The unpredictability of the HW division and quick finishes

[markg171]

Before UFC 155, JDS was the overwhelming favorite for a lot of posters on here as the UFC HW GOAT as evidenced by this poll:

http://www.sherdog.net/forums/f2/greatest-hw-ufc-history-2340181/

I personally thought that status was a bit early considering he only had 1 title defence and that guys like Brock (2x defences), Randy (3x champion), Mir (1x time champ, 1x interim) and Sylvia (2x defences) needed to be put ahead. I voted for Brock as he was the longest reigning champion, is tied for most defences and has a wins over Randy and Mir, but that's just me.

JDS/Velasquez II showed however that quick finishes definitively don't show who the better fighter is. After watching that, I'd love to see how fights like Fitch/Hendricks would play out a second time around. It also showed that there probably never will be an overly dominant HW champ in the UFC as the division's just too unpredictable. I personally don't feel anyone's ever going to get past 2-3 defences. Everyone thought the first fight wasn't a fluke and I'll admit that when I saw Dos Santos shrugging off Cain's TD attempts with ease in the first round, I thought it was just a matter of time till the repeat happened. But it just goes to show that trying to make predictions with HWs isn't easy

 

[oatmeal]

I agree. With the type of punching power in the HW division, anyone can get knocked out cold by a lot of people. I still think JDS can beat Cain - he was just not prepared for the pace and aggression of Cain, but with improved footwork I can see him finding a range. I felt the same way in the first round, but Cain never backed up and let JDS get anything going, and it was effective (not to mention well-executed). I'd love to see a rubber match.

We'll see if there will ever be an all-time great UFC HW champ. If anything, I think the volatility at 205 and HW is a testament to how great GSP and AS are, that they are the anomalies in the sport. I think people expect a fighter like those to exist at every weight class, but up until now no HW has ever come close.

good post

 

[Author]

Before UFC 155, JDS was the overwhelming favorite for a lot of posters on here as the UFC HW GOAT as evidenced by this poll:

http://www.sherdog.net/forums/f2/greatest-hw-ufc-history-2340181/

I personally thought that status was a bit early considering he only had 1 title defence and that guys like Brock (2x defences), Randy (3x champion), Mir (1x time champ, 1x interim) and Sylvia (2x defences) needed to be put ahead. I voted for Brock as he was the longest reigning champion, is tied for most defences and has a wins over Randy and Mir, but that's just me.

JDS/Velasquez II showed however that quick finishes definitively don't show who the better fighter is. After watching that, I'd love to see how fights like Fitch/Hendricks would play out a second time around. It also showed that there probably never will be an overly dominant HW champ in the UFC as the division's just too unpredictable. I personally don't feel anyone's ever going to get past 2-3 defences. Everyone thought the first fight wasn't a fluke and I'll admit that when I saw Dos Santos shrugging off Cain's TD attempts with ease in the first round, I thought it was just a matter of time till the repeat happened. But it just goes to show that trying to make predictions with HWs isn't easy

With you, TS. But let me offer up this alternative view. That unpredictability only jeopardizes those fighters who are susceptible to one-shot flukes. I knew JDS had a chin going into this fight, it's been tested before, what I did not know was that the man is virtually incapable of being knocked out. Cain earned the #1 spot. But I feel sorry any man that wants to trade blows with JDS if he doesn't possess the speed and takedown threat that Cain does. That includes Overeem. Pretty convinced Cormier can decision JDS now though.

 

[markg171]

With you, TS. But let me offer up this alternative view. That unpredictability only jeopardizes those fighters who are susceptible to one-shot flukes. I knew JDS had a chin going into this fight, it's been tested before, what I did not know was that the man is virtually incapable of being knocked out. Cain earned the #1 spot. But I feel sorry any man that wants to trade blows with JDS if he doesn't possess the speed and takedown threat that Cain does. That includes Overeem. Pretty convinced Cormier can decision JDS now though.

Agree with you. JDS chin is the only thing that kept him in that fight, and it was pretty easy to see that when he did his post fight interview as you could see him kind of take him a moment to try and realign his jaw so that he could talk. I couldn't believe he'd fought for 25 minutes after I saw him having trouble with his jaw. I'd also say his chin probably helped him go 9-0 in the UFC as he definitely fought some guys with power.

His chin sets him apart from a lot of other guys. Take Mir for example. Mir has everything it takes to be champion on paper (this is proved by the fact that he has been champ twice). Mir's got good stand up and great BJJ with decent wrestling, but his chin doesn't stand up to much punishment which equalizes everything in the HW division

 

[Zebra Cheeks]

in all fairness, JDS had beaten some extremely big names without a single loss in the UFC.

Werdum, gonzaga, Cain, mir, nelson (lol), carwin and nelson all were really big wins. Kinda hard to blame anyone thinking he'd be the next person to dominate a division silva/gsp style.

 

[Codpiece]

in all fairness, JDS had beaten some extremely big names without a single loss in the UFC.

Werdum, gonzaga, Cain, mir, nelson (lol), carwin and nelson all were really big wins. Kinda hard to blame anyone thinking he'd be the next person to dominate a division silva/gsp style.

Nelson twice and no Struve?

Either way, I totally agree with this post. JDS wrecked lots of good guys, and Cain is also a beast, so it's not like JDS was some hype-train waiting to be derailed. He's still right up there, he has beaten almost all the relevant guys in the top ten, barring Reem and Cormier.