Official UFC Thread - Part 4

[DaveMoral]

I think that Rory has a lot of potential, but I'm not too impressed with his performance outside of his ability to mix up his strikes. Now that's not a knock to him at all, but BJ is such an overrated welterweight that this is what any decent welterweight would do to him.

Rogan had it right when he said BJ should be fighting at 155.

MacDonald didn't impress me because Penn just wasn't at all what he can be.

 

[DoomsdayApex]

If I recall correctly I had Edgar as the winner against Bendo in their 2nd fight.

The 2nd fight warranted a rematch far, far more than the 1st fight did as I felt Bendo edged the first & Edgar clearly won the 2nd if I remember correctly.

In my opinion, I think Bendo's legkicks were just devastating. Edgar couldn't handle defending them at all. The rematch was absolutely closer but the damage he substained put a stamp on it.

That being said I think Bendo will beat Diaz. Bendo isn't Cerrone, he won't be like a walking punchbag. I don't feel he'll try to get into a crazy brawl, I think he'll pick his shots & punish Nate with leg kicks as he did against Edgar in their first fight when he comes in.

I wonder if Diaz will actually approach this fight differently. Honestly, Nate has to acknowledge Henderson's powerful kicks and precise striking... right?

Not to mention Shogun arrived into the weigh ins looking in the same sort of physical shape as he always does. He'll be exhausted by the 2nd round if it goes that far.

Shogun has proved tough though in his previous 2 fights so I wouldn't be shocked if he managed to scrape through.

Yeah, I saw that. I'm befuddled. I don't know whether that's a big deal but his doughy physique always worries me. It makes me question his training methods.

This bout seems like another potential crushing loss for Shogun. Guf presents alot of complexities for Rua. Of course, I'm not completely counting him out seeing as Shogun has a tough chin and nasty knock out power, but Alexander is a beast with reach.

Same story as the Shogun, I think BJ will be gassed out at some point in this fight. Rory has good cardio & is competent on the feet & on the ground.

Much like the Shogun fight though I wouldn't be surprised if BJ clips him early putting him in trouble.

You called it. I'm so shocked by how much of a step BJ Penn has lost these last couple of years. Granted, Rory's striking was quite solid but BJ never use to stand in front if his opponent like that.

Oh well. Father time gets the best out of everybody eventually.

 

[DoomsdayApex]

I'd pick Condit.

Me too.

 

[B]

1st round could have went either way, but I think Gustafsson took 2 & 3 comfortably.

If Shogun was in shape he'd be a threat, but he gasses too soon & unless he clips someone with a punch early, he'll lose to all wrestlers he faces & he'd probably be KO'd by stronger strikers with moderately good cardio.

He should drop to Middleweight.

 

[DoomsdayApex]

Guf's wrestling is questionable, but man can he take one on the button. He walked through shots that knocked out Liddell and Machida cold.

Shogun is finished at LHW. He should try to drop down to MW.

 

[B]

On a side note I don't think Gustafsson will trouble Jones if they fight.

 

[B]

Guf's wrestling is questionable, but man can he take one on the button. He walked through shots that knocked out Liddell and Machida cold.

Shogun is finished at LHW. He should try to drop down to MW.

Agreed. But he'd probably have a problem with fighting Silva making a move to Middleweight silly if he doesn't want to contend.

He can stay at LHW if he gets his ass in better shape.

 

[DoomsdayApex]

On a side note I don't think Gustafsson will trouble Jones if they fight.

Agreed. If Shogun could take him down, then Jones would manhandle Gustafsson. He might trouble Jon in the stand up aspect of the fight but he's screwed if he clinches with Jones.

 

[E-Man]

Not too bad of a showing by Gus, but I don't think that he's much of a match for Jon Jones. Gus is a very good fighter that knows how to use his length, but Bones is a guy that knows how to be creative and use it to shut guys down. Gus can really move on his feet, but he needs a bit of better defense with his rhythm. The defense is definitely there, but he's got to get better at neutralizing if he ever gets to Jones.

That wasn't a bad fight though. Shogun showed why people think highly of him in terms of BJJ even though he only has one sub in his career. He's got **** wrestling, but his positional BJJ is incredibly good. As soon as Gus had him down he hit the sweep and got a sub attempt. No cardio and defense is his downfall once again though. I'd much rather see Gus/Jones and Shogun/Chael. Chael would certainly get Shogun down, but would he have enough to keep him there without being swept? Would Shogun's lack of cardio give way to Chael's continuous attack? With Jones Chael gives up so much that it's a boring matchup. With Shogun it would be pretty intriguing. Oh well, what's done is done now.

