Is Cameron Saaiman a future champion?

HuskySamoan said:
I'm not exactly disagreeing with your overall point. I'm kinda waiting to see if he starts tightening things up and improving in the next year or two. His fights with Mana, Wang and Koslow were all kinda competitive I've just been very impressed he's buzzed through such solid prospects as a 22 year old. Usually at his age coaches are doing all they can to make sure they don't face opponents like that. I think Saaiman needs to develop a stronger grappling base, heavier hips and wrestling and also just become more calculated and defensive striker. But I've been impressed.

Who is the kinda guy you feel would sell you on him if he beat them? Just curious. Keep in mind, he's 22.
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I brought up Koslow because considering it was short notice, Cameron should have looked better against him, but he just didn't.

Him being 22 won't mean anything. The UFC aren't going to give him guys his age. If he keeps winning, he's quickly going to face good comp regardless of age.

But looking at the rough rankings on Tapology and Cameron is 50th. There's guys around that rank that would be good wins for him. Basharat, Batgirl, Munoz, Zahabi, Johns, etc.

If he beats Christian, those are the sorts of guys he will be fighting next. If he beats one of them I'd be impressed, but honestly, I don't think he gets past any of those guys I mentioned.
 
xhaydenx said:
I brought up Koslow because considering it was short notice, Cameron should have looked better against him, but he just didn't.

Him being 22 won't mean anything. The UFC aren't going to give him guys his age. If he keeps winning, he's quickly going to face good comp regardless of age.

But looking at the rough rankings on Tapology and Cameron is 50th. There's guys around that rank that would be good wins for him. Basharat, Batgirl, Munoz, Zahabi, Johns, etc.

If he beats Christian, those are the sorts of guys he will be fighting next. If he beats one of them I'd be impressed, but honestly, I don't think he gets past any of those guys I mentioned.
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Him being 22 does matter when a key point brought up is his development and potential. At that age, he can make big leaps in skill in each fight, potentially. By the way, I'd give him a good shot against all the guys you listed except basharat who is a step ahead of the rest at the moment in my opinion.

Ask me again when this kid is 25 though.
 
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No.

But he will more than likely get into top 5 at some point. Top 10 seems locked in
 
His fluid striking, the way he capitalizes on GnP opportunities, and various tangibles are all attractive features-- but at 22, he should take it slow and keep logging cage-time; experience is the only thing that'll prepare him for the dark forests of adversity once he faces the elite.

Hopefully he can keep fouling people to add asterisks to his victories, so the UFC have second thoughts about fast-tracking him.
 
HuskySamoan said:
I can't quite put my finger on it, if I think Saaiman will fall short or become something inevitable at the top of the division in time. What I can say is, at 22 he is fighting at an unprecedented level of competition compared to almost all of his peers. He's definitely got some improving to do, gives up takedowns a little too easily, is a bit wreckless standing but...wow does he move well, kick well, scramble well, he's a fast and sharp striker who has a real hustle when it comes to putting on pressure and a clear killer instinct.

I have doubts though, even ones that are stupid like "he doesn't look very tough" if he was Cameron Saaimanov with a beard I'd be a little more sure. I also wonder who he trains with in South Africa at CIT, a gym where he and Dricus are the two best fighers by far. Once he starts fighting the bigger, stronger, more dominant grapplers like Merab, Umar, Aljo, Rinya type fellas will he be able to stop them? Will he be able to get back up? Who's his wrestling coach? Who's he getting time in on the mats with when he knows what awaits him at the top of the division are Sambo and Wrestling champions?

I do also wonder of course when he faces guys who can really crack too of course, the division is such a shark tank. Still at 22 years old Saaiman is pretty amazing, I think he's going to finish Christian Rodriguez at UFC 290 and start getting more attention from the media, hopefully no fouls this time.

Seriously though, Cameron Saaiman at just 22 has beaten.

27yo Mana Martinez 10-3 (2-1 UFC), 5-1 amateur

29yo Josh Wang Kim 5-1 pro (only loss by DQ) and 15-1 amateur

25yo Steven Koslow 6-0 pro, 10-1 amateur

And now Saaiman will face

25yo Christian Rodriguez 9-1 (2-1UFC) pro, 5-2 amateur.

Fouls aside, because I know that's what everyone loves to discuss, Saaiman seems very special, he even has 2 amateur wins over Gift Walker who's a 4-0 pro and 8-4 amateur on the South African scene. There is a very short list of fighters this skilled and this proven vs a steady stream of solid opposition at only 22 years old, a very short list out of the entire sport. What do you think of Saaiman and how do you think they should move him up in the division if he gets past Rodriguez? Also do you think Rodriguez will derail yet another undefeated prospect in Saaiman?
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He'll be a contender i think but he needs the slowest lane possible.
 
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