The Fighting Thread

[Celena]

Wow...just wow. He outclassed Lesnar. What a fighter Cain is. Congrats. You made history. First Mexican heavyweight champ.

[Celena]

[Mr. Zhu]

Oh god we really need a like button..

[Celena]

Manny Pacqiuao....just wow. Every time he steps into the ring, he never ceases to amaze me. That was an inspiring performance, the best I've ever seen. He's definitely an all time great.

[Mr. Zhu]

Manny Pacqiuao....just wow. Every time he steps into the ring, he never ceases to amaze me. That was an inspiring performance, the best I've ever seen. He's definitely an all time great.

I remember watching this fight and thinking to myself, if I ever become half as fast as he is in the ring... I'd make it pretty far.

[Celena]

Jon "Bones" Jones is just phenominal. Evan's isn't even a challenge. I don't even know if anyone can beat Jones.

[Celena]

I don't even know if anyone can beat Jones.

Correction. He's unstoppable.

[Sigfried Hunin]

Rampage did the best of anyone he's fought so far and he didn't land a single power punch.

His range is so ridiculous...

[Pinky]

It was a complicated match. Jones didn't look great, tbh. He was very anxious before the match, jumping around etc, and that was not smart given that they were fighting at high altitude. Plus his high energy style took its toll in the third round when he started striking in slow-motion.

I was expecting Jackson to get the KO in the fourth or fifth rounds once Jones slowed down. Jackson has a very compact, short-distance style. Jones exploited it by staying at range at all costs; he even turned and ran away a few times when Jackson got close. Jones criticized himself for that because it's a sign of weakness (called "timidity" in boxing, which you can get points deducted for). I've suspected that Jones is not good in an exchange, his striking style is for avoiding exchanges with disruptions, and this fight confirmed it.

What ended the fight was the kick that landed above Jackson's knee. It hyperextended his knee joint, and imo that was the end of the fight. He was fighting on one leg after that and it took away both his power and wrestling defense. (note how he was putting all his weight on his right leg during the final takedown) It was a perfect attack for Jones, but that kind of kick working like that depends on so many factors I don't think he'll be able to depend on it happening again: it's one of those attacks that's merely supposed to make the opponent step back from their attack.

As Jones fights more, more challengers will know more about him and make better plans. Jackson completely avoided Jones' spinning elbows, for instance. Next, I expect Rashad will also avoid his jumping back kicks. Also, Rashad is a former training partner and knows more about the champ than anybody else in the LHW division-- he was the one who challenged Jones, he was supposed to fight for the belt earlier until Jones pulled out for surgery on his finger(!). And I wouldn't discount Machida from being a serious threat, either.

[Celena]

It's Jon's reach though. It gives him so much of an advantage. He just picks you apart from far. I just don't believe there's any LHW in the UFC capable of beating him. What the division needs is a quick fighter that can come in to close the distance with fast hands and a good defense to challenge Jones.

[Sigfried Hunin]

Jon was picking apart his legs the whole FIGHT though. He just continually kicked the fuck out of his legs with that side kick. he was clearly making the attempt to do EXACTLY what he did. He specifically targeted his lead knee over and over and over again. Also, of the two spinning elbows he threw, rampage ducked ONE. It was an obvious one too.

I think that Bones is gonna find a rough patch coming up here soon though. Somebody's going to take his range from him or turn him into the offensive party and put him where he doesn't wanna be. Not saying he'll lose, but it'll be interesting.

The thing is about Jones is that you have to fight him in a way COMPLETELY different than you would ANY OTHER fighter. There's gonna be a clever fucker who out games him onna these days.

[Celena]

That spinning elbow he delivered when Rampage was on the fence and the kick to the kneecap were sick. He was just pulling off incredible moves and made the whole fight look easy. Rampage's head must be made of rock coz Jon busted up both of his feet.

Now for Maynard to finally dethrone Edgar.

[Pinky]

Jon was picking apart his legs the whole FIGHT though. He just continually kicked the fuck out of his legs with that side kick. he was clearly making the attempt to do EXACTLY what he did. He specifically targeted his lead knee over and over and over again. Also, of the two spinning elbows he threw, rampage ducked ONE. It was an obvious one too.

no, jones threw a lot of kicks but most of them were to the upper body and head, the kind you use to make the opponent back away or move to the side. he did almost no leg-kicks, the type that lands the shin against the side of the leg and does the most damage. rampage actually did more of those kinds of kicks than jones did. most of the kicks he threw at jackson's knee (beginning in round 1) were to disrupt jackson's forward movement and did no damage, they were just a disruption. also, the spinning elbow at the end of round one was glancing because jackson was moving his head away from it. it wasn't flush.

http://www.mma123.com/2011/09/jones-vs-r...fight.html

[Celena]

I just don't see Florian beating Aldo. The fight will go three rounds at most. That's even putting it nicely. I think Aldo will beat him in round 2.

And Stann to take out Soenen in round 2 or 3. That fight is going to be amazing though. I can see it. What a great event UFC 136 is going to be.

[Pinky]

stann hasnt fought anyone on chael's level. chael hasnt even been tko'ed before, and he wont be outwrestled.

[Pinky]

OWWWWQQAHHHHH

[Pinky]

AND STILL

[Celena]

Well we now know Alvarez isn't the best LW in the world anymore. Chandler's just a beast. He's like an android. He just kept absorbing punches and punching back.

He should go to the UFC now.

[Mr. Zhu]

For real I was shocked when Alvarez lost... Damn.

[Celena]

In Alvarez's defence, he lost to the new hotshot kid on the block. It was an awesome contest, a fight of the year candidate. He's got nothing to be ashamed of.