Best strikers in the WW division.

[HuskySamoan]

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.

It's interesting how development works, Neal trains at a great gym and has a natural aptitude for striking and really...hes been one of the "best strikers" at 170lbs for years. Even in his loss to Holland from what I remember he got the better of the striking exchanges for most of the fight and got worn out from the grappling and clinching late in the fight. Improvement comes out of necessity, if something exists in harmony with an ecosystem it will stay relatively the same for millions of years without much or any evolution. Outside of the Thompson fight I don't think Neal has ever been outstruck and certainly not by someone who pressured him and stayed in his face to exchange all night like Shavkat. I think if Neal needed to incorporate body work or more active kicking, he probably would have already but he didn't need to so he hasn't. Any southpaw who doesn't have a powerful and active body kick is crazy. Also to have such crisp and tight punching in the power and not do body work? Crazy.

 

[DoubleTrouble]

Who are the top 5 best strikers at WW

my list in no particular order

Leon
Shavkat
Wonderboy
Khamzat
Neal

I'd put Gilbert up there too tbh

 

[kingJohn]

Wonderboy not being consensus #1 is crazy. Also, people really rate Leon's striking that high? He's good all around but I never rated him super high on pure striking.

 

[OldBoy91]

Lol at Khamzat

Leon Edwards
Wonderboy
Jack Della Maddalena
Geoff Neal
Shavkat

 

[OldBoy91]

Wonderboy not being consensus #1 is crazy. Also, people really rate Leon's striking that high? He's good all around but I never rated him super high on pure striking.

Edwards has outstruck everybody he's fought for the most part.

He might not have many flashy knockouts but he has good hands, good kicks, is defensively sound, has fantastic shot selection.

At worst he's the third best striker in the division after Wonderboy and maybe JDM, though I'd back him to beat both due to his well roundedness.

 

[pankrat]

I'd put Gilbert up there too tbh

wtf Gilbert or Khamzat

Gilbert has good striking for the caliber of grappler he is, which is what makes him elite in MMA, but not that great compared to striking specialists.
He needed to rely on his wrestling to beat Kunchenko, who outstruck him and actually had him limping and battered him in the 3rd.

 

[witt1021]

shavkat has literally zero head movement. and while getting hit in the face with no movement presses forward. that is not great boxing by any means. if he imporves that one aspect of his game he will be very difficult to defeat.

 

[chinarice]

Leon
Wonderboy
Usman
Burns
Luque.
Shavkat and Neal close behind those 5.
IMO.

Why is Khamzat on the list?

Why is Khamzat not on the list but the guy he beat in a standup fight is?

Zero sense was made on this day

 

[Cpt Migraine]

Even while 40 years old i'm not putting a striker above wonderboy at ww.. wonderboys manager amd the ufc matchmakers might hate him but he puts a clinic on anyone except a shot pettis..

 

[Poatan]

McGregor
Wonderboy
Leon
Usman
Burns

 

[pankrat]

McGregor
Wonderboy
Leon
Usman
Burns

6/10 troll job

 

[BruhBruh]

Why is Khamzat not on the list but the guy he beat in a standup fight is?

Zero sense was made on this day

Burns stand up better than Khamzat IMO, more accurate and calculated. Khamzats forward pressure is effective but reckless. I think all round Gilbert is more technical, offensively and defensively.

 

[swimba]

 

[chinarice]

Burns stand up better than Khamzat IMO, more accurate and calculated. Khamzats forward pressure is effective but reckless. I think all round Gilbert is more technical, offensively and defensively.

I don't see it. Seems no more technical than Khamzat's.