What ever happened to Brandon Thatch???

[StewDogg11]

Comes into the UFC with a sparkling 9-1 record with his lone loss being a split decision in his second fight. He trained at a great camp and had by all accounts an amazing skill set but was rumored to be a huge stoner who wasn’t always the hardest worker.

He got matched up tough upon his entry into the UFC but quickly dispatched tough veteran types in Justin Edwards and Paulo Thiago. He then was outwilled by the undersized, late replacement, underdog Benson Henderson and then proceeded to lose his next three fights after that and was subsequently released and has never fought again.

What do you think the cause of his demise was?

 

[FIghtxIQ]

Comes into the UFC with a sparkling 9-1 record with his lone loss being a split decision in his second fight. He trained at a great camp and had by all accounts an amazing skill set but was rumored to be a huge stoner who wasn’t always the hardest worker.

He got matched up tough upon his entry into the UFC but quickly dispatched tough veteran types in Justin Edwards and Paulo Thiago. He then was outwilled by the undersized, late replacement, underdog Benson Henderson and then proceeded to lose his next three fights after that and was subsequently released and has never fought again.

What do you think the cause of his demise was?

Maybe a break in confidence after the Benson fight. It looked like Benson broke him in that fight and he may not have mentally recovered from that. Confidence is very important when it comes to fighting. Also maybe being stoned all the time affected his work rate. Not everyone can be like the Diaz bros and Jon Jones.

 

[StewDogg11]

Maybe a break in confidence after the Benson fight. It looked like Benson broke him in that fight and he may not have mentally recovered from that. Confidence is very important when it comes to fighting. Also maybe being stoned all the time affected his work rate. Not everyone can be like the Diaz bros and Jon Jones.

I think I agree with this that Bendo just totally broke him but then he just fought out his contract for the paycheck.

 

[welcometohavoc]

Maybe a break in confidence after the Benson fight. It looked like Benson broke him in that fight and he may not have mentally recovered from that. Confidence is very important when it comes to fighting. Also maybe being stoned all the time affected his work rate. Not everyone can be like the Diaz bros and Jon Jones.

It doesn't help that the fight with Benson was when he was coming off a1 year layoff

 

[The-AxeMurderer]

Thatch was the next big thing at that time too.

He was pretty hyped up.

Seemed like a killer in some fights, in others felt like he didnt show up.

 

[Bushpig]

Even GSP was quite impressed with his performance at one point iirc.

 

[StewDogg11]

It doesn't help that the fight with Benson was when he was coming off a1 year layoff

He was still a -300 favorite. People really believed in this guy. He also wasn’t coming off a year layoff when he sleepwalked through his next three losses against much lesser comp than Henderson.

 

[xhaydenx]

Couldn't grapple at all. There's a reason he got subbed 4 times in a row before quitting.

 

[StewDogg11]

Couldn't grapple at all. There's a reason he got subbed 4 times in a row before quitting.

Nah he could grapple for sure. He just seemed to have no interest in being there after Bendo outwilled him.

 

[Thesnake101]

He was originally supposed to fight Wonderboy instead of Benson too, so the guy was getting mauled regardless. They were pretty invested in him though, tons of hype.

Nah he could grapple for sure. He just seemed to have no interest in being there after Bendo outwilled him.

I disagree with that, he was a good striker but his grappling was mediocre if we're being generous, you only need to look at his fight with Siyar to see that.

Maybe if we're talking strictly top control he's decent, but on the bottom he's absolutely clueless.

 

[TSexy]

Class example of a fighter who wrecks in the gym but fades in the spotlight.

 

[StewDogg11]

He was originally supposed to fight Wonderboy instead of Benson too, so the guy was getting mauled regardless. They were pretty invested in him though, tons of hype.

I disagree with that, he was a good striker but his grappling was mediocre if we're being generous, you only need to look at his fight with Siyar to see that.

Maybe if we're talking strictly top control he's decent, but on the bottom he's absolutely clueless.

Yeah but my point was he appeared to all but done and sleewalking through fights by the time he fought Siyar. Grudge had alot of good grapplers who affirmed he was good on the ground.

 

[NoSmilez]

Thatch didn't train much on the ground. Abu Schaubi was saying he didn't like it because grappling was for teh gheys.

There was a lot of hype behind him though. He was rumored to be knocking out HWs in training. He was a big guy. I am assuming he walked slightly north of 200 lbs.

 

[animepro]

he’s active on instagram seems like he’s teaching some kind of boxercise or aerobic kickboxing type classes lately

 

[xhaydenx]

Nah he could grapple for sure. He just seemed to have no interest in being there after Bendo outwilled him.

You sure? I remember him as being just a big, athletic striker who looked mostly lost once it hit the mat. Maybe you're right and I'm just thinking that because he got matched up with Bendo and Gunnar back to back, both of which were way better at grappling than anyone else he'd ever faced.

 

[NoSmilez]

You sure? I remember him as being just a big, athletic striker who looked mostly lost once it hit the mat. Maybe you're right and I'm just thinking that because he got matched up with Bendo and Gunnar back to back, both of which were way better at grappling than anyone else he'd ever faced.

He can't grapple well. Niko Price and Sihar both submitted him with same choke. Both of those men aren't known for their grappling.

 

[Van Daz]

Comes into the UFC with a sparkling 9-1 record with his lone loss being a split decision in his second fight. He trained at a great camp and had by all accounts an amazing skill set but was rumored to be a huge stoner who wasn’t always the hardest worker.

He got matched up tough upon his entry into the UFC but quickly dispatched tough veteran types in Justin Edwards and Paulo Thiago. He then was outwilled by the undersized, late replacement, underdog Benson Henderson and then proceeded to lose his next three fights after that and was subsequently released and has never fought again.

What do you think the cause of his demise was?

Probably didn't have the dance moves & lacked 80's jeans & t-shirt:

At the end of the day....

 

[brakkkop]

he was last seen on the beach in rio with ricardo arona

 

[ExitLUPin]

People realized he couldn't defend chokes and that was the end of his chapter

 

[G10]

I agree with what most here say, but I think the biggest issue he had was size. He was WAY too big for 170lbs, and he should’ve probably been at MW. I’m sure the cut affected his grappling very negatively. Plus, the UFC probably rushed him a bit, too.