Wasn't too interested in seeing this card, but Sengoku still translates to "Japanese MMA", so how can I pass it up?
Jorge Masvidal defeats Satoru Kitaoka via TKO
This was the most entertaining match on the card for me. Both fighters went at it and stuck to their guns, when it came to strategy. Each guy took some punishment - Masvidal through joint locks and Kitaoka with punches to his face. The advantage that "Gamebred" had in striking reach made all the difference, when he was abusing his shorter, stockier opponent.
If you've seen Satoru fight before, you probably weren't surprised by the outcome. If he can't get it done in the opening round, his chances of winning decrease dramatically. This is because he relies on the early takedown and submission, when his opponent is neither slippery or ready to defend. As rounds go by, either his cardio or the beatings he take causes him to gas rapidly. Either way, I admire his tenacity to go for the sub and latch on until he gets it.
Or gets lit up like a Christmas tree.
Mamed Khalidov defeats Jorge Santiago via TKO
It looks like Mamed was following Dave Herman's gameplan and go for the KO from bottom. And WOW, did his plan work to perfection. He pulled off the upset against a good opponent, and he did it well.
Not much else to say other than Santiago got caught trying to execute a hasty guard pass and left his chin out there, for a nice ole hammerfistin'.
At least the man's still got his belt, right?
Michihiro Omigawa defeats Hatsu Hiko via Decision
This was a very dull fight for me. Although there was a lot of back and forth between fighters, nothing of substance or consequence really happened. Omigawa did a lot of ducking and bobbing, with some haymakers thrown in and Hioki used his range to jab well and threw in some decent, successful double legs attempts.
Maybe I was watching another match, but it looked like Hioki won. He was backpedaling and not moving forward for most of the match, but I thought Hioki did more damage and implemented a better offense as a whole. Omigawa tagged him good a couple times, but there were other points where he could barely reach Hioki's face with his fists.
So it looks like that was the last Sengoku event of the year, but with the quality of matches they've been recently putting on, I'm not going to be broken up about it.
Next up, UFC 105, WEC 45 and ADCC 2009.
Well, maybeeeeeeeeee ADCC.
~S
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Strikeforce - The Emperor and his peasants
I have a confession to make.
Although I had some interest in all the televised cards, I would have paid just to see the last match.
When the "Last Emperor" fights, his followers shall watch.
Otherwise, somewhat of a lackluster card, if you ask me.
And you are, if you're reading my blog.
Fabricio Werdum defeats Antonio Silva via Decision
I was really favoring Silva in this match, because he's got a lot of potential in a division where hype seems to be all that matters. He's got good endurance and standup for a HW and dangerous on the ground with his BJJ. He was smart to make Werdum get up when he wanted to tangle on the ground and the only things he really had to fear standing were Werdum's knees and leg kicks, which were somewhat sparse.
In contrast, not only did I NOT want Fabricio to win, I think he's very overrated and should have lost this match. I thought round 2 could have gone either way, but that could be my bias towards "Bigfoot". His accolades in ADCC are definitely nothing to scoff at, but I think he's got a lot of unused potential and he hasn't really shown anything new or even try to develop any other skills that could make him a formidable HW. If he wants to get owned by Fedor in his next match, so be it. Overeem's probably going to come up with some health related excuse and end up vacating the title anyway.
Gegard Mousasi defeats Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou via TKO
For those of you that haven't been watching Dream, you just saw the finals of the Super Hulk tournament.
"Judo Terry" really needs to change up his training regiment. He's sooooooooooo talented and athletic, but he's come up short recently against anyone not under 285 lbs. I think he's packing on way too much muscle and needs to up his cardio and technical acumen. He was definitely holding his own in the 1st and even beat Mousasi to the punch a couple times. I believe his quickness won't diminish if he loses some muscle.
Mousasi looked a little less sharp than usual and it showed in his standup and on the ground. His GNP and his guard were both quite loose and had he been up against an opponent with a better ground game, he'd have been in trouble. Nonetheless, he still had that ability to turn it on when he needed to and he'll probably face a really tough opponent for his first title defense.
You sign that contract yet, Hendo?
Jake Shields defeats Jason Miller via Decision
If you talked to my friends, they'd tell you that I have this illogical reverence for Matt Lindland. The man has no standup and just looks plain goofy. BUT, he's an elite wrestler, specifically Greco-Roman and uses it very well in his MMA career. He's easily in the top 15 of the MW division. How does this relate to this match?
I'd think it's quite obvious - Jake Shields is Matt Lindland, 2.0!
Both guys can't strike for squat, use their wrestling skills to dominate and outpoint their opponents to decision victories.
Shields has some added bonuses, with his BJJ skills and upper body strength. I don't think we'll ever see him change up his gameplan for the simple fact that he can't advance his striking skills and he's already too heavily reliant on his wrestling to win him matches. Regardless of those facts and opinion, I still give him props for going the distance against the wily Jason Miller.
Miller showed some flashes of brilliance and skill in the match, especially in round 3 where he almost put Jake to sleep. I was somewhat disappointed by his performance and granted, he was expected to lose, I really felt like Shields didn't really have much over "Mayhem" that he couldn't overcome. It was clear that Miller's standup was better and he had some pretty flashy suplex takedowns. I didn't really think he was that patient standing because he got taken down way too easily and he could have controlled a standup battle for all 5 rounds if he wanted. I hope his cockiness didn't convince him to try and beat Jake at his own game by trying to match him on the ground. Does he remember anything from his first match with Jacare?
Fedor Emelianenko defeats Brett Rogers via TKO
It makes me sad when you meet someone that likes to watch MMA, but has never heard of Fedor.
"He's the best HW in the world?!"
"But he's so pudgy and looks out of shape."
Then you realize these guys have been limited to watching TUF and owning clothing from Affliction or Ed Hardy.
But anywho, to really understand the awesomeness that is the best HW to ever set foot in a cage or ring, you must go through his Pride run and watch his matches in the context that he was going up against the top rated guys of the time. AND he demolished EVERYONE one of them.
He rarely lost rounds, gave up position or got caught.
This fight went a little different.
Right at the opening bell, Fedor's nose was busted open and Rogers proved he wasn't a flash in the pan, with his bear strength, composure and ground defense. He definitely was not afraid to stand and trade, while utilizing some patience to throw more feints than sloppy, wild punches. His upper body strength clearly helped him on the ground and his GNP on Fedor in the 1st round nearly made my heart stop.
THIS man-beast was going to defeat the #1 HW in the world?!
