Is Gonzaga the best he's ever been?

[Priceinator]

Will he ever fight for a title?

His loss to Browne was controversial to some. He's been a pretty legit fighter at HW for years now.

But will he always be just a gate-keeper?

Or will the man that "Cro-Copped Cro Cop" never rise to the level of contender again?

 

[CrimsonFan]

eh, I dunno. I thought a few years ago was his prime honestly. Maybe around when he fought Carwin.

He doesn't take a punch well enough to be an elite HW.

 

[eli9567]

I'd say so. He's looked good lately. The Miocic fight should be interesting

 

[Pixel Fist]

His chin just isn't good enough.

And he falls too much in love with his striking when he knocks someone out.

 

[tjnickels]

For me, I think this fight against Miocic will show if he can truly contend. If he wins impressively, then i think he could contend again.

 

[Just Creed]

really really hoping he gets it to the ground quickly with Miocic but apparently Miocic has good wrestling so it could be a bad night for Gonzaga.

 

[BasRutten420]

He made the same type of "run" before an then steamed off ... At one point didn't he get cut ? Then brought back when someone got injured ? .. Correct me if I am wrong... But I believe he's always a threat ... Only time will tell

He beats stipic .. Then were talking about somethig lol

 

[TristanLec]

really really hoping he gets it to the ground quickly with Miocic but apparently Miocic has good wrestling so it could be a bad night for Gonzaga.

D1 wrestler and 10 times the athlete Gonzaga will ever be, so yes this is a very bad matchup for Gonzaga.

 

[BasRutten420]

His chin just isn't good enough.

And he falls too much in love with his striking when he knocks someone out.

Lol good statement .. That's so true he does fall Inlove with trying to knock people out.

 

[DrHouse]

I think so. It's a tricky one because he's still relatively in the same place he was in the HW division, but the HW division in the UFC is just better. In terms of rankings, he's still beating guys who are top 15-20, but those fighters are just better now. Apart from Cro Cop, wins over Rothwell, Herman and Jordan are the best of his career.

I think he's in the right place mentally, he's experienced getting cut from the UFC and has a gym to provide financial security, he can now put it all out there without being afraid of what happens if he loses.

 

[Just Creed]

D1 wrestler and 10 times the athlete Gonzaga will ever be, so yes this is a very bad matchup for Gonzaga.

shit

 

[Cuauhtemoc]

He is going to get destroyed by Stipe

 

[BenjaminDuffy]

He might be the best he's ever been, but HW in general is so much better than it was the night he KOed Cro Cop for the right to fight Couture, that he's further behind the pack now.

 

[Dannyb271]

D1 wrestler and 10 times the athlete Gonzaga will ever be, so yes this is a very bad matchup for Gonzaga.

Jordan pee wee and lesnars buddy tuscherera all hv decent wrestling and cardio ...ur claims don't stand

 

[DrHouse]

He might be the best he's ever been, but HW in general is so much better than it was the night he KOed Cro Cop for the right to fight Couture, that he's further behind the pack now.

I disagree, I think that he's improved enough to be in the pack pretty much where he was after the Couture fight even though the UFC HW division has improved.

 

[Cuauhtemoc]

Jordan pee wee and lesnars buddy tuscherera all hv decent wrestling and cardio ...ur claims don't stand

he kicked lesnar buddy in the balls

 

[BlancaDiablo]

eh, I dunno. I thought a few years ago was his prime honestly. Maybe around when he fought Carwin.

He doesn't take a punch well enough to be an elite HW.

Yes and no. Gonzaga was in his prime around 07-08.
Couture beat Gonzaga so badly he broke his nose in two minutes and Gonzaga still was tough enough to last till middle of the third.

 

[WalkenWouldOwn]

Huge fan but honestly he'll never reach his full potential unless he trains with elite HWs, it's probably too late at this point.

Nothing wrong with being a fringe top 10 guy. He has a BJJ school as well. One of the nicest guys in MMA, will ALWAYS cheer for Napao.

 

[jmk1502]

Yes, Gonzaga is the best he's ever been. Unfortunately for him that's not quite good enough to crack the top 5. Miocic is the HW version of Chris Weidman: solid all-around, but spectacular nowhere. That being said, solid all-around will be good enough to get Miocic past Gonzaga, and we'll find out just how good Miocic really is. The fight against Big Country proved nothing, except he can avoid a bomb

 

[ngn21]

For me, I think this fight against Miocic will show if he can truly contend. If he wins impressively, then i think he could contend again.

this