I Completely Underestimated Maldonado

[FedorRoks]

I admit it, I just listened to anti-Fedor shills about how bad Maldonado was and after the Fedor-Maldonado fight thought the worst about Fedor and felt he was 100% done.

But after learning more about Maldonado, and listening to Fedor's thoughts on the fight, I have a much different opinion.


* I did not know that Maldonado was a professional boxer with a 24-0 (23 wins by KO) record

I could see that Maldonado threw precise strikes and really hurt Fedor with a short right hook in the first round, but I didn't understand the skill behind the punch. Maldonado is a trained puncher with amateur and professional boxer pedigree and, as such, it makes a lot more sense to me now why he was able to throw and land a punch so well and with so much force from a short distance.


* Maldonado has an excellent chin

The only time he has been stopped cleanly (not a doctor stoppage) in 56 professional boxing and MMA bouts was by the current UFC Heavyweight Champion Miocic in a fight that Maldonado took on short notice.

We saw recently what Miocic was able to do with Werdum with a single punch. Having only one clean TKO loss on your record in 56 fights shows you have a sturdy chin and can take punishment.


* Fedor (foolishly) tried to slug with a professional boxer who has a great beard

He admitted as much after the fight. Although I would never give Fedor the advice to fight Maldonado in this manner, I understand that he wanted to try to beat Maldonado at Maldonado's own game. While a Low Fight IQ decision, it took a lot of guts for a 39 year old who is not a professional boxer to fight in this manner.



Having taken in all of this information, I feel a lot better about what happened for Fedor in the Maldonado fight. That said, Fedor still has seemed to slip some with regards to his reflexes and other skills. But maybe not as much as I previously thought when watching the fight.

After watching the fight yesterday, I thought Fedor should retire pretty much immediately. Now I have a different outlook. But he still might want to use a different style when fighting pro boxers with a big punch and a sturdy chin.

 

[rakeleaves]

Maldonado is not a bad fighter but he is nowhere near a top fighter. A lot of Fedor fans are trying to come to terms with this so they try and build up Fabio. It's ok.

Your original outlook is probably for the best. Fedor is nowhere near what he used to be and likely won't fare very well against the UFC's top10. So whats the point of taking all this punishment then?

 

[FedorRoks]

Maldonado is not a bad fighter but he is nowhere near a top fighter. A lot of Fedor fans are trying to come to terms with this so they try and build up Fabio. It's ok.

He's not a great fighter, that's true.

What he is great at, though, is punching and withstanding punches. Which means Fedor basically just walked right into Maldonado's wheelhouse. It was a very foolish way to fight for Fedor.

I didn't realize this while I watched the fight. I thought Maldonado was just some scrub who landed 1-2 lucky punches on Fedor.

Now I realize I had Maldonado pegged all wrong.

Maldonado is not a great fighter, but he is a great puncher and it makes more sense to me now why he also seemed so skilled at punch defense with his hands up.

Just shocked Fedor fought him that way.

 

[VulcanNervPinch]

I like how Maldo spent a good stretch in the UFC-controlled top 16, but according to the shills, he's nothing but a "UFC washout".

 

[FedorRoks]

I like how Maldo spent a good stretch in the UFC-controlled top 16, but according to the shills, he's nothing but a "UFC washout".

I have never watched Maldonado fight until yesterday. But with his background, I can see how he could make it to the top 16. Even if it was just based upon his boxing skills, toughness and little else.

 

[PrinceOfPain]

You should watch Maldonado vs Rampage. Quinton clearly won, but it was a competitive match that give one a good idea of the level Fabio's at.
Now, I'm not saying he's godly or anything, and this was a clear indication that Fedor's declined, but it helps but into perspective that this wasn't THAT bad a showing.

 

[Repsac]

Well, the current UFC HW champ got destroyed by Struve. And he wasn't 40 years old coming out of retirement.

This is MMA. Anyone can get caught. At least Fedor survived and won. And he didn't even have to resort to using his takedown and ground game (like he did against Singh in his previous fight).

 

[FedorRoks]

Well, the current UFC HW champ got destroyed by Struve. And he wasn't 40 years old coming out of retirement.

This is MMA. Anyone can get caught. At least Fedor survived and won.

A great point.

 

[FedorRoks]

You should watch Maldonado vs Rampage. Quinton clearly won, but it was a competitive match that give one a good idea of the level Fabio's at.
Now, I'm not saying he's godly or anything, and this was a clear indication that Fedor's declined, but it helps but into perspective that this wasn't THAT bad a showing.

Thanks. I'll try to do that.

Fabio clearly:

* Can punch skillfully
* Can punch with power
* Can take a punch

I don't know what else he can do, but he is very good at those 3 things.

I will try to watch that fight. Thanks for the tip.

 

[Tchernobog]

Well, the current UFC HW champ got destroyed by Struve. And he wasn't 40 years old coming out of retirement.

This is MMA. Anyone can get caught. At least Fedor survived and won. And he didn't even have to resort to using his takedown and ground game (like he did against Singh in his previous fight).

That was almost 4 years ago. Stipe would murder Struve now. Fact is Fedor looked terrible with a shitty gameplan. Fabio should have finished him.

 

[Repsac]

That was almost 4 years ago. Stipe would murder Struve now. Fact is Fedor looked terrible with a shitty gameplan. Fabio should have finished him.

And how old was Stipe? And how old was Fedor?

lol at you using time as an excuse for Stipe


According to Fabio, it was not easy to finish Fedor because, even while rocked, Fedor was dodging punches and hitting him hard back. It's easy for you to sit in your armchair and say he should've finished. Fabio is 22-0 in pro boxing with 21 KOs so it's not like he doesn't know how to finish a fight with punches.

 

[WallyBear]

Meh, the boxing credentials are kind of fishy when you look at the records of his opponents, Fabio's boxing record is soooo padded.

http://boxrec.com/boxer/171565

 

[FedorRoks]

Meh, the boxing credentials are kind of fishy when you look at the records of his opponents, Fabio's boxing record is soooo padded.

http://boxrec.com/boxer/171565

That's fair. Still, 23 KO's in 24 fights shows power. And he also fought as an amateur boxer, so the skill level is there even if the competition was weak.

He's showed in MMA fights he can take punishment.

I'm not saying Fabio is some incredible, complete fighter. But he has boxing skill, a solid chin and punching power. And Fedor was dumb enough to go into "Fabio's world" rather than, say, using his Sambo.

 

[The ScorpioN]

You just completely overestimated Fedor.

That's more accurate. Maldonado is a solid MMA journeyman, that's about it. Next time Fedor won't risk it with those fights. He'll handpick Butterbean out of retirement and look amazing again.

 

[Summoning]

Trying to beat Maldonado at Maldonado's own game wasn't a bad fight IQ decision, was just a badass warrior decision, He wanted to test himself standing with a low guard vs a professional boxer and give as and excelent and emotional brawler fight, That one of the reasons the fighters community fucking love Fedor.

Fedor vs Maldonado make me jump of my sit, one of my favourites fight for sure. Already watch it 4 times.