Luckily, Fedor's jaw is a composite of bone, vodka and adamantium, so he was barely fazed by the punches. The second round was appearing to go the same as the first, until Fedor realized the ice cream truck outside was waiting for him, thus spoiling the night for "The Grim".
As usual, Fedor showed no emotion upon using his Right Hand of Doom to knock Brett into last week. I think he was a little surprised by Brett's strength and defense on the ground. This was one of the rare matches where Fedor proved somewhat ineffective on the ground. First he got caught in that GNP sequence when he was on bottom and then he was unable to keep Brett on the ground, which would have been his biggest advantage. I actually thought if Rogers were to win, it would be via KO or TKO.
Did I ever doubt Fedor's standup against "The Grim"?
Course not.
My main concern for him standing is that he puts so much of his body into his punches, that he may eventually get caught, or lose his quickness at that exact wrong moment.
I give both men respect in this war: Rogers for having the heart and composure to last longer than any of Fedor's opponents in the last 3 years and Fedor for overcoming an early broken nose and the brutal, heavy hands of Brett Rogers.
Next up, I'll do some quick Sengoku analysis and then another rewind to ADCC 2009.
Yay for the grappling junkies!
~S
Although I had some interest in all the televised cards, I would have paid just to see the last match.
When the "Last Emperor" fights, his followers shall watch.
Otherwise, somewhat of a lackluster card, if you ask me.
And you are, if you're reading my blog.
Fabricio Werdum defeats Antonio Silva via Decision
I was really favoring Silva in this match, because he's got a lot of potential in a division where hype seems to be all that matters. He's got good endurance and standup for a HW and dangerous on the ground with his BJJ. He was smart to make Werdum get up when he wanted to tangle on the ground and the only things he really had to fear standing were Werdum's knees and leg kicks, which were somewhat sparse.
In contrast, not only did I NOT want Fabricio to win, I think he's very overrated and should have lost this match. I thought round 2 could have gone either way, but that could be my bias towards "Bigfoot". His accolades in ADCC are definitely nothing to scoff at, but I think he's got a lot of unused potential and he hasn't really shown anything new or even try to develop any other skills that could make him a formidable HW. If he wants to get owned by Fedor in his next match, so be it. Overeem's probably going to come up with some health related excuse and end up vacating the title anyway.
Gegard Mousasi defeats Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou via TKO
For those of you that haven't been watching Dream, you just saw the finals of the Super Hulk tournament.
"Judo Terry" really needs to change up his training regiment. He's sooooooooooo talented and athletic, but he's come up short recently against anyone not under 285 lbs. I think he's packing on way too much muscle and needs to up his cardio and technical acumen. He was definitely holding his own in the 1st and even beat Mousasi to the punch a couple times. I believe his quickness won't diminish if he loses some muscle.
Mousasi looked a little less sharp than usual and it showed in his standup and on the ground. His GNP and his guard were both quite loose and had he been up against an opponent with a better ground game, he'd have been in trouble. Nonetheless, he still had that ability to turn it on when he needed to and he'll probably face a really tough opponent for his first title defense.
You sign that contract yet, Hendo?
Jake Shields defeats Jason Miller via Decision
If you talked to my friends, they'd tell you that I have this illogical reverence for Matt Lindland. The man has no standup and just looks plain goofy. BUT, he's an elite wrestler, specifically Greco-Roman and uses it very well in his MMA career. He's easily in the top 15 of the MW division. How does this relate to this match?
I'd think it's quite obvious - Jake Shields is Matt Lindland, 2.0!
Both guys can't strike for squat, use their wrestling skills to dominate and outpoint their opponents to decision victories.
Shields has some added bonuses, with his BJJ skills and upper body strength. I don't think we'll ever see him change up his gameplan for the simple fact that he can't advance his striking skills and he's already too heavily reliant on his wrestling to win him matches. Regardless of those facts and opinion, I still give him props for going the distance against the wily Jason Miller.
Miller showed some flashes of brilliance and skill in the match, especially in round 3 where he almost put Jake to sleep. I was somewhat disappointed by his performance and granted, he was expected to lose, I really felt like Shields didn't really have much over "Mayhem" that he couldn't overcome. It was clear that Miller's standup was better and he had some pretty flashy suplex takedowns. I didn't really think he was that patient standing because he got taken down way too easily and he could have controlled a standup battle for all 5 rounds if he wanted. I hope his cockiness didn't convince him to try and beat Jake at his own game by trying to match him on the ground. Does he remember anything from his first match with Jacare?
Fedor Emelianenko defeats Brett Rogers via TKO
It makes me sad when you meet someone that likes to watch MMA, but has never heard of Fedor.
"He's the best HW in the world?!"
"But he's so pudgy and looks out of shape."
Then you realize these guys have been limited to watching TUF and owning clothing from Affliction or Ed Hardy.
But anywho, to really understand the awesomeness that is the best HW to ever set foot in a cage or ring, you must go through his Pride run and watch his matches in the context that he was going up against the top rated guys of the time. AND he demolished EVERYONE one of them.
He rarely lost rounds, gave up position or got caught.
This fight went a little different.
Right at the opening bell, Fedor's nose was busted open and Rogers proved he wasn't a flash in the pan, with his bear strength, composure and ground defense. He definitely was not afraid to stand and trade, while utilizing some patience to throw more feints than sloppy, wild punches. His upper body strength clearly helped him on the ground and his GNP on Fedor in the 1st round nearly made my heart stop.
THIS man-beast was going to defeat the #1 HW in the world?!
Luckily, Fedor's jaw is a composite of bone, vodka and adamantium, so he was barely fazed by the punches. The second round was appearing to go the same as the first, until Fedor realized the ice cream truck outside was waiting for him, thus spoiling the night for "The Grim".
As usual, Fedor showed no emotion upon using his Right Hand of Doom to knock Brett into last week. I think he was a little surprised by Brett's strength and defense on the ground. This was one of the rare matches where Fedor proved somewhat ineffective on the ground. First he got caught in that GNP sequence when he was on bottom and then he was unable to keep Brett on the ground, which would have been his biggest advantage. I actually thought if Rogers were to win, it would be via KO or TKO.
Did I ever doubt Fedor's standup against "The Grim"?
Course not.
My main concern for him standing is that he puts so much of his body into his punches, that he may eventually get caught, or lose his quickness at that exact wrong moment.
I give both men respect in this war: Rogers for having the heart and composure to last longer than any of Fedor's opponents in the last 3 years and Fedor for overcoming an early broken nose and the brutal, heavy hands of Brett Rogers.
