Sizzling tweets: Islam Makhachev vs. Bobby Inexperienced debate, fallout from UFC Vegas 48

Hello mates!

Hear, I attached with you final week, and I will do it once more: There aren’t plenty of nice issues to speak about this week. One of the best of the weekend (okay, most of it anyway) actually occurred and the fights tonight have been…properly, it’s what it’s. However we’re right here and also you all have questions so we would as properly get to them. Let’s speak about UFC Vegas 49 and the fallout from Jamal Hill who introduced down Johnnie Walker.

I do know I am within the minority right here, at the very least among the many hardcore followers, however I feel it is a very troublesome fashion for Bobby Inexperienced. Sure, he is an amazing defensive fighter and sure, he is confirmed troublesome to counter, however he is additionally given up some takedowns to guys who aren’t good wrestlers and as technically expert as he’s, Inexperienced does not have a lot in the best way of stopping energy. It is a big duty for the man who comes to stay you in your ass and goes to work as a result of it implies that even when Inexperienced have been in a position to cease Makhachev’s removals early (which is a big if), Islam would nonetheless have loads of time to maintain working for them.

If I have been Inexperienced or his coaches, my Makhachev sport plan is predicated completely on two easy ideas: 1) Makhachev pushes again, and a couple of) Hammer the physique.

Makhachev just isn’t a foul striker, however he, like 99% of fighters in MMA, just isn’t excellent when pushed again. This additionally applies to his wrestlers who’re considerably extra threatening when he restrains them from hitting and supporting his opponent. Inexperienced ought to attempt to pressure Makhachev out of his consolation zone early on and take the initiative to see how Makhachev reacts to being eradicated from his A-game.

Most significantly, Inexperienced wants to interrupt down the physique, nearly to the exclusion of every little thing else. Makhachev’s spectacular protection is great, and as mentioned, Inexperienced just isn’t an amazing hitter, so making an attempt to get a single killer shot is a idiot’s errand. As an alternative, Inexperienced focused the breadbasket as a lot as doable, which might assist each sluggish Makhchev’s tempo throughout a five-round battle, a greater method to keep away from a victorious Makhchev sport. You possibly can’t bend below a bodily blow in spite of everything.

To me, these two are the inspiration it’s worthwhile to construct a successful sport plan right here as a result of the reality is, you will not cease Makhachev from getting takedowns. It doesn’t matter that nobody actually managed to do that with Inexperienced, Islam Makhachev is not only anybody. But when Greene can punish Makhchev early, make him work, and frustrate him within the first rounds, it might open up extra alternatives for persistent turbulent exchanges within the later rounds.

In brief: chaos.

For the primary time since Khabib’s retirement, the light-weight division lastly has a transparent standings. Charles Oliveira and Justin Gethje would struggle for the light-weight title and that winner Islam Makhachev was purported to struggle versus Benil Dreyush. It was good and tidy. Even with Dariush pressured out of the equation, Islam’s victory remains to be doubtless sufficient to maintain issues on monitor, with Makhachev taking the following notch. But when Inexperienced wins? Holy Hell, something can occur.

If Inexperienced wins tonight, I feel the more than likely final result is that Oliveira-Gethjee fights Conor McGregor. Positive, McGregor hasn’t had a related light-weight win because the Obama administration, dropping back-to-back losses to Bowery, however he is additionally Conor McGregor. Logic, cause and guidelines do not apply to McGregor, and if Makhachev loses, nobody within the one hundred and fifty fifth has an plain declare to the title shot.

That is the place some folks have argued that Inexperienced may sneak his manner into the title shot however I do not purchase it. Inexperienced is gaining traction amongst followers however he’s not a celebrity and Mecca Saif shall be one win. Even with a relative lack of apparent opponents, I can not see Inexperienced pacing for a significant shot. My finest guess is that if Inexperienced one way or the other manages to recover from the annoyance, he’ll get his #1 contender’s match towards Michael Chandler subsequent. And actually, I feel I can dwell with that.

