Prime JDS run to the belt was ridiculously solid

[ehxsur]

He beat continiuously Werdum, Struve, Crocop, Gonzaga, Nelson, Carwin, Cain

And it was KO over KO

He cleaned the division before being champ

Not to mention that he beat mir, hunt, lewis and miocic after that

What a freaking beast he was, so sad to see what he became

 

[AmericanMMA]

He was electric to watch. His KO of Hunt might be my favorite.

 

[Oeshon]

i remember having no fucking idea who he was when he fought Werdum but thinking Werdum might get starched as he came in fat and heavy.

JDS was essentially an unknown at the time

 

[gluehuffer1776]

he shouldnt have left his first wife. he could have been the goat if he was still with her

 

[TheMessiah]

His resume is amazing

 

[BoTyson]

He was great, its a shame USADA wrecked him.

 

[Mr Wings]

i remember having no fucking idea who he was when he fought Werdum but thinking Werdum might get starched as he came in fat and heavy.

JDS was essentially an unknown at the time

I “saw” that fight live. When the fight started, I thought I would have time to go get a beer and still get back to catch most of the fight. Moments later I heard the crowd roar and knew that I had missed the ending.

 

[Raymundo Alvarado Guevara]

A very solid run to the top

 

[Nirk Narcson]

 

[deucesarewild]

Actually, that's a good point. His run up to the title might be one of the better ones. I think he was already a bit worn by 2012. The fact he had any wins, especially against Stipe after that is impressive.

It took a while for JDS to grow on me.

 

[sdpdude9]

One of the best runs to a title in history. Absolutely ran through everybody and looked unstoppable. Then the 2nd Cain fight happened and it was all downhill from there.

 

[New Yorkido]

He beat continiuously Werdum, Struve, Crocop, Gonzaga, Nelson, Carwin, Mir, Cain

He cleaned the division before being champ

What a freaking beast he was, so sad to see what he became

I hear JDS wants to fight Fedor next. what are your thoughts sherbros? Can half of what's left of Prime Fedya beat off-the-beaten-path JDS?

 

[acannxr]

He was great, its a shame USADA wrecked him.

Sure, let's ignore the two beatings from Velasquez and a hard fought victory against prime Miocic.

 

[UFCFantasyMVP]

He wasn't just a special talent, he was a very special person. Of course I'm referencing the time when he beat Brock on the coaches challenge and awarded all of Brock's team $100 each. That put a tear in my eye. That guy is a good role model for any martial artist. Huge respect for him!

 

[mirko>anyone]

i remember having no fucking idea who he was when he fought Werdum but thinking Werdum might get starched as he came in fat and heavy.

JDS was essentially an unknown at the time

This. Funny enough,
I seem to recall big money coming in on JDS last minute after footage was revealed of him hitting a heavy bag. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to discern JDS had hands.

 

[BoTyson]

Sure, let's ignore the two beatings from Velasquez and a hard fought victory against prime Miocic.

He got popped for peds in 2015.

 

[mirko>anyone]

He got popped for peds in 2015.

It was a combination. He mentally and physically broke after the second Cain fight. To me, it’s the most startling “before” and “after” transformation to date. Even the JDS that beat Stipe the first time was a far cry from the guy who went on that legendary run to the title.

And yeah, his body changed a great deal. I’m sure he was on gear but I kinda assume they all are.

 

[mmacrisis]

He also stopped evolving as a fighter. JDS that did that run is the same skilled fighter that fell apart. Didn't adapt to what the division became.

 

[BoTyson]

It was a combination. He mentally and physically broke after the second Cain fight. To me, it’s the most startling “before” and “after” transformation to date. Even the JDS that beat Stipe the first time was a far cry from the guy who went on that legendary run to the title.

And yeah, his body changed a great deal. I’m sure he was on gear but I kinda assume they all are.

It was just a fact Stipe and Cain were better than him, he continued to knock out gatekeepers afterwards, he just couldn't beat the elite, once he got popped for "contaminated substance's" he was nowhere near as devastating or fast.

Werdum was like 40lbs overweight and uninterested.

 

[BoTyson]

He also stopped evolving as a fighter. JDS that did that run is the same skilled fighter that fell apart. Didn't adapt to what the division became.

So did Bigfoot, Overeem & Vitor etc etc etc etc after 2015