Any opinion on how good Gil Melendez really is? Better than Bendo, Edgar, Nate...?
He is good, that's for suer, but it is hard to tell how good because he isn't facing top competition right now.
I think that he would be able to beat those guys you listed, but he could lose as well. So, we'll just have to wait and see...
If Thomson almost rear naked choked Melendez and almost beat him, Henderson and Edgar would beat him.
Nate won't be fighting him as they're both from the Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu training camp, but if they did, Melendez would probably beat him as Nate similar to his brother don't have good takedown defense.
Cormier and Barnett could be top 5 Heavyweights in the UFC easily. I think Cormier would only lose to Dos Santos but would beat every other Heavyweight.
Barnett would probably be able to beat most Heavyweights also.
If Thomson almost rear naked choked Melendez and almost beat him, Henderson and Edgar would beat him.
Nate won't be fighting him as they're both from the Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu training camp, but if they did, Melendez would probably beat him as Nate similar to his brother don't have good takedown defense.
Cormier and Barnett could be top 5 Heavyweights in the UFC easily. I think Cormier would only lose to Dos Santos but would beat every other Heavyweight.
Barnett would probably be able to beat most Heavyweights also.
Can't say I really agree with any of that. The LW division is hard to call, and Thomson is underrated. Just because Melendez had a close fight with Thomson doesn't mean he'd automatically lose to Henderson and Edgar. Too early to say for Cormier. I think Velasquez (granted, they probably wouldn't fight each other) and Overeem beat him with stand up, and guys like Werdum and Mir could possibly sub him. As for Barnett, Cormier is the only top level HW he's faced in the past 5 years. The HW division is too much of a guessing game.
I mean, Melendez probably had an off night and everyone does, but I just don't think he's someone to beat the top UFC Lightweights. The UFC has a ton of good Lightweight wrestlers with better striking than Melendez. Also it's kind of hard to compare how Melendez will do against the top UFC Lightweights as he hasn't really fought any top ranked Lightweights. Don't get me wrong, Masvidal, Thomson, Kawajiri, Ishida, etc. are super talented and fun to watch, but they're not top ranked Lightweights.
Cormier's got the tools to beat Overeem, Werdum and Mir.
When fighting a stand up fighter like Overeem, Cormier just has to continuously take him down and grind out a decision.
When fighting guys like Werdum and Mir who are submission based fighters, Cormier just has to do what he did to Barnett, stop the fighting from getting to the ground and keep it standing and strike with them.
I know it's easier said than done, but those are just strategies that Cormier can use against those guys.
i think people are still underestimating cormier's boxing a little bit. not only is his striking power and speed reminiscent of prime fedor (probably even more sound technically) but he has a really interesting and highly effective defensive system... almost diaz-like with the open arm positions. his fights are very interesting to watch just for the defense alone IMO.
given the speed and skill differential, i don't think overeem, werdum or most others outside JDS would be able to touch him with their hands. just a guess, but i'm thinking muay thai / kickboxing might be the best way to get him in trouble...
i think people are still underestimating cormier's boxing a little bit. not only is his striking power and speed reminiscent of prime fedor (probably even more sound technically) but he has a really interesting and highly effective defensive system... almost diaz-like with the open arm positions. his fights are very interesting to watch just for the defense alone IMO.
given the speed and skill differential, i don't think overeem, werdum or most others outside JDS would be able to touch him with their hands. just a guess, but i'm thinking muay thai / kickboxing might be the best way to get him in trouble...
I know it just your opinion but have to disagree with most of it.
1.Cormiers striking power a prime fedors?Nah he doesnt have much power in his hands i know he ko'd bigfoot BUT it was the speed of the punches.Sometimes speed is power but as far just one hit power?Nah,not close to fedor.Speed yes and technically i agree hes better then fedor.
2.Cormier's defense?Hes moves in good angles but its not really all that great.I thought Barnetts defense was much better.
Also as a Diaz fan.Nick probably has the worst defensive boxing ever he literally puts his face out there so it gets hit.He doesnt use angles either he just comes straight at you and he puts his hands in the air as a way to taunt you.His defense is his offense he puts his face out there so you can punch it so he can counter you with 3 or 4 body punches.
