Champ Eddie Alvarez says: "Melendez-Barboza is a Mismatch".

[legkicktko]

Eddie says that having fought Melendez and trained with Barboza, the fight is a mismatch. It is crazy to see that both Frankie and Eddie Alvarez say Barboza has shown only a fraction of how good he actually is. That's pretty unbelievable considering what he just did to Anthony Pettis.

Paul Felder also makes an appearence here, I think its cool that fighters who fought can train together.

 

[mjfan23]

Might be a mismatch the other way if Gilbert clinches/wrestles and pressures him.

 

[Final Say]

Barboza looked damn good against Pettis, but Pettis was a bit overrated and has been broken. If you can box, which Edson showed he can, you can beat Anthony. His hands are very bad.


Still though, Edson is very good and seems to be coming into his own. It's very dangerous when a guy who can kickbox that well also develops some boxing. I can't think of anyone with top level kicks and good boxing in all of mma.

 

[Sonny Qc]

I think GIL win this pretty easily tbh...

 

[JohnyBrabo]

I don't think he's too far off. Barboza is a different guy since he has been training with Mark Henry. Before he had poor lateral movement and no head movement, boxing skills were average. Against Pettis he looked a new man and flashed a devastating mini Roy Jones Jr like left hook.

Giblert is off a year long suspension and we don't know how he will look here. Pressure fighting used to be Edson's kryptonite but with his marked improvements I don't think that's the case anymore. I think he's gonna beat up Melendez bad.

 

[legkicktko]

Barboza looked damn good against Pettis, but Pettis was a bit overrated and has been broken. If you can box, which Edson showed he can, you can beat Anthony. His hands are very bad.


Still though, Edson is very good and seems to be coming into his own. It's very dangerous when a guy who can kickbox that well also develops some boxing. I can't think of anyone with top level kicks and good boxing in all of mma.

People will say Aldo, but his boxing is far overrated.

 

[Cantalope]

I would have picked Gilbert a few years ago but I think He's on the decline.

 

[JohnyBrabo]

I think GIL win this pretty easily tbh...

Think you'll be surprised my man.

 

[legkicktko]

I think GIL win this pretty easily tbh...

Its cool if you think that, I'm not arguing, just discussing.

But what makes you confident considering that Gilbert is coming off a lay off and a failed drug test? His last two fights have been awful and this could be the first time we see him fighting clean.

 

[PivotPunch]

Many fighters are much better in training than when it's actually fight night. Both because they can't perform to their abilities on fight night and because others are the other way around and don't perform 100% in training and only when it matters.

I wouldn#t predict a fight based on gym stories. Guys like Anderson in MMA and Ali in boxing never went 100% when they sparred and goot hit often in training only to win fights against much much better fighters than what they trained with

 

[KhabibTheBeagle]

I think GIL win this pretty easily tbh...

Who has Gil beaten easily in the UFC? Styles make fights, and Gil's pressure could wear on Barboza. However, what will Gil look like coming off a failed drug test?

 

[Moezao]

Barboza by spinning heel kick murder.

 

[hayz]

Gil's about 4 years past his best.

 

[Bend NvR Break]

People will say Aldo, but his boxing is far overrated.

Aldo. Did you see his counter boxing against Frankie? Everyone was saying "Frankie going to box him up. He's improved his boxing ten fold. Did you see Mendes fight? He might do the same to Aldo." Picked Frankie apart. Most complete game in mma since prime Fedor.

Aldo ended up being a +110 UD after starting out -115 pick em. That's how confident people were in Frankie.

 

[bigconan]

Might be a mismatch the other way if Gilbert clinches/wrestles and pressures him.

No. Gilbert is going to get ko'd. He's always been over rated in my book. He lost to thompson in strikeforce, but got a very lucky controversial decision. mma has passed him by. now with usada, the guy will never get another title shot or ever be in another title fight. He's going to get destroyed by Barboza.

 

[KhabibTheBeagle]

Many fighters are much better in training than when it's actually fight night. Both because they can't perform to their abilities on fight night and because others are the other way around and don't perform 100% in training and only when it matters.

I wouldn#t predict a fight based on gym stories. Guys like Anderson in MMA and Ali in boxing never went 100% when they sparred and goot hit often in training only to win fights against much much better fighters than what they trained with

If gym stories carried over to real competition, Mike Pyle and Rick Story would be vying for the title of GOAT

 

[KhabibTheBeagle]

Aldo. Did you see his counter boxing have against Frankie? Everyone was saying "Frankie going to box him up. He's improved his boxing ten fold. Did you see Mendes fight? He might do the same to Aldo." Picked Frankie apart. Most complete game in mma since prime Fedor.

Aldo ended up being a +110 UD street starting out -115 pick em.

Aldo's always had great hands. His jab and sizzling right hand were beautifully demonstrated against Frankie, like you said. I would also argue that Aldo has a more complete game than Fedor, he just prefers to use his grappling to keep it on the feet.

 

[Jay philips]

Gilberts only chance of winning is mean mugging him meaning tie him up and make an ugly fight out of it. Striking with Barboza is not on Gilberts game plan I can tell you that and Eddie should know that.

 

[legkicktko]

Aldo. Did you see his counter boxing have against Frankie? Everyone was saying "Frankie going to box him up. He's improved his boxing ten fold. Did you see Mendes fight? He might do the same to Aldo." Picked Frankie apart. Most complete game in mma since prime Fedor.

Aldo ended up being a +110 UD street starting out -115 pick em. That's how confident people were in Frankie.

His TDD is the greatest of all time, but that is his biggest asset IMO. What won him the fight against Frankie was his TDD and his ability to stick to the gameplan. He laid back and countered which is the way to beat Frankie, If you can keep him from taking you down, which Aldo might be the only fighter who can at that weightclass. That is very commendable.

His boxing isn't bad, but its incredibly simple and he gets clocked a lot when he has to lead. He is effective because he lays back and counters and uses his explosiveness to discourage people from coming in, but he is still nothing on the level of a counter striker like Anderson Silva. Also, I notice that whenever he throws a combo, for the first punch, his technique is clean and he's protected, but the follow up punches are always sloppy and his hands don't return to his face. He's actually pretty similar to Barao in that regard.

Of course, as to what you're talking about with a complete MMA game, you're right. He is one of the most complete fighters in regards to Jiu-Jitsu, Wrestling, and Striking.

 

[Hardkore]

I think GIL win this pretty easily tbh...

Gil has been out for length of time, while Barboza has been very active.
It's a very difficult match up El Niño IMO, im not sure gil will be able to hold Barboza down if he's able to get him down at all.