Could a prime Weidman have beaten Izzy?

[GoshiShun17]

Weidman certainly had tools to make it a dangerous fight. But I don't believe he's as good defensively as Marvin on the feet, or as tough.

And before people bring up the Machida fight, it was one fucking fight. Your prime can not be based off one fight.

The things in Weidman's favor is that he'd be the most dangerous ground fighter Adesanya or most middleweights could face. However Izzy would have a speed advantage and is difficult to catch out of position to get the takedown in the first place.

Adesanya has the reach, speed, cardio, and striking advantages. Weidman has a grappling advantage.

It is certainly not a one sided matchup although I can see a one sided result depending on who is able to impose their will.

Israel wanted to fight Weidman by the way, before Jacare KOed him.

 

[Crash Lance]

I hope that Weidman is wise enough to have an MMA fight against Adesanya. It seems to me like 99% of all MMA fighters in the Middleweight Division always want to have a Kickboxing/Glory/K-1/Muay Thai fight against Adesanya.

I have no idea why someone would actually want to have a Kickboxing/Glory/K-1/Muay Thai fight against Adesanya. These MMA fighters are competing in the UFC. In my opinion, they should be trying to force Adesanya to have an MMA fight against them (with every single technique and realm represented).

 

[JKS]

I have no doubts he could

 

[r-harper-1]

Tough fight for Izzy on paper … but I think Weidman would find a way too lose

 

[Mr Fahrenheit]

Izzy brushed of Brunson like it was nothing. My bet is he would do the same to Chris. On the feet it’s not even close.

Jan only took Izzy down, because he mixed it up so well with his striking and because he’s a big MFer

Boy, I don’t know. Brunson was really reckless and wild back then, and he’s never been anywhere near as good as wrestling (or MMA) as peak Weidman. I realize that Anderson, Belfort and Machida weren’t quite at their respective peaks anymore, but if you’re never in danger standing in four fights against those three guys it’s safe to say you can handle yourself standing.

Adesanya is a great fighter but he’s not some ceiling-raising talent for middleweight the way Jones was for light heavyweight (for example, at least in my view).

 

[Bojka]

I wouldn't bet on prime Weidman being natural, but yes I think pre-usada Weidman would win.

 

[Royce's Gi]

Prime, non spinning wheel kick, pre "still my boy" Weidman would pressure Izzy to a decision win. That version of Weidman was savvy enough with his striking and had the chin to avoid the danger on the feet, and had better wrestling than Jan to drag Izzy into a grappling fight

Always enjoyed watching the Prime Non-Spinning Wheel Kick Pre-"Still My Boy"-Weidman in action.

 

[Royce's Gi]

Absolute Force-Weidman could take on everyone.

 

[Mr Fahrenheit]

Izzy brushed of Brunson like it was nothing. My bet is he would do the same to Chris. On the feet it’s not even close.

Jan only took Izzy down, because he mixed it up so well with his striking and because he’s a big MFer

Boy, I don’t know. Brunson was really reckless and wild back then, and he’s never been anywhere near as good as wrestling (or MMA) as peak Weidman. I realize that Anderson, Belfort and Machida weren’t quite at their respective peaks anymore, but if you’re never in danger standing in four fights against those three guys it’s safe to say you can handle yourself standing.

Adesanya is a great fighter but he’s not some ceiling-raising talent for middleweight the way Jones was for light heavyweight (for example, at least in my view).

 

[GOATtalks]

Boy, I don’t know. Brunson was really reckless and wild back then, and he’s never been anywhere near as good as wrestling (or MMA) as peak Weidman. I realize that Anderson, Belfort and Machida weren’t quite at their respective peaks anymore, but if you’re never in danger standing in four fights against those three guys it’s safe to say you can handle yourself standing.

Adesanya is a great fighter but he’s not some ceiling-raising talent for middleweight the way Jones was for light heavyweight (for example, at least in my view).

Have you seen Brunson vs Romero? I could argue Brunson might actually be better at MMA wrestling than Weidman

 

[Crash Lance]

Adesanya is a great fighter but he’s not some ceiling-raising talent for middleweight the way Jones was for light heavyweight (for example, at least in my view).

