If Stipe returns heavier 255 or so, do u think he will be more successful?

[Bobby Boulders]

I think staying lighter is a better idea. He already has KO power, why sacrifice any speed you have for something you already possess?

 

[Deleted member 110072]

Stipe relies on his speed and reflexes, which unfortunately fade first. Combine that with a Francis whose TDD keeps improving, and I don’t see a way for him to regain gold…all of his wins since 2013 minus the UD over Francis were against guys his age or older…he is/was a great fighter, but if he is financially secure enough, I’d rather not see him go in there and get hurt.

Personally I think Stipe is actually not very dependent on speed, he's not slow but I also wouldn't say he was ever really fast which is well suited to a guy who didnt hit the top until his 30's.

Really I think Stipe has always tended to depend on solid fundamentals and good gameplans, if an opponent had a weakness to target he generally went after it. Could well still be enough to beat most HW's but now Ngannou had plugged his dodgy TD defence and learned to pace himself a bit that fight is a very tough ask and it seems like Gane might be as well unless his TD defence ends up being weaker than expected.

My guess is though if Stipe fights again it will only be for a big match, Ngannou or Gane for the belt or Jones if he finally desided to show his face again.

 

[Humongo]

DC = Dirty Cheater

 

[HI SCOTT NEWMAN]

I would like to see Stipe vs Black Beast next.. they have not fought yet, which is funny seeing as Black Beast has fought everyone!! because he is so active and actually fights!

Stipe was so slim for his last 2 fights, he lost a lot of weight, I don't know why he became so skinny, as he was successful before always when he was 246 on scales.

 

[Red_Negan]

My god the retards in this thread. Stipe is still solid, before getting KO’d by Francis people where having G.O.A.T talks now he should retire…

I think 230lbs is a good weight, fast, big, good for endurance. Adding 10-15lbs is going to make him less mobile and sus to being caught by the fast and explosive Francis.

 

[Red_Negan]

I would like to see Stipe vs Black Beast next.. they have not fought yet, which is funny seeing as Black Beast has fought everyone!! because he is so active and actually fights!

Stipe was so slim for his last 2 fights, he lost a lot of weight, I don't know why he became so skinny, as he was successful before always when he was 246 on scales.

Dropping body fat isn’t a bad thing. Skinny? He was 235lbs..

 

[Takes Two To Tango]

Stipe is 39 and is past his prime, I don't think he has what it takes to beat either Gane or Ngannou. He's only fighting for 3rd place now. Which is not bad, considering his age.

 

[Busgosu]

He was lucky to fight in a division full of old, washed up, fighters. He is a good, not great fighter, I think he could have done better had he focused full time in fighting. HW goat claim is laughable and will be forgotten as time passes by, like Cain's... got KO'd by K1 Struve, of all people, in his prime!!

 

[HeDidn'tWantTheFight]

Stipe got knocked out by Cormier, took a ton of punishment early in their second fight, and then got brutally knocked out by Ngannou.

That's a lot of damage for a guy to be taking in his late 30s.

Stipe's not getting the belt back. He's washed, and no match for Ngannou or Gane. He could beat Lewis, but he also could get violently finished. Unfortunately, there aren't a lot of fights out there that make a ton of sense for him. He should retire.

 

[HeDidn'tWantTheFight]

He was lucky to fight in a division full of old, washed up, fighters. He is a good, not great fighter, I think he could have done better had he focused full time in fighting. HW goat claim is laughable and will be forgotten as time passes by, like Cain's... got KO'd by K1 Struve, of all people, in his prime!!

The Struve fight was his 10th pro MMA fight and four years before he got the belt. FOH with "in his prime".

 

[Thepaintbucket]

Who knows? The odds arent looking good for him considering his age and how he has performed in his last few fights.

 

[HindustaniKush]

Stipe is done

BUT if he was younger I would say that being 255lbs with more muscle would of helped him more

 

[SaigeVanZant]

Define successful. Judging from her Instagram stories, his wife certainly likes what the weight gain is doing for his ass.

Pics of Stipes ass?

 

[Shaddows]

Against whoever? What do you think?

IMO no.
lighter, nimble Stipe fought better.

 

[TheBulge]

Ngannou's fanboys saw him defend one takedown(the worst choice of all the techniques he could have chosen btw) against an undersized, weakened Stipe and they think Stipe can never take him down again. 245-250 was his sweet spot in his prime. The added mass would be his best bet in a rubber match. Unfortunately father time is catching up to him, he's certainly past his prime but he might have a couple of great performances left.

 

[Bork Neslar]

Maybe.

 

[Masturbin]

Stipe is heavier because entitlement is heavy

 

[kalabula]

Stipe has a beautiful family and had seemingly diversified his income outside of the UFC. He should retire.

If he comes back, he should fight Lewis.

The ideal scenario for him would be a Jon Jones fight, I think. It’s winnable and adds to his legacy. Jon ain’t fighting someone coming off of a loss though. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Pepy]

Cut to 205 and face Glover (just to spice things up),
or retire.

He's earned it either way.

this would have been a fantastic fight but I don't see UFC putting that one together. Stipe is too unmarketable for them.

 

[Grandwizard666]

Just like Frank Mir bulked up for Lesnar 2 and carwin, it's not going to help.
He isn't going to out ngannou ngannou.
He needs to fight at whatever weight he personaly feels strongest and most agile at for somebody like Francis, but I'm sure he knows that.