Can Khamzat still shoot like that past 30?

[188912345]

But we have never seen this ability from him in the UFC. He did ragdoll Hermanson from the clinch in a 10-0 wrestling match though, that‘s true.

We have. He's very good at getting a bodylock and dragging his opponent down and/or trip or lift him. Saw it vs Usman, Burns, Holland and Jingliang for example (who he lifted like a child). He doesn't give up if his first shot fails, he's relentless.

 

[KBE6EKCTAH_CCP]

We have. He's very good at getting a bodylock and dragging his opponent down and/or trip or lift him. Saw it vs Usman, Burns, Holland and Jingliang for example (who he lifted like a child). He doesn't give up if his first shot fails, he's relentless.

Ok but his entry is a single leg from a distance.

 

[188912345]

Ok but his entry is a single leg from a distance.

He faints a jab or overhand, gets his opponent moving backwards, then shoots for one or two legs or just to get a hold of the hips. He's not exclusively shooting that low and far away as he did vs Whittaker.

 

[Sasha]

Khamzat has the best shot in the UFC I think. Of course he has flawless technique but it’s also attributes based. Explosivity, dexterity, hip mobility and speed needed to achieve that shot is not something that fighters keep for a long time in their 30‘s I think.

Khamzat also has excellent top control and this is something that he will keep on improving. But what is Khamzat without his shot? How many fighters have such a shot in their 30‘s?

It's a bit frustrating that he fought so few those last years, his situation is a bit hard to gauge. I'm not sure to what extent this might make his career longer.
I'd wouldn't be too surprised if he stayed physically efficent during his early 30's, and he might try to adapt to less physically demanding plans.
I think that, if he manages to fight more often, he still has time to take the belt and defend it many times. But at 30, if he keeps fighting once/year he really can't afford losing a fight.

 

[KBE6EKCTAH_CCP]

He faints a jab or overhand, gets his opponent moving backwards, then shoots for one or two legs or just to get a hold of the hips. He's not exclusively shooting that low and far away as he did vs Whittaker.

I don t remember him ever shooting in a way that didn t involve distance and explosivity. But maybe i am wrong.

 

[Intermission]

Well, yes, but the question is can he still shoot like that. Not are there alternatives if not.

Yeah but if he can't dominate a washed up Usman he will get found out sooner or later. Todays fighters Arent Good enough.

 

[188912345]

I don t remember him ever shooting in a way that didn t involve distance and explosivity. But maybe i am wrong.

He's had some opportunistic takedowns vs Burns, one where they were standing and banging and he got hurt and he just ducked under from a close distance. He also had a headkick-takedown combo vs Phillips. In his amateur fights he also had a lot more "gritty" takedowns against the fence in a variety of ways, usually by tripping or lifting them.

It's difficult, harder to avoid the shot if you're moving backwards. But also easy to get taken down if you're in too close and pressure too recklessly. I could see Dricus getting taken down easily while overcomitting to a punch or kick, but perhaps he will adapt and be a bit more careful when he's facing someone who wants to take him down.

 

[Paladin]

Khamzat has the best shot in the UFC I think. Of course he has flawless technique but it’s also attributes based. Explosivity, dexterity, hip mobility and speed needed to achieve that shot is not something that fighters keep for a long time in their 30‘s I think.

Khamzat also has excellent top control and this is something that he will keep on improving. But what is Khamzat without his shot? How many fighters have such a shot in their 30‘s?

I feel like he will Tony Ferguson himself out of a title shot.

 

[IndyCovaHart]

Khabib retired at 30...

…

 

[Luckyme]

Many wrestlers turn into strikers as they age (Hendo, Usman, Romero, etc) because explosiveness, which is crucial to wrestling, is one of the first things to go as people grow old.

Hopefully by then Khamzat will develop his striking enough to compensate but he won't be the same fighter anymore if he stops wrestling or uses it only defensively.

 

[Tweak896]

I don't think so, but even guys like Brunson looked pretty good with wrestling in later 30s. Khamzat could change into more of a striker later in his career, but I don't know if he has that special striking like Hendo had. Either way his health problems probably take over before we see old Khamzat in UFC.

 

[wh4tttt]

It's super impressive to see him going for td's that are ground level low like gamrot. Not sure how long you can go that low for but I'm sure as he ages his mid level td's will be just as frightening.

 

[fzoid4454]

Khamzat has the best shot in the UFC I think. Of course he has flawless technique but it’s also attributes based. Explosivity, dexterity, hip mobility and speed needed to achieve that shot is not something that fighters keep for a long time in their 30‘s I think.

Khamzat also has excellent top control and this is something that he will keep on improving. But what is Khamzat without his shot? How many fighters have such a shot in their 30‘s?

I was going to mention how GSP had to have ACL surgery when he was 30, and still was unstoppable on takedowns after he came back, but his main two fights after that were Diaz and Condit, neither of whom were all that good at TD defense, because both were very comfortable off their backs. So, technically, his TDs were still excellent, but we weren't seeing the trademark explosive GSP "power-double" like against Koscheck and Hardy where he'd shoot at center-cage and his TD shot would bounce his opponent into the wall of the cage. But was that age or ACL injury? Or is the ACL waving the white flag at that point a factor of age and the body not being able to keep doing that?

Will be interesting to watch over time and revisit this.

 

[NoSmilez]

It will go away but he can also move up in weight class. 205 is the shitty kickboxing weight class. It doesn't mattter if Khamzat can only shoot 1- 2 takedowns per fight. It's still more than anyone in that division.

 

[mister piscadinha]

It will go away but he can also move up in weight class. 205 is the shitty kickboxing weight class. It doesn't mattter if Khamzat can only shoot 1- 2 takedowns per fight. It's still more than anyone in that division.

wrestling is predicated on strength, when u start givin size ur wrestling becomes less effective

 

[KBE6EKCTAH_CCP]

I was going to mention how GSP had to have ACL surgery when he was 30, and still was unstoppable on takedowns after he came back, but his main two fights after that were Diaz and Condit, neither of whom were all that good at TD defense, because both were very comfortable off their backs. So, technically, his TDs were still excellent, but we weren't seeing the trademark explosive GSP "power-double" like against Koscheck and Hardy where he'd shoot at center-cage and his TD shot would bounce his opponent into the wall of the cage. But was that age or ACL injury? Or is the ACL waving the white flag at that point a factor of age and the body not being able to keep doing that?

Will be interesting to watch over time and revisit this.

The GSP power double requires a lot of explosivity for sure but it doesn t require that much hip dexterity. Have you seen the shit Khamzat does?

 

[Ara tech]

Khamzat is in his prime, he should get the belt very soon.