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I'm baffled by Sherdog's overwhelming support of Jones in this one. This fight is going to be very close - I have it a 50/50, even slightly in favor of DC, and here's why:
1. Anyone who says Jones "dominated" the first fight needs to rewatch it or check their bias. It was a close fight, and Jones was at the top of his game. DC, imo, was not, and still managed to take some rounds and be effective against Jones.
2. DC is in a different place mentally. While Jones was off rebuilding his life and image, DC conquered Rumble and Gus (Jones' toughest fight). This gives him the confidence to know he is truly special at 205. The first time around, DC was blabbering about "teach me how to lose" and was extremely nervous leading up to and during the fight, by his own admission. Now, he has many fewer questions; he knows how strong Jones is, knows how hard he hits, and knows that he can hang with the very best at 205.
3. DC has had Cain in camp this time around. Not having his most vital training partner to push him daily was a bane previously. This is a major advantage in my books, and one that cannot be understated.
4. Jones was at the top of his game in their last outing; this time around, it's anyone's guess as to how he'll look. Imo, the performance he gave against OSP does not indicate a Jones at the top of his game, which makes sense given the layoff. Cormier would have likely won that night. Regardless, it's reasonable to assume he won't be firing on all cylinders like he was the first time around. This simply being a question rather than a certainty is an advantage for DC.
All in all, due to the above, I have this fight being an all-out war. If you put a gun to my head, I'd favor DC, and to even favor anyone over Jones is a huge statement. He has the power and tenacity to get inside and cause some real damage, and the wrestling to avoid being completely tossed around by Jones. If there was any crack in his armor, it was his cardio, but the renewed mental fortitude and Cain in-camp will absolutely help shore that up. I am insanely excited to see how this one turns out, and despite the thread title, welcome any discussion.
1. Anyone who says Jones "dominated" the first fight needs to rewatch it or check their bias. It was a close fight, and Jones was at the top of his game. DC, imo, was not, and still managed to take some rounds and be effective against Jones.
2. DC is in a different place mentally. While Jones was off rebuilding his life and image, DC conquered Rumble and Gus (Jones' toughest fight). This gives him the confidence to know he is truly special at 205. The first time around, DC was blabbering about "teach me how to lose" and was extremely nervous leading up to and during the fight, by his own admission. Now, he has many fewer questions; he knows how strong Jones is, knows how hard he hits, and knows that he can hang with the very best at 205.
3. DC has had Cain in camp this time around. Not having his most vital training partner to push him daily was a bane previously. This is a major advantage in my books, and one that cannot be understated.
4. Jones was at the top of his game in their last outing; this time around, it's anyone's guess as to how he'll look. Imo, the performance he gave against OSP does not indicate a Jones at the top of his game, which makes sense given the layoff. Cormier would have likely won that night. Regardless, it's reasonable to assume he won't be firing on all cylinders like he was the first time around. This simply being a question rather than a certainty is an advantage for DC.
All in all, due to the above, I have this fight being an all-out war. If you put a gun to my head, I'd favor DC, and to even favor anyone over Jones is a huge statement. He has the power and tenacity to get inside and cause some real damage, and the wrestling to avoid being completely tossed around by Jones. If there was any crack in his armor, it was his cardio, but the renewed mental fortitude and Cain in-camp will absolutely help shore that up. I am insanely excited to see how this one turns out, and despite the thread title, welcome any discussion.