Next up, I'll do some quick Sengoku analysis and then another rewind to ADCC 2009.
Yay for the grappling junkies!
~S
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
MFC 22 - Would like my money back
Sorry for slacking on this entry.
I know the card was back last month, but I just started a new job so I'm behind on a lot of things.
I chose this card because most of the main card fighters were previously in the UFC, so there was some names that I was familiar with, so I felt it would make for a pretty decent and competitive regional
card.
So let's see what happened...
Ryan Jimmo defeats Marvin Eastman via Decision
What a snooze fest.
I know both guys came in with a game plan but I have no clue what either of them had in mind. Between both fighters' poor standup, wrestling and ground game, I would have liked to see this a draw to teach
both guys a lesson.
I always expect Eastman to perform better than he does, but that's probably due to the fact his physique makes him look like a video game character.
Mike Nickels defeats David Heath via Submission
This was a standup war, with one side trying to shoot itself.
Nickels was clearly getting the better in the standup arena, while Heath felt his machismo was more important than defending himself. There was also a clear difference between Nickels' concentration in
throwing strikes while Heath couldn't even keep his mouthpiece in.
Nickels could work on his power or put more follow through in his strikes to land more KO strikes next time.
John Alessio defeats Luigi Fioravanti via TKO
I thought this match was pretty even throughout the first 2 rounds.
I was looking for combos and a little more risking taking to try and steal rounds.
Nice hook to put Fioravanti down but nothing else really impressive.
Antonio McKee defeats Carlo Prater via Decision
Any chance of Prater winning was thoroughly diminished when he couldn't make weight, but it did cut the match an extra 10 minutes.
Between McKee's superior takedowns and creative GNP, Prater had nothing to offer. Somebody should have told Prater that he should have tried more to stand after getting taken down, rather than get pummeled
like raw meat at a butcher shop.
Travis Lutter defeats Jason McDonald via Decision
This match went the exact opposite of how I expected.
I felt Lutter's ground game was overrated, he gassed fairly easily and had no real standup to speak of.
McDonald, on the other hand, is usually in decent shape, and has a ton of experience trading strikes and sub attempts with some decent fighters. I really hated his rally in the 3rd round because it was more
than too late at that point for "The Athlete."
Or maybe Lutter just gassed out by then and was just clearly better than McDonald in the first 2 rounds.
Nonetheless, I'd have still put this as a main event on an UFN card.
My hope for a decent card were met but nothing to write home or really an entry about.
Learned my lesson for next time.
~S
I know the card was back last month, but I just started a new job so I'm behind on a lot of things.
I chose this card because most of the main card fighters were previously in the UFC, so there was some names that I was familiar with, so I felt it would make for a pretty decent and competitive regional
card.
So let's see what happened...
Ryan Jimmo defeats Marvin Eastman via Decision
What a snooze fest.
I know both guys came in with a game plan but I have no clue what either of them had in mind. Between both fighters' poor standup, wrestling and ground game, I would have liked to see this a draw to teach
both guys a lesson.
I always expect Eastman to perform better than he does, but that's probably due to the fact his physique makes him look like a video game character.
Mike Nickels defeats David Heath via Submission
This was a standup war, with one side trying to shoot itself.
Nickels was clearly getting the better in the standup arena, while Heath felt his machismo was more important than defending himself. There was also a clear difference between Nickels' concentration in
throwing strikes while Heath couldn't even keep his mouthpiece in.
Nickels could work on his power or put more follow through in his strikes to land more KO strikes next time.
John Alessio defeats Luigi Fioravanti via TKO
I thought this match was pretty even throughout the first 2 rounds.
I was looking for combos and a little more risking taking to try and steal rounds.
Nice hook to put Fioravanti down but nothing else really impressive.
Antonio McKee defeats Carlo Prater via Decision
Any chance of Prater winning was thoroughly diminished when he couldn't make weight, but it did cut the match an extra 10 minutes.
Between McKee's superior takedowns and creative GNP, Prater had nothing to offer. Somebody should have told Prater that he should have tried more to stand after getting taken down, rather than get pummeled
like raw meat at a butcher shop.
Travis Lutter defeats Jason McDonald via Decision
This match went the exact opposite of how I expected.
I felt Lutter's ground game was overrated, he gassed fairly easily and had no real standup to speak of.
McDonald, on the other hand, is usually in decent shape, and has a ton of experience trading strikes and sub attempts with some decent fighters. I really hated his rally in the 3rd round because it was more
than too late at that point for "The Athlete."
Or maybe Lutter just gassed out by then and was just clearly better than McDonald in the first 2 rounds.
Nonetheless, I'd have still put this as a main event on an UFN card.
My hope for a decent card were met but nothing to write home or really an entry about.
Learned my lesson for next time.
~S
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Dream 12 - Birth of the White Cage
This event almost immediately followed UFC 104 and was a refreshing change of pace, comparatively. There were very few big names on the card, but all the competitions were very spirited.There was also excitement brought on by the anticipation of the "White Cage", along with a round system more familiar to US fans. As with the previous Dream event, I've limited my thoughts to the last "main" card.
1. Kazushi Sakuraba defeats Zelg Galesic via Submission
I'm beginning to see a current trend for how Sakuraba's matches play out. First, there are takedown attempts until he gets his takedown. Then he absorbs a ridiculous amount of punishment (while the ref barely flinches) and gets the submission win, against his 0-1, ex-pro Soccer player opponent. I kid about "The Gracie Hunter", but I still give him all the respect for trying to entertain the crowd as best he can, with what little he has left. His transitions to each submission were quite smooth and he really was going for broke, as exemplified by the look on Galesic's face when he tapped.
Zelg really couldn't have fought much better once he had Sakuraba turtled up, short of moving into a position less prone for submissions. But then that would have meant given up the positional advantage, offensively.
2. Marius Zaromskis defeats Myeon Ho Bae via KO
"The Whitemare" started off the bout channeling Caol Uno and quickly transitioned pre-UFC, CroCop.
Ho Bae even had his arm up when Marius threw his high kick so you can image the impact if he took it full on. I think Zaromskis is ready for a stiffer test like Nick Diaz or "Mayhem" Miller. Heck, put that silly Dream WW belt on the line too!
3. Eddie Alvarez defeats Katsunori Kikuno via Submission
By far, this was the best match on the card, pairing and action wise.
