UFC 188 Fight Discussion: Cain vs. Werdum

The jds fight is a while ago and hes also not the same guy he once was. Id actually like to see the arlovski rematch

 

Werdum has improved dramatically since becoming confident in his standup. He's so much more of a complete fighter than he was a few years ago.

TFK

 

Cain is from San Jose. Where I live right now. He's Mexican in his heritage, not in where he grew up or lived. I usually support the local guy, but this was a great night in UFC history.

Cain will be back at some point soon.

 

Another thing ive noticed was that werdum has been a lot more pleasing to watch since the overeem rematch.

 

Werdum is a more dangerous fighter now than he was in the first fight with JDS. He wasn't an elite striker at all in the first fight. I'd be excited for this fight if it happens.

 

Werdum certainly upped his clinch game and striking since coming back to ufc.

 

This fight wasn't close enough for an immediate rematch. Cain will get a rematch at some point. I don't see anyone else in the division beating him right now.

 

Werdum has beaten arguably the 3 greatest heavyweights in history all by submission.

If there was any doubt about this man as a living legend I think this might be the nail in that coffin.

 

Werdum made it looks easy.

 

Fedor and Cain were both considered the best heavyweight in the world when Werdum beat them. No one thought he had a chance against Fedor. The win over Big Nog wasn't as huge considering Nog's state at the time.

Werdum has been champion for one day now, but you already have to think of him as one of the all time great heavyweights. He's at the peak of his career at 37. I never thought he could have done this when they cut him from the UFC 7 years ago.

 

Nice pick Anthony :bears:

Werdum sure is good, what an indian summer to his career. He's 37 now and seems to be at his best. He beat the shit out of Cain. Hard to believe he lost to that scrub Overoid.

 

He doesn't even look Mexican.

 

He beat Overeem too. Overeem was a different fighter on steroids. He's a good example of how PEDs actually improve performance and make you a better fighter if you take them the right way.

 

BTW I thought Gilbert was pretty much robbed against Alvarez. He won the first 2 rounds clear. 1st round clear as day obviously, and the 2nd round clear enough. No idea how anyone can think Eddie won the 2nd round.

Eddie is a tough bastard, impressive that he actually managed to get stronger in the fight, despite his fucked up eye, but he really isn't very good, and Gilbert won that fight.

 

I thought Melendez won the 2nd, but it was close. He dominated the first, and Alvarez won the 3rd based on takedowns that didn't lead to anything. Melendez should have won, but it's hard to call it a robbery when it was close and neither guy did enough.

I'd like to see a 5 round rematch. Maybe headlining a Fight Night event on Fox or Fox Sports.

 

It was "close" only because it was uneventful. I still don't really see a case for Eddie winning it. Gilbert controlled the round and landed more, simple as that, even if not much happened, Gilbert did more in that not much happening.

As I said I was impressed with Eddie's toughness and the way he came back into the fight and actually won the 3rd, but I think it's a legit robbery for the simple reason that I don't think it's arguable that Eddie won the 2nd.

 

I thought Melendez / Henderson was a bigger robbery. Maybe it felt more significant because it was a title fight.

I don't know if it was the altitude, but I've never seen Gil that gassed after a couple rounds. They should have the rematch in San Jose where the fighters won't get tired so quickly. A card with Melendez, Velasquez, and Nate Diaz would sell out in a few minutes here.

 

Well, I was certainly wrong on Werdum. I usually watch ppv's and I didn't watch this one.

 

What fight are you guys watching that you think Melendez won? Eddie didn't do much, but he clearly did more than Gil. This can't even be disputed. Gil won the first (he didn't 'dominate', he didn't do enough to dominate. For the majority of the round neither fighter did anything.), and Eddie clearly won the 2nd and 3rd. He controlled the fight, and at the final bell, he was controlling Gil pretty easily.

Also, I never understood why people try to pass of takedowns as meaningless. That's just retarded.

No need for a rematch either. If Gil can't beat a one eyes Alvarez, Eddie with 2 good eyes would clown him. I see them matching him up with Henderson next.

TFK

 

:atu:

Eddie did fuck all in the 2nd. Melendez didn't exactly dominate, but he won it clearly.

And yeah, Gilbert dominated round 1 with ease. Busted Alvarez up with an elbow, and landed a decent amount of clean strikes afterwards. Eddie looked out of his depth and ineffective. He basically did nothing and landed nothing.

 

The judges typically score takedowns as more important than actual damage from striking. There have been fights where the guy who did more damage loses because the other guy took him down and nothing else. Condit / Hendricks and Couture / Vera are a couple examples.

Melendez / Alvarez wasn't decisive either way. There is no doubt who won the Gastelum / Marquardt and Werdum / Velasquez fights. I'd like to see Melendez / Alvarez 2 to see who wins for real. Arguing about a close decision isn't the same.

 

This fight is worth watching now even if you know who won. This was a significant moment in MMA history.

 

In retrospect, Cain must have bought into whole "Cardio Cain" bullshit. He came out of the gate with a pace no fighter in any weight class could sustain at that altitude for 2 or 3 rounds let alone a 240 pound heavyweight.

Contrary to Joe Rogan's hyperbole, there are no "freaks of nature". Cain needs oxygen to function like everyone else.

 

Regarding Melendez-Alvarez, the only robbery in this one was the fans that were robbed of a good fight.

At this point neither guy matters much in the talented loaded lightweight division.

Maybe they can do the rematch at the south base camp on Mt. Everest in Nepal. That's at about 17k feet. Should be a barn burner. And those rowdy Nepalize love their MMA.

 

Juice makes freaks of nature.

TFK, takedowns are like ring control. They mean nothing until they lead to something that means something.

 

I thought eddie won rounds two and three. He landed a check hook early in round two and gilbert looked unwilling to trade. Plus he was able to secure take downs in both rounds and might have landed just enough kicks to to win

 

He may not have done fuck all, but he did more than Gil, who landed a jab, and that's it.

Again, to dominate a round, you have to be winning the round convincingly all round long. Gil spent most of the round doing jack shit, too afraid to engage.

Eddie won the fight. It was close, but it was clear. Get over it.

TFK