Media Whittaker is considering a move to 205

[Question]

How would you feel about Figgy getting the instant titleshot vs Pantoja if he can make the flyweight cut?

I kinda dig it but it seems so dangerous for his health. He said he wants it though.

Gonna make a thread about it actually

I'm kinda iffy on it, but Pantoja basically cleared the division so it wouldn't be a bad choice
The thing is, we just saw a guy who was a bantamweight come down to fight Pantoja and he looked really drained. I feel like there should be a tune up type fight for guys moving down, just to see if they can make the weight safely(DJ suggested this when TJ wanted to go to flyweight)

Again tho, Pantoja really did clear the division, the only guys who can argue for title shots at the moment are KKF, Royval and maybe Kape, all guys he already beat. So that really works in Figgy's favor since he was the last guy to beat Pantoja and still be in the same promotion
IMO, even though the guy was a headache to deal with, they should of kept Mokaev, he was really the only fresh contender left there lol

 

[Only Here for Attachments]

Imagine if Jones was still at 205. How do you think Jones vs Whittaker would go?

Now that would be interesting. I think Jon is too big and strong for Rob, but the latter puts up a good fight.

 

[Iroh]

Yeah, but what if the Khamzat Alex fight really happens and Khamzat wins, lol. It would be like Khamzat following Bobby wherever he goes.

 

[AstralPanda]

Pretty sure Whittaker walks at like 210-215 outside of camp. While fighting at MW.

By the time he hits the cage, we're seeing a version of him that's been dieting down for months. Obviously he's going to look smaller.

When he says hes bigger than people think, he's talking about when you take away that strict preparation and can eat whatever he wants again.

Hill and Jiri aren't even big LHWs

Khalil also used to fight at MW.

Whittaker wouldn't be far from the size of a lot of current / past LHWs with a little more muscle and less of a weight cut.

215-220. He'd be a thick boy.

It wouldn't be a bad move, I think 185 might be a little stagnant for him right now. 205 would be a new set of opponents, which his style probably matches up quite well against.

There really isn't anyone left to fight and I doubt he's thinking of going on a title run again at 34.

 

[Pilo]

Historically it's pretty been 50/50 as far as Fighters success when changing divisions. Poirier became a legit title challenger when he moved up. Figgy hasn't done bad.

Going to a lower weight class is a move that I usually better understand.

But while those two examples are guys moving up, those moves are between lower weight classes that are 10 pounds apart. It's twice as much when you move from 185 to 205, making it a different deal altogether in terms of size that you're giving up and usually length as well.

Think of guys who made that specific move off the top of my head: Rockhold, Weidman, Ed Herman, Rich Franklin, Jacaré, Anthony Smith, Thiago Santos, Anderson Silva...Some success has been achieved by Franklin and Silva, but eventually it size caught up to them when facing the larger men at 205. Guys like Santos and Smith, honestly just had that 205 frame from the get-go, and both are 6ft3-6ft4...Their build made sense at 205. I don't really think Whittaker's build does.

But hey, I could be wrong.

The move from 205 to HW is a bit of a different animal, since HWs tend to be way less skilled and athletic, but 185 to 205 is just a plain weird and counter-intuitive one.

 

[plataoplombo]

Would not recommend. He's a good fighter and has speed on his side, but being primarily a striker does not bode well for him.

 

[AstralPanda]

People say LHW sucks (which is true) but both Weidman and Rockhold got absolutely wrecked when they moved up. Cannonier was a mid tier guy at 205 too.

Size matters

Neither of those guys have any defense to save their life

Whittaker's style matches up well at 205.

 

[13Seconds]

Going to a lower weight class is a move that I usually better understand.

But while those two examples are guys moving up, those moves are between lower weight classes that are 10 pounds apart. It's twice as much when you move from 185 to 205, making it a different deal altogether in terms of size that you're giving up and usually length as well.

Think of guys who made that specific move off the top of my head: Rockhold, Weidman, Ed Herman, Rich Franklin, Jacaré, Anthony Smith, Thiago Santos, Anderson Silva...Some success has been achieved by Franklin and Silva, but eventually it size caught up to them when facing the larger men at 205. Guys like Santos and Smith, honestly just had that 205 frame from the get-go, and both are 6ft3-6ft4...Their build made sense at 205. I don't really think Whittaker's build does.

But hey, I could be wrong.

The move from 205 to HW is a bit of a different animal, since HWs tend to be way less skilled and athletic, but 185 to 205 is just a plain weird and counter-intuitive one.

I think I agree with your point, but it's really a case by case study. Moving up a weight class isn't inherentally bad but looking at Whittakers skillset, yeah im not thrilled about it. His offense can give anyone trouble but the guy gets rocked alot. At 185.

Speed is speed but when you're actually getting hit, it's game over.

 

[13Seconds]

Neither of those guys have any defense to save their life

Whittaker's style matches up well at 205.

I have a hard time trusting his chin in a firefight. At 185.

 

[JBJ was here]

I'd watch. I reckon he's a solid top 5 guy at 205

A 205 pound wheel of cheese would be top 5 at 205.

 

[Pechan]

Dude is just asking to get murdered by Anthony Smith on paper.

 

[usernamee]

Big balls move. Most people at this stage of ones career, a long ass career too, getting up there in age, would try to minimize risk but this greatly increases it. It's really going to be do not get hit cause' big risk u go out immediately.

 

[egk]

Whitaker seems like he's taking the Chris Weidman path

Yup. He'll move up and get KO'd by someone like Reyes. Then rethink the move but will never be the same again.

 

[Bend NvR Break]

So like a normal MW fighter then? All the top MWs walk around at that weight. Dricus (222), Strickland (217), Adesanya (215). Khamzat (217)

Adesanya weighs closer to 200 pounds than 217. When he fought Jan he weighed in at 197. He wouldn't have lost the extra weight if he didn't have to. That was just his natural voice.
I don't think Strickland is that heavy either.

DDP and khazmat? Yes. Both of them are huge. Huge weight cutters.

 

[deanambrose]

Friendly reminder that Rob is past his prime. This is bad idea.

 

[SalvadorAllende]

Fuck it give him Smith. Rob deserves a warm up fight

Yeah.

It is either that or I like to see him vs Marty the Nebraskan Nightmare at MW.. in a superfight 5 years too late.

 

[SalvadorAllende]

I don't think Strickland is that heavy either.

Strickland might be heavy because he gets fat between fights... dude has a beer gut when he is not dieting.

 

[AstralPanda]

I have a hard time trusting his chin in a firefight. At 185.

Well, he's been there. Costa, adesanya, cannonier. Only guy who really got him was ddp.

His style does very well at avoiding strikes. He's already shown he can handle himself in striking battles against dangerous guys.

DDP just has a style where he does everything wrong technically and it works because fighters don't expect or train for someone to come at them like that.

Kinda like how sometimes guys in the street will have success against trained fighters, they do unexpected things which is harder to defend against.

The biggest issue seems like he might be past his prime, but skill wise it could be a good move.

 

[Ibm]

Maybe prior to UFC 100 it would have made sense. The guys are way too big now.

 

[aogiri]

The size difference with him against Rakic would be hilarious