Don't see how luke Competes at LHW

[revoltub]

At MW, he had a relative length and reach advantage. However, this advantage was negated by smaller guys (Romero, Bisping) who had better relative boxing skills.

At LHW, he is going to lose that length advantage (esp. vs Gus), while also being at a huge boxing disadvantage.

Idk how he can expect to win at LHW with without hiz height advantage and with weak boxing, if he couldn't capitalize against smaller guys.

At LHW his lack of boxing plays a bigger factor and his biggest advantage is gone.

I dont expect Rochold to stay at LHW for long. He shouldve stayed at MW imo.

 

[Ilovepizza]

LHW Rockhold

 

[Deleted member 519031]

Interdesting

 

[SirKratos]

Not saying there aren't holes in his boxing, But at MW some of his losses were against fighters with crazy speed who beat him to the punch (Romero and TRT Belfort), and LHW's are generally much more slower than agile MW's.

 

[revoltub]

Not saying there aren't holes in his boxing, But at MW some of his losses were against fighters with crazy speed who beat him to the punch (Romero and TRT Belfort), and LHW's are generally much more slower than agile MW's.

True but luke isn't the fastest guy either.

 

[Skizofrenetico]

kicks + grappling

And he looks like a natural LHW maybe he gains power and performs better at that weight.

 

[Clear Winner]

I can't see him doing too well, but most didn't see RDA doing that well at WW (especially seeing how he lost the LW belt) or Ceronne doing quite well at WW either.

What we do know is that he was cutting A LOT of weight to make 185 and he should feel better if he isn't cutting it.

 

[Bogeyman]

He's normal size for a light heavyweight. Add to that the division is much weaker than middleweight, he is making a good decision.

 

[smiles mma]

He might not be a title contender out of the gate, but there are some good match ups like Shogun that he could make money off of before he makes a run at the big boys.

 

[Deleted member 498977]

He might not be a title contender out of the gate, but there are some good match ups like Shogun that he could make money off of before he makes a run at the big boys.

Good tune up fight vs Shogun.

If he works on his boxing, SC, then he could be a contender there.

 

[thisISjoel]

Hard to say with 100% confidence, as maybe not having to cut as much weight will dramatically improve him, but I suspect he gets KTFO by the top guys at 205.

 

[Bestonian]

I didn't imagine Big Rigg missing weight at MW either, but hey, everything is possible if you conceive, believe, achieve.

 

[One MMA Fan]

Yea cause LHW is so deep... c'mon now he is top 3 by default.

Maybe the cut really messed him up and will do better at 205 with his age going up.

 

[Breaking]

There’ll be a lot of this...

 

[Fstepp]

Could be a good decision, he has good kicks and great groundgame.

 

[Thaijitsu612]

True but luke isn't the fastest guy either.

He'll be faster then almost all lhws and the skill level at lhw is lower too. Outside of dc and Gus lhw is garbage.

Not to mention the less drastic weight cut could improve his performance.

 

[Kal Drago]

Will probably look a lot stronger initially with a more forgiving weight cut. The bigger men's punches to his jaw however...that won't end well.

 

[biscuitsbrah]

Gus is a nightmare for him. But look at these rankings though:

LHT HEAVYWEIGHT

Champion : Daniel Cormier
1 Alexander Gustafsson
2 Volkan Oezdemir
3 Glover Teixeira
4 Ilir Latifi
5 Jan Blachowicz
6 Jimi Manuwa
7 Mauricio Rua
7 Ovince Saint Preux
9 Corey Anderson
10 Misha Cirkunov
11 Patrick Cummins
12 Tyson Pedro
13 Gadzhimurad Antigulov
14 Gian Villante
15 Jordan Johnson

lol.
With Jones and Rumble gone, Cormier and Oezdemir his teammates, the only person outside of Gus who could possibly beat him is Latifi

 

[Ilovepizza]

Gus is a nightmare for him. But look at these rankings though:

LHT HEAVYWEIGHT

Champion : Daniel Cormier
1 Alexander Gustafsson
2 Volkan Oezdemir
3 Glover Teixeira
4 Ilir Latifi
5 Jan Blachowicz
6 Jimi Manuwa
7 Mauricio Rua
7 Ovince Saint Preux
9 Corey Anderson
10 Misha Cirkunov
11 Patrick Cummins
12 Tyson Pedro
13 Gadzhimurad Antigulov
14 Gian Villante
15 Jordan Johnson

lol.
With Jones and Rumble gone, Cormier and Oezdemir his teammates, the only person outside of Gus who could possibly beat him is Latifi

He wants the title and he cant get past Gus.

 

[MusterX]

Hard to say with 100% confidence, as maybe not having to cut as much weight will dramatically improve him, but I suspect he gets KTFO by the top guys at 205.

There are no top guys at 205 which is why I suspect he thinks the move is a good one. Bones is out, DC has moved to HW and is going to retire soon, and Rumble is retired. Rockhold has very little to worry about other than Gus.