Alvarez is universally ranked in the top 10 of LW's and Kikuno is a tough Kyokushin product, with a good record and currently holds the DEEP LW belt. I liked the pairing stylistically, in terms of the fighters standup skills. Both guys like to trade but with very different styles. Kikuno prefers traditional Karate stances and strikes while Alvarez stands and trades more like a MMA boxer. In the end, it was Alvarez's ground skills that made the difference. Standing, I felt Alvarez only had a small advantage throughout the match and he hit a major setback when he got caught in that standing neck crank/crucifix. He rebounded in Round 2 when Kikuno's ground weaknesses were exploited.
Even though he could use a ton of improvement on the ground, I'd still like to see Kikuno go up against so strong contenders. His unique stance and patented Crescent kick make for an exciting and interesting match with any opponent willing to trade hands with him.
4. Alistair Overeem defeats James Thompson via Submission
Easy payday for both fighters - I just have a question of whether Overeem's guillotine is that good or is James Thompson that bad?
For an MMA event that reminds me of a Cirque de Solei event, I was quite impressed by the energy and excitement I felt by watching it. Dream is getting a little bit closer to being credible as a sport, at least for US fans with the use of the cage and similar match structures.
I just hope they never get rid of the fantastic introductions and the Screaming Lady.
Next up, winding back the clock for MFC 22.
~S
1. Kazushi Sakuraba defeats Zelg Galesic via Submission
I'm beginning to see a current trend for how Sakuraba's matches play out. First, there are takedown attempts until he gets his takedown. Then he absorbs a ridiculous amount of punishment (while the ref barely flinches) and gets the submission win, against his 0-1, ex-pro Soccer player opponent. I kid about "The Gracie Hunter", but I still give him all the respect for trying to entertain the crowd as best he can, with what little he has left. His transitions to each submission were quite smooth and he really was going for broke, as exemplified by the look on Galesic's face when he tapped.
Zelg really couldn't have fought much better once he had Sakuraba turtled up, short of moving into a position less prone for submissions. But then that would have meant given up the positional advantage, offensively.
2. Marius Zaromskis defeats Myeon Ho Bae via KO
"The Whitemare" started off the bout channeling Caol Uno and quickly transitioned pre-UFC, CroCop.
Ho Bae even had his arm up when Marius threw his high kick so you can image the impact if he took it full on. I think Zaromskis is ready for a stiffer test like Nick Diaz or "Mayhem" Miller. Heck, put that silly Dream WW belt on the line too!
3. Eddie Alvarez defeats Katsunori Kikuno via Submission
By far, this was the best match on the card, pairing and action wise.
Alvarez is universally ranked in the top 10 of LW's and Kikuno is a tough Kyokushin product, with a good record and currently holds the DEEP LW belt. I liked the pairing stylistically, in terms of the fighters standup skills. Both guys like to trade but with very different styles. Kikuno prefers traditional Karate stances and strikes while Alvarez stands and trades more like a MMA boxer. In the end, it was Alvarez's ground skills that made the difference. Standing, I felt Alvarez only had a small advantage throughout the match and he hit a major setback when he got caught in that standing neck crank/crucifix. He rebounded in Round 2 when Kikuno's ground weaknesses were exploited.
Even though he could use a ton of improvement on the ground, I'd still like to see Kikuno go up against so strong contenders. His unique stance and patented Crescent kick make for an exciting and interesting match with any opponent willing to trade hands with him.
4. Alistair Overeem defeats James Thompson via Submission
Easy payday for both fighters - I just have a question of whether Overeem's guillotine is that good or is James Thompson that bad?
For an MMA event that reminds me of a Cirque de Solei event, I was quite impressed by the energy and excitement I felt by watching it. Dream is getting a little bit closer to being credible as a sport, at least for US fans with the use of the cage and similar match structures.
I just hope they never get rid of the fantastic introductions and the Screaming Lady.
Next up, winding back the clock for MFC 22.
~S
Sunday, October 25, 2009
UFC 104 - Disappointment
I'm being harsh with my critique of this event but it's the first word that came to my mind when trying to summarize it for the title. Lots of one sided affairs and just not as all round entertaining as usual.
1. Anthony Johnson defeats Yoshiyuki Yoshida via TKO
This was exactly the outcome that most people expected. I thought "Rumble" might be slightly more affected by the massive weight cut, but it didn't stop him from blasting "Zenko" into another dimension.
Yoshida had some extremely poor excuses for clinch attempts either for takedowns, throws or Thai plums. And of course, one of the worst standup sins you can do - circling into your opponents power side. Especially when that person is 6 foot something, has 0% bodyfat and ALL ATHLETIC.
I think Johnson's ready for a stiffer test - someone with a stronger ground game.
2. Joe Stevenson defeats Spencer Fisher via Submission
Joe took this one in a respectable, but not one sided affair. He mixed up standup with takedown attempts and eventually used some nice bjj skills to establish great position and unleash some brutal, rapid fire elbows on the helpless Fisher. Jeff said it best, "Now that's how Roy Nelson should have finished Kimbo".
Fisher looked pretty good at the start of round 2, showing a little more variance in his standup with more kicks in his combos but he wasn't active enough on bottom when he was taken down, and pushed up against the fence. He put up a valiant effort, trying to prevent Joe from getting side control, and I think his best chance of escaping was when Joe went for the leglock; He should have attempted to push off and force a stand up.
I know he's booked against Nate Diaz, but I think I'd rather see Joe vs. Gray Maynard at this point.
3. Chael Sonnen defeats Yushin Okami via Decision
I'm very surprised here that Sonnen completely dominated Okami. I knew his wrestling was good, but Sonnen took the match where ever he wanted and Okami had no anser. Chael pushed the pace with everything he threw and all Okami could do was move backwards. Sonnen's leg kicks accumulated him so good points, but his wrestling put the nails in the coffin. You could have called this Sonnen vs. Filho, part 3 - Sonnen is clear underdog but his opponent just gives up before the match even starts.
While "Thunder" had good jabs to keep Sonnen at a distance, he did not show any of his usually MW gorilla strength and attempted ZERO takedowns. He looked completely off his game. It's always a bad sign for you when Chael Sonnen decides to throw a spinning back kick.
I think Sonnen needs to try his hand at another BJJ guy, like Rousimar Palhares. Should give him some more credibility and a nice bump up in the division.
4. Gleison Tibau defeats Josh Neer via Decision
My first bad pick on my part, as Tibau straight OWNED Neer.
Tibau is the Brazilian Sherk and played the role to a "T" in this match.
