UFC 214 - Jones vs Cormier II - Anaheim

[Zee's MMA Subscriber]

What have you see in Shelton's boxing that is good? He throws a nice straight to the body but he's certainly not going to be lighting anyone up with his boxing any time soon. Like I said in my previous post he is wide open when throwing combinations, chin in the air, left unbalanced when trading sometimes and forced to back right up. I'd say his kicking game is better than his boxing.

Saying Shelton is the better athelete is a totally unfounded too. Have you seen Brooks fights? Explosive slams, suplexes, spinning wheel kicks, guy has even gone for cartwheel kicks before.

I like Shelton and of course he has a chance but to say things that are completely unfounded hurts your argument. Shelton's real success here could likely come from the reversals and getting top position.

Shelton is going to be dropping Brooks all over the canvas with that left hook. And it's not even that Shelton is some great striker, it's just that Brooks lacks and doesn't use much fundamental striking. All he does is throw flashy kicks from the outside, as soon as his opponents put hands on him he shoots, almost looks like panic wrestling sometimes. You mention wheel kicks and cartwheels kicks as if they are a good thing, but they are low percentage moves that cost a lot of energy with rare success

Shelton is just the more well rounded striker, the more well rounded fighter. Shelton can do it all, his game still needs polish but he really has no weaknesses. There is no denying Shelton's athleticism either, it's really what makes him stand out and makes me think he has great potential. The experience edge for Shelton is also significant, being on TUF, fighting high level flyweights like Elliot and Pantoja, already having his UFC debut out of the way. Means a lot more than beating up some bums in Japan that can't wrestle.

You know Brooks is not a big 125er and all those flashy slams and kicks that he did on the regional scene is not going to work in the UFC and on a guy like Shelton. Brooks has fought nobody and nobody good, Shelton is just on another level.

 

[CR0W]

Shelton is going to be dropping Brooks all over the canvas with that left hook. And it's not even that Shelton is some great striker, it's just that Brooks lacks and doesn't use much fundamental striking. All he does is throw flashy kicks from the outside, as soon as his opponents put hands on him he shoots, almost looks like panic wrestling sometimes. You mention wheel kicks and cartwheels kicks as if they are a good thing, but they are low percentage moves that cost a lot of energy with rare success

Shelton is just the more well rounded striker, the more well rounded fighter. Shelton can do it all, he really has no weaknesses, he also has the better experience. There is no denying Shelton's athleticism either, it's really what makes him stand out and makes me think he has great potential. Brooks is not a big 125er and all those flashy slams and kicks that he did on the regional scene is not going to work in the UFC and on a guy like Shelton. Brooks has fought nobody and nobody good, Shelton is just on another level.

The mention of wheelkicks etc were in reply to you claiming Shelton is more athletic; with no evidence of it at all, not about who has the more technical striking.

Brooks trains with a heap of ultra talented guys at Michigan Top Team, Daron Cruickshank, Cody Stamann etc. He barely cuts to make 125 and has energy for days, this isn't going to be like Pantoja who gasses after a few takedowns, he's relentless, having the size advantage doesn't always equal an advantage. Brooks' doesn't just throw flashy kicks, he's done it a few times it isn't some sort of fundamental part of his game. If you read my other posts you'll know his stand up consists mainly of jabs, crosses and inside leg kicks and has a nasty overhand. Sure, Shelton has faced the better guys but you can only beat who's put in front of you at regional level; Shelton went through TUF and has a fight in the UFC so of course it's against better opposition, that's not to say Brooks couldn't beat them too.

 

[Card]

Time off I've been able to add to my game, I feel rejuvenated, I'm 10 years undefeated, I just turned 30, I'm a grown man, I didn't show much in the OSP fight, DCs made zero progression, I believe this is my era, this is what I've been put on the earth to do, I'm gifted and hard working, deep level of self belief

 

[Galactictoenail]

Think I agree with you on both counts. Although, Knight is young and at the point where he can improve significantly from fight to fight whilst Lamas is probably on the tail end of his career. I think Sterling/Barao will be a 15 minute kickboxing match where I favour Barao. The weight cut has to be looked at too, although its at 140lbs Barao still might struggle.

Yeah I'd be a lot more cautious in backing Lamas if it weren't for Knight's last fight only being around 9-10 weeks ago. Could be too much too soon for him but that said you never know when a fighter like Lamas can turn up on the down side of their career. Odds are close so gotta side with Lamas.

