How good has Strickland's win over Imavov aged?

[Bobby Boulders]

One (T)KO from Strickland since 2020 doesn't really leave me confident that DDP is taking a mat nap

 

[Koya]

Wins don't "age". Some fighters get better, others do not. Imamov got better. So did Strickland. Imamov got much more progress tho. If they rematch I'm betting on Nassourdine

 

[rjmbrd]

Wait so Imavov had the full camp and Strickland was on short notice yet Sean had the advantage?

Strickland is arguably the best cardio point fighter in the sport, certainly in the point kickboxing variety, and remains in shape year long.

Imavov was booked at middleweight against short, compact wrestle boxer Kelvin. So he prepared for a totally different fight in a totally different weight division. He also obviously had to diet and start his water loading because this was on 5 days notice. Strickland got to walk in unencumbered with dieting or weight management. The fight was at light heavyweight because obviously only Imavov was the size of making weight, Strickland was too big.

Where in Strickland's style do you possibly see less cardio being good for him? Strickland doesn't need extra size, nobody overpowers him at MW anyway.

Feel free to listen to anyone from RVCA (e.g. Bisping) and they will all tell you the same Strickland does - he is in full fight shape year round. He isn't married, has no kids, I'm not sure if the guy even has hobbies. He's lived a spartan lifestyle with cardio and training being his only activity.

For what its worth, obviously he was too big to make middleweight and Imavov was not (this was booked literally on fight week) so of course Strickland was bigger.

 

[balkanbomber85]

Tbh until the stoppage I thought that Imavov had no chance in a strickland rematch! Now after the stoppage I still think the same.

 

[Seekerofhole]

Strickland is arguably the best cardio point fighter in the sport, certainly in the point kickboxing variety, and remains in shape year long.

Imavov was booked at middleweight against short, compact wrestle boxer Kelvin. So he prepared for a totally different fight in a totally different weight division. He also obviously had to diet and start his water loading because this was on 5 days notice. Strickland got to walk in unencumbered with dieting or weight management. The fight was at light heavyweight because obviously only Imavov was the size of making weight, Strickland was too big.




Feel free to listen to anyone from RVCA (e.g. Bisping) and they will all tell you the same Strickland does - he is in full fight shape year round. He isn't married, has no kids, I'm not sure if the guy even has hobbies. He's lived a spartan lifestyle with cardio and training being his only activity.

For what its worth, obviously he was too big to make middleweight and Imavov was not (this was booked literally on fight week) so of course Strickland was bigger.

Strickland was quite literally chubby and had been stress eating during Christmas after losing to Cannonier.

That was the one and only time Strickland gassed hard at Middleweight.

 

[prime_lobov]

Definitely aged better than his loss to Jared Cannonier

 

[Fact Checker]

Strickland is a cardio point kick boxer. Forcing someone expecting to fight a short, compact wrestle boxer Kelvin at 185lbs, then having to go 5 rounds with him at Light Heavyweight is a massive, massive advantage to Strickland.




This part is subjective and you're just making up a scenario and deciding how it would go. I'm simply stating the real world circumstances that disadvantaged Imavov.

I would likely pick Strickland to beat him again via decision in a brutally boring 5 round jab/teep fight. However Imavov would have a better overall chance.

1. You say Imavov was at a disadvantage because he was preparing for a main event against Gastelum?

- Who was Strickland preparing for when he accepted the fight against Imavov on 5 days notice?

2. You claim Imavov would do better against Strickland with a FULL camp?

- Not only is that subjective but it’s a bit nonsensical.


Regardless the only facts we have is that Strickland was banged up coming off a recent hard fought L to Cannonier when he picked up the phone and agreed to fight Imavov, he then proceeded to beat him up with relative ease in a lopsided fight.

I really think you’re selling Strickland short brother… there’s no need to make excuses for Imavov who’s clearly inferior to Strickland.

 

[ComfortablyNumb55]

Strickland is the real champion.

Everyone knows it.