Neer was getting overwhelmed with takedowns throughout and really looked like he didn't care it was happening. He got up quickly, multiple times after getting taken down but he had to have known it was slowly losing him the match. "The Dentist" had that killer instinct in his eyes but just couldn't pull anything off. His best offensive technique were his low and mid range leg kicks that seemed to connect every time. I would have liked to see him try to cut off Tibau at angles and corners, rather than continually plod forward.
Although Tibau had some fantastic takedowns reminiscent of Zangief's throw arsenal, I really despised his style and strategy here. He mounted no relevant standup or ground attacks. Was he afraid of Neer's two submission attempts or punches that barely connected with his face?
Neither man's strikes really seemed to connect or was there even an effort to throw with bad intentions. I'd relegate both men back to the prelims after these performances.
5. Cain Velasquez defeats Ben Rothwell via TKO
Another disappointing pick and loss.
It's not that I don't like Cain, but he's just got too much hype for a guy who was only 6-0 before this match. But he really impressed the hell out of me with his performance, with his tremendous takedowns and constant pressure. He definitely knows where his bread and butter lies. I think guys are underestimating his vicious GNP and how easily he can take you down, given his size in relation to most other UFC HW's. It seems like Dana is really trying to push Cain quickly so I'd expect another top 15 fighter in his upcoming match.
"Big Ben" was anything but the prospect I thought'd he be debuting here. He didn't display anything that made him the top dog in the IFL or anything remotely resembling an offense or defense in this match. He looked completely clueless and frankly, the stoppage probably just saved him a couple brain cells.
For once Mazzagati, I don't boo.
6. Lyoto Machida defeats Mauricio Rua via Decision
Who would have ever thought you'd see "Shogun" Rua implement a game plan that relied heavily on patience, with crisp and accurate striking?
Not only was this strategy perfect against Machida, I believe he won the match and should appeal to CSAC. He beat Lyoto to the proverbial punch in nearly every exchange they had. His high guard blocking was perfect against Lyoto's straight counter punches. He also kept catching Lyoto every time he back peddled, circling into Rua's power side, to meet kicks to the inner thigh. This was THE elite "Shogun" that everyone used to talk about. While not the flashiest or most exciting performance, you cannot argue the absolute brilliance and execution of Rua's strategy in this match.
Conversely, this was Lyoto poorest performance to date. He appeared very lackadaisical in this match, in every round. He didn't appear to adapt to Shogun's considerably better offense and I'd be very surprised if he thought he'd won more than 2 rounds. Every punch or kick was countered or intercepted, and every feint ignored by Shogun. I'm not even sure if "The Dragon" cleanly landed more than 10% of his strikes. Why was there no ground game implemented after he was getting bruised and battered?
It's a real shame that he took the undeserving decision victory. Let's hope he's more prepared in the rematch.
I was pretty bummed given how the card ended but luckily, Dream picked me up.
Hopefully, the next entry will sound a little less like ranting.
Peace,
~S
1. Anthony Johnson defeats Yoshiyuki Yoshida via TKO
This was exactly the outcome that most people expected. I thought "Rumble" might be slightly more affected by the massive weight cut, but it didn't stop him from blasting "Zenko" into another dimension.
Yoshida had some extremely poor excuses for clinch attempts either for takedowns, throws or Thai plums. And of course, one of the worst standup sins you can do - circling into your opponents power side. Especially when that person is 6 foot something, has 0% bodyfat and ALL ATHLETIC.
I think Johnson's ready for a stiffer test - someone with a stronger ground game.
2. Joe Stevenson defeats Spencer Fisher via Submission
Joe took this one in a respectable, but not one sided affair. He mixed up standup with takedown attempts and eventually used some nice bjj skills to establish great position and unleash some brutal, rapid fire elbows on the helpless Fisher. Jeff said it best, "Now that's how Roy Nelson should have finished Kimbo".
Fisher looked pretty good at the start of round 2, showing a little more variance in his standup with more kicks in his combos but he wasn't active enough on bottom when he was taken down, and pushed up against the fence. He put up a valiant effort, trying to prevent Joe from getting side control, and I think his best chance of escaping was when Joe went for the leglock; He should have attempted to push off and force a stand up.
I know he's booked against Nate Diaz, but I think I'd rather see Joe vs. Gray Maynard at this point.
3. Chael Sonnen defeats Yushin Okami via Decision
I'm very surprised here that Sonnen completely dominated Okami. I knew his wrestling was good, but Sonnen took the match where ever he wanted and Okami had no anser. Chael pushed the pace with everything he threw and all Okami could do was move backwards. Sonnen's leg kicks accumulated him so good points, but his wrestling put the nails in the coffin. You could have called this Sonnen vs. Filho, part 3 - Sonnen is clear underdog but his opponent just gives up before the match even starts.
While "Thunder" had good jabs to keep Sonnen at a distance, he did not show any of his usually MW gorilla strength and attempted ZERO takedowns. He looked completely off his game. It's always a bad sign for you when Chael Sonnen decides to throw a spinning back kick.
I think Sonnen needs to try his hand at another BJJ guy, like Rousimar Palhares. Should give him some more credibility and a nice bump up in the division.
4. Gleison Tibau defeats Josh Neer via Decision
My first bad pick on my part, as Tibau straight OWNED Neer.
Tibau is the Brazilian Sherk and played the role to a "T" in this match.
Neer was getting overwhelmed with takedowns throughout and really looked like he didn't care it was happening. He got up quickly, multiple times after getting taken down but he had to have known it was slowly losing him the match. "The Dentist" had that killer instinct in his eyes but just couldn't pull anything off. His best offensive technique were his low and mid range leg kicks that seemed to connect every time. I would have liked to see him try to cut off Tibau at angles and corners, rather than continually plod forward.
Although Tibau had some fantastic takedowns reminiscent of Zangief's throw arsenal, I really despised his style and strategy here. He mounted no relevant standup or ground attacks. Was he afraid of Neer's two submission attempts or punches that barely connected with his face?
Neither man's strikes really seemed to connect or was there even an effort to throw with bad intentions. I'd relegate both men back to the prelims after these performances.
5. Cain Velasquez defeats Ben Rothwell via TKO
Another disappointing pick and loss.
It's not that I don't like Cain, but he's just got too much hype for a guy who was only 6-0 before this match. But he really impressed the hell out of me with his performance, with his tremendous takedowns and constant pressure. He definitely knows where his bread and butter lies. I think guys are underestimating his vicious GNP and how easily he can take you down, given his size in relation to most other UFC HW's. It seems like Dana is really trying to push Cain quickly so I'd expect another top 15 fighter in his upcoming match.
