How would Izzy fair in 2016-2018 MW Division?

[akeller901]

I was thinking back to these years and how absolutely stacked MW was back then compared to now. Imagine current Izzy was champion rather than Bisping, how would he fair against prime Yoel, Mousasi, Jacare, Rockhold, Weidman, Whittaker (I guess we know), and GSP coming back? Do you think Izzy would be champion?

 

[Portland8242]

Moose, Jacare and Rockhold I can see Izzy beating easily.

Romero and Weidman are interesting matchups. 42 old out of prime Romero came very close to Izzy. 2016 Romero may just do it.

Weidman IMO is the worst matchup here for obvious reasons. If he fought smart and timed his takedowns well I really think he could get it done.

 

[AmericanMMA]

He'd do ok

 

[RockyLockridge]

Rockhold, weidman, Mousasi and jacare would all be issues for him

Bisping; izzy beats by decision

 

[13Seconds]

Moose, Jacare and Rockhold I can see Izzy beating easily.

Romero and Weidman are interesting matchups. 42 old out of prime Romero came very close to Izzy. 2016 Romero may just do it.

Weidman IMO is the worst matchup here for obvious reasons. If he fought smart and timed his takedowns well I really think he could get it done.

Rockhold, weidman, Mousasi and jacare would all be issues for him

Bisping; izzy beats by decision

I don’t get ya'll saying Rockhold. Izzy is a terrible matchup for him. Sure Rockhold had good kicks but that's not gonna cut it with Izzy. Rockholds top game is great but his takedown entries were average.

Izzy toys with him in his prime.

 

[RockyLockridge]

I don’t get ya'll saying Rockhold. Izzy is a terrible matchup for him. Sure Rockhold had good kicks but that's not gonna cut it with Izzy. Rockholds top game is great but his takedown entries were average.

Izzy toys with him in his prime.

If rockhold ends up on the groud with izzy it's over.

Rockhold could lose, but IMO he has a VERY clear path to victory.

 

[13Seconds]

If rockhold ends up on the groud with izzy it's over.

Rockhold could lose, but IMO he has a VERY clear path to victory.

That's a very big IF. I don't think Rockhold would have any success taking Izzy down at all.

If Ronda could take Holm down she would have a clear path to victory as well.

 

[Blastbeat]

Jacare would be trouble because if he got Izzy down that'd be game over. same with prime Weidman. younger Romero too.
not sure about Izzy vs out of retirement GSP, but then again ive learned to never doubt one of the GOATs. i think GSP would take a decision.
Izzy vs Mousasi would be a great striking battle.
other than that i think Izzy would do just fine

 

[AmonTobin]

Of those you listed, I think Bisping, GSP, and Weidman in their primes would give him the most trouble or would at least do better than most of the MW's of the last 5 years.

 

[G10]

Izzy beats Weidman and Rockhold. As great as they were in their prime, I think they had serious holes in their game that Israel would’ve found and exploited.

I think he would’ve lost to a slightly younger Romero and a prime Souza. Both guys were fearless back then, and Souza was a lot more durable. I think they would’ve been less gun-shy, and would’ve found a way to close the distance to finish Izzy on the ground.

As for Mousasi and a returning GSP? Hard to say. Mousasi was always very inconsistent against elite competition, and we only saw GSP once at MW. It would’ve been very interesting, though.

 

[Ares Black]

GSP beats him but he beats everyone else.

 

[Stagliano]

GSP beats him but he beats everyone else.

Lol

 

[Ares Black]

Lol

 

[WolverReem]

Mousasi would have beaten him rather easily. Izzy KOs the rest effortlessly

 

[Here's Johnny!]

Jacare was a scary man... Romero I don't think got better or worse from that time until when he fought Izzy so probably about the same... Chris Weidman after his back surgery was never the same... umm... Rockhold had garbage takedowns and would get beaten pretty easy...

it really depends if Chris can get the takedown but I actually think his Cardio may fail him after round 3.. that said izzy isn't going to KO you like an Anderson could...

Izzy would likely be champ or top 2 to 3

 

[Harlekin]

we all agree Izzy outpoints a lot of them on the feet and if gets taken down is in A LOT OF TROUBLE.
Younger Romero gives him the gay jesus kiss

 

[Dr. Rose]

Izzy would not fair well. Idk how well he would do against a 2015 Anderson Silva, but that would be an interesting fight. Current MW division is in rough shape, imo. The only time it was worse was when Bustamante and Franklin dominated it (and I am a fan of both, there just was not that much competition),

 

[CashMoney1991]

Jacare is probably the best fighter to never get a UFC title shot, dude was a problem, I think him and Weidman would be the hardest challenges for Izzy, Romero was good but never used his wrestling all that much, Izzy is a nightmare matchup for Rockhold, Rockhold had a glass chin and gets spanked by southpaws

 

[Portland8242]

I don’t get ya'll saying Rockhold. Izzy is a terrible matchup for him. Sure Rockhold had good kicks but that's not gonna cut it with Izzy. Rockholds top game is great but his takedown entries were average.

Izzy toys with him in his prime.

I literally said I see Izzy beating Rockhold easily.

 

[bambammccoy]

Moose, Jacare and Rockhold I can see Izzy beating easily.

Romero and Weidman are interesting matchups. 42 old out of prime Romero came very close to Izzy. 2016 Romero may just do it.

Weidman IMO is the worst matchup here for obvious reasons. If he fought smart and timed his takedowns well I really think he could get it done.

Idk. Mous and Rockhold both had vice grips when it came to getting bodylock takedowns and trips Adesanyas TDD relies on the cage somewhat often, that'd be exactly where they would want him he ends up tied up quite a bit.

Imo they have a better chance than Weidman or Romero