he could look back on as an achievement, but he was robbed of it due to bad timing.

Also, Rumble’s power is as scary as ever. Which says volumes about DC’s chin. Jones arguably has an even better chin, so I’d like to see how AJ fares against him.

Glad to see Northcutt falter. Not because I wish him any ill (though he’s a weird Ivan Drago type), but because I hate Dana’s willingness to force stars on account of them being lucrative. It’ll only serve to create a bigger wealth gap in the company as Dana seeks to reward his favourites.

Ben Rothwell is so frustrating. His technique is dire, but he can eat big punches and then throw his heavy, sloppy hands in return. And his subs look like fearsome shows of strength, if not the most elegant.

The fact that he’s beaten so many better fighters is a little heartbreaking. I wonder if they’ll start telling a story of him being a freak of nature, against the odds.

Yes, it was a good card of fights, I enjoyed it! Rothwell did very well with that submission, up until then I thought he looked sloppy.

...And of course, Rumble with the first round knock out! Wow he hits hard, like a sledge hammer while Bader was trying to cover up. It was a shame he want to that take down straight away.

[angel]

Bader has very poor fight IQ sometimes, maybe this will teach him to think a bit more. He basically did a Cat Zingano.

[schmojo]

Sergei Kharitonov has signed with Bellator.

And, with that, I think they have put themselves onto my regular viewing rotation.

As much as I'd have liked to see Sergei go to UFC and Rothwell his way through a couple of top 10ers, Bellator's division needs him more.

[Tofu]

Bader has very poor fight IQ sometimes, maybe this will teach him to think a bit more. He basically did a Cat Zingano.

Bader is boring as heck to watch as well. Feel bad he got destroyed in the manner he did, but oh well:).

[angel]

Yeah 5 decisions in his last excluding this one, I feel like he was basically fed to Johnson.

[Tofu]

Yeah 5 decisions in his last excluding this one, I feel like he was basically fed to Johnson.

Nah, despite my dislike of his style, Bader did deserve this. A win is a win after all. We all knew he was going to get destroyed, or just grapple himself to a win.

[angel]

I know, he did deserve it, but the outcome was pretty well known.

[Doomguy]

Can you imagine if Bader actually trained pure standup? He really would be a legit contender imo. Instead he just looks imposing and walks into punches e.g. Machida KO, Glover KO.

He's basically the Brock Lesnar of light heavyweight.

[schmojo]

I suspect he trains a hell of a lot of stand up. He's shown decent boxing, and against a solid striker in Rashad, but I suppose against the scariest opposition you're going to fall back to your traditional strengths. Shooting for the double leg, in his case.

With someone like AJ it barely matters though. Like Dan Henderson, he only needs to land once. And the odds of it going 5 mins on the feet without it landing even once? I'd have shot for the takedown too. And been unconscious much quicker.

It reminded me a bit of Travis Browne v Gonzaga and Barnett. Guys who don't succeed on the TD at first, and are too underprepared to change it up before they're knocked out.

[Doomguy]

Gonzaga has always been an odd one to me. It's well known he's the best BJJ practitioner at heavyweight but he never uses it ever.

[Corrogate]

Jones return and McGregor - RDA, what else is going on in UFC atm?

[Yobo Ahoy]

Weidman got his rematch, UFC199. Could be interesting, not sure he particularly deserves it but Romero beating Jacare (and then unsurprisingly getting busted for PEDs) threw a spanner in the works a bit.

[schmojo]

Anderson needs at least two more tune-up fights.

Bisping should be a gimme (Silva used the excellent burn, saying that he was well-rounded "Even though he doesn't excel in any area.").

That being said, if Silva isn't in killer mode (a la the Diaz fight), then Bisping could certainly outwork him, en route to the most sad and meaningless win over him that Bisping could have.

I'd need to see Silva handily despatch a Romero or even Kennedy before putting him in with Rockhold.

[Gotters]

Matt Sera still looks seriously agile in this

[schmojo]

Well Thompson looked fantastic.

It was a nice demonstration of how a skilled range fighter can control a grappler with an incredibly strong clinch game.

I'd say give him a title  shot ahead of Condit, but I can understand the case either way, since I picked Condit as beating Lawler.

I think I'm done watching Roy Nelson though.

[Don Rosco]

He was amazing. I love him as a fighter, but I thought he was going to get steamrollered by Hendricks, who was looking very fit and very strong. Very happy being wrong about that. Him vs Lawler would be delish.

Killer flying knee knockout in the prelims also, I forget the names but it was an Israeli v a Chilean.

Shame about Artem though. I'd love to see him do well in the UFC, but i'm not sure if he's going to get another chance after that. 

[Doomguy]

On 05/02/2016 at 3:31 PM, schmojo said:

Anderson needs at least two more tune-up fights. 

I'd need to see Silva handily despatch a Romero or even Kennedy before putting him in with Rockhold.

Spot on. If Anderson's still got it let him show us. He doesn't need throwing into another title fight with a cement head for a good while. 

[schmojo]

Kevin Randleman dead at 44

I was a big fan of his - partially for the Fedorplex (which is the moment Fedor entered into legend for me). Mostly though, he was an incredibly effective, smaller heavyweight. I think he was about 5'9 or 10, and made it to the UFC championship.

Surprised he was outlasted by Mark Kerr...

[Doomguy]

That is sad. He basically kept the UFC going for the dark years and was probably the closet to beating prime fedor. Assuming it was heart related aa the guy was on steroids since forever - though to be fair everyone was during that period, you only need to look at guys like Coleman or any of the lions den guys. 

[Floyd]

I'm very much looking forward to the Silva vs Bisping fight. I think I may be going to see it. Anyhow, I like Bisping but there's a talent wall he can't seem to break and I don't think he will. He's had like 20 -25 UFC fights and he's never had a title fight, that says a lot. I hope he wins, but Silva is just better, even at his age....and even Bisping isn't a young gun.

[schmojo]

Bisping's primary tool is his cardio. It's great for decisions, but he doesn't have the granite chin to withstand hard-hitters, or the TDD to stop good wrestlers.

 

The Anderson who faced Diaz could well lose to Bisping, but I hope we never see that Anderson again.

 

Big fights this week! Shamrock/Gracie and Slice/Dada 5000. There's a vaguely interesting LHW fight in Newton/Vassell, but I suspect it might prove that both men are a little irrelevant on the LHW world stage.

[angel]

I think bisping might win a decision and really call into question silvas career ped usage.