I am not. Name me a hater, that is most likely true, however I do not see a lot of a future for Jamahleh Hill in gentle heavyweight. I am actually undecided what it’s, however I merely cannot stand it. Actually, it is likely to be his physique that stands in stark distinction to Damaged Beasts’ splitting, however he additionally hasn’t defeated any good folks, so it is exhausting to assume that he’ll be making that a lot hay when he is already 30 years previous. If there was a division the place he ought to begin late, it might be 205. Light-weight is a wasteland of expertise, so a man who can hit exhausting at the very least has an opportunity of doing one thing I feel.

On the opposite facet of this coin is a Dominic Reyes puzzle. I nonetheless assume Reyes can have a future at 205 as a result of regardless of dropping three in a row, the three he misplaced to them have been fairly good. Jerry Prochaska would doubtless be the longer term champion of the division, Jan Blachovich was the champion, and Jon Jones was Jon Jones (additionally noteworthy, Dominic Reyes). ought to I beat Jones however typically the judges in MMA are a legacy.) That is as defensible concerning the dropping streak as it’s, and for Reyes’s limitations, he is nonetheless an excellent athlete in a division with a stunning lack of it.

Anyway I minimize it, challenged Reyes for the UFC title twice and was very near defeating Jon friggin’ Jones. If Jamal Hill did half of that, I would be shocked.

Johnnie Walker would have been a greater analogy to the earlier query which positively had some hype at one level however that is all gone, as it’s, most likely, Walker’s profession.

Again in 2019, it was simple to get enthusiastic about Walker. He was an enormous heavyweight and a light-hearted athlete, he did flashy issues, he was filled with confidence, and he stacked knockouts in a spotlight reel. However now the advantage of hindsight exhibits us that, the truth is, Walker had a great likelihood of beating an opponent like no different. Khalil Rowntree Jr. is a strong however unremarkable 205er, Justin Woman is dangerous, and Misha Sirkunov is combating tonight, at middleweight. Once you stack these wins towards those Walker misplaced, they paint a really clear story of Walker being a good, enjoyable fighter however who would doubtless lose to the highest 10 males. And let’s be clear, there’s nothing flawed with that. Being one of many high 25 folks on the earth at one thing unbelievable. However that is probably not how folks view fight, sadly.

Walker is a sufferer of his personal success in some methods. As a result of it burned so quick, Walker obtained folks enthusiastic about what may have been, and the Johnnie Walker legend is slower to die. As soon as it was 1-3 on 4 bouts, Walker ought to have battled among the high 20 males to find out a extra correct stage. As an alternative, he took the highest 10 to fifteen guys and dropped out. Now, Walker is 1-4 over his final 5 years and his profession might by no means get well. Only a few fighters are in a position to proper the ship after a stretch like this, and so we might have killed an actual rhino within the sport – a enjoyable 205er sport – due to the UFC’s ruthless matchmaking tendencies. It is a disgrace however it’s what it’s.

Sure, it most likely is. There shall be different fighters who shall be a worse Corridor of Famer omission—Frank Shamrock is the obvious—however Mousasi has put in a high 50, presumably high 40 profession of all time, and there is nearly no likelihood he’ll find yourself as a UFC Corridor of Famer. The one different two fighters I can consider within the dialog are Dan Henderson and Chris Cyborg. Hendo’s struggle with Shogun is clearly already within the Corridor of Fame however he himself is not and I don’t know if it might be. Additionally, for what it is price, I nonetheless assume I would barely choose Henderson’s profession to Musasi’s at this level, however that is six of 1, and a half dozen of the opposite actually.

I feel cyborg is an attention-grabbing query although. A cyborg is as adept as any fighter ever, successful belts in 4 organizations, and her profession undoubtedly probably the most Significance From mousy, however is it higher? I actually don’t know. By advantage of the time interval and weight lessons wherein he participated, Moses positively fought and defeated the perfect opponent. However that is probably not a cyborg downside and its stage of dominance also needs to account for sooner or later. I do not know the precise reply and it is doable that finally a cyborg shall be inducted into the Corridor of Fame, however when you do not, you will at the very least be in fairly good firm.

Thanks for studying and because of everybody who tweeted! Do you’ve gotten any burning questions on issues which might be at the very least considerably associated to fight sports activities? Then you might be in luck, as a result of you’ll be able to ship your sizzling tweets to me, Tweet embedI’ll reply them! It does not matter if it is topical or loopy. Ship it to me and I’ll reply the questions I like probably the most. Let’s have enjoyable.