Cain's unrealized GOAT potential

[Not A Real Fan]

Dos Santos twice
TRT Bigfoot Silva twice (both first round)
Big Nog (first round)
Brock (first round)
Browne (first round)
Rothwell
Kongo

Had he not been out for long stretches of time, he would have fought and beaten Overeem, Carwin, Mir, and Arlovski. When you combine this with victories over gatekeepers like Roy Nelson, Struve, etc., he would be part of GOAT discussions.

Would like to see a rematch with Werdum now that neither of them have the belt.

 

[Fahcough]

Hard to believe that list is 7 years long.

 

[Rittsy]

He better realise it faster.

 

[blaseblah]

Striking defense too weak for GOAT potential.

 

[Deleted member 501827]

Only guys that beat him are Werdum and Overeem imo. You need a strong thai clinch game, good crisp striking and either have good takedown defense or be deadly off your back. No one else in the division has these tools except Werdum and Overeem.

 

[Dana_is_your_GOD]

Cain stays health for another 4-5 years and wins 90% of fights, then maybe.

 

[basementdweller]

Agree, his injuries were very unfortunate. Based off of his Browne performance, he may as well still get there though. time will tell and war cain!

 

[KillerIsBack V2]

I guess verDoom has a talent for submitting GOATs

 

[Sparkie]

if he can remain injury free he can again make some real noise

 

[mikehunt]

 

[ExitLUPin]

Relaxquez never had anywhere close to GOAT potential.

Reem, Stipe and Fab beat any version of Cain.

Relaxquez won't even finish his career as a top 5 HW of alltime lel

 

[PubliusVentidius]

Cain lost any claim to GOAT status when he was beat to a pulp IN THE STANDUP by Werdum.

 

[ExitLUPin]

Cain lost any claim to GOAT status when he was beat to a pulp IN THE STANDUP by Werdum.

Werdum destroyed him EVERYWHERE.

Boxing range, kicking range, clinch and ground. Cain got sonned, nearly KOd by knee, taken down and Werdum showed he has a far superior clinch game. Cain wanted out , went for a shitty single and got choked lel

 

[ColombianFist]

he has the potential, but those injuries are taking toll of his body. If he doesn't train smart he will get beat by overeem or werdum (in werdum's case a second beating)

 

[Rod Farva]

I think he gets beat convincingly by Nog, Fedor, Cro Cop in the primes. Guys like Coleman, Kerr, Igor could all hang with him too when they were at their best.

 

[Oliver Clothesoff]

Cain had great potential. He was incredibly gifted and exciting in his first few fights. Lately, he seems to be taking a page out of Jon Fitches book. I think he's so focused on getting the "W" he's just not exciting anymore. Like it or not, this sport is about entertaining the fans. Just winning isn't enough. If it was only about winning Ben Askren would probably be the UFC WW Champ.

 

[Death By Samson]

If Cain can put the injuries behind him he still has time to realize that GOAT potential. He is a fucking wrecking ball.

 

[Taric]

Whole lot of ifs, ands, and maybes for a 34 year old fighter with 14 total victories.

 

[fatlipjesus]

"Would have beaten Arlovski, Mir, etc."

There is no "would have" in HW MMA. You dont get credit for beating people until you actually do it.

 

[Davemeddlehed]

Dos Santos twice
TRT Bigfoot Silva twice (both first round)
Big Nog (first round)
Brock (first round)
Browne (first round)
Rothwell
Kongo

Had he not been out for long stretches of time, he would have fought and beaten Overeem, Carwin, Mir, and Arlovski. When you combine this with victories over gatekeepers like Roy Nelson, Struve, etc., he would be part of GOAT discussions.

Would like to see a rematch with Werdum now that neither of them have the belt.

Bigfoot wasn't on TRT during his fights with Cain. His one and only fight with a TUE was against Hunt in Australia.

The Rothwell he fought isn't the Rothwell of now.

Everything after Kongo is pure speculation.

Good thread, though.