Appreciating Fedors Judo

[Sano]

In light of the awesome throw on Mir last night, I think it's time to reacquaint ourselves with how good Fedors Judo and transitions was throughout his career. We saw glimpses of old yesterday, but in his prime he was a master manipulator of bodyweight. A very unique style, which worked for him at the highest level because of his speed, explosiveness, reflexes, unpredictability and ability to transition effortly between punching and grappling. We used to have an old thread on here compiling his greatest clinch work and throws, but I can't seem to find it. Anyway, without further ado.

Mandatory:

A few classics:

Beautiful video HL:


Awesome breakdown:


Enjoy and learn!

 

[wildchild88]

Woohoo!

WAR FEDOR!!!

 

[Mixfight]

Seeing that judo throw made me think he could have easily done the same to Maldonado.

 

[ThunderL1ps]

Harold goshi.



"Sweep the leg."

 

[Ilovepizza]

 

[007]

 

[HuskySamoan]

In light of the awesome throw on Mir last night, I think it's time to reacquaint ourselves with how good Fedors Judo and transitions was throughout his career. We saw glimpses of old yesterday, but in his prime he was a master manipulator of bodyweight. A very unique style, which worked for him at the highest level because of his speed, explosiveness, reflexes, unpredictability and ability to transition effortly between punching and grappling. We used to have an old thread on here compiling his greatest clinch work and throws, but I can't seem to find it. Anyway, without further ado.

Mandatory:

A few classics:

Beautiful video HL:


Awesome breakdown:


Enjoy and learn!

I was always really impressed by Fedor's trips. Besides Daniel Cormier no heavyweights really have shown the grappling finesse of Fedor when it came to takedowns and transitioning.

 

[JoeyDiaz420]

 

[ThunderL1ps]

Ippon!

 

[FedorGOAT]

This was a comment I made on yesterday & then God heard my prayer.

Ah man it hurts me to say how much Fedor's grappling has been declined. Who once used to be considered as one of the best Heavyweight grappler graced in MMA ever.

Painful thing that I still can't cope with.

 

[Dead Kennedy]

Frank didn’t even have his legs set to defend a judo throw. Yet he claims he’s the better martial artist...

 

[Sano]

Seeing that judo throw made me think he could have easily done the same to Maldonado.

He could. If Fedor fought smarter he might have avoided a few of his losses. He kept doing the same thing against Maldonado. He was showing the right hand and knew that Maldonado was waiting for it, so he faked the right and came in with the lead hand and got caught with two picture perfect counters (greatest weakness to Fedors style really) and he just kept doing that over and over again, getting caught a few times more untill Fabio wilted. How Fedor survived that fight is insane, he was out on his feet. He's willing to die in there, no quit in him.

Seems like knees down the middle is a new favourite weapon of his that works really well. He is still explosive even after all these years. He also looked a little more solid this time around which showed on the scales and he fought moving backwards more which is smart. Still, there's always a sense of danger with the way he fights hands down all reflexes. When he was using his Judo and grappling as his base it didn't matter so much because he always fell into the clinch or was setting something up. Hands out for handtrapping, all that stuff. Now it's a different story.

I was always really impressed by Fedor's trips. Besides Daniel Cormier no heavyweights really have shown the grappling finesse of Fedor when it came to takedowns and transitioning.

They are very simular in many ways. Both in their way of striking and the way they chain moves and takedowns together. There's a reason why DC used to be called the black emperor.

 

[olimpicus]

Mods stick this thread for all the newbies please!

 

[ocfightfan]

I've long believed that Fedor needed to shift his game back in the direction of his grappling roots. He's drifted too much towards wild brawling and trying to KO people. Much of his success in his career was using his Judo and Sambo to keep his opponents off balance.

 

[HuskySamoan]

He could. If Fedor fought smarter he might have avoided a few of his losses. He kept doing the same thing against Maldonado. He was showing the right hand and knew that Maldonado was waiting for it, so he faked the right and came in with the lead hand and got caught with two picture perfect counters (greatest weakness to Fedors style really) and he just kept doing that over and over again, getting caught a few times more untill Fabio wilted. How Fedor survived that fight is insane, he was out on his feet. He's willing to die in there, no quit in him.

Seems like knees down the middle is a new favourite weapon of his that works really well. He is still explosive even after all these years. He also looked a little more solid this time around which showed on the scales and he fought moving backwards more which is smart. Still, there's always a sense of danger with the way he fights hands down all reflexes. When he was using his Judo and grappling as his base it didn't matter so much because he always fell into the clinch or was setting something up. Hands out for handtrapping, all that stuff. Now it's a different story.


They are very simular in many ways. Both in their way of striking and the way they chain moves and takedowns together. There's a reason why DC used to be called the black emperor.

In their primes, it would have been a compelling fight. They both have the cardio for 5 rounds, they're both incredibly well rounded. While I think Cormier was/is physically stronger and probably in this matchup would be the more dominant grappler with top control and securing takedowns...Fedor is more dangerous, although I doubt he could Armbar Cormier, I still feel like there would be transitions and get ups and a lot of technical exchanges Fedor could force on the ground. Standing, Fedor always felt much more explosive, fast and unpredictable than Cormier, but Cormier is pretty fluid, quick, technical and puts on an amazing pace for a Heavyweight and really knows how to dirty box with his control in the clinch. I don't think either man has fought someone like the other.

 

[ThunderL1ps]

Seeing that judo throw made me think he could have easily done the same to Maldonado.

Fedor was on queer street most of that fight. I am glad that he pulled some judo out of his back pocket against Mir. I always find it funny when judo gets shit on. Someone loses one fight, it gets attributed to,"yeah, pajama fighting doesn't work." It is never the commitment to training or lack of training, but the martial art.

It has to be said: ADCC competitors watch out

 

[Ogata]

Karo parisyan respects the judo throws of fedors bro!

 

[Sano]

In their primes, it would have been a compelling fight. They both have the cardio for 5 rounds, they're both incredibly well rounded. While I think Cormier was/is physically stronger and probably in this matchup would be the more dominant grappler with top control and securing takedowns...Fedor is more dangerous, although I doubt he could Armbar Cormier, I still feel like there would be transitions and get ups and a lot of technical exchanges Fedor could force on the ground. Standing, Fedor always felt much more explosive, fast and unpredictable than Cormier, but Cormier is pretty fluid, quick, technical and puts on an amazing pace for a Heavyweight and really knows how to dirty box with his control in the clinch. I don't think either man has fought someone like the other.

Really interesting matchup in their primes. Cormier is definitely the more fundamentally solid wrestler, and even striker tbh. Fedor was more explosive in scrambles, faster and had more weapons. I think it's a close fight to call, but a damn great one. DC decision or Fedor would catch him with an overhand or sub late. That's my best prediction.

 

[KBE6EKCTAH_CCP]

Very nice harai goshi for sure.

So happy to see Fedor finally get a good win.

 

[HuskySamoan]

Really interesting matchup in their primes. Cormier is definitely the more fundamentally solid wrestler, and even striker tbh. Fedor was more explosive in scrambles, faster and had more weapons. I think it's a close fight to call, but a damn great one. DC decision or Fedor would catch him with an overhand or sub late. That's my best prediction.

I think either guy can win a decision but it's unlikely one finishes the other. We're talking about two guys who never got finished in their primes. I love how this win for Fedor is resurfacing all this love and interest in Fedor again, this one felt different, the win over Mir mattered.