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Today:[USA MMA Scene]
MYTH : Groovy´s main holes in his game are his Striking Defense and his Cardio.
Note: this thread can be seen as an extension of these ones:
https://forums.sherdog.com/threads/...ths-part-5-the-true-evolution-of-mma.3807975/
https://forums.sherdog.com/threads/deconstructing-mma-myths-part-24-carlson´s-silence.3879035/
B4 his UFC run, Groovy fought in several regional events:
Mescalero Warrior Challenge 2
Kamikaze Fight League 2
Xtreme FC 25: Boiling Point
Pancrase 255
Jackson's MMA Series 13
Nemesis Promotions: High Altitude Face Off 7
RFA 32
TSE: Rocky Mountain Rubicon 2
Besides the 'special' El Cucuy fight (short notice fight, as a rookie in the UFC), that he lost while bein´game during the whole fight, he fought 5 other times in the UFC (earnin´1 POTN & 3 FOTN):
2 [competitive] losses vs Klose & Teymur
2 Draws vs Green (controversial) & Frevola
1 [quick] win vs Makdessi
Groovy has a wrasslin´background, but transitionned to MMA as an unorthodox striker, basically..
When he fought El Cucuy, he was still a Purple Belt in BJJ.
The recurrent narrative about Groovy´s shortcomings, since he started his UFC career, seems to be all about his Striking Defense or his cardio.
The truth is, these 2 elements are more consequences than causes of his shortcomings...
His paradox is pretty similar to Vitor Gracie´s one after he fought Wand: while havin´the tools to develop a truly well-rounded game, Vitor opted to rely solely on his striking game, forgettin´about the ground game and potential transitions that could win him the fight, or at least give him the round.
> See in this other Decons Thread:
https://forums.sherdog.com/threads/deconstructing-mma-myths-part-24-carlson´s-silence.3879035/
Groovy has legit athletism and decent transitions when it comes to his defensive grappling:
But his transitions on the offensive end are strikingly hesitant and lacks 'conviction', to say the least...
Even when he initiates the grappling exchange, he seems to never fully commit to a potential offensive transition...
In short, he´s got a striker´s mindset since he joined the UFC, while he had a quite a well-rounded game b4 (4 submission wins > RNC/Heel Hook/Arm Triangle Choke)
In all the tough fights where he got really challenged (Reese [legit wrassler - ATT] in Xtreme FC 25,
El Cucuy/Teymur/Green/Klose/Frevola in UFC), he got some 13 rather dominant grappling positions where :
1/ He inflicted zero damage (GNP or havin´his opponent´s back against the fence, absolutely no knees for instance), except once against Green (but Green was already hurt when he hit the ground)...
2/ He failed to pass guard or transition to a better position.
3/ He failed to threaten with a legit submission, even when he got his opponent´s back on the ground.
1 out of 13.
> Cant post these 13 Gifs here in the OP, so look for them in the 2nd/3rd post of this thread.
This doesnt mean that this 'hole' in his game/mindset cost him the fights, but he could have potentially secured the round (and these grapplin´exchanges are quite problematic since he´s the one who sometimes initiates them > consequences on his cardio).
Now, his striking is obviously what made him interesting since he joined the UFC, so it would be foolish to ask him to completely change his game, go full Ground Control...
Still, Groovy´s got to evolve since he himself admitted that he cant cut to FW, and the [sad] reality of Modern MMA is all about weight-cuttin´ (Game is @ an all-time low...).
Groovy is not a small LW, he´s a natural one, but now @ LW you have guys like Chiesa, Khabib, El Cucuy who are not true LWs, realistically...
Hence, gettin´a new contract is not enough, Groovy has to think about his evolution as a MMArtist: Gettin´ a new camp has been necessary since the Klose fight.
Time to...
Shout-out to da Groovy Crew!:
@Air Lats @anacondavise @Andzso @ArtOfDrowning @Bacco @Ballsaque @BC @bigwaverider @beefcake180 @billharford @charalsias @chinarice @Chivas GDL @clumseygenius @Codpiece @Dana_is_your_GOD @DaPunkMinowaMan @Davey Crockett @Dead Kennedy @ditchbankbandit @djolegeorgee @Dragon Punch @drbolony @DS7 @ejazahmednit @ElCasca @El Che @Elmonstro1 @Erocthadon @Essie @Flex Plexico @FranOlivetto @FrontNakedChoke @Gabe @glenwo2 @GOD...frey Jones @Haj01 @Herwald @hot carl @Huligani @HwoarangStyle @ImNotSurpisedDonks! @Irritated Tomcat @James Baller @Jkaylor @kammfreudenstei @Kaybee @Ken Fresno @knowsitall @Kwic @Kristian82 @KYS @Loko3 @LouisBolanos @MacGregor @Magnum1978 @mayorcrazyeyes @Mike @mikehunt @mirellale @MonkeyGirl @Moretti @Morris88 @Myrddin Wild @NationWideNinja @NinjaNiK @number 9 @Oliver Clothesoff @One MMA Fan @Ottawaguy @OxSxM @Pakman @paynebringer @phunky @politozx7r @PoundMeToo @Psychedelic @qw3rty @Rittsy @RoyJonesJr @Sage NorthGOAT @SakuWandyCop @sangreporsangre @Schoolboy Q @scorpipede @SenorFranko @Sgt Smith @Shamrocker @shertardinho @SimonNova @sirmorbach @Skirm @Slobodan @Soul On Ice @Spinning S**t @Summoning @Swarthy @Teh_Lulz7 @TGArthur @The Best JG @The High Priest @Toco @Tomasz79 @toronto1994 @Übermacht @Valhoven @Warh3z @WarVitor @Workaholic @Yashabo @ZackZed @Zap @2GunTommy @315MMAFighter
MYTH : Groovy´s main holes in his game are his Striking Defense and his Cardio.
