I know everyone is an armchair Greg Jackson, it's one of the reasons we're on Sherdog. So lets hear it sherdoggers. If you were Juniors game planner, what adjustments would you make? How can he avoid a repeat of the 2nd fight? How can he negate Cain's pressure and pace? It seems fair to say that Cain and his camp both constructed and executed an almost impeccable strategy for UFC 155, and avoided a repeat of the 1st fight. However if you are thinking next level- Does Cain need to adjust for the 3rd fight to compensate for any probable adjustments Junior is likely to make? Let's hear those Monday morning strategies
JDS needs to do what he did in the first fight, and Cain needs to do what he did in the second fight.
JDS' Plan: 1. Don't gas. 2. Don't gas. 3. Don't look like a zombie. Cain's Plan: 1. Rinse and repeat JDS v Velasquez 2.
Dos Santos has two strategies: 1. Don't sign the contract 2. Close his eyes and throw haymakers praying that one clips Cain on the temple again.
Will Cain be able emulate the hunger he had to avenge his loss, in a third fight? That passion goes a long way as far as how much you put into your training and preparation, and I can't imagine it to be easy to fake. If he doesn't have the same intensity in the rubber-match, and you factor in a motivated, more prepared Junior Dos Santos, we may have the makings for the best fight of the bunch, and the first real memorable trilogy in UFC history. As far as gameplans, both will have adjustments. JDS will work around what Cain did in the second fight, and Cain will adjust his based on the changes he expects Junior to make.
JDS--keep your back off of the cage, get off first, stop the TD, keep the right distance (IE-dont let cain use punches to break through your range and clinch you with those short shots and take you down) CAIN-avoid prolonged exchanges in JDS' "boxing" range, use TD's, make JDS work, put him up against the fence, head movement
obligatoryeyeroll.gif Gotta love guys like this that use their brain, solid critical analysis dude. Thanks for the insight, stop by any time.
JDS should keep his hands UP. For a guy that is called the best boxer in the HW division - keeping his hands down because he was afraid of the takedown was key. Once Cain landed that right hand - JDS wasn't the same. Although JDS did look somewhat better in the 5th round. Cain should do what he did in the second fight.
Dos Santos has no answer for Cain. Did you even watch the fight? His chance boils down to a "puncher's chance". In the first fight the dice just happened to roll in his favor.
JDS could attempt to attack with his own grappling or strikes when he throws off Cain's TD attempts early on. He would shrug off the attempts and then just circle away, rinse/repeat til he got tired. Then he got clipped. So yeah, when Cain was laying face down 3-4 times after JDS shrugged off the single leg attempts, he possibly could've tried to attack in some fashion.
This, I don't think JDS can improve all facets of his game to the level they would need to be to beat someone like Cain. However, JDS can knock out anyone and that is that.
JDS #1 jds needs to take a tuneup fight and overeem to beat cain because jds has a better chance at overeem. #2 For a rematch. Jds needs to train more cardio and start shooting for his own takedowns. I could see him being a vicious ground and pounder. Cain #1 Cain needs to start implying simple submissions like the RNC!! Its always there for him but i think he just loves brutality.
That's a subjective opinion, not critical analysis. Just because you view one outcome as luck and the other as a truer representation of who is a more skilled fighter-Doesn't make it so. From the evidence we have JDS is just as likely to KO Cain in the 1st, as Cain is likely to hurt Junior in the 1st and dominate a decision. Neither is objectively more likely at this point
Well, then your thread is pretty pointless. Whatever strategy people think Dos Santos need to use in a future match is all subjective. If you believe MMA is 100% luck and no skill, then yes. The dice rolled in his favor for each of the 5 rounds.