Best strikers in the WW division.

Bearknuckle

Bearknuckle

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Who are the top 5 best strikers at WW

my list in no particular order

Leon
Shavkat
Wonderboy
Khamzat
Neal
 
Even though he got badly outboxed by three guys on that list, I’d include Luque
 
Where’s Gilbert Burns? His chin is not as good as the rest but he can let them fly. Also, Michel Pereira would be on my list as a dark horse candidate based on style, fluidity, sheer variance and creativity.
 
might as well put Pereira, Adesanya and Whittaker in.

Khamzat is a MW now.
 
HuskySamoan said:
I think Jack Della Maddalena might be the best. Khamzat should not be in this list, his striking is not good.
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Jack's hands are great along with his footwork and cage cutting.
He's also got a nice teep that he uses to pick at his opponents body.

One thing that was really frustrating me about Neal last saturday is how little variety he has in his shots, the guy just head hunts even though his opponents body is wide open and he has the tools to capitalize on it.
It's been something I've always noticed about his bouts, on the other hand someone like JDM is very good at mixing it up with his shot selection.
 
Huh?

Burns and Usman need to be on that list, and near the top.
 
HuskySamoan said:
1. Jack Della Maddalena
2. Leon Edwards
3. Stephen Thompson
4. Shavkat Rakhmonov
5. Geoff Neal
Click to expand...
This would be my list and TS said to throw in 6th for fun, I'd probably go with Belal Muhammad. He weaponizes pace and pressure with better technique than Colby.
(He actually said Luque would be #6 but Belal has already proven to be a better striker in their last fight).
Eat My Teep said:
Huh?

Burns and Usman need to be on that list, and near the top.
Click to expand...
Why?
 
Question said:
Jack's hands are great along with his footwork and cage cutting.
He's also got a nice teep that he uses to pick at his opponents body.

One thing that was really frustrating me about Neal last saturday is how little variety he has in his shots, the guy just head hunts even though his opponents body is wide open and he has the tools to capitalize on it.
It's been something I've always noticed about his bouts, on the other hand someone like JDM is very good at mixing it up with his shot selection.
Click to expand...

He head hunts and he doesn't kick enough, absolutely. But he's long, fast and powerful and he's a southpaw. He's good at range with long straight punches and he can rip combinations in tight too, being good at both ranges means a lot to me. His power carries late into fights and he doesnt telegraph his shots. He also has the physicality to his striking to keep it upright vs guys like Shavkat and Belal.

I always had issues with Thompsons striking too, his head used to always be straight up in the air and while at range he was great at getting off the center line he was really susceptible down the middle because he has no guard and didn't move his head. As he got older and slower he definitely improved his boxing and head movement because he had to, Bravo to him for adapting. Also when Thompson shifts he's vulnerable and Woodley kept timing that, Thompson crosses his feet a lot. Always seemed a little suspect to leg kicks and struggled standing vs other rangy guys. Plus Neal busted Thompson up too.
 
HuskySamoan said:
He head hunts and he doesn't kick enough, absolutely. But he's long, fast and powerful and he's a southpaw. He's good at range with long straight punches and he can rip combinations in tight too, being good at both ranges means a lot to me. His power carries late into fights and he doesnt telegraph his shots. He also has the physicality to his striking to keep it upright vs guys like Shavkat and Belal.

I always had issues with Thompsons striking too, his head used to always be straight up in the air and while at range he was great at getting off the center line he was really susceptible down the middle because he has no guard and didn't move his head. As he got older and slower he definitely improved his boxing and head movement because he had to, Bravo to him for adapting. Also when Thompson shifts he's vulnerable and Woodley kept timing that, Thompson crosses his feet a lot. Always seemed a little suspect to leg kicks and struggled standing vs other rangy guys. Plus Neal busted Thompson up too.
Click to expand...
If Neal mixed up his striking a bit more with some kicks, especially if he goes to the body as a southpaw against orthodox opponents he could do some serious damage.
Dude's talented as hell, but seems to be missing a few key aspects to complete his game.

For Thompson he's definitely improved his hands immensely now in comparison to his UFC debut, it's helped him keep up with the younger guys now that he's forty.
Thompson is susceptible to leg kicks like you said and I would also say even kicks to the body, many of his opponents seemed to be discouraged to mix it up against him though and get caught up in his game.
We saw guys like Pettis and Jorge later in the fight have some success with going to the legs and body on Thompson, it's just a risky game to play against a guy like him on the feet.
 
HuskySamoan said:
He head hunts and he doesn't kick enough, absolutely. But he's long, fast and powerful and he's a southpaw. He's good at range with long straight punches and he can rip combinations in tight too, being good at both ranges means a lot to me. His power carries late into fights and he doesnt telegraph his shots. He also has the physicality to his striking to keep it upright vs guys like Shavkat and Belal.

I always had issues with Thompsons striking too, his head used to always be straight up in the air and while at range he was great at getting off the center line he was really susceptible down the middle because he has no guard and didn't move his head. As he got older and slower he definitely improved his boxing and head movement because he had to, Bravo to him for adapting. Also when Thompson shifts he's vulnerable and Woodley kept timing that, Thompson crosses his feet a lot. Always seemed a little suspect to leg kicks and struggled standing vs other rangy guys. Plus Neal busted Thompson up too.
Click to expand...
Those are just things that higher level strikers would be able to exploit, most fighters wouldn't be able to. Just look at Holland vs WonderBoy's recent fight. Wonderboy would benefit from training more pure boxing and muay thai though. His style would be a lot better with less holes in his game if he would've done that in his fighting career. Shifting can only be exploited if the person shifts during the wrong times and distance. It's no different than any other strike that has you moving forward. It's all about timing, distance, and shot selection. Same reason grapplers level change on straight punches for a takedown, it can be exploited if you time it wrong and use the wrong shot selection at that given moment.
 
Leon
Wonderboy
Usman
Burns
Luque.
Shavkat and Neal close behind those 5.
IMO.

Why is Khamzat on the list?
 
if we're going to say neal, then we have to say shavkat. leon, wonderboy, burns for dropping kamzat. thats it.
 
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