Not too surprised at the outcome, even though I wanted DC to win - my mind was telling me Jones would probably take it. Although I have to say it was an extremely competitive fight between the two.
I had Cormier taking round 1, 2 & 3 tbh - although I think the better fighter won. I think Cormier had the right kind of approach, the first two rounds were a real eye opener - I feel as though if Cormier was able to have maintained that intensity, he might have pulled through and won. If anyone watched Jones carefully at the end of each of two first rounds, after he sat back on his stool - there was a bit of concealed panic in his corner and Jones himself looked mentally debilitated, like he couldn't believe what was happening.
Jones wasn't able to establish his range/reach throughout (very few times he established it but wasn't able to maintain it) and in many cases ended up fighting at Cormier's range whether willingly or because of Cormier's constant pressure. Jones managed to really mix up his shots well and those elbows/takedown defence was on point - although I'd say that his kicking game went out of the window, with the exception of 1 or 2 good knees/body kicks and the occasional oblique kick - much of it was sloppy or parried by Cormier.
I think what turned the tide was Cormier gas tank - he simply ran out of energy after the third round, very little output striking wise thereon and didn't even have enough left in him to defend the subsequent takedowns. He looked very exhausted - I honestly didn't realise his cardio was as bad as that - I mean after the third round his corner had to repeatedly tell him to pick his head up & wake up.
I think that Cormier's lack of energy is what helped Jones to re-establish control for the rest of the fight and led him on course to the UD - tbh I was expecting a split decision, it was much closer than people thought, don't think that was a UD at all.
It's a shame because I think if Cormier had a better gas tank/cardio - he might have actually pulled through and won, in fact if he had maintained the intensity/output of the early rounds - I'm pretty confident he could have done it.
But I think this along with the Gustafson fight showed a very vulnerable side of Jones - there were times in there he looked very vulnerable - I think it might only be a matter of time till we see him lose that belt for the first time.
On another note - did anyone watch Horiguchi's fight?
That fight was technical karate at it's finest in MMA (excluding Machida) - very few technical karateka of that calibre/ability in MMA atm. Everything about his stand-up screamed karate - the beautifully timed kizami zuki which he landed quite a few times was like a piston, the kizami/gyaku tsuki combo was on point as well. Definitely going to do a write up on that dude.
Agree...Jones was able to hold up...personally I think Cormier cardio was a result of the toughness of the fight..usually he gets guys in those positions and controls them...out works them..runs away with the fight.
silva mir Barnett nelson Cummins henderson didn't have the ability skills dimensions to make him have to work in those areas...he had his way with each and every one of them. He made it tough on jones...but he couldn't maintain the pace activity FIGHTING THE FIGHT HE WANTED...
he eliminated the kicks...got inside on jones and couldn't do what he did in every other fight which was take over...he did great work...but it impacted him as much as it did jones...it was a grinding up physical fight and cormier couldn't maintain the pace mental or physical to win.
Jones gutted through and pulled away late...gus glover dc have taken things away from jones..landed on jones and got fights where they wanted; each guy did good early..did good in spots. None we free able to maintain it over five or do enough to finish in the moment where they did their best work.
As for the second point..that dude is a beast and when I gave him props in his first few fights, guys told me how hit table he was and predictable; once again high level karate shows its worth and Noone can downplay how much of his success is based on his karate skills.