Maia bout to derail the Usman hype train

[brawlnsprawl]

Seriously tho, who has Usman faced? He’s a decorated D2 wrestler who made his pro debut in 2012. Usman is reliant on his wrestling and against a competent submission specialist like Maia he’s gonna get caught.

 

[Arm Barbarian]

Hoping so, but this is a really tall hill for Maia to climb, especially on a very short camp.

Usman did look to have a rough weight cut though, so will be interesting.

 

[MikalP]

It's almost like prospective up and comers take fights like Maia to add to their "who has he faced" lists

 

[The GIF Poster]

 

[USA!USA!]

Maia definitely has a chance. I think Usman is too much at this point, though. If Colby can beat him, I think Usman will.

 

[loyalyolayal]

Usman will be Maia's new Rick Story. Then he will be on a 5 win streak before he gets his title shot at age 44.

 

[Gilday]

Usman isn't a great striker, but he's powerful

Usman's wrestling is good enough that he shouldn't get taken down by Maia which means it should take place on the feet

Sloppy striking but fast and powerful > Sloppy striking but slow and no power + 40 year old chin

Usman by KO.

 

[Your Account]

If Colby can beat him, I think Usman will.

 

[DS66]

It's not really a valid point to say "who has he faced". It doesn't really matter, he's beaten everyone that he's faced. Maia is definitely a step up in competition, but he's also 40 years old and had a short camp. This is a tough, tough fight for Maia and it's hard to see him winning this one.

 

[Sega30]

I love Maia. But unless he manages to take down and choke out Usman in 2 rounds, which I don't see happening, he's done for. It's a terrible stylistic matchup for him.

 

[DLX]

He's a better striker than Maia, tho. All he has to do is stop the TD. This fight is moreso gonna test his TDD, than all around wrestling.

 

[tbaumann]

I wasn't aware that there was a hype train around Kamaru Usman??? Nobody seems to give a shit about this guy, lol.

 

[lostdog000]

love maia to win but i fear he is now too old and slow

 

[K-Town Punk]

Really hope so, Usman is unbearable. Listening to any of his interviews makes you wish someone would come and just end his career already (which of course I still don't wish upon him, it's his livelihood after all). Such an unlikeable human being, definitely not something the sport needs more of.

 

[Sega30]

I wasn't aware that there was a hype train around Kamaru Usman??? Nobody seems to give a shit about this guy, lol.

I don't think anyone here gives a shit about him, we just recognize and respect what he can do.
He can fuck off afterwards for all I care. He's boring and annoying as all hell.

 

[USA!USA!]

I wasn't aware that there was a hype train around Kamaru Usman??? Nobody seems to give a shit about this guy, lol.

He hasn't really been given big fights.. this is arguably his biggest and it's against an old Maia.

 

[ShinkanPo]

Usman will be Maia's new Rick Story. Then he will be on a 5 win streak before he gets his title shot at age 44.

I love how Maia took down Rick Story. Was it a high crotch? I rember Rick getting lifted a bit then getting rearmounted and choked.

 

[brawlnsprawl]

He's a better striker than Maia, tho. All he has to do is stop the TD. This fight is moreso gonna test his TDD, than all around wrestling.

Maia’s takedowns don’t come from wrestling shots tho

 

[VVarhead]

I like both guys, but I think Usman KO's Maia.

 

[DLX]

Maia’s takedowns don’t come from wrestling shots tho

Well his initial shots are usually single legs before he does his other chain transitions. Wrestling technically isn't the only discipline with thee types of takedowns, but very good defensive wrestling will absolutely help, no?