Fights where we call cope and act like the fighter we are rooting for has a real chance to win.

[GordoBarraBJJ]

Like Jones vs Shogun for example, where deep down we all knew Jones was going to dismantle him, but we wanted Shogun to win so bad that we started dreaming up delusional scenarios like Shogun chopping him down with leg kicks.

Ank vs Poatan - the idea that an aging one dimensional striker was going to beat a well rounded MMA fighter in his prime.

People act like this was some one-sided beatdown when it was a close decision loss that could have gone Alex's way and boiled down to how you scored one round (round 3).

 

[AndrewGolota48]

People act like this was some one-sided beatdown when it was a close decision loss that could have gone Alex's way and boiled down to how you scored one round (round 3).

Maybe technically, on paper. But if you watched the fight honestly, Poatan was completely shut down, didn't do a damn thing the entire fight, was FROZEN. Ank almost knocked him out. If anything I'd say it wasn't as close as the numbers make it seem.

 

[Steve Fox]

Adesanya vs Costa

All the machos thought Adesanya would be folded by Costa, we know who folded who, literally.

 

[Ares Black]

I changed my mind after this thread because I saw Aspinall vs Stuart Austin and then realized that Tom has no idea how to use his size advantage in grappling so it's not nearly the obstacle I thought it was. Austin is much smaller than Jones, with a 30 lb deficit to Aspinall, but still ragdolled him.

And grappling was Tom's base and first martial art that he trained for many many years prior to that fight so the excuse that he was "only" the same age as Jones when Jones won the UFC belt, doesn't seem like a valid excuse.

You changed your mind based on a fight from ten years ago?

 

[AndrewGolota48]

You changed your mind based on a fight from ten years ago?

Yes, considering that grappling is Tom's base, why not? This is not the same thing as judging grappling ability from Pereira's early MMA fights and using it to analyze current fights, Tom had already been training for many many years since a young age, as his father was an MMA fighter.

He is simply much more talented with MMA boxing than he is grappling, what's so crazy about that. It's enough to make me think that the grappling MMA GOAT will be able to exploit his weakness, even if he's past prime. It's not like every fighter becomes leaps and bounds better at every aspect of MMA just because time goes by. Jake Shields never turned into a great striker, Heath Herring never developed TDD, Justin Gaethje never turned into a BJJ wiz etc. Fighters are more naturally talented at certain aspects.

 

[HHJ]

Yes, considering that grappling is Tom's base, why not? This is not the same thing as judging grappling ability from Pereira's early MMA fights and using it to analyze current fights, Tom had already been training for many many years since a young age, as his father was an MMA fighter.

He is simply much more talented with MMA boxing than he is grappling, what's so crazy about that. It's enough to make me think that the grappling MMA GOAT will be able to exploit his weakness, even if he's past prime. It's not like every fighter becomes leaps and bounds better at every aspect of MMA just because time goes by. Jake Shields never turned into a great striker, Heath Herring never developed TDD, Justin Gaethje never turned into a BJJ wiz etc. Fighters are more naturally talented at certain aspects.

Grappling is Khamzat's base and you all thought he'd gas out in 5 rds based on his past fights. But he didn't.

 

[Ares Black]

Yes, considering that grappling is Tom's base, why not?

Because it was ten fucking years ago

 

[AndrewGolota48]

Grappling is Khamzat's base and you all thought he'd gas out in 5 rds based on his past fights. But he didn't.

You can check my post history, I sure as heck didn't think that, blatant squash match.

Well shit, even easier than that, this thread was made before that fight happened and you can see that I included it for that reason....

 

[WoozyFailGuy]

Like Jones vs Shogun for example, where deep down we all knew Jones was going to dismantle him, but we wanted Shogun to win so bad that we started dreaming up delusional scenarios like Shogun chopping him down with leg kicks.

I'll admit I thought that Shogun was going to catch him in a scramble after Jon started mixing it up with wrestling post leg kicks.

That wasn't a bad call at the time IMO. Jones' best win up until that point was fellow undefeated prospect Ryan Bader.

 

[BFoe]

For me, the Fedor-Bader fights. I knew what was gonna happen, just hoped that Fedor could find a way.

 

[AndrewGolota48]

I'll admit I thought that Shogun was going to catch him in a scramble after Jon started mixing it up with wrestling post leg kicks.

That wasn't a bad call at the time IMO. Jones' best win up until that point was fellow undefeated prospect Ryan Bader.
View attachment 1110841

You're actually proving my point with this, the fans were coping that Shogun would win but the more objective Vegas odds had Jones as a good favorite.

I know because I loved Shogun and hated Jones back then, so those are actually the fights I'm always the most confident about picking, because what happens is that I literally can't find any way to cope and convince myself that who I want to win will win. There was no way I could imagine Shogun with his shit TDD having anything to resist Jones, who was twice his size and had a devastating top game. I did not think Jones would dominate on the feet like he did though.

 

[AndrewGolota48]

Because it was ten fucking years ago

Haha yes normally it would not be my first choice to use a fight that old, but I described why, and also due to the fact that Tom has an incredibly small amount of fight tape to judge his defensive grappling on.

 

[Ares Black]

Haha yes normally it would not be my first choice to use a fight that old, but I described why, and also due to the fact that Tom has an incredibly small amount of fight tape to judge his defensive grappling on.

Yes, an incredibly small amount of fight tape from ten years ago

 

[GordoBarraBJJ]

Maybe technically, on paper. But if you watched the fight honestly, Poatan was completely shut down, didn't do a damn thing the entire fight, was FROZEN. Ank almost knocked him out. If anything I'd say it wasn't as close as the numbers make it seem.

Almost knocked him out, YOu mean the off balance stumble. On paper? What fucking fight did you watch. Again, it was a close fight that many thought Alex won - not some one-sided beatdown that "shutting down" suggests.

 

[AndrewGolota48]

Almost knocked him out, YOu mean the off balance stumble. On paper? What fucking fight did you watch. Again, it was a close fight that many thought Alex won - not some one-sided beatdown that "shutting down" suggests.

All right this has to be a parody of the coping clown "uneducated fans" that even Nancy Boy called out.

 

[mkess101]

Because it was ten fucking years ago

Counterpoint: TS is a retard.

Checkmate!

 

[ElLunico]

Also I know how dangerous Poatan is. Its a dangerous fight for anyone.

I just thought the general sentiment that Big Ank has NO CHANCE, that he's not good enough to win, was fuckin crazy!

I dont get mad at no one picking Poatan, but the shit some people were saying, completley overlookin the guy for his lack of flashy moves and pro wrestling promos.... I had to sound the horn for the Owl legions to rise!

Yup the shit the Poatards were saying before that fight was the dumbest and most outrageous take I've read in here for a while

 

[ElLunico]

Almost knocked him out, YOu mean the off balance stumble. On paper? What fucking fight did you watch. Again, it was a close fight that many thought Alex won - not some one-sided beatdown that "shutting down" suggests.

Lol who are these " many " that thought Alex won? He barely landed anything in that fight. ZERO of significance lol.

 

[Pequeño Corey]

There wasnt any reason to not expect a competitive fight between Islam and Oliveria.

I dont think its a mismatch on paper at all. I dont think anyone was really saying that beforehand.

Im a huge Bathtub Bridgade fan but I was actually surprised how easy that fight was for Islam.

Bathtub Brigade and The Owl's Nest

 

[HHJ]

Bathtub Brigade and The Owl's Nest

HOOTHOOT*