Adesanya is currently the UFC Middleweight World Champion (with 3 title defences). If he can get to 8, 9, or 10 different title defences, it would be difficult to say that Adesanya ISN'T a ceiling-raising talent for the Middleweight Division.

Michael Bisping is the former UFC Middleweight World Champion (with 1 title defence). Michael also captured The Ultimate Fighter 3 Light Heavyweight Grand Prix Tournament.

Chris Weidman is the former UFC Middleweight World Champion (with 3 title defences).

Luke Rockhold is the former UFC Middleweight World Champion (with 0 title defences).

St-Pierre is the former UFC Middleweight World Champion (with 0 title defences).

Whittaker is the former UFC Middleweight World Champion (with 0 title defences). Robert also captured the INTERIM UFC Middleweight Championship. Robert Whittaker also captured The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes Welterweight Grand Prix Tournament.

Rich Franklin is the former UFC Middleweight World Champion (with 2 title defences).

Murilo Bustamante is the former UFC Middleweight World Champion (with 1 title defence). The fans of Bustamante might say that Murilo has 2 title defences because he stopped Lindland TWICE during Murilo Bustamante vs. Matt Lindland for the UFC Middleweight World Championship.

Besides Anderson Silva, Weidman, Adesanya, Franklin, Michael Bisping (maybe), and Murilo Bustamante (maybe), the Middleweight Division isn't exactly known for having World Champions with extremely long title reigns.

 

[e92m3]

Weidman that fought machida wipes the floor with him. Finishes him on the ground with ease

 

[RockyLockridge]

I'm going with no, Izzy is a much more accurate and quick striker he may also have better cardio and has proven that he has half decent enough anti wrestling to keep Chris off.

 

[pinero]

Probably.he koed silva 2x and look how bad izzy looked on the mat.

"He KOed Silva 2x"

 

[mjfan23]

By prime you mean pre testing era? I don’t know how he will handle no Gyno worried Izzy

 

[DestinedAussie]

Looking through the middleweight rankings, and I'm seeing that there's no really high level wrestlers. I know Izzy fought Romero, but Romero was old and never really used his wrestling; and that was a shit fight altogether.

How would have Izzy done against a prime champion Weidman? The won who beat Silva, Machida, and Belfort back-to-back? Weidman usually had the means to get people to the ground, but he seemed to have issues keeping them there, but when they were there he did some damage. Curious to see how this would have gone. What do you guys think?

You would assume prime Weidman is capable of beating anyone in MW on his day. If he can beat Silva in his prime then he can beat Izzy. Even old man Silva gave Izzy some problems.

 

[pinero]

In his prime, between the 30 and 35 years old he won 1 and lost 5 all for KO, no he wasn't "a force", was slow as a turtle and his only 4 great wins: Silva , Machida and Belfort were against aged fighters., of course that he could beat Adesayana, maybe 1 of 10 if Adesayana breaks his own leg?

 

[abject]

Weidman had an epic chin and the grappling to make life difficult for Izzy. Great fight. Would be close.

 

[HP_Nut]

Styles make fights, its not just about overall how good you are but the stylistic matchup. I think prime Weidman is a difficult fight for Izzy. The top MWs today are not really high level wrestlers. I don't know if the UFC is purposely not signing guys who come from high level wrestling background in the last couple yrs or not, but Brunson & Vettori are not nearly the wrestler that Weidman was. Izzy is a superior striker with very good TDD but he really hasn't come against an elite wrestler actively going for TDs (old man Romero doesn't use his offensive wrestling, probably for fear of gassing out)

 

[Yellowcrab]

Instead I think Fighting Prime is the point where your 'Physical Game along with your mental Game and Experience', all come together.

In some ways but still 38 years old... if you start soccer at 38 years old you might be better at 40 years old, but you will still be 40 years old...

Age is an objective metric and you're not in your physical prime at 38 years old. Once again, you just have to look at the Olympic Games...

More broadly, you don't really see competitive athletes at 38 years old in most of the major sports : NBA, NFL, soccer, tennis, F1, etc.

Weidman was 10 years younger than Anderson, i fail to see what's so impressive, especially since he immediately lost against Rockhold and Romero.

First fight against a decent fighter about the same age (Rockhold) and he lost... that's why his wins against higher caliber fighters who were older are suspicious...