I think RDR will duck Fluffy like the bubonic plague

[octagonation]

He doesn't have shit cardio he just fought a very high pace fight, Rob was also tired as shit too. Fluffy won't be able to melt RDR like he's melted everyone else at the bottom of the top 10. RDR has a lot of heart and it's what won him his fight against Rob despite being super tired.

Oh. yes his cardio is not good bro. He was fatigued from the 2nd round

He recently called out Costa, he's fought everyone he's been offered thus far, not sure why you think someone striving to be the best and believes in themselves would say no to prove that but okay, your words have been marked.

RDR would eat Costa for breakfast without exiting first gear.

Costa is an easy fight for everybody nowadays but RDR will not take the Fluffy fight. Mark my words

 

[payton]

Either Imavov or Caio are next in line whomever wins that fight between them.

It is a number 1 contender fight

What you think about the loser of Khamzat/DDP?

 

[octagonation]

What you think about the loser of Khamzat/DDP?

Yeah why not if it is for a straight number 1 contender fight

 

[rorschach51]

Fluffy on set cussing like a truck driver, I love this fucking guy!

 

[wufabufa]

RDR doesn't do that type of shit. Buddy is trying to make some serious moves in a quick time frame so ducking another top contender is a sure way to lose favor with the company, especially as a guy coming from a rival org finishing some of the best guys the UFC has to offer.

 

[mkess101]

Watching the post fight show they asked him about what's next and he said "If I have to beat every motherfucker ranked between me and the belt that's what I'll do."

Fluffy becoming my favorite fighter.

 

[rollthedice]

You literally can't dictate the pace with him. He won't allow it. He will push you and keep pushing you and forcing you to use energy EVEN IF he may be getting the worst of it early on. If you're gonna beat him, you better get him out of there somewhat early. Or simply be good enough to win 3 rounds by being better early and then having enough left to survive rds 4 and 5.

Honestly, if I was Fluffy I'd turn down anything upcoming that isn't a 5 round fight because it is such a massive difference for how he operates. If it's RDR, fine. But Fluffy should say he'll accept as the main event of a fight night but not as a 3 rounder on a ppv.

While I do agree with you, I do believe you can set the pace if you hit him hard enough a few times and have the cardio and defensive wrestling to keep him off you, I think it's possible by someone such as Cannonier but not by someone like Izzy. Holland also showed he is susceptible to the body and has been finished by knees before, while Fluffy is the better striker, RDR is one of the few who I think fluffy would be difficult to drown with grappling and he would have to be careful of those knees. While RDR'S chin isn't as sturdy as Fluffy's, his heart and recovery skills are phenomenal. They would make for a great dance imo.

He'd be wise to stick to 5 rounders, that's where he truly shines

 

[scytheavatar]

Why would RDR duck fluffy? RDR is actually a good match up into fluffy, especially when the fight gets to the ground. He also has a massive reach advantage and is strong af.

RDR's main weapon is his knees which he hides by having his left hand cocked for a punch and looking like he's shooting for a takedown. Opponents are left to guess which attack he will be going for. Fluffy just hugging RDR can avoid having to deal with this guessing game and I am not convinced RDR has better BJJ (or wrestling) than Dolidze or Allen.

 

[beater81]

It doesn't matter who Fluffy fights, he's going to be a problem.

 

[snugglecakes]

slow down now. The guy has zero wins against any top 6ish and got quickly finished by Welterweight kevin holland

 

[rollthedice]

Oh. yes his cardio is not good bro. He was fatigued from the 2nd round

RDR would eat Costa for breakfast without exiting first gear.

Costa is an easy fight for everybody nowadays but RDR will not take the Fluffy fight. Mark my words

I think people sleep on Costa being an easy fight for anyone.

 

[mkess101]

While I do agree with you, I do believe you can set the pace if you hit him hard enough a few times and have the cardio and defensive wrestling to keep him off you, I think it's possible by someone such as Cannonier but not by someone like Izzy. Holland also showed he is susceptible to the body and has been finished by knees before, while Fluffy is the better striker, RDR is one of the few who I think fluffy would be difficult to drown with grappling and he would have to be careful of those knees. While RDR'S chin isn't as sturdy as Fluffy's, his heart and recovery skills are phenomenal. They would make for a great dance imo.

He'd be wise to stick to 5 rounders, that's where he truly shines

If you're hitting him that hard, most likely you're hurting him to where you're hunting a finish. I think you also have to look at how smart Fluffy is in the cage. He fights "the same way" vs everyone in weaponizing the cardio but not necessarily with HOW he does it. An RDR fight would look similar to tonight, but not identical. Fluffy applying pressure, making him work, cage pushing, mix in the occasional takedown but then just stand back up. Takes energy getting taken down, defending for a few seconds, then the guy backs off and you gotta stand up. No time on the mat to work your submission game because the point isn't to keep you there. Now keep doing it while getting punched and kneed nonstop. RDR would drown.