Not putting anything on Barao until after weigh ins, he should make it but then Hendricks should have made 185!

 

[Card]

I have to show him the game has changed, I've had the belt for 2.5 years, he'll feel a more confident fighter, I've done everything, Jones is the only thing, this is the competition of my journey

 

[Galactictoenail]

Anyone thinking of Burkman?

I want a reason to bet him because I don't think Dober is great but Burkman has been pretty awful since his return to the UFC. 1-5 with that sole win against KJ Noons

 

[Card]

My family and kids drive me, last fight I worked alot of striking with Ludwig, then I dislocated my thumb in that fight, so I had to resort to my wrestling, it took the wind out of me, I was gassed, I learned that I need work everything in camp and stick to what I know, it will be a war, he's said alot of trash, he's one dimensional, he's not a finisher, hasn't fought anybody, I'm used to fighting wrestlers, great matchup for me, I can wrestle, I have BJJ, he has to worry about me, not the other way around, ufc jitters will play a factor, back to training with Pete Spratt, full 8 weeks, back to coaches there for me, my hands will be too much, he'll underestimate my wrestling, I love spending time with my kids, I can relate with the show Shameless

 

[Card]

Took another 3 months to train after the McCall fight fell through, I'm ready, show the world, I will do work, get it over quick if I can, ready for all 3 rounds, he won't be ready for the pressure, I study my opponents, division won't be ready, I train all across the state (Michigan Top Team) All star team of coaches and training partners, I'm 130, weight is perfect, won't be ready for my speed and strength, he'll break with the pressure

 

[Card]

I trained during my birthday, Skelley is a tough cat, I could hear his bones grinding with the arm bar and kimura, I broke his arm, then I realized you have to TKO him to finish him, he's never been finished, now I'll prove I'm a contender, took a long time for the nose to recover, but I'm breathing like a brand new man now, I will be a whole different animal now, before I couldn't breathe at all in the right nostril, I don't get tired anymore, I'm way different in the gym, can do two sets of 5 rounds, I can stand with him, I out-wrestled Skelley, I'm twice as prepared now, the ground is my world, if i don't get a finish it will be a hard fought decision, I had good wrestlers come down, and BJJ guys

 

[Stunna77]

This card is crazy. I literally have no strong leans except for the highly juiced cyborg

Yeah certainly no locks on this card like Gastelum was last card...

 

[Card]

(training ground game with Roan Carneiro) I brought the kids with me this camp, because I'm still doing the fox shows, (training at Roufusport), when I retire, I will be one of the greatest (training with Askren)

 

[Card]

4 weeks in Miami, he's not bringing anything to the table I haven't seen before, I trained just as hard, he has nothing to lose, sparring with guys that are taller, longer, range, to mimic his body type, rubber guard, just be aware it's coming, move to side control right away

 

[Card]

I stayed home for this camp, I ran my own training camp, got back together with Siler, Nijem, and Court, before I wasn't sparring enough, because I got hurt during Lombard training camp, but now sparring a couple times a week, I don't quite pull the trigger, Dana says he doesn't' cut guys like me, contract is good, show up, never turn down a fight, but I have to win, I pushed more this camp, just show up and see what happens

 

[Sadistics]

Brooks has been wrestling from the womb, was 35-0 as state wrestling champ in Indiana, top 113lb wrestler in the country out of highschool, started Jiu Jitsu at 6. An undersized 5'2-5'3" FLW with a 63"-67" reach (Sources vary), a natural 115lber. As an amateur he went 28-1, winning 10 titles along the way. Was at ATT for his fight with CJ Hamilton in Jan 2015. Hamilton nearly KOd him and outgrappled him for parts of the 1st 10 minute round but he's looked much improved in recent fights. He's a very solid wrestler with big slams and decent top control. A heavy brawling type striker with little head movement.

Shelton has been taken down by every opponent in TUF and the UFC. Yoni took him down multiple times, mostly double legs, but had terrible top control and sloppy transitions allowing Shelton to stand or sweep. Candido took him down repeatedly but he was able to pop up quick, he threw a few spinning backfists which Candido was able to duck under and shoot a couple times. Elliot easily took him down many time but kept going for guillotines allowing Shelton to end up on top, it was a very close fight. Pantoja was only able to ground him by dragging him down against the cage, though apparently that camp was the first time Pantoja had trained wrestling.