"Big Ben" was anything but the prospect I thought'd he be debuting here. He didn't display anything that made him the top dog in the IFL or anything remotely resembling an offense or defense in this match. He looked completely clueless and frankly, the stoppage probably just saved him a couple brain cells.
For once Mazzagati, I don't boo.
6. Lyoto Machida defeats Mauricio Rua via Decision
Who would have ever thought you'd see "Shogun" Rua implement a game plan that relied heavily on patience, with crisp and accurate striking?
Not only was this strategy perfect against Machida, I believe he won the match and should appeal to CSAC. He beat Lyoto to the proverbial punch in nearly every exchange they had. His high guard blocking was perfect against Lyoto's straight counter punches. He also kept catching Lyoto every time he back peddled, circling into Rua's power side, to meet kicks to the inner thigh. This was THE elite "Shogun" that everyone used to talk about. While not the flashiest or most exciting performance, you cannot argue the absolute brilliance and execution of Rua's strategy in this match.
Conversely, this was Lyoto poorest performance to date. He appeared very lackadaisical in this match, in every round. He didn't appear to adapt to Shogun's considerably better offense and I'd be very surprised if he thought he'd won more than 2 rounds. Every punch or kick was countered or intercepted, and every feint ignored by Shogun. I'm not even sure if "The Dragon" cleanly landed more than 10% of his strikes. Why was there no ground game implemented after he was getting bruised and battered?
It's a real shame that he took the undeserving decision victory. Let's hope he's more prepared in the rematch.
I was pretty bummed given how the card ended but luckily, Dream picked me up.
Hopefully, the next entry will sound a little less like ranting.
Peace,
~S
Saturday, October 24, 2009
The MMA Diagnosis - ACL Injuries in MMA
Author Jeff Tsai
This is the first entry in an ongoing series for ‘MMA Strategy’ that will focus on sports medicine. The objective of this series is to combine medical research with combat sports to provide insight into MMA strategy. This series will look at hot topics in the MMA world like training techniques, injuries, and nutrition, and analyze how they give fighters an added edge or put them at a disadvantage.
UFC 104 – Machida vs. Shogun October 24, 2009
In his last two bouts leading up to this championship match, Shogun has looked alternately sloppy and then sharp. Is he still feeling the effects of his knee injuries or is he back to being the dominant powerhouse of his Pride days?
We’re going to investigate the nature of a torn ACL, the time course for healing, and the implications the injury has for each fighter in their upcoming fight.
On to the diagnosis!
The Patient: Mauricio “Shogun” Rua
Injury: Torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in left knee
Patient History:
2005 - Shogun was at the top of his game, winning Pride’s middleweight Grand Prix and arguably the top ranked 205-pound fighter in the world.
2006 - Even a freak injury in a bout against Mark Coleman couldn’t derail his train of destruction. Shogun went on to win four straight matches after that anomalous loss. His subsequent signing into the UFC brought expectations that his crowning as light-heavyweight champion would be a mere formality.
September 2007 - At UFC 76, Forrest Griffin shocked many by submitting a sluggish Shogun. His poor performance was discovered to be the result of a knee-ligament injury sustained during training that was re-injured during the fight.
October 2007 – Shogun successfully underwent surgery to repair the torn ACL in his left knee
March 2008 – While training for a June bout against Chuck Liddell, Shogun ruptured the ACL in his left knee again. He successfully underwent knee reconstruction surgery to repair the ACL.
January 2009 – Shogun returned to the Octagon and defeated 44-year old Mark Coleman in a mediocre performance.
April 2009 – Shogun KO’d Chuck Liddell with a lunging left hook.
October 2009 – Shogun vs. Lyoto Machida for the LHW belt.
Medical Background: The ACL is one of four ligaments whose primary function is to stabilize the knee joint. Ligaments connect bones to other bones and are composed of fibrous tissue, which doesn’t have its own blood supply, thus limiting its ability to heal and self-repair. Untreated, the two ends of the torn ligaments never reconnect. Torn ACLs cause damage to knee cartilage, which are soft pads that act as shock absorbers to prevent bone-to-bone contact. Degradation of knee cartilage can result in pain and arthritis, especially when weight is applied to the injured leg.
Current ACL reconstruction surgery techniques can preserve the cartilage and restore the attachment sites of the ligaments, retaining much of the original biomechanical function and neuromotor control. With physical therapy and rehabilitation, a patient can return to previous levels of activity in 6-9 months. Despite these medical advances, some athletes in high intensity sports don’t regain their previous form and approximately 20% of those that underwent reconstructive surgery report knee instability. The ACL is at greatest risk of re-injury during hyperextension of the knee, as well as quick, cutting motions that involve acceleration and deceleration.
MMA Diagnosis: Shogun’s lackluster performance against Coleman came 10 months after knee surgery, which is just over the standard duration of healing for an ACL injury. This certainly affected his training camp and his diminished cardio. This was reflected in his clear imitation of Fat Albert after running up a flight of stairs.
Shogun’s showdown with Machida will come 19 months after his 2nd operation, which is plenty of time for rehabilitation and conditioning. His cardio, or previous lack thereof, won’t likely be as big a factor until the later championship rounds. The stability of his knee is the big question mark. Shogun should avoid performing any kicks with his left leg, because extension at the knee joint puts a high amount of strain on the ACL. He’ll have to be cautious with the level of his right roundhouse kicks because extension and locking of his left planted leg increases with the height of his kick. From the standpoint of reducing his injury probability and controlling the speed and tempo of the fight, Shogun’s best strategy would be to close the distance with Machida and unleash a barrage of Muay Thai strikes in the clinch.
Machida can best exploit Shogun’s injury by utilizing kicks to Shogun’s lead leg to test the stability of his left knee. Throwing feints in both directions is another good strategy because lateral movements that force Shogun to quickly start and stop will put undue stress on the joint. Circling to his left (Shogun’s right) will help Machida avoid the left hook that iced Liddell while additionally increasing Shogun’s inward knee torque, another high stress action.
It’s certainly possible that Shogun has completely healed from his knee injury and no longer suffers any lingering effects. However, it’s also feasible that he’ll never fully regain the form and function of his glorious soccer-kicks-to-the-head days. In a sport where one misstep is the difference between becoming a champion and being removed on a stretcher, a little knowledge may just be the prescription for victory.
About the Author:
Jeff is not a doctor or King of Pancrase, but his educational background and physical training have made him uniquely positioned to intelligently discuss the subject matter. Jeff has a degree in Biochemistry from UC San Diego and is currently pursuing a Master’s of Science in Kinesiology and Exercise Physiology. Jeff has also earned a black belt in Shorin-Ryu Karate and dabbled in BJJ and boxing training. One of his real passions is discussing and analyzing the real fighters.
