Should RDR move to LHW?

[Pequeño Corey]

-One FC LHW is 225 lbs, so it's not like he hasn't competed at the higher weights. 205 would be a good compromise imo.

-The striker heavy lineup and lack of wresters at LHW would favor RDR's style.

-Guys like Fluffy, hazmat, and DDP are terrible matchups if you're cutting a lot of weight and tend to gas quickly. Apparently, Brendan was also a terrible matchup.

-His chin held up decent at MW. Bobby floored him and followed up with Gn'P and he was able to survive. His chin could be even better at LHW without having to cut as much.

-Understand that it was RDR's 5th weight cut, but I don't think that some time off will remedy how his body responded to that last cut. He's 35. Weight cuts don't get easier as you age.

 

[mkt]

I don't know. There aren't a lot of good grapplers at LHW so that's a plus. But RDR has kind of an unusual grappling style and doesn't have world-class TDs or wrestling. And guys like Jiri hit harder than Whittaker.

It's probably worth a shot if he can try out 205 against a mid-level opponent who isn't too dangerous. I've been saying for a while that a really good wrestler could do well at LHW. Historically, there have been many (Couture, Tito, Rashad, Bader, Davis, Jones, Cormier, etc.) but it's been a ghost town for wrestlers after Bader/Davis/Cory went to Bellator.

But again, RDR doesn't have the offensive wrestling chops of a very strong D1 or Dagestani wrestler. His "wrap myself around you and eventually bring you down" may not work against really big, strong LHWs.

Maybe Reyes-RDR? Though Reyes is the type of big, strong LHW with good TDD and better striking that I'm talking about.

 

[Pequeño Corey]

I don't know. There aren't a lot of good grapplers at LHW so that's a plus. But RDR has kind of an unusual grappling style and doesn't have world-class TDs or wrestling. And guys like Jiri hit harder than Whittaker.

It's probably worth a shot if he can try out 205 against a mid-level opponent who isn't too dangerous. I've been saying for a while that a really good wrestler could do well at LHW. Historically, there have been many (Couture, Tito, Rashad, Bader, Davis, Jones, Cormier, etc.) but it's been a ghost town for wrestlers after Bader/Davis/Cory went to Bellator.

But again, RDR doesn't have the offensive wrestling chops of a very strong D1 or Dagestani wrestler. His "wrap myself around you and eventually bring you down" may not work against really big, strong LHWs.

Maybe Reyes-RDR? Though Reyes is the type of big, strong LHW with good TDD and better striking that I'm talking about.

I was thinking Reyes, as well. Excellent match for RDR coming off a loss imo.

 

[DougieJones]

Absolutely not. Those strikers would fold him before he got a chance to clinch

 

[Bobby Boulders]

I'm down, but more for the curiosity than anything else. RDR vs Jiri is about as uncommon a style matchup as you'll ever see, both guys have weird tendencies

 

[Only Here for Attachments]

Sounds like a great opponent for Big Wank

 

[SalvadorAllende]

Dude goes on a tear at MW including a win over Whittaker... he just lost one fight ffs.

 

[Mr. Snrub]

Kinda sucks that we never got to see RDR vs Paul Craig. 185 or 205 it doesn't matter.

I much prefer watching strikers go at it but also get excited and intrigued whenever 2 high level grapplers face off. Generally we get a sick striking battle or see some slick grappling skills play out.
Aljo vs Movsar, Newton vs Sakuraba, RDR vs Nickel, Burns vs Khamzat, and Arman vs Gamrot come to mind.

 

[JoeRowe]

Khalil hasn't had his TDD tested in a while, and RDR would likely run thru him on the ground. I wouldn't mind that booking.

 

[Tokoloko]

I don't know. There aren't a lot of good grapplers at LHW so that's a plus. But RDR has kind of an unusual grappling style and doesn't have world-class TDs or wrestling. And guys like Jiri hit harder than Whittaker.

This. + People understimate Jiri's grappling. There are photos from 2015 when Jiri was in JacksonWinkMMA and had grappling sparrings with Jones. Also i know as fact that Jiri in one of recent preparations used Buday as sparring, and iam pretty much sure it was not because of Buday's striking skills...