Shelton is very explosive when he gets taken down, no one has been able to stay on top for very long yet though at FLW it's harder to do so. He has long punches and quick kicks, Brooks' pressure may be able to neutralize both.

I don't feel there's enough recent footage of Brooks for me to confidently pick him, though from what I have seen I cap him as a slight favourite

 

[CR0W]

Brooks has been wrestling from the womb, was 35-0 as state wrestling champ in Indiana, top 113lb wrestler in the country out of highschool, started Jiu Jitsu at 6. An undersized 5'2-5'3" FLW with a 63"-67" reach (Sources vary), a natural 115lber. As an amateur he went 28-1, winning 10 titles along the way. Was at ATT for his fight with CJ Hamilton in Jan 2015. Hamilton nearly KOd him and outgrappled him for parts of the 1st 10 minute round but he's looked much improved in recent fights. He's a very solid wrestler with big slams and decent top control. A heavy brawling type striker with little head movement.

Shelton has been taken down by every opponent in TUF and the UFC. Yoni took him down multiple times, mostly double legs, but had terrible top control and sloppy transitions allowing Shelton to stand or sweep. Candido took him down repeatedly but he was able to pop up quick, he threw a few spinning backfists which Candido was able to duck under and shoot a couple times. Elliot easily took him down many time but kept going for guillotines allowing Shelton to end up on top, it was a very close fight. Pantoja was only able to ground him by dragging him down against the cage, though apparently that camp was the first time Pantoja had trained wrestling.

Shelton is very explosive when he gets taken down, no one has been able to stay on top for very long yet though at FLW it's harder to do so. He has long punches and quick kicks, Brooks' pressure may be able to neutralize both.

I don't feel there's enough recent footage of Brooks for me to confidently pick him, though from what I have seen I cap him as a slight favourite

I've found Brooks' fights with Hamilton (older fight), Ito, Miah, Vo, Nakamura and a few amateur fights, so 4 out of his last 6 pro fights, obviously it would help to see the other 2 recent ones but I think there's decent enough footage; compared to some of the UFC newcomers we've had recently.

 

[Sadistics]

I've found Brooks' fights with Hamilton (older fight), Ito, Miah, Vo, Nakamura and a few amateur fights, so 4 out of his last 6 pro fights, obviously it would help to see the other 2 recent ones but I think there's decent enough footage; compared to some of the UFC newcomers we've had recently.

Ah I must've glossed over the Miah fight. His fight with Hamilton doesn't slightly put you off him? Granted it was 2 years ago

 

[CR0W]

Ah I must've glossed over the Miah fight. His fight with Hamilton doesn't slightly put you off him? Granted it was 2 years ago

Yeah like I mentioned in my original post on this fight he made some mistakes and was in some danger but like you say, 2 and a half years ago and was 21 years old. He faced adversity and still came back to win, Shelton has 2 loses at the start of his career but I wouldn't judge him off them either.

I genuinely think Brooks is very talented and could do great things at Flyweight, Shelton is a hard debut I'll happily admit that. A strong defensive grappler always looking to get up or reverse, I think that is Shelton''s road to victory, scrambling and getting top control as opposed to outstriking him but I guess we'll see.

 

[Card]

The difference is what I do when no one is watching, early bird gets the worm, 8th ufc fight, i've grown, all I know is work and effort, no body will outhustle me, too strong, quick, fast, If he doesn't take me out, I'm dragging him into the deep waters, it's time to have some fun

 

[Card]

I feel ultra confident, first fight, I couldn't take him down, when I start boxing he started clinching me and holding me, I didn't adjust, I tried to wrestle and I had way too much emotion, I was gassed by the 3rd round, when he started clinching, it took me by surprise, this time I've done more fight specific wrestling, more prepared, he was the first guy to take me down, was on the fence when he caught my kick, I can't rest, this time he if grabs me, I have sh*t for him, I've gotten so much help in those positions, he felt big, strong

 

[michi972]

@EzFlyer are u really on Sterling,

I want a reason to bet him because I don't think Dober is great but Burkman has been pretty awful since his return to the UFC. 1-5 with that sole win against KJ Noons

KJ Noons is nit bad and the competition he lost to was tough.