Note: this thread can be seen as an extension of these ones:
https://forums.sherdog.com/threads/...ths-part-5-the-true-evolution-of-mma.3807975/
https://forums.sherdog.com/threads/deconstructing-mma-myths-part-24-carlson´s-silence.3879035/
B4 his UFC run, Groovy fought in several regional events:
Mescalero Warrior Challenge 2
Kamikaze Fight League 2
Xtreme FC 25: Boiling Point
Pancrase 255
Jackson's MMA Series 13
Nemesis Promotions: High Altitude Face Off 7
RFA 32
TSE: Rocky Mountain Rubicon 2
Besides the 'special' El Cucuy fight (short notice fight, as a rookie in the UFC), that he lost while bein´game during the whole fight, he fought 5 other times in the UFC (earnin´1 POTN & 3 FOTN):
2 [competitive] losses vs Klose & Teymur
2 Draws vs Green (controversial) & Frevola
1 [quick] win vs Makdessi
Groovy has a wrasslin´background, but transitionned to MMA as an unorthodox striker, basically..
When he fought El Cucuy, he was still a Purple Belt in BJJ.
The recurrent narrative about Groovy´s shortcomings, since he started his UFC career, seems to be all about his Striking Defense or his cardio.
The truth is, these 2 elements are more consequences than causes of his shortcomings...
His paradox is pretty similar to Vitor Gracie´s one after he fought Wand: while havin´the tools to develop a truly well-rounded game, Vitor opted to rely solely on his striking game, forgettin´about the ground game and potential transitions that could win him the fight, or at least give him the round.
> See in this other Decons Thread:
https://forums.sherdog.com/threads/deconstructing-mma-myths-part-24-carlson´s-silence.3879035/
Groovy has legit athletism and decent transitions when it comes to his defensive grappling:
But his transitions on the offensive end are strikingly hesitant and lacks 'conviction', to say the least...
Even when he initiates the grappling exchange, he seems to never fully commit to a potential offensive transition...
In short, he´s got a striker´s mindset since he joined the UFC, while he had a quite a well-rounded game b4 (4 submission wins > RNC/Heel Hook/Arm Triangle Choke)
In all the tough fights where he got really challenged (Reese [legit wrassler - ATT] in Xtreme FC 25,
El Cucuy/Teymur/Green/Klose/Frevola in UFC), he got some 13 rather dominant grappling positions where :
1/ He inflicted zero damage (GNP or havin´his opponent´s back against the fence, absolutely no knees for instance), except once against Green (but Green was already hurt when he hit the ground)...
2/ He failed to pass guard or transition to a better position.
3/ He failed to threaten with a legit submission, even when he got his opponent´s back on the ground.
1 out of 13.
> Cant post these 13 Gifs here in the OP, so look for them in the 2nd/3rd post of this thread.
This doesnt mean that this 'hole' in his game/mindset cost him the fights, but he could have potentially secured the round (and these grapplin´exchanges are quite problematic since he´s the one who sometimes initiates them > consequences on his cardio).
Now, his striking is obviously what made him interesting since he joined the UFC, so it would be foolish to ask him to completely change his game, go full Ground Control...
Still, Groovy´s got to evolve since he himself admitted that he cant cut to FW, and the [sad] reality of Modern MMA is all about weight-cuttin´ (Game is @ an all-time low...).
Groovy is not a small LW, he´s a natural one, but now @ LW you have guys like Chiesa, Khabib, El Cucuy who are not true LWs, realistically...
Hence, gettin´a new contract is not enough, Groovy has to think about his evolution as a MMArtist: Gettin´ a new camp has been necessary since the Klose fight.
Time to...
Shout-out to da Groovy Crew!:
@Air Lats @anacondavise @Andzso @ArtOfDrowning @Bacco @Ballsaque @BC @bigwaverider @beefcake180 @billharford @charalsias @chinarice @Chivas GDL @clumseygenius @Codpiece @Dana_is_your_GOD @DaPunkMinowaMan @Davey Crockett @Dead Kennedy @ditchbankbandit @djolegeorgee @Dragon Punch @drbolony @DS7 @ejazahmednit @ElCasca @El Che @Elmonstro1 @Erocthadon @Essie @Flex Plexico @FranOlivetto @FrontNakedChoke @Gabe @glenwo2 @GOD...frey Jones @Haj01 @Herwald @hot carl @Huligani @HwoarangStyle @ImNotSurpisedDonks! @Irritated Tomcat @James Baller @Jkaylor @kammfreudenstei @Kaybee @Ken Fresno @knowsitall @Kwic @Kristian82 @KYS @Loko3 @LouisBolanos @MacGregor @Magnum1978 @mayorcrazyeyes @Mike @mikehunt @mirellale @MonkeyGirl @Moretti @Morris88 @Myrddin Wild @NationWideNinja @NinjaNiK @number 9 @Oliver Clothesoff @One MMA Fan @Ottawaguy @OxSxM @Pakman @paynebringer @phunky @politozx7r @PoundMeToo @Psychedelic @qw3rty @Rittsy @RoyJonesJr @Sage NorthGOAT @SakuWandyCop @sangreporsangre @Schoolboy Q @scorpipede @SenorFranko @Sgt Smith @Shamrocker @shertardinho @SimonNova @sirmorbach @Skirm @Slobodan @Soul On Ice @Spinning S**t @Summoning @Swarthy @Teh_Lulz7 @TGArthur @The Best JG @The High Priest @Toco @Tomasz79 @toronto1994 @Übermacht @Valhoven @Warh3z @WarVitor @Workaholic @Yashabo @ZackZed @Zap @2GunTommy @315MMAFighter
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