War Room OT Discussion

[Jack V Savage]

Conor is great, but not perfect, clearly. I mean, how special can a guy be if he gets out boxed and sub'ed in the 2nd round by 19-10 Nate Diaz?

Diaz has some big weaknesses that make him vulnerable to a lot of good fighters, but McGregor didn't have the skillset to exploit them. What I was impressed with was the adjustments he made in the second fight--both technical adjustments in his approach (note how in the first fight, he lunges in--with some success--and doesn't exit cleanly; and how in the second fight, he hangs back and uses parries to set up strikes) and the way he was effectively able to slow his pace down and still compete. I don't see this as like a 60/40 fight that just happened to go one way each time. He genuinely improved between the fights--the McGregor who lost to Diaz the first time would have lost to him the second time. Point is that what's special there isn't just that he's a very high level striker--it's kind of "meta" categories that he excels at. Anyone who saw that early deserves credit (obviously some people were just lucky).

 

[Fawlty]

Diaz has some big weaknesses that make him vulnerable to a lot of good fighters, but McGregor didn't have the skillset to exploit them. What I was impressed with was the adjustments he made in the second fight--both technical adjustments in his approach (note how in the first fight, he lunges in--with some success--and doesn't exit cleanly; and how in the second fight, he hangs back and uses parries to set up strikes) and the way he was effectively able to slow his pace down and still compete. I don't see this as like a 60/40 fight that just happened to go one way each time. He genuinely improved between the fights--the McGregor who lost to Diaz the first time would have lost to him the second time. Point is that what's special there isn't just that he's a very high level striker--it's kind of "meta" categories that he excels at. Anyone who saw that early deserves credit (obviously some people were just lucky).

He's going to have to get even more special between now and Khabib...

Now that Condit's run out of steam (major heartbreak there for me w/the Lawler decision) I'm fully on the Holloway train. Watching him go from a few scrappy fights in Hawaii, to getting thrown to the fucking wolves in his UFC debut vs Dustin, then growing into his frame and becoming an animal, very good stuff.

 

[Jack V Savage]

He's going to have to get even more special between now and Khabib...

Now that Condit's run out of steam (major heartbreak there for me w/the Lawler decision) I'm fully on the Holloway train. Watching him go from a few scrappy fights in Hawaii, to getting thrown to the fucking wolves in his UFC debut vs Dustin, then growing into his frame and becoming an animal, very good stuff.

I like Khabib against Conor, and he might make it look easy, but there's some danger in that fight for him. Holloway is a great fighter and still getting better. I'm leaning toward Aldo right now (gotta rewatch and study first, though), but it's very close.

 

[Lead]

Who do you guys have for tonight with the top three fights?

I'm thinking Gall Faber but I have no idea about that main. Have hardly seen either fighter

 

[Jack V Savage]

Who do you guys have for tonight with the top three fights?

I'm thinking Gall Faber but I have no idea about that main. Have hardly seen either fighter

Yeah, I gotta pass on all three. Faber is probably my least-favorite fighter so I hope he loses, though.

 

[Lead]

Yeah, I gotta pass on all three. Faber is probably my least-favorite fighter so I hope he loses, though.

Since WEC folded, I haven't enjoyed his fights. His stand up game is irritating to watch

 

[Jack V Savage]

Since WEC folded, I haven't enjoyed his fights. His stand up game is irritating to watch

As are his cornrows and chin. Also hate the nickname. Just act your age, Uriah. But, yeah, starts with his stand-up game. Also, kind of a waste of talent.

 

[Lead]

As are his cornrows and chin. Also hate the nickname. Just act your age, Uriah. But, yeah, starts with his stand-up game. Also, kind of a waste of talent.

It also ruined some of his nostalgia in WEC. Like the first Pulver fight seems entirely embarrassing now. He choose to do a ton of shitty footwork and hesitant striking to coast five rounds when he had the potential of knocking the guy out or finishing him on the ground.

