Yeah, it's just that Bader choked and got KO'd by most of the dangerous strikers he faced: Machida, Glover, Rumble, Nemkov and a few others in Bellator. Even Tito managed to knock him down and then submit him. He did beat an aging Rampage and a few other dangerous strikers, so it's possible.
Yeah, and Randy had a history of beating dangerous strikers: BelfortX2, Mo Smith, Pedro Rizzo, Chuck in their first fight, even an awkward but effectvive 6'8" , 260 pound Tim Sylvia. It took a very good wrestle-boxer (prime Chuck or Rumble) with strong TDD and ability to get back to their feet to beat him.
Good thread, I would give AlexIn a parallel Universe Alex joined the UFC 2016 and now in 2017 has to face the best LHW's the planet after conquering MW. The plus side is this is a younger Poatan that has more time to adapt at a younger age. Downside is he has to face the best LHW's in the history of MMA.
4) Alexander Gustafson
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Fresh off the beating of Alex mentor, Alex vows to get revenge and this will be his first test. Prime Gus had amazing boxing and would be super light on his feet. During that era Gus had really bad grappling, but by todays standards he'd be up there with Jiri & hill. But with better striking imo. That being said I really do see Alex catching Gus early on, but Gus could also just lap Alex and then later KO him.
3) Anthony Rumble Johnson
View attachment 1049267
If he beats Gus, he now has to face the most explosive and dangerous striker in UFC LHW History. If Izzy can make you do the stanky leg, and Jiri and Jan can have you backing up to avoid being rocked even more, Rumble will send you flying across the octagon. But Alex could also counter Rumble quick. 50/50 imo, on one hand Rumble could brutally KO Alex, on the other Alex could drop him and finish him TKO
2) Daniel Cormier
One of the best wrestlers OAT, he can strike, wrestle, and clinch. Alex has never faced anyone that even comes to 1/10th of what DC can do on the mat. DC can take Alex down, gas him out, body slam him, then later submit or even KO an exhausted Poaton. But Alex can also use his calf kicks and left hook to catch a DC that was susceptible to the body
1) Jon Bones Jones
View attachment 1049270
There isn't a single thing he can't do, considered the GOAT by many. Could beat Alex in almost every area, even striking imo. Too smart to stay in the pocket with Alex, and his distance managment was elite for an MMA fighter. Would rarely ever get hit clean, and when he did showed to have one of the best chins in the game. Never has been dropped even. That being said, Alex could land clean, with over 33 kickboxing fight he is the better pure striker than Jones.
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Him joining in 2012 would be more interesting tbhIn a parallel Universe Alex joined the UFC 2016 and now in 2017 has to face the best LHW's the planet after conquering MW. The plus side is this is a younger Poatan that has more time to adapt at a younger age. Downside is he has to face the best LHW's in the history of MMA.
4) Alexander Gustafson
View attachment 1049265
Fresh off the beating of Alex mentor, Alex vows to get revenge and this will be his first test. Prime Gus had amazing boxing and would be super light on his feet. During that era Gus had really bad grappling, but by todays standards he'd be up there with Jiri & hill. But with better striking imo. That being said I really do see Alex catching Gus early on, but Gus could also just lap Alex and then later KO him.
3) Anthony Rumble Johnson
View attachment 1049267
If he beats Gus, he now has to face the most explosive and dangerous striker in UFC LHW History. If Izzy can make you do the stanky leg, and Jiri and Jan can have you backing up to avoid being rocked even more, Rumble will send you flying across the octagon. But Alex could also counter Rumble quick. 50/50 imo, on one hand Rumble could brutally KO Alex, on the other Alex could drop him and finish him TKO
2) Daniel Cormier
One of the best wrestlers OAT, he can strike, wrestle, and clinch. Alex has never faced anyone that even comes to 1/10th of what DC can do on the mat. DC can take Alex down, gas him out, body slam him, then later submit or even KO an exhausted Poaton. But Alex can also use his calf kicks and left hook to catch a DC that was susceptible to the body
1) Jon Bones Jones
View attachment 1049270
There isn't a single thing he can't do, considered the GOAT by many. Could beat Alex in almost every area, even striking imo. Too smart to stay in the pocket with Alex, and his distance managment was elite for an MMA fighter. Would rarely ever get hit clean, and when he did showed to have one of the best chins in the game. Never has been dropped even. That being said, Alex could land clean, with over 33 kickboxing fight he is the better pure striker than Jones.
View attachment 1049281
Jan was a UFC champion, which is more than I can say for Gus. What's his claim to fame again? Oh yeah, that guy that once upon a time almost beat DC and Jon Jones, but didn't... sounds like one of those bar stool stories Izzy was talking about.Lol Poatan arguably lost to 41 year old journey man Jan but has a 75% chance of beating peak Gus and 50% chance of beating peak Jones?
You smoking a serious recency bias fanboy hopium pack my ninja
You mean when Hunt got knocked out by a 200lb Manhoef? The guy who also melted Ruslan Karaev?- the same Ruslan Karaev who beat Badr Hari? And that's a knock on Hunt?
Yes,there are levels to this shit and guys like Hunt and Mirko were higher level kickboxers than Poatan because they both beat higher level kickboxers than Poatan.
Anyone saying otherwise is a recency bias Poatan fanboy with limited knowledge about the kickboxing scene.
Hunts losses don't mean much. There were a lot of factors in those fights that wouldn't be relevant in a Hunt vs Poatan fight. Prime Hunt vs Prime Poatan would be both men standing and exchanging blows until one of them falls and you'd be a fool to think Hunt isn't winning that.
Hunt was in a weird phase then where he seemed to only be fighting for a paycheck. He also got subbed by Sean freakin' McCorkle in like 90s seconds during that losing streak. He bullrushed Manhoef like he had no respect for his power and paid for it.You mean when Hunt got knocked out by a 200lb Manhoef? The guy who also melted Ruslan Karaev?- the same Ruslan Karaev who beat Badr Hari? And that's a knock on Hunt?
Yes,there are levels to this shit and guys like Hunt and Mirko were higher level kickboxers than Poatan because they both beat higher level kickboxers than Poatan.
Anyone saying otherwise is a recency bias Poatan fanboy with limited knowledge about the kickboxing scene.
Let's be fair here. There were several fighters in the Jones-Cormier era who could've been champs at most any other time. Rumble, Gus, prime Glover (an older version of him later won the belt), maybe Bader and Davis. Don't forget that Gus beat Jan and Glover, two future LHW champs.
Hunt was going through a hard time and was showing up for paychecks. He started taking his training seriously again when he found religion and a new love for fighting. Melted Mir, Nelson and beat the shit out of Derrick Lewis and threw down with prime juiced up JDS toe to toe in his 40s. Hunt is an all time great.