He even delivered more TDs against Pereira than Ankalaev. If i remember correctly he had 50% TD rate in first fight and second TD attempt was after Knockdown...

Like there is reason why even Khamzat did not want to fight Jiri in LHW...

 

[RockyLockridge]

It wouldn't be a bad Idea. He could get a fight with walker, win then be in a contenders fight immediately.

 

[NicholasJBasile]

-One FC LHW is 225 lbs, so it's not like he hasn't competed at the higher weights. 205 would be a good compromise imo.

-The striker heavy lineup and lack of wresters at LHW would favor RDR's style.

-Guys like Fluffy, hazmat, and DDP are terrible matchups if you're cutting a lot of weight and tend to gas quickly. Apparently, Brendan was also a terrible matchup.

-His chin held up decent at MW. Bobby floored him and followed up with Gn'P and he was able to survive. His chin could be even better at LHW without having to cut as much.

-Understand that it was RDR's 5th weight cut, but I don't think that some time off will remedy how his body responded to that last cut. He's 35. Weight cuts don't get easier as you age.

I wouldn't mind seeing him fight at 205. LHW is very thin these days. He could probably become a decent contender.

 

[NicholasJBasile]

It wouldn't be a bad Idea. He could get a fight with walker, win then be in a contenders fight immediately.

I like this idea -- I think he beats Walker.

 

[Kwic]

Dude goes on a tear at MW including a win over Whittaker... he just lost one fight ffs.

He should retire.

 

[shunyata]

Nah just stay away from ice machines and chipotle during fight week.

 

[RockyLockridge]

Dude goes on a tear at MW including a win over Whittaker... he just lost one fight ffs.

Yeah he did, but strategically speaking, the situation over at LHW is incredibly Volitile....


Lots of talk about poatan moving divisions. If RDR were to go in there and beat *checks notes* Jan vs Guskov winner, He could be the first person to challenge JirI x Ulberg winner should poatan move to HW.


Everything could be up for grabs. With Imavov, Fluffy, Allen and DDP patently ahead of him Combined with Khamzats recently spotty attendance, a MW title fight could be years away for RDR. With the correct fight at LHW he could fight for the title in 2026 if everything goes smooth for him.

 

[Pequeño Corey]

Khalil hasn't had his TDD tested in a while, and RDR would likely run thru him on the ground. I wouldn't mind that booking.

Yes another great matchup agree

 

[Pequeño Corey]

Yeah he did, but strategically speaking, the situation over at LHW is incredibly Volitile....


Lots of talk about poatan moving divisions. If RDR were to go in there and beat *checks notes* Jan vs Guskov winner, He could be the first person to challenge JirI x Ulberg winner should poatan move to HW.


Everything could be up for grabs. With Imavov, Fluffy, Allen and DDP patently ahead of him Combined with Khamzats recently spotty attendance, a MW title fight could be years away for RDR. With the correct fight at LHW he could fight for the title in 2026 if everything goes smooth for him.

Yes this was another point I forgot to mention in the OP. The path to a TS at MW is long. He could absolutely see a TS with 2 wins at LHW. Chama ain’t sticking around.

 

[mkt]

I was thinking Reyes, as well. Excellent match for RDR coming off a loss imo.

It could be a good bounce-back fight for either of them.

I think Reyes might be tough stylistically though. His biggest weakness (by far) is his chin and facing heavy punchers. RDR hasn't looked like he has heavy hands or good boxing in the UFC. He has nasty knees, but I think those will be harder to land on guys who are as big or bigger than he is. He's not going to be able to manhandle most 205 pounders in the clinch. And I'm not sure if he can take Reyes down easily or keep him there.

It would be interesting. Two fighters around age 35 with solid skills and clear weaknesses.

 

[mkt]

Khalil hasn't had his TDD tested in a while, and RDR would likely run thru him on the ground. I wouldn't mind that booking.

Or Hill, who's on a 3-loss streak right now. I think he stuffed a TD or two from a 43-year old Glover, but it was mostly a kickboxing match from what I remember. I haven't watched enough of Hill to know if he has much of a ground game, but my guess is he doesn't.