ufc on fx 8: belfort vs rockhold (5.18.13)

[Rubber Guard]

Nurma did enough to win that fight. Tibau didn't. I recall Nurma being the aggressor throughout the fight and stealing rounds. Both looked shitty but wasn't a robbery by any means.

I agree with this. But I am only basing it off a semi drunk single viewing of the fight. But I remember it going just as Gabe says. Tibau was getting bullied wasn't he? He was up against the cage a lot from what I remember.

[NunyaBidness]

. But Lentz has impressed me and just dominated Nunes.

So did Auschwitz Florian though.

[sideloaded]

but I thought nunes won that fight, dropped kenny and did more damages.

But we all know the unified rules are for fa-ggots

f-ck mma, it's a gay and dying sport.

[NunyaBidness]

Probably, was a boring fight anyway. My point is that outwrestling Nunes isn't the most amazing feat.

[sideloaded]

who honeslty cares about mma anymore? seen that shit about ufc contracts? Disgusting.

im off to cap pussy golf c ya

[GunShard]

Judges don't like Tibau. Did you watch the Nurmagomedov fight? The worst scorecards in MMA history. Tibau wins 30-27, all three judges score it 30-27 for Nurmagomedov. The RDA fight, too. I had it Tibau 30-28, he clearly won at least two rounds, yet some nut job still gave it to RDA.

Tibau's inactivity in that fight, turned the judges against him.

[bjpenn85]

No one clearly won IMO. I think tibau probably hit nurma a bit more, looked a bit more sharp. But he was also pressured up against the fence even though nuna never pulled off the takedown. Judges didnt score failed takedown attempts in tibaus favour, they instead scored that to nurma. So the pressure in the middle of the cage + against the fence was scored for nurma. Both it could have been a draw or a victory for tibau. Nothing really happened. No one clearly won. And thats the problem with betting tibau..he doesnt do a shit.

[NunyaBidness]

who honeslty cares about mma anymore? seen that shit about ufc contracts? Disgusting.

im off to cap pussy golf c ya

Easy money there.

[Rubber Guard]

So did Auschwitz Florian though.

Nunes has been highly overrated and is very annoying. But he is decent enough in all areas to show that Lentz has a style and will to impose himself on other decent fighters.

[mirinquads]

Rockhold Sub 500+, Vitor Sub 1250+? Thanks Kalikas.Vitor is LIGHTYEARS ahead in BJJ, taking a flyer on that for sure.

[omalley21]

Kalikas doesnt make the prop lines. But ya vitor by sub at +1650 is tempting. I would think rockhold takes him down early while he's dangerous.

[Rubber Guard]

So what is everyone officially playing on the main event? Just watched the presser, Rockhold is a goofball and I bet will be shaky going against a still dangerous old time Brazilian, in Brazil, main eventing his first UFC, with almost a year layoff. I respect Rockhold's well-rounded skillset, but his standup is all flash and little bite. Rewatching the Jacre fight...not sure how Rockhold won. Rockhold's best bet would be for a TD early to gas Belfort quicker. But I think Belfort has a good enough base to stop a Rockhold TD.

Belfort by KO/TKO for me. And possibly KOTN if it is decent.

[Thor4140]

Can't believe nobody likes Prazeres over Thiago. He is 16 and 0 with a win over Anderson Silva.

[Thor4140]

Dunham looks like he should be in the strong running for "ripoff of the night award" A nice size dog that should be an even fight. Lots of love will be on him when this split decision happens and everyone, which will be most unless im reading this wrong, will go down in flames. Then everyone can complain about the judging while the bookmakers laugh again. Hopefully one of these two take it out of the hands of the judges, and that would be a sub or KO.

[omalley21]

I doubt dunham gets a close decision in brazil. He looks so sloppy as the fight goes on, judges won't reward him. Rda will take the third and atleast one of the 1st two.

[sideloaded]

mma is dead

[Dwil125]

not zeferino decision -147

[Vaughany]

ha nice. Expect to see it voided tho shortly!

[MD]

not zeferino decision -147

That's Not Natal Decision, right? If you did get Not Zeferino Decision at -147 it's going to get voided.

[mirinquads]

Can't believe nobody likes Prazeres over Thiago. He is 16 and 0 with a win over Anderson Silva.