References:
Frank CB, Jackson DW. Current Concepts Review - The Science of Reconstruction of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament. The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. 1997, 79:1556-76
Jung HJ, Fisher MB, Woo SL. Role of biomechanics in the understanding of normal, injured, and healing ligaments and tendons. Sports Med Arthrosc Rehabil Ther Technol. 2009, May 20;1(1):9.
Killian ML, Isaac DI, Haut RC, Déjardin LM, Leetun D, Haut Donahue TL. Traumatic Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tear and its Implications on Meniscal Degradation: A Preliminary Novel Lapine Osteoarthritis Model. J Surg Res. 2009, Apr 5. [Epub ahead of print]
Murray MM. Current status and potential of primary ACL repair. Clin Sports Med. 2009, Jan;28(1):51-61.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
http://mmafrenzy.com/1273/
http://mmafrenzy.com/1315/
http://mmafrenzy.com/2070/rua-
http://mmafrenzy.com/2205/
http://www.mayoclinic.com/
http://www.sherdog.com/
http://www.sherdog.com/videos/
Thursday, October 22, 2009
UFC 104 Strategy and Predictions
I finally get to do PRE-event thoughts!
My excitement is limited to the main card only though.
WW: Anthony Johnson vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida
The heir apparent to GSP somewhere around 2013 will face his stiffest test since Rich Clementi. I like his chances in this match mainly because of his striking talents. Its still very raw but extremely fast and powerful. This would be the main skill that reminds people of "Rush". He's also going to have the reach and size advantage, due to his frame and weight cutting, which should help in the clinch.
Yoshida is a very experienced judoka with average standup and an above average jujitsu game. He'll definitely be the smaller of the two so I'd also expect him to be faster and lighter on his feet.Everyone remembers his horrendous KO at the hands of Koscheck but it was clearly a strategy issue and not based around his skills or talents. I don't think he'll be making that mistake twice.
"Rumble" should try to keep it standing and unload his vicious punches and kicks to try and outdo Koscheck's brutal KO of "Zenko". He should avoid any sort of clinch or close quarters striking that would give Yoshida the opportunity to pull off any judo throws or takedowns.
Yoshida should avoid any standup confrontations at all cost and work takedowns into his combos. Once on the ground, a submission should be academic.
The variables will be Johnson's strength, "athleticism" and Yoshida's overall strategy.
Anthony Johnson via KO in Round 2
LW: Joe Stevenson vs. Spencer Fisher
I feel this is the battle for gatekeeper status. Both men have fairly long MMA careers with wins and losses to some decent fighters but most were not top tier (excluding BJ and Florian). I also don't think either could make a run at whomever the champ may be when they get there - especially not against "The Prodigy".
Joe "Daddy" has a good guillotine but nothing else to really support a strong bjj game that would prove a threat to Fisher. His takedowns will be the key point for him to focus on in this match.
"The King" is a brawler wearing gloves and he's going to make the Octagon his alleyway. With an improved takedown defense, he should have no problem keeping it standing and get the decision victory. If it goes to the ground, he'll have no problem looking for subs on bottom or GNP from the top.
Joe Stevenson via Decision
LW: Gleison Tibau vs. Josh Neer
I wonder if Sherk pulled out of this match on purpose? Not really sure what purpose it serves in beating Tibau. I do know that Neer is a trooper and would probably take a fight with a stingray if they paid him enough. He's tough and has a never-say-die attitude. It should serve him well against Tibau, who hasn't really shown much as of late. This match will be decided on Neer's willingness to push the pace and prevent the constant, bad takedown attempts that Gleison will attempt.
Josh Neer via Decision
HW: Cain Velasquez vs. Ben Rothwell
I see this as a win-win for both guys. The upcomer against the veteran, with both having a lot to gain from a victory here. Cain gains status, builds more momentum in the HW landscape and establishes himself as being very formidable if he can beat the seasoned, uncrowned, IFL vet. A win for "Big Ben" against a highly touted UFC fighter in his first outing should establish himself as a main carder for at least the duration of his first UFC contract.
Everyone will expect Cain to take it to the ground given his collegiate wrestling background, but I would recommend he mix it up more and keep Rothwell confused. He's probably not going to worry about Ben's hands, after receiving that beating by Kongo's but still pulling through and getting the "W". Ben just might be too concerned with getting taken down, and get caught right on the chin.
Being in the game for a while now, Ben should not come in with any Ocatagon "jitters", but hit the ground running and push the pace against Cain. He's well rounded in all aspects of the game and is on the heavier level in the division, in terms of weight. His cardio may not be as great as Cain's, but I don't think Ben will have too much trouble keeping up. There's no doubt in my mind that Rothwell will get taken down, so he should be very active on the ground, looking for openings to bring it back to the feet so Cain has to expend more energy getting up and defending himself in the process. I don't think submissions are the way to go, given Cain's wrestling background and excellent cardio, which helps in maneuvering and ground defense.
Ben Rothwell via Decision
LHW Championship: Lyoto Machida vs. Mauricio Rua
I'd like to take a vote and see how many people will buy this card specifically for this match only. Looking over the entire card, there's not much even a die hard fan would really be interested in here. The key question is, are people more interested in seeing Lyoto retain the belt or Rua fulfilling his 2005 prophecy as the best LHW?
I'm hoping for the former.
I don't think we've seen enough out of "Shogun" in his UFC career to warrant that this is his second coming. I'm not sold on him returning to his old form, especially after having two major surgeries in two years. He clearly showed in his last fight that he's got a little more patience now and is willing to gameplan more than just rush his opponents and attack Ong Bak style. He has retained his bodylock takedowns and bjj rolling defense. Otherwise, I need to see more matches with him utilizing his dynamic striking, crazy athletic strikes and constant pace pushing on the ground and standing.
Lyoto's UFC career has been quite the opposite. After beating 4 jobbers, they finally realized he could make a major impact in the LHW division. Way back after Rampage became champ, I predicted there would be no LHW champ that could successfully reign, with the exception of Lyoto, if he could take the title. He's never lost a round in the UFC and probably won't for at least a couple more matches until someone finally solves the riddle of "The Dragon" and Machida Karate. I'm sure Machida, his dad and brothers have all pinpointed weaknesses in Shogun's standup game but frankly, I don't think it even matters.
