Would Joanna beat Carla and Penne if they were same size as her?

[Melas Chasma]

How big factor do you think Joanna`s size advantage was against Esparza and Penne? Joanna is a former flyweight, while Penne came up from atomweight which would also be a better weightclass for Esparza.

There are always a lot of talk about champions size advantages over their opponents, but I havent really noticed any when it comes to Joanna. Any reason for that? I mean, when she faced a legit opponent of her size (Gadelha) she won a controversial decision. Joanna and Gadelha are bigger than almost everyone else in the division, and they also happen to be clear top2 in the division. Coincidence?

 

[Luminaire]

How big factor do you think Joanna`s size advantage was against Esparza and Penne? Joanna is a former flyweight, while Penne came up from atomweight which would also be a better weightclass for Esparza.

There are always a lot of talk about champions size advantages over their opponents, but I havent really noticed any when it comes to Joanna. Any reason for that? I mean, when she faced a legit opponent of her size (Gadelha) she won a controversial decision. Joanna and Gadelha are bigger than almost everyone else in the division, and they also happen to be clear top2 in the division. Coincidence?

ummmm

 

[TheRuthlessOne]

JJ is shorter then carla tho

 

[Melas Chasma]

ummmm

You think Joanna could make atomweight like Penne?

 

[Harlekin]

If you already are at the lowest weight class it's not your fault, if your opponent is a midget.
Esparza would've had more success at wrestling, but still lost.
Penne is nearly the same size, but half as skilled.

 

[LikeItIs]

Nope, neither of them is close to JJs skill level.

Carla is a one trick pony.

Penne actually has a decent overall game but JJ is simply better, and uses her range and length extremely well.

 

[jollyrenjiro]

so the reason jj beat carla and penne was because of size what

 

[made2collect]

Carla is over-rated.. Losing the belt was the best thing for that weight class

 

[I WILL CUT YOU]

Height =/= size.

 

[Melas Chasma]

so the reason jj beat carla and penne was because of size what

Carla had a one successful but brief takedown against Joanna. Had Joanna been a little smaller/weaker or Carla little bigger/stronger who knows what would have happened? Joanna might have never gotten up there. I think we all can agree that size matters (a lot) in MMA.

 

[MMA_Account]

I'd take Carla. At her current size, she'd be a midget in the 105 lb division. Joanna isn't that great at wrestling, as shown by the Gadelha fight.

 

[BroITrainUFC]

 

[Bels89]

have you watch Joanna fight before? She has some of the best technique in the business. No I don't think it would have mattered that much. If she was a grappler then that would be different.

 

[M Raid K]

Carla is over-rated.. Losing the belt was the best thing for that weight class

Long-term, yes. Look at Joanna, she's travelling everywhere, she's interacting well with media, she does her weird staredowns (or should it be "stare-ups"?) and just destroys opponents in the octagon. Whereas all Esparza did was whining about lack of media coverage and grinding down Namajunas. I'm sure Esparza would not receive a co-main event spot right before Rousey on that UFC 195 card, for example.

The sad part is that after the loss to Joanna Esparza basically took an indefinite break: for almost 6 months there's no news or booked fight. That's soul taking as it is.

 

[Bels89]

Height or weight wasn't going to help Carla that night. Take a look at the destruction

come on man....

 

[Moral Victory]

Stahp.

 

[everysecond]

Penne, Lima and Claudia are all JJ's size (past UFC opponents). just stop.

esparza is actually sort of small for SW as well as tecia so maybe that's why/ no JJ's fault

 

[ALAN PARTRIDGE]

Carla looks smoking at weigh ins.. damn

 

[leto1776]

Personally, I would like to see what a fresh Carla can do. You could tell going in that between TUF, the media tour that came after, fighting for the belt, than having to defend it only three months later, she was exhausted. People say Joanna beat her mentally, but it was the busy schedule that did her in.

Long-term, yes. Look at Joanna, she's travelling everywhere, she's interacting well with media, she does her weird staredowns (or should it be "stare-ups"?) and just destroys opponents in the octagon. Whereas all Esparza did was whining about lack of media coverage and grinding down Namajunas. I'm sure Esparza would not receive a co-main event spot right before Rousey on that UFC 195 card, for example.


The sad part is that after the loss to Joanna Esparza basically took an indefinite break: for almost 6 months there's no news or booked fight. That's soul taking as it is.

Actually, Carla was still pretty active after the loss. She helped promote beat the streets, a wrestling tournament that helps inner city youth, and was doing seminars across the country. Was she making headlines, no, but she was hardly inactive, and was still doing a lot to promote the sport. Now she's out due to injury. Shoulder surgery.

 

[neomage2021]

plenty of people have beat others bigger and a weight class higher.

Dodson is a natural flyweight and it didn't stop him from sending Bedford back to Ohio at bantam weight. Bedford is also 8" taller.