The Bright Side: Which fighters have looked good in the USADA era?

[Rum]

Sure fighters like Rockhold, Weidman, Pettis and Hendricks have struggled in the last year or so, but it's not like the performance levels of EVERY fighter has dropped.

USADA Aldo just put on a performance superior to many of his pre-USADA performances.
USADA Junior Dos Santos looked sharper against Ben Rothwell than he has in any fight in the last 4 years.
USADA Nunes smashed Meisha.
Over 3 rounds USADA Claudia did better against Joanna than pre-USADA Claudia did (unfortunately it was a 5 round fight, but the point stands).
USADA Barboza looking sharp as hell.
USADA Lineker is even more of a wrecking machine than before.
USADA dos Anjos smashed Cerrone then was beating Eddie till he got caught, after which he proved his USADA chin is still crazy tough as Eddie failed to drop him even after landing 583 follow-up shots.
USADA Overeem has sharpened up his technique and fight IQ and looks great going into his bout with USADA Stipe, who also looked plenty sharp in winning the title (sure Werdum served his chin on a silver platter, Stipe still did everything right).
USADA Cruz as awkwardly awesome as ever.

Who else?


Edit: Fucked up the thread title and don't know how to change it. DARN IT!!!

Edit: SOLVED IT!!!

 

[mangokush]

If USADA was around in the beginning of Bisping's career his record would be 29-3-4NC.

Fights against Hendo, Wand, Sonnen & Belfort would be NC due to steroids and TRT.

Finally gets to fight on a level playing field and winning the belt speaks for itself.

USADA era Fighter of the Year is Michael Bisping.

 

[Leinster Rugby]

Diaz, Nate
Bisping, Mike

 

[Frode Falch]

Rockhold? Wtf dude..

 

[CTEGod]

DC

 

[AWESOMEACE]

Stopped reading at USADA Overeeem

 

[Thepaintbucket]

If USADA was around in the beginning of Bisping's career his record would be 29-3-4NC.

Fights against Hendo, Wand, Sonnen & Belfort would be NC due to steroids and TRT.

Finally gets to fight on a level playing field and winning the belt speaks for itself.

USADA era Fighter of the Year is Michael Bisping.

It's only fair to blame Bisping for Peds the next time he loses a fight using this logic.

 

[MuyThaiElbows]

Daniel Cormier.

But, he's quietly one of the best in the world just like Gus.

 

[mangokush]

It's only fair to blame Bisping for Peds the next time he loses a fight using this logic.

Just those fights against Hendo, Belfort, Wand and Sonnen that should be overturned to NC due to steroids and TRT.

Any fight he loses in this USADA era from now on is a legit loss.

 

[Hans Gercmiov]

Cerrone looked like a world beater in his last fight.

 

[blkmike817]

Stopped reading at USADA Overeeem

Almost made it to the end.

 

[opie]

nate diaz

 

[TheRassler]

Nate Diaz

 

[Thepaintbucket]

Just those fights against Hendo, Belfort, Wand and Sonnen that should be overturned to NC due to steroids and TRT.

Any fight he loses in this USADA era from now on is a legit loss.

TRT was legal when Hendo and Belfort took it. Wand ran but never failed a test. Sonnen failed during his fight with Anderson and in between TUF.

I just don't see how I can agree with this. A NC should happen if you failed during or after the fight. IE... Nick Diaz vs Anderson Silva, it was turned into a NC.

 

[Fyreborn]

Stopped reading at USADA Overeeem

Why? USADA Overeem has looked real good.

Whether he's still on something who knows. Obviously if he is it isn't blatant anymore. Regardless, Jackson trained, improved cardio Reem has looked like champ material.

 

[Rum]

Stopped reading at USADA Overeeem

Anyone who fails to recognize Overeem fought as well as he ever has against both JDS and AA fails at knowing anything about MMA.

 

[joeyjoejoe]

Mark Hunt is still a badass, funny enough Overeem is kicking ass lol.

 

[SoSoSmart]

If USADA was around in the beginning of Bisping's career his record would be 29-3-4NC.

Fights against Hendo, Wand, Sonnen & Belfort would be NC due to steroids and TRT.

Finally gets to fight on a level playing field and winning the belt speaks for itself.

USADA era Fighter of the Year is Michael Bisping.

Rampage had a little "glass house throwing stones" to Bisping in regards to PED's. They used to train together. That is a story in itself.

 

[Rum]

Rockhold? Wtf dude..

His fight with Weidman was one of the sloppiest title fights I've ever seen, then he got smashed by Count Pillow Fists.

I'm not even a Rockhold hater, but it's undeniable he's looked far short of his best in the USADA era.

 

[welcometohavoc]

If USADA was around in the beginning of Bisping's career his record would be 29-3-4NC.

Fights against Hendo, Wand, Sonnen & Belfort would be NC due to steroids and TRT.

Finally gets to fight on a level playing field and winning the belt speaks for itself.

USADA era Fighter of the Year is Michael Bisping.

LMAOOO Bisping was 4-2 in his last 6 fights before his title shot, with his last 3 wins being Silva in the twilight of his career (which I thought he lost), a split decision to Thales Leites (which I thought he lost) and CB Dolloway. He then got fast tracked to a title fight because no one else in the division was ready or was already contracted for a different fight. He got a title shot without having to beat Weidman, Jacare, Romero, Kennedy, Belfort, Machida, or Mousasi, all of who were ranked ahead of him in that time period.