AC "Mr Diaz you tested positive several yrs ago for Marijuana and you told the Commission at that time it was a isolated incident and it wouldn't happen again"
Diaz "Yes"
AC "you tested positive again so how soon after testifying did you start using again"?
Diaz "when I got home"
AC "so you just told us that to get through the hearing"?
Diaz "Yes"
Fack, 12 months just for weed.. need more fighters like him.
1.Cormiers striking power a prime fedors?Nah he doesnt have much power in his hands i know he ko'd bigfoot BUT it was the speed of the punches.Sometimes speed is power but as far just one hit power?Nah,not close to fedor.Speed yes and technically i agree hes better then fedor.
no no, that's why i used the word "reminiscent." cormier's not the same, but there's enough there to find some comparisons, i think. and i would definitely say that cormier has plenty of power in his speedy punches. maybe not quite fedor power, but he's rocked the chins of plenty of hulking men with a single punch. out of the blue, seemingly out of reach, like fedor used to do.
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Cormier's defense?Hes moves in good angles but its not really all that great.I thought Barnetts defense was much better.
Also as a Diaz fan.Nick probably has the worst defensive boxing ever he literally puts his face out there so it gets hit.He doesnt use angles either he just comes straight at you and he puts his hands in the air as a way to taunt you.His defense is his offense he puts his face out there so you can punch it so he can counter you with 3 or 4 body punches.
it's a complex subject. the diaz bros don't play the classical defensive boxing game, but after they've tuned in to their opponents rhythm and imposed their own, they're very hard to hurt. they may have to take a few punches in the early going, but after a little while their opponent is typically confused and frustrated as hell, given to lunging instead of technical smart striking. it's a whole different approach to defense, i guess. one that's not talked about or celebrated enough IMO.
cormier doesn't protect himself classically, but i think he's superb at reading the other fighter's intentions and slipping / turning / blocking their attacks. he looks like he's just standing there, almost napping on his feet, but he's still completely ready for you... also liable to tag you with a lightning strike just when you think it's safe to relax a tiny bit. he plays that start-and-stop rhythm superbly, just like the diaz bros do.
He won a local MMA reality show (with ease) and earned to fight at Ring of Fire 41 in Colorado. He prepared for the fight with American Top Team and knocked the guy out in minute and a half. He continued to work with ATT and proceeded to win his next fight in Serbia as easily as the ones before. His next fight was scheduled for June 23rd here in Serbia, but got canceled because he signed with one of the worlds biggest organizations. Still unknown which one, but I doubt it's UFC, SF isn't signing new guys afaik, so maybe Bellator?
4 out of 6 wins in 1st round, 5 subs and 1 KO, scary that he's a primarily a MT fighter.
I mean, Melendez probably had an off night and everyone does, but I just don't think he's someone to beat the top UFC Lightweights. The UFC has a ton of good Lightweight wrestlers with better striking than Melendez. Also it's kind of hard to compare how Melendez will do against the top UFC Lightweights as he hasn't really fought any top ranked Lightweights. Don't get me wrong, Masvidal, Thomson, Kawajiri, Ishida, etc. are super talented and fun to watch, but they're not top ranked Lightweights.
Well, it's not like Ben Henderson is the most tested LW. Edgar's only faced 3 different top level LWs and he's awfully lucky to have a winning record against them.
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Cormier's got the tools to beat Overeem, Werdum and Mir.
He could win, but I wouldn't be that confident. Overeem would have a huge advantage in reach and striking, and his strength and sub skills would be a counter to Cormier's wrestling. We don't know how good Cormier's defensive sub skills are against elite grapplers. Cormier's size and lack of reach are a concern to me.
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When fighting a stand up fighter like Overeem, Cormier just has to continuously take him down and grind out a decision.
Yeah, it's just so easy, right? A bigger and stronger Lesnar did it with no problems? Avoiding those knees is easy? Not getting caught by strikes or a submission is easy?
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When fighting guys like Werdum and Mir who are submission based fighters, Cormier just has to do what he did to Barnett, stop the fighting from getting to the ground and keep it standing and strike with them.
Mir and Werdum can strike, too. Also, Barnett broke his hand early in that fight.
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