My thoughts exactly, PAWNT that beast

[sideloaded]

[sideloaded]

i agree with lucas fury,

Luke is too young, too slick, too black for vitor

[MMAbetMASTA]

Dunham looks like he should be in the strong running for "ripoff of the night award" A nice size dog that should be an even fight. Lots of love will be on him when this split decision happens and everyone, which will be most unless im reading this wrong, will go down in flames. Then everyone can complain about the judging while the bookmakers laugh again. Hopefully one of these two take it out of the hands of the judges, and that would be a sub or KO.

Interesting point... It could very well be close and even but in the end I don't think so, too much working against evan.

Rda should be in the running for 'most improved fighter of 2012' if they had that.

he's impressed as of late and clearly evolved his striking to an elite level. It was special to watch him beat and arguably outsrike Njo.

I see this as a very tough fight for dunham - let alone in brasil - I'd go as far to say rda is better in every aspect of the game. -200 is solid for rda, imo. Was hoping it'd be better though.

If he really dominates / has a breakout performance against dunham, he should get an immediate match with a top 5er. As is, I think he'd be a fun and challenging style for bendo.

[sando]

MMA has largely passed Vitor by, and his style simply isn't good enough any more. Yes, he knocked out Bisping, but his only way to win that fight was an early knockout, and that will likely be the trend in his fights for the rest of his career. He's an average or poor boxer with good BJJ who stands upright and swings hooks until he gets a KO. It can work against a guy as hittable as Rockhold, but Rockhold simply has too many ways to win this fight. Bisping could only really lose in the first two rounds, losing a decision was out of the question for him. The same applies to Rockhold.

After losing three straight MMA bouts around 2005 (Ortiz, Couture and Overeem) Vitor actually contemplated making the switch to boxing and did have 1 "pro" fight with an easy 1st round KO (albeit against another one of those "bouncer turned boxer" types). He has adapted his boxing skills to suit MMA, however how often does a fighter come along with both the hand speed AND the power that Vitor possesses, AND power in both hands. The rest (stance, footwork, combos that don't start with a right hook) could have been refined by a quality coach but the raw talent was most definitely there. I enjoy reading your MMA insights but I am dissapointed that you would say that.

[MD]

After losing three straight MMA bouts around 2005 (Ortiz, Couture and Overeem) Vitor actually contemplated making the switch to boxing and did have 1 "pro" fight with an easy 1st round KO (albeit against another one of those "bouncer turned boxer" types). He has adapted his boxing skills to suit MMA, however how often does a fighter come along with both the hand speed AND the power that Vitor possesses, AND power in both hands. The rest (stance, footwork, combos that don't start with a right hook) could have been refined by a quality coach but the raw talent was most definitely there. I enjoy reading your MMA insights but I am dissapointed that you would say that.

I think your logic is flawed.

Fabio Maldonado has an absolutely outrageous boxing record, something like 20-0, and he is, if I'm being charitable, a poor boxer, which I think we can all agree on (if we can't, there's probably no point in even having this conversation).

I'm also not questioning his physical gifts; I remember Randy Couture once said that Vitor is not a good boxer, he's just a physical specimen, and I agree whole-heartedly with that. His ability to throw rapid-fire power punches is unrivalled in the sport, even pound-for-pound. People who can throw hands as fast as Vitor aren't throwing with the same body weight and momentum that he is. This is true even in the lower weight classes. He's physically superb, with excellent speed and power, and he even has pretty decent timing. His technique, however, has always let him down; he has a lot of trouble with closing the distance against experienced strikers. He has a reputation as a master of getting inside, where he does his best work, but anyone can look at his fights and see that he simply swarms his way in. Any fighter who controls the distance against him will have a lot of success. Take a look at the Anderson Silva fight. Start watching, and count how long it takes Vitor to throw a single punch. It's a long time; minutes, in fact. He circles Anderson, trying to feel him out and look for a way to close the distance, and when he can't, he starts throwing leg kicks. His boxing technique has never been good; he did look like a guy who's started to realize he's slowing down and wanted to be more patient and stalking in the Bisping fight, but that wasn't a particularly impressive display either.

I don't expect you to agree with me, but I maintain that striking in MMA is wildly misunderstood, and that's one of the reasons that there are so many opportunities to make money. I also maintain that Vitor's never been a great striker, and probably never will be.

[sando]

I think your logic is flawed.

Fabio Maldonado has an absolutely outrageous boxing record, something like 20-0, and he is, if I'm being charitable, a poor boxer, which I think we can all agree on (if we can't, there's probably no point in even having this conversation).

