BJJ Nicky Rodriguez vs Kaynan Duarte 2morrow

[DaCrippler]

WNO 27 is tomorrow w/ the below submission grappling matches w/ my picks.

What are yours?

Kaynan Duarte vs. Nick Rodriguez (Kaynan has won twice before again Nick): KAYNAN by decision

Luke Griffith vs. Victor Hugo: HUGO by decision

Elisabeth Clay vs. Helena Crevar: CREVAR by heel hook

Andrew Tackett vs. Fabyury Khrysthyan: ANDREW by submission

Owen Jones vs. Julian Espinosa: JONES by submission

Xande Ribeiro vs. Richie Martinez: XANDE by submission

 

[ChickenBrother]

Livestream started at 8 pm on Flograppling. Undercard is in the books and as of 9:27 ET they're on Jones vs. Espinosa on the main card.

Stupid question: why is Rodriguez and not Victor Hugo in the main event vs. Duarte, given Hugo's recent (and 3 previous) wins over Nick?

 

[ChickenBrother]

Wow main and co-main winners subverted my expectations. And Tackett and Crevar are legit.

 

[shunyata]

Wow main and co-main winners subverted my expectations. And Tackett and Crevar are legit.

We knew that part, Tackett is always game.

Big wins for Luke and Nick, both of them were underdogs.

Xande's still a beast.

 

[ChickenBrother]

We knew that part, Tackett is always game.

Big wins for Luke and Nick, both of them were underdogs.

Xande's still a beast.

I only casually follow sport BJJ and didn't know anything about Griffith, but was impressed with him out-positioning Hugo who I know is a beast. They got 1 clean takedown a piece and both spent time in each others' back mount but 227 lbs Luke controlled two thirds of the match despite giving up 45 lbs. Supports the consensus about diminishing returns above low 200's for absolute and how 230ish is big enough to go toe to toe with bigger HWs even when that HW is 272 lbs Victor Hugo.

 

[shunyata]

I only casually follow sport BJJ and didn't know anything about Griffith, but was impressed with him out-positioning Hugo who I know is a beast. They got 1 clean takedown a piece and both spent time in each others' back mount but 227 lbs Luke controlled two thirds of the match despite giving up 45 lbs. Supports the conventional thinking about diminishing returns over low 200's for absolute and how 230ish is big enough to go toe to toe with bigger HWs even when that HW is 272 lbs Victor Hugo.

Luke is very good, but this is probably one of the biggest wins of his career so far.

 

[randomg1t]

Supports the consensus about diminishing returns above low 200's for absolute and how 230ish is big enough to go toe to toe with bigger HWs even when that HW is 272 lbs Victor Hugo.

i kind of agree, but i'm not sure we can really make a sweeping generalisation like that. hugo beat nicky rod like 3 times.

as far as i'm concerned, stylistic clashes play a bigger part. nicky rod has trouble dealing with a guy that's bigger than him and as well rounded as hugo. kaynan has trouble dealing with a top pressure passer like nicky. hugo has trouble with guys named luke.

some styles just handle a weight disadvantage far better than others.

 

[ChickenBrother]

i kind of agree, but i'm not sure we can really make a sweeping generalisation like that. hugo beat nicky rod like 3 times.

as far as i'm concerned, stylistic clashes play a bigger part. nicky rod has trouble dealing with a guy that's bigger than him and as well rounded as hugo. kaynan has trouble dealing with a top pressure passer like nicky. hugo has trouble with guys named luke.

some styles just handle a weight disadvantage far better than others.

We might be saying the same thing, but I'm saying style vs. style is the biggest factor for HWs vs. absolute size once they're heavier than around 220. But agree that size factors into an athlete's style and absolutely impacts their game and how they like to play.

This as opposed to weight classes below around 200 lbs where weight matters more. Given comparable skill and fitness level, giving up 40+ lbs is a tough out regardless of style. A 140 pounder will struggle vs. 180 pounder unless he is significantly more skilled.

But what stuck out for me in Griffith vs. Hugo was Luke actually outwrestling Hugo for the last half of the match. I understand Hugo is a guard player but as would be expected from a larger opponent, he started the match cleanly taking down Luke from standing, dominating position and taking back mount. But after he escaped (which was a grind), Luke then took down Hugo from the feet and returned the favor, with Hugo having no answer for the rest of the match.

Taking down and controlling a comparably skilled but much heavier opponent is difficult and that's why weight classes and weight cutting are more of a factor in wrestling - but also less so above around 220. I haven't watched enough of Hugo to know if he just sucks at wrestling, but in that match, they looked comparable (that is to say not great but proficient at basic wrestling TDs). I am curious if Hugo was just more gassed out later in the match from moving his big ass around the mat for 15 minutes.

 

[randomg1t]

I haven't watched enough of Hugo to know if he just sucks at wrestling, but in that match, they looked comparable (that is to say not great but proficient at basic wrestling TDs). I am curious if Hugo was just more gassed out later in the match from moving his big ass around the mat for 15 minutes.

yeah i don't think he's some great wrestler, but he did throw nicky rod which isn't exactly easy.

i would agree that his conditioning is his biggest problem, which shouldn't really surprise anyone - the man weighs 270lbs. it's impressive ha can last this long.

 

[TheMoa]

yeah i don't think he's some great wrestler, but he did throw nicky rod which isn't exactly easy.

i would agree that his conditioning is his biggest problem, which shouldn't really surprise anyone - the man weighs 270lbs. it's impressive ha can last this long.

I was really impressed with his last fight against Nick Rod. Dude that size playing guard, I was half the match mad that he wasnt using his size. Then in OT he got his back and choked him.
My guess is that he was afraid to gass out and played guard the whole time to save energy (no points lost there).
But I still get mad, dude that size should be smushing people