- Joined
- Jun 16, 2015
- Messages
- 2,009
- Reaction score
- 2,207
As you all know, Jones is highly regarded for his fight IQ as it can't be denied that even when he comes up short in the first or second rounds of the handful of competitive fights he has been in, he manages to figure out a way to beat his opponents.
Anyhow, here is my breakdown:
I believe that Jones performed worse in this fight due to the animosity that built up between the two fighters well before fight week. In this fight, was saw Jones and DC fighting emotionally, and it impacted Jones's game plan more severely than it did Cormier's. This is because Jon is used to picking apart his opponents at what they're weakest at, and especially at a distance where he can strike with no worry of being countered by a powerful punch or kick. When he fought Rampage, he ran and he almost entirely avoided exchanging in the pocket and picked him apart either from a distance, against the cage or on the ground.
When he fought Glover he only exchanged with >2 strike combos in the pocket when Glover had his back against the fence, where he is unable to generate as much power and has to worry about the TDs.
He even went far enough as beating Daniel soundly at his own game.
Cormier rumored that he made some adjustments in training during an interview weeks before Jones v DC 2. Despite this, Cormier and Jones are close in speed, but DC is disadvantaged in size, reach, endurance and striking.
Jones v DC 2:
I predict that Jones will implement a lot of uppercuts during this fight when DC tries to close the distance.
In boxing, the uppercut is one of the best counters against shorter opponents who attempt to close the distance. It is less effective against taller opponents because it is more telegraphed as the punch must travel a farther distance in travelling from the upper abdomen to the opponent's chin, resulting in a semicircle path. Shorter fighters are typically more adept at avoiding straight punches and hooks than against taller fighters. This is because their shorter stature makes it easier for them to weave underneath hooks as they employ a crouched stance against taller opponents to make it easier for them to slip straight punches.
However, a well placed uppercut is hard to avoid when charging forward as it throws you off balance.
Notice how short Conor's uppercut needs to travel to Brimage's chin.
Gustaffson's uppercuts v. Teixera speaks for itself, so I don't need to explain this.
The uppercut can also be used by shorter fighters in devastating fashion ONCE THEY CLOSE THE DISTANCE. As long as a shorter fighter closes the distance, they can devastate taller fights with powerful hooks and uppercuts as long as they fight in close quarters. Once a shorter guy closes the distance, the taller fighter is at a defensive disadvantage as they can't weave through punches as easily as the shorter guys can and they lose a lot of power as they can't strike in their optimal range to fully engage their kinetic chain.
Alright enough of the uppercuts, outside of that Jon will do well by using his long jabs, eye pokes, and rangy kicks to keep Cormier away. I don't even need to comment on the grappling.
Also, hopefully he utilizes more knees in this fight as well.
I am not a Cormier hater but I have no need to explain how he can win as the odds are severely against him. I feel that the Gus/Cormier fight showed Jon just so many more tools he can implement against DC. Outside of good boxing and KO power, Jones simply does not have any holes in his game.
Before you couch potatoes call me out my experience is as follows: Recreational boxing/mostly self-trained for 5 years w/a lot of sparring throughout, muay thai less than a year, BJJ no gi/gi white belt and a bit of collegiate wrestling.
EDIT:
The X-factor for Jones.
Jones has been focusing a lot on his JJ this past year. No, I don't expect to see ADCC Jones, but we could be in store to see him make better use of his ground game. I don't expect to see him pull off an armbar or anything, but in the past he has been able to land his vicious elbows on opponents such as TRT vitor from the top position.
Anyhow, here is my breakdown:
I believe that Jones performed worse in this fight due to the animosity that built up between the two fighters well before fight week. In this fight, was saw Jones and DC fighting emotionally, and it impacted Jones's game plan more severely than it did Cormier's. This is because Jon is used to picking apart his opponents at what they're weakest at, and especially at a distance where he can strike with no worry of being countered by a powerful punch or kick. When he fought Rampage, he ran and he almost entirely avoided exchanging in the pocket and picked him apart either from a distance, against the cage or on the ground.
When he fought Glover he only exchanged with >2 strike combos in the pocket when Glover had his back against the fence, where he is unable to generate as much power and has to worry about the TDs.
He even went far enough as beating Daniel soundly at his own game.
Cormier rumored that he made some adjustments in training during an interview weeks before Jones v DC 2. Despite this, Cormier and Jones are close in speed, but DC is disadvantaged in size, reach, endurance and striking.
Jones v DC 2:
I predict that Jones will implement a lot of uppercuts during this fight when DC tries to close the distance.
In boxing, the uppercut is one of the best counters against shorter opponents who attempt to close the distance. It is less effective against taller opponents because it is more telegraphed as the punch must travel a farther distance in travelling from the upper abdomen to the opponent's chin, resulting in a semicircle path. Shorter fighters are typically more adept at avoiding straight punches and hooks than against taller fighters. This is because their shorter stature makes it easier for them to weave underneath hooks as they employ a crouched stance against taller opponents to make it easier for them to slip straight punches.
However, a well placed uppercut is hard to avoid when charging forward as it throws you off balance.
Notice how short Conor's uppercut needs to travel to Brimage's chin.
Gustaffson's uppercuts v. Teixera speaks for itself, so I don't need to explain this.
The uppercut can also be used by shorter fighters in devastating fashion ONCE THEY CLOSE THE DISTANCE. As long as a shorter fighter closes the distance, they can devastate taller fights with powerful hooks and uppercuts as long as they fight in close quarters. Once a shorter guy closes the distance, the taller fighter is at a defensive disadvantage as they can't weave through punches as easily as the shorter guys can and they lose a lot of power as they can't strike in their optimal range to fully engage their kinetic chain.
Alright enough of the uppercuts, outside of that Jon will do well by using his long jabs, eye pokes, and rangy kicks to keep Cormier away. I don't even need to comment on the grappling.
Also, hopefully he utilizes more knees in this fight as well.
I am not a Cormier hater but I have no need to explain how he can win as the odds are severely against him. I feel that the Gus/Cormier fight showed Jon just so many more tools he can implement against DC. Outside of good boxing and KO power, Jones simply does not have any holes in his game.
Before you couch potatoes call me out my experience is as follows: Recreational boxing/mostly self-trained for 5 years w/a lot of sparring throughout, muay thai less than a year, BJJ no gi/gi white belt and a bit of collegiate wrestling.
EDIT:
The X-factor for Jones.
Jones has been focusing a lot on his JJ this past year. No, I don't expect to see ADCC Jones, but we could be in store to see him make better use of his ground game. I don't expect to see him pull off an armbar or anything, but in the past he has been able to land his vicious elbows on opponents such as TRT vitor from the top position.
Last edited:
