- Joined
- Sep 21, 2009
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After witnessing an ACTUAL unanimous decision for FOTY, I have three conclusions:
1) The confidence Gus displayed leading up the fight was real, warranted, and played a huge role in giving Jones the most difficult fight of his career.
2) The outcry over the decision is very akin to Shogun/Machida in a sense that you had a fighter who seemed invincible, untouchable even, often coming out of fights unscathed, suddenly look very busted up and battered. I think only the scores themselves are questionable, but JDS hit the nail on the head with his comment. To be the champ, you have to beat the champ. Convincingly.
3) Gus needs to get a rematch, if not immediate, then one fight away. How hard he trained his ass off, I think he would steamroll Davis today, and most of the division.
As an aside, if Gus did not have a chin, this fight wouldn't have went the distance. But holy shit does that dude have a chin! Darkhorse greatest chin of all time? I don't know anymore. I was waiting for him to get Roop'd, absorbing headkick after headkick like he was the Swedish Zombie. Same goes for Jones though, he took a beating and kept pressing forward. Got served the first (two?) takedowns of his career. 90% of his own takedowns were stuffed. But he stayed in the fight to steal the last two rounds and secure his crown, so he deserves credit too. Nothing less than amazing performances from both of these guys, I hope they get some unknown bonus from the hand that feeds them, because they deserve it.
1) The confidence Gus displayed leading up the fight was real, warranted, and played a huge role in giving Jones the most difficult fight of his career.
2) The outcry over the decision is very akin to Shogun/Machida in a sense that you had a fighter who seemed invincible, untouchable even, often coming out of fights unscathed, suddenly look very busted up and battered. I think only the scores themselves are questionable, but JDS hit the nail on the head with his comment. To be the champ, you have to beat the champ. Convincingly.
3) Gus needs to get a rematch, if not immediate, then one fight away. How hard he trained his ass off, I think he would steamroll Davis today, and most of the division.
As an aside, if Gus did not have a chin, this fight wouldn't have went the distance. But holy shit does that dude have a chin! Darkhorse greatest chin of all time? I don't know anymore. I was waiting for him to get Roop'd, absorbing headkick after headkick like he was the Swedish Zombie. Same goes for Jones though, he took a beating and kept pressing forward. Got served the first (two?) takedowns of his career. 90% of his own takedowns were stuffed. But he stayed in the fight to steal the last two rounds and secure his crown, so he deserves credit too. Nothing less than amazing performances from both of these guys, I hope they get some unknown bonus from the hand that feeds them, because they deserve it.