 

[DoomsdayApex]

Agreed. But he'd probably have a problem with fighting Silva making a move to Middleweight silly if he doesn't want to contend.

He can stay at LHW if he gets his ass in better shape.

True. I severely doubt he would want to fight Silva and Silva would want to fight him. They're hometown heroes, friends and former training partners.

Here's the problem however, Rua is getting older and the LHW division is starting to feature fighters who are basically nature heavyweights. How can Shogun possibly compete with these new breed of fighters?

 

[TheVileOne]

I think Jones beats Gustafsson, but it would still be a good challenge for Jones.

 

[E-Man]

Straight shutout.

 

[DaveMoral]

Straight shutout.

Yep. Nate was shut down by those leg kicks.

 

[WalkingDeadMike]

I missed the main event. Did Nate perform as poorly as his face looks right now?

 

[E-Man]

I loved seeing Nate talk **** and get dropped immediately after. That Diaz trash talk doesn't work on guys who know how to gameplan without letting their emotions get in the way. Nate has done very well in his return to 155, but he clearly had nothing when Bendo wasn't going to play his game.

 

[DaveMoral]

The problem with Nick and Nate Dias is they don't go in the cage respecting the skills of their opponents. Which has largely worked for them, then they get to the top tier and it fails.

I still think Condit played it safe against Nick, which was no way to prove his worth for the title shot. He showed great against GSP though. Nick needs to go into GSP with respect, he should know GSP ain't no joke. Of he tries to do what he always does, GSP is going to jab him to death.

 

[brainchild81]

Always good to see a Diaz brother get beat up. It was weird and awesome seeing Bendo land effective leg punches

 

[Project862006]

all main card fighter who lost but shogun looked like crap

 

[E-Man]

UFC delivered big time, and boxing just had one great main event. Tonight is a great night to be a fight fan!

 

[CrypticOne]

For you it might. I'm just.... sad right now. Penn and Shogun and to an extent the Diaz brothers are people I look up to as fighters. It hurts seeing them lose. I mean, yeah, congrats to the winners. All of them looked amazing. And I'm glad Matt Brown won. The only fight I got right on the main card.

For Nate Diaz (and Nick). HOW HARD IS IT TO LEARN TO CHECK A KICK?! It seems like everyone and their mom knew what Bendo's gameplan was going to be except that Ceaser Gracie team. The Diaz brothers really need to go out into the world and train at different places. They are going to continue to lose against the top of their divisions unless they get out of the mind frame of "209!" Yes, everyone loves where they are from, man....

For Shogun and Penn. They also need to get out of that mind frame of "I'm not training anywhere else, I'll bring the training camp to me." These guys gas too quick! They got the comfort of home and can't sacrifice that and in this game, you have to sacrifice certain aspects of your life to become the best. Penn needs to learn that these guys at welterweight aren't welterweights no more.

 

[Project862006]

honestly what is the point of rory at 170 if he wont fight gsp?

is he just gonna be gsp's hitman and beat contenders without actually fighting the champ

seems like a waste of time should just move weight classes

 

[TheVileOne]

Bendo is a phenom!

 

[E-Man]

honestly what is the point of rory at 170 if he wont fight gsp?

is he just gonna be gsp's hitman and beat contenders without actually fighting the champ

seems like a waste of time should just move weight classes

Well Rory hasn't beaten any top contenders to be worth a title shot yet, so the issue hasn't come to a head besides people jumping the gun on Rory. So far his record isn't bad, but he hasn't really beaten anyone to be in a title conversation for next year yet. With GSP wanting to fight Diaz there's Diaz and Hendricks on the horizon before getting to a guy like Rory who is yet to have that big win for a title shot. By the time he gets there I'm hoping they'll change their tune or GSP moves up.

 

[Mace Bloodstone]

I thought the prelims were more entertaining than the main carders.

Yves Edwards vs Jeremy Stephens
Right when Joe Rogan got done boasting about how much power Stephans has and how you're born with it Edwards caught him and knocked him out.

First time seeing Daron Cruickshank fight, good striker.


Rory's showboating made him look like a bully against a smaller weaker guy. F him.

Nate got out skilled plain and simple. I think this is what gsp vs nick would look like if they fight.

 

[TheVileOne]

UFC on Fox 5 averaged 4.4 million viewers. Bendo vs. Diaz did 5.7 million viewers.