Jay Jay
Blue Belt
- Joined
- Sep 29, 2012
- Messages
- 532
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I feel his multiple hip surgeries have really diminished his grappling ability. And his durability has also taken a hit from all the damage he's taken.
That said, I honestly feel like his boxing has looked tighter and more refined than ever before. Or is this simply an illusion from Nog being matched up against poor strikers lately?
And on a tangentially related note, here is how I feel about Werdum/Nog matchup:
I believe Werdum has a definitive advantage in BJJ. Their grappling was about even when they met in PRIDE, but Werdum has continued to compete at the highest level in ADCC through the decade (placing 2nd in his most recent competition - ADCC 2011 where in he lost against Vinny in the finals after nearly submitting him) whereas Big Nog has stop competing in submission grappling at the highest level. Plus, his multiple hip surgeries have clearly hindered his hip motion and all those therapies have taken away time he dedicated to honing up his BJJ - it's evident in the way he grapples as of late, whereas Werdum is a lot smoother and seamless with his transitions
Werdum has also improved his Muay Thai dramatically by working under Rafael Cordeiro and I think it's definitely fair to peg Werdum as a solid favorite over Big Nog. That said, I wouldn't be totally surprised if Big Nog outstrikes Werdum on the feet. It may even force Werdum to go for takedowns and partake in a grappling exchange, which is where I feel Werdum's advantage is more evident
TL DR: Werdum may not necessarily have a striking advantage over Big Nog. In fact, Werdum's advantage on the ground is more apparent based on observing each of their techniques on the ground in their recent fights.
That said, I honestly feel like his boxing has looked tighter and more refined than ever before. Or is this simply an illusion from Nog being matched up against poor strikers lately?
And on a tangentially related note, here is how I feel about Werdum/Nog matchup:
I believe Werdum has a definitive advantage in BJJ. Their grappling was about even when they met in PRIDE, but Werdum has continued to compete at the highest level in ADCC through the decade (placing 2nd in his most recent competition - ADCC 2011 where in he lost against Vinny in the finals after nearly submitting him) whereas Big Nog has stop competing in submission grappling at the highest level. Plus, his multiple hip surgeries have clearly hindered his hip motion and all those therapies have taken away time he dedicated to honing up his BJJ - it's evident in the way he grapples as of late, whereas Werdum is a lot smoother and seamless with his transitions
Werdum has also improved his Muay Thai dramatically by working under Rafael Cordeiro and I think it's definitely fair to peg Werdum as a solid favorite over Big Nog. That said, I wouldn't be totally surprised if Big Nog outstrikes Werdum on the feet. It may even force Werdum to go for takedowns and partake in a grappling exchange, which is where I feel Werdum's advantage is more evident
TL DR: Werdum may not necessarily have a striking advantage over Big Nog. In fact, Werdum's advantage on the ground is more apparent based on observing each of their techniques on the ground in their recent fights.
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