 

[pick999]

Like gold and wine

 

[7 others]

After Sean wins the belt back, this rematch will be sick

What rematch?

 

[Arm Barbarian]

Sean gets shit on a ton here because of his obnoxiousness, but he is a world class MMA fighter, and outside of Poatan, no one has really looked super dominant against him.

His main issue keeping him from being unstoppable is he's more defense than offense focused in most of his fights.

But his skills are top notch.

 

[legcramp]

This fight had Anthony Smith knocking out Shogun or Rashad Evans vibes.

 

[rjmbrd]

1. You say Imavov was at a disadvantage because he was preparing for a main event against Gastelum?

Yes, he was training for a short, fat wrestle boxer

- Who was Strickland preparing for when he accepted the fight against Imavov on 5 days notice?

Strickland fights every single opponent the exact same way and is widely acknowledged as one of the best point fighters in the sport. He does jab/teep in a busy but risk averse striking fight. He never initiates grappling. If grappling is initiated upon him, he never counters or ground fights offensively, he will work 100% effort to stand.

2. You claim Imavov would do better against Strickland with a FULL camp?

- Not only is that subjective but it’s a bit nonsensical.

Again, I'll repeat that Imavov had to diet and at minimum start a water load / weight cut as the opponent changed fight week. Strickland requested the fight be contested at light heavyweight.

If you are asking me if the guy who was dieting and doing a weight cut to make 185lbs fights someone who did zero weight cutting to meet at 205lbs is disadvantaged, the answer is yes. Strickland was not physically small enough to make a scale read 186lbs that week. Imavov was. It is common sense Strickland had a weight advantage.

Regardless the only facts we have is that Strickland was banged up coming off a recent hard fought L to Cannonier when he picked up the phone and agreed to fight Imavov, he then proceeded to beat him up with relative ease in a lopsided fight.

I really think you’re selling Strickland short brother… there’s no need to make excuses for Imavov who’s clearly inferior to Strickland.

I'll repeat again, I would favor Strickland to win in a rematch. He has a better than average chance of winning a stinker 5 round decision nobody will ever watch twice, and its because he is extremely good at point fighting.

However, Imavov will have a better chance overall fighting him at middleweight - not light heavyweight, and being prepared for it.

 

[rjmbrd]

Strickland was quite literally chubby and had been stress eating during Christmas after losing to Cannonier.

That was the one and only time Strickland gassed hard at Middleweight.

The fight literally was not at middleweight.

FFS

 

[snaportap21]

It hasn't. Strickland weighed 25 lbs more than Imamov in the cage IIRC and Strickland has jab/teep defensive style which actually requires preparation to solve. Imamov had none.

Rewatch the fight. He just leaned on Imamov and was able to absorb everything Imamov through b/c he was a backstreet boy heavier.

Here's a question, how poorly has Strickland's win over Izzy aged? You asked the wrong one homey.

Strickland’s win couldnt have aged poorly because he beat the champ. That’s like saying Weidman’s win over Silva aged poorly.

 

[Poirierfan]

Without context this is really wack.

Imavov had a full fight camp for 185lbs and ended up getting Strickland on 5 days notice and forced to fight at light heavyweight. So he had to diet and start his fight week preparations for middleweight and Sean had zero of that.

It was also his first ever 5 round fight.

I think what Sean did was more impressive, he didn't have a camp. The fight wasn't close.

 

[rjmbrd]

I think what Sean did was more impressive, he didn't have a camp. The fight wasn't close.

Fair enough, lets see the rematch.

If you asked me to cut down to 185lbs and then on 5 days notice have to fight Sean Strickland - world renowned cardio machine point fighter - at 205lbs, I would say that is a disadvantage. They fought at light heavyweight because Sean could not make weight, obviously Imavov could. It is not up for dispute who was smaller etc.

 

[HNIC215]

 

[Bork Neslar]

Like fine wine.

 

[Bend NvR Break]

Pretty damn good if you ask me