Conversely, Rua's team has their work cut out for them in terms of putting together a reasonable strategy to implement. With his comfortability in going for those bodylock takedowns, he should try to use those and stay on the ground. He's shown to have a legitimate bjj offense, that may prove formidable enough to snatch away the belt. As of late, Shogun's standup hasn't proven formidable enough that he should try it on the Champ.
Lyoto Machida via TKO in Round 2
It should be an exciting night and I'm sure there will be surprises. If any of you are crazy enough to think I know what I'm talking about, please do NOT use my analysis to bet on any of the matches.
Well, unless you plan on splitting the profits with me.
As an aside, no Dream 12 pre-fight thoughts just because I don't have enough time.
Let's see those comments roll in!
~S
My excitement is limited to the main card only though.
WW: Anthony Johnson vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida
The heir apparent to GSP somewhere around 2013 will face his stiffest test since Rich Clementi. I like his chances in this match mainly because of his striking talents. Its still very raw but extremely fast and powerful. This would be the main skill that reminds people of "Rush". He's also going to have the reach and size advantage, due to his frame and weight cutting, which should help in the clinch.
Yoshida is a very experienced judoka with average standup and an above average jujitsu game. He'll definitely be the smaller of the two so I'd also expect him to be faster and lighter on his feet.Everyone remembers his horrendous KO at the hands of Koscheck but it was clearly a strategy issue and not based around his skills or talents. I don't think he'll be making that mistake twice.
"Rumble" should try to keep it standing and unload his vicious punches and kicks to try and outdo Koscheck's brutal KO of "Zenko". He should avoid any sort of clinch or close quarters striking that would give Yoshida the opportunity to pull off any judo throws or takedowns.
Yoshida should avoid any standup confrontations at all cost and work takedowns into his combos. Once on the ground, a submission should be academic.
The variables will be Johnson's strength, "athleticism" and Yoshida's overall strategy.
Anthony Johnson via KO in Round 2
LW: Joe Stevenson vs. Spencer Fisher
I feel this is the battle for gatekeeper status. Both men have fairly long MMA careers with wins and losses to some decent fighters but most were not top tier (excluding BJ and Florian). I also don't think either could make a run at whomever the champ may be when they get there - especially not against "The Prodigy".
Joe "Daddy" has a good guillotine but nothing else to really support a strong bjj game that would prove a threat to Fisher. His takedowns will be the key point for him to focus on in this match.
"The King" is a brawler wearing gloves and he's going to make the Octagon his alleyway. With an improved takedown defense, he should have no problem keeping it standing and get the decision victory. If it goes to the ground, he'll have no problem looking for subs on bottom or GNP from the top.
Joe Stevenson via Decision
LW: Gleison Tibau vs. Josh Neer
I wonder if Sherk pulled out of this match on purpose? Not really sure what purpose it serves in beating Tibau. I do know that Neer is a trooper and would probably take a fight with a stingray if they paid him enough. He's tough and has a never-say-die attitude. It should serve him well against Tibau, who hasn't really shown much as of late. This match will be decided on Neer's willingness to push the pace and prevent the constant, bad takedown attempts that Gleison will attempt.
Josh Neer via Decision
HW: Cain Velasquez vs. Ben Rothwell
I see this as a win-win for both guys. The upcomer against the veteran, with both having a lot to gain from a victory here. Cain gains status, builds more momentum in the HW landscape and establishes himself as being very formidable if he can beat the seasoned, uncrowned, IFL vet. A win for "Big Ben" against a highly touted UFC fighter in his first outing should establish himself as a main carder for at least the duration of his first UFC contract.
Everyone will expect Cain to take it to the ground given his collegiate wrestling background, but I would recommend he mix it up more and keep Rothwell confused. He's probably not going to worry about Ben's hands, after receiving that beating by Kongo's but still pulling through and getting the "W". Ben just might be too concerned with getting taken down, and get caught right on the chin.
Being in the game for a while now, Ben should not come in with any Ocatagon "jitters", but hit the ground running and push the pace against Cain. He's well rounded in all aspects of the game and is on the heavier level in the division, in terms of weight. His cardio may not be as great as Cain's, but I don't think Ben will have too much trouble keeping up. There's no doubt in my mind that Rothwell will get taken down, so he should be very active on the ground, looking for openings to bring it back to the feet so Cain has to expend more energy getting up and defending himself in the process. I don't think submissions are the way to go, given Cain's wrestling background and excellent cardio, which helps in maneuvering and ground defense.
Ben Rothwell via Decision
LHW Championship: Lyoto Machida vs. Mauricio Rua
I'd like to take a vote and see how many people will buy this card specifically for this match only. Looking over the entire card, there's not much even a die hard fan would really be interested in here. The key question is, are people more interested in seeing Lyoto retain the belt or Rua fulfilling his 2005 prophecy as the best LHW?
I'm hoping for the former.
I don't think we've seen enough out of "Shogun" in his UFC career to warrant that this is his second coming. I'm not sold on him returning to his old form, especially after having two major surgeries in two years. He clearly showed in his last fight that he's got a little more patience now and is willing to gameplan more than just rush his opponents and attack Ong Bak style. He has retained his bodylock takedowns and bjj rolling defense. Otherwise, I need to see more matches with him utilizing his dynamic striking, crazy athletic strikes and constant pace pushing on the ground and standing.
Lyoto's UFC career has been quite the opposite. After beating 4 jobbers, they finally realized he could make a major impact in the LHW division. Way back after Rampage became champ, I predicted there would be no LHW champ that could successfully reign, with the exception of Lyoto, if he could take the title. He's never lost a round in the UFC and probably won't for at least a couple more matches until someone finally solves the riddle of "The Dragon" and Machida Karate. I'm sure Machida, his dad and brothers have all pinpointed weaknesses in Shogun's standup game but frankly, I don't think it even matters.
Conversely, Rua's team has their work cut out for them in terms of putting together a reasonable strategy to implement. With his comfortability in going for those bodylock takedowns, he should try to use those and stay on the ground. He's shown to have a legitimate bjj offense, that may prove formidable enough to snatch away the belt. As of late, Shogun's standup hasn't proven formidable enough that he should try it on the Champ.
Lyoto Machida via TKO in Round 2
It should be an exciting night and I'm sure there will be surprises. If any of you are crazy enough to think I know what I'm talking about, please do NOT use my analysis to bet on any of the matches.
Well, unless you plan on splitting the profits with me.
As an aside, no Dream 12 pre-fight thoughts just because I don't have enough time.
Let's see those comments roll in!
~S
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