Khamzat is probably the worst matchup because he is the more skilled grappler and would take Fluffy down immediately and go balls out for the finish. And may well get it. Obviously if he didn't, he'd be cooked by rd 3. But that's the best chance to beat Fluffy. Finish him before cardio is a factor.

 

[mkess101]

slow down now. The guy has zero wins against any top 6ish and got quickly finished by Welterweight kevin holland

Finished years ago by a sort of fluke body kick iirc. Just hit him wrong.

Would you bet money on Imavov or Caio or Strickland against that guy we just saw? I sure as shit wouldn't.

 

[octagonation]

RDR doesn't do that type of shit. Buddy is trying to make some serious moves in a quick time frame so ducking another top contender is a sure way to lose favor with the company, especially as a guy coming from a rival org finishing some of the best guys the UFC has to offer.

Okay let him proof us wrong ans take this fight.. It ain´t happening friendo

 

[Lycandroid]

I guess I am out of the loop but who the fuck is fluffy ?

 

[rollthedice]

If you're hitting him that hard, most likely you're hurting him to where you're hunting a finish. I think you also have to look at how smart Fluffy is in the cage. He fights "the same way" vs everyone in weaponizing the cardio but not necessarily with HOW he does it. An RDR fight would look similar to tonight, but not identical. Fluffy applying pressure, making him work, cage pushing, mix in the occasional takedown but then just stand back up. Takes energy getting taken down, defending for a few seconds, then the guy backs off and you gotta stand up. No time on the mat to work your submission game because the point isn't to keep you there. Now keep doing it while getting punched and kneed nonstop. RDR would drown.

Khamzat is probably the worst matchup because he is the more skilled grappler and would take Fluffy down immediately and go balls out for the finish. And may well get it. Obviously if he didn't, he'd be cooked by rd 3. But that's the best chance to beat Fluffy. Finish him before cardio is a factor.

That's a really solid analysis, I agree with it. That would actually work really well. I was just thinking of that in reverse, from a striking aspect with wrestling defense and cardio to nullify his grappling and pressure, then the striking would just start dissecting him. I think body and leg shots would be the way to go, but he's just so goddamn durable and tough and keeps coming forward that it would be extremely hard to implement that gameplan unless you were physically strong and had grit to match Fluffy. DDP is the only guy I can think of that could potentially pull it off.

 

[mkt]

You literally can't dictate the pace with him. He won't allow it. He will push you and keep pushing you and forcing you to use energy EVEN IF he may be getting the worst of it early on. If you're gonna beat him, you better get him out of there somewhat early. Or simply be good enough to win 3 rounds by being better early and then having enough left to survive rds 4 and 5.

Honestly, if I was Fluffy I'd turn down anything upcoming that isn't a 5 round fight because it is such a massive difference for how he operates.

Sounds like you're describing prime Tony Ferguson from 10 years ago.

 

[mkess101]

That's a really solid analysis, I agree with it. That would actually work really well. I was just thinking of that in reverse, from a striking aspect with wrestling defense and cardio to nullify his grappling and pressure, then the striking would just start dissecting him. I think body and leg shots would be the way to go, but he's just so goddamn durable and tough and keeps coming forward that it would be extremely hard to implement that gameplan unless you were physically strong and had grit to match Fluffy. DDP is the only guy I can think of that could potentially pull it off.

DDP is interesting. I think he'd look massive compared to Fluffy (like Dolidze did tonight) and could land some meaningful shots for sure. Round 3 on is so tough to envision with DDP/Fluffy. Because DDP looks tired basically from rd 3 on, but just always pushes through and keeps working. But that's against opponents who've also slowed a bit as the fight goes on. What does it look like vs a guy who will be laughing and in your face absolutely relentlessly at 12, 15, 18 minutes into a fight? Not sure.

People didn't understand that a unicorn weaponizing cardio may well be the best attribute a fighter can have in MMA until Merab showed them. Is Merab a "better" or "more skilled" fighter than Umar or Yan? I'd say no. But he made all of their myriad of amazing MMA skills not matter, right? So why do we think it's something that Fluffy can't potentially do?

 

[mkess101]

Sounds like you're describing prime Tony Ferguson from 10 years ago.

Very similar yep.

 

[LincolnHawk1]

RDR has a shitty cardio we saw it against Whittaker. Fluffy will bury him alive within 2 rounds

You do make a good point. I think rdr could win, but the problem for him would be his cardio and fluffy weaponizes that like merab does. He basically admitted it in the espn post fight show at the desk. He said his goal when he gets in there is to take the other guys soul. Just zap them of any desire to fight. Dolidze literally quit. That choke was even that tight he just wanted out and to be done.