I'm also not questioning his physical gifts; I remember Randy Couture once said that Vitor is not a good boxer, he's just a physical specimen, and I agree whole-heartedly with that. His ability to throw rapid-fire power punches is unrivalled in the sport, even pound-for-pound. People who can throw hands as fast as Vitor aren't throwing with the same body weight and momentum that he is. This is true even in the lower weight classes. He's physically superb, with excellent speed and power, and he even has pretty decent timing. His technique, however, has always let him down; he has a lot of trouble with closing the distance against experienced strikers. He has a reputation as a master of getting inside, where he does his best work, but anyone can look at his fights and see that he simply swarms his way in. Any fighter who controls the distance against him will have a lot of success. Take a look at the Anderson Silva fight. Start watching, and count how long it takes Vitor to throw a single punch. It's a long time; minutes, in fact. He circles Anderson, trying to feel him out and look for a way to close the distance, and when he can't, he starts throwing leg kicks. His boxing technique has never been good; he did look like a guy who's started to realize he's slowing down and wanted to be more patient and stalking in the Bisping fight, but that wasn't a particularly impressive display either.

I don't expect you to agree with me, but I maintain that striking in MMA is wildly misunderstood, and that's one of the reasons that there are so many opportunities to make money. I also maintain that Vitor's never been a great striker, and probably never will be.

Well I commend you on an intelligent and logical reply. There is no denying you know fighting from a technical POV, however I do disagree that Vitor is not acknowledged as an excellent striker (among his peers/experts as opposed to the standard post fight hyperbole that follows every spectacular KO).

[sideloaded]

what a lvl

[rocky16]

Sounds like he has a ballsack on the back of his throat. What a phaget, lol.

[mirinquads]

You don't need to be a fundamentally great and technical boxer in mma, that can be detrimental to your succes even. For MMA, Vitor striking is top shelf and extremely effective, specially the new and improved counter striking game, where he draws opponents in with feints and make them chase him, which seems to be exactly one of Rockholds weaknesses. He's prone to overaggressive especially against a perceived tenative opponent. This was on display in the Kennedy fight. That coupled with his statement that he was going to go after Vitor in the first round and be aggressive and what not, could easily get his skull caved in against the young dinosaur with eyes of fire. This could obviously be all talk, but we will see I suppose.
I do believe Vitors folding and gassing tendencies is exaggerated, mostly coming from his real bad period in the middle of this career with his sister being killed and whatnot, and a few fights where he got injured very early on. Though his cardio hasn't been on display lately I do believe, that he has rejuvenated his motivation and 'fire' to compete, thus I believe he trains very very hard lately.

Going to be on Vitor finish, small on Rd 1-2 with Rockhold dec hedge. He aint fighting Keith Jardine here, and Vitor getting subbed would surprise me, and if he wins a dec, its off wrestling and keeping Vitor off with kicks.

I actually win more if Rockhold wins a dec, got it at 550+ lulz.

[sideloaded]

Anderson Silva is the best boxer in mma, and looked like shit in his pro boxing match. The size of the gloves for one change the whole game. If Vitor would've been training for pure boxing and not mma he could have been elite.

Dos Santos leads with the upper cut which is a day one mistake for any boxer. Doesn't make him a shit boxer, just someone who adapted to mma striking and distance

[Demonata]

Can't wait till tomorrow.

[MD]

Anderson Silva is the best boxer in mma, and looked like shit in his pro boxing match. The size of the gloves for one change the whole game. If Vitor would've been training for pure boxing and not mma he could have been elite.

Dos Santos leads with the upper cut which is a day one mistake for any boxer. Doesn't make him a shit boxer, just someone who adapted to mma striking and distance

We're obviously not discussing pure boxing here, we're discussing boxing in an MMA context. Most of us can agree that GSP is one of the best wrestlers in MMA, but few of us are silly enough to think he wouldn't get mauled at the Olympics, or even at the high collegiate level.

[sideloaded]

many people think Dos Santos could beat Klitschko. Even dos Santos believes that. MMA guys cant box, even the best mma guys. But if we compare Vitor to any mma boxer he is very good.

[MD]

many people think Dos Santos could beat Klitschko. Even dos Santos believes that. MMA guys cant box, even the best mma guys. But if we compare Vitor to any mma boxer he is very good.

There are a lot of retards in the MMA fandom it seems.

[Vaughany]