 

[The Diplomat]

Perry, Sage and Paige get their asses kicked. Who woulda thought that would happen?

 

[Lead]

Perry, Sage and Paige get their asses kicked. Who woulda thought that would happen?

Gall was the favorite and I did expect him to win. The Paige fight definitely shocked me. I thought she could lose but not that fast. Waterson looked so undersized.

 

[Jack V Savage]

Perry, Sage and Paige get their asses kicked. Who woulda thought that would happen?

I hadn't seen enough of the principals to have any firm expectations based on my own knowledge. Last I saw, Gall was the favorite, and the odds for the other two fights were extremely close.

So what does everyone think of Perry now? Way too young to write off, and Jouban is not a bum. But I don't see championship-caliber potential there (never did). I think his ceiling is borderline top-10 in his division, and he's obviously not there yet and may not get there.

 

[JudoThrowFiasco]

I hadn't seen enough of the principals to have any firm expectations based on my own knowledge. Last I saw, Gall was the favorite, and the odds for the other two fights were extremely close.

So what does everyone think of Perry now? Way too young to write off, and Jouban is not a bum. But I don't see championship-caliber potential there (never did). I think his ceiling is borderline top-10 in his division, and he's obviously not there yet and may not get there.

A lesser version of Leben

He just revealed the blueprint to beat him and the glaring holes in his game. The question is does he have the acumen to train and develop, or will he always be a one dimensional, slugger.

Im going with the latter.

 

[dontsnitch]

I actually thought this was 10 pages of people discussing Christmas music. Pleasantly surprised by coherent mma discussions, at least relative to the Heavies.

 

[Jack V Savage]

I actually thought this was 10 pages of people discussing Christmas music. Pleasantly surprised by coherent mma discussions, at least relative to the Heavies.

Yeah, @Lead, can we get a title change?

 

[JudoThrowFiasco]

Who do you guys have the Garbrandt v Cruz matchup?

 

[dontsnitch]

Who do you guys have the Garbrandt v Cruz matchup?

Cruz is around 65/35 to win. I personally like those odds for him to decisionate.

 

[JudoThrowFiasco]

Cruz is around 65/35 to win. I personally like those odds for him to decisionate.

I think they are getting tighter -- i got Cruz as well but he has looked more hittable in his last 2 fights and Cody has some serious power for 135.

May have to lay down some coin on the underdog here.

 

[dontsnitch]

I think they are getting tighter -- i got Cruz as well but he has looked more hittable in his last 2 fights and Cody has some serious power for 135.

May have to lay down some coin on the underdog here.

I'm not that impressed with Cody's footwork, I think Cruz' movements will present some serious problems for him. Personally, I don't like the bet on Cody at these odds, though the line is moving. I'd wait a bit for better odds if I was so inclined to bet on Cody.

 

[Jack V Savage]

I think they are getting tighter -- i got Cruz as well but he has looked more hittable in his last 2 fights and Cody has some serious power for 135.

May have to lay down some coin on the underdog here.

I like Cruz at the current odds, though not by much. Made a small bet on him already and will be watching for more.

I'm not that impressed with Cody's footwork, I think Cruz' movements will present some serious problems for him. Personally, I don't like the bet on Cody at these odds, though the line is moving. I'd wait a bit for better odds if I was so inclined to bet on Cody.

Agreed, though Cruz switches stance in range sometimes, and that's asking to get dropped by Garbrandt. I think Garbrandt will do OK early, and then his lack of pacing will start to hurt him later. I thought his footwork started declining noticeably later in the Brimage fight. BTW, I was at that one and stayed at the MGM. On my way to the arena, I was in an elevator with this dude that asked if we were going to see the event. He told us to watch out for Garbrandt, that he went to HS with him and has been following his career closely and that he (Cody) was a beast who was going to make a big splash in the UFC.

 

[theBLADE1]

The best Christmas song is FUCK THE POLICE!!!!!!!!!!!!