Top-5 light heavyweights right now

Gregoire · Post #1 » by **Gregoire** » Wed Feb 6, 2013 9:26 am

my ranks:
1.Jones
2.Henderson
3.Gustafsson
4.Machida
5.Mousasi

Post #2 » by **CPT** » Thu Feb 7, 2013 2:23 am

Might want to provide some reasoning behind the picks, or else there isn't much to discuss. I'll leave it open for now though.

K1NG · Post #3 » by **K1NG** » Thu Feb 7, 2013 3:59 am

Cormier is #2 the moment he goes on a diet.

UN-Owen · Post #4 » by **UN-Owen** » Thu Feb 7, 2013 6:41 am

Silva is #2 behind Jones

cowboyronnie · Post #5 » by **cowboyronnie** » Thu Feb 7, 2013 7:47 am

K1NG wrote:Cormier is #2 the moment he goes on a diet.

On that topic, Cain said just today of Daniel: "I would not fight him. Definitely not. You know, he's my coach, teammate, friend, so that to me is a no."

So it seems the drop will be a-go.

I agree that Cormier would be #2 and that he and Jones are lightyears ahead of the rest, including Hendo.

That's assuming Cormier could make the drop healthfully and assuming it wouldn't change his mechanics. Cos there's function to Cormier's weight, it's not just excess. Like it wasn't for Fedor, IMO. DC's made the transition from Greco to boxing so damn well largely because of that booty and what he can do with it. Having weight over your feet is functional in certain styles of boxing. There are some smooth as silk pro HW boxers with fat asses and it's the reason someone like Floyd Mayweather isn't encumbered by wearing thick leather trunks down past his knees in the ring. That slipping, defensive style can use lower body weight. It plants you in the ground, helps your balance...and if you've honed your body for the hip movement of wrestling, you're gonna hold power and coordination there.

I actually think Jones is a terrible style match-up against Cormier, and don't even think DC would see the championship rounds. I couldn't think of too many worse head-to-heads in MMA. No one else could beat DC, but DC would get kicked around the ring by Jones.

REDDzone · Post #6 » by **REDDzone** » Thu Feb 7, 2013 2:14 pm

Yea, nice explanation. That's why I don't want Cormier to cut. Well, that, and the fact that hw sucks.

Honestly though, I'm fine with Cain saying he refuses to fight Cormier. But is he willing to cede him the belt if Cormier doesn't feel the same way? Its weird for Cain to make a decision like that when it could potentially lose Cormier and his family millions of dollars throughout the course of his career by keeping him out of a title fight. In these situations its my opinion that the champion should sort of stfu and let the challenger make this decision. But then again I rarely if ever think the champion should have any say about who they fight, at least if the fight is taking place in the division that they are champ of.

Gold Chain · Post #7 » by **Gold Chain** » Thu Feb 7, 2013 3:47 pm

I agree.

DC has never been in there with someone like Bones.

I have to agree, JJ finishes him violently.

At 205 that is. But if JJ moves to HW, DC without a cut is scary.

NZB2323 · Post #8 » by **NZB2323** » Thu Feb 7, 2013 4:22 pm

This is a tough topic. I feel like Rashad is #2 talent-wise, but he tends to under-perform in most of his fights. Henderson is #2 when it comes to most deserving of a title shot, but he's the underdog against Machida and probably would be the underdog against Gustaffson. Gus has to be ranked high but I'm not sure if he's deserving of #2. I think that a Gus-Machida matchup would be very interesting. Mousassi I believe is a tad overrated like Lombard was. Machida is a tough matchup for anyone but he's lost 3 out of his last 5, with his 2 wins being against a 47 year old and a guy who is arguably not top 10. Bader is a tough guy to rank, as is lil Nog. Cormier hasn't moved down yet and we don't know if he can make weight so I won't rank him. With that being said, here are my rankings:

1. Jon Jones, obviously.
2. Machida. I would favor him over any other LHW and I believe that he has the tools to beat Jones, but I'd love to see him move down to MW.
3. Gustaffson. He's looked impressive as hell, but how good of opponents are a 30 year old Thiago Silva and a 31 year old Shogun? I expect him to beat Mousassi, but how good is Mousassi?
4. Dan Henderson - the same thing I said about Gustaffson applies to Dan, but Gus looked more impressive against Shogun than Dan did.
5. Rashad Evans- yeah lil Nog beat him, but Rashad is more talented, plus he broke his hand in the 1st round. I hate to make excuses for fighters, and this is unfair to lil Nog, but I can't leave Rashad out of the top 5.

Gold Chain · Post #9 » by **Gold Chain** » Thu Feb 7, 2013 4:43 pm

I think Moussai should be at 185 in the UFC.

I fear him at 205, sees an undersized guy who has to fight HUGE men.

REDDzone · Post #10 » by **REDDzone** » Thu Feb 7, 2013 4:51 pm

Plus, is it still the case that lhw is a more wrestler heavy division than mw? I feel like it is but haven't thought too much about it lately.

Susan · Post #11 » by **Susan** » Thu Feb 7, 2013 6:57 pm

Gold Chain wrote:I agree.

DC has never been in there with someone like Bones.

I have to agree, JJ finishes him violently.

At 205 that is. But if JJ moves to HW, DC without a cut is scary.

Um, what? He flat out dominated Bigfoot and Josh Barnett. Barnett is bigger than Jones and stronger to boot. Silva just beat freaking Overeem and Cormier made him look like a B-Level fighter. I mean, look at this freaking slam.

Look at how Silva CRUMBLES from his power. Both Fedor and Overeem were unable to do this to this man. Jones has never faced anybody like Cormier. There's no way Jones finishes him violently. He's not going to put Cormier on his back and he's most likely going to end up on his butt himself.

Gold Chain · Post #12 » by **Gold Chain** » Thu Feb 7, 2013 6:58 pm

Both of those fights are at HW.

I said, and I agreed with someone else, that at 205, he might not be the same guy.

At HW, like I said, I favour him over almost anyone in the world.

Dont' be scared (to read), homey. 8-)

Susan · Post #13 » by **Susan** » Thu Feb 7, 2013 7:09 pm

Gold Chain wrote:Both of those fights are at HW.

I said, and I agreed with someone else, that at 205, he might not be the same guy.

At HW, like I said, I favour him over almost anyone in the world.

Dont' be scared (to read), homey.

That's what makes it even more impressive. He's throwing and knocking out dudes that are 20-40 lbs heavier than him. He's going to be cutting just as much as Jones does, I'm sure he'll be fine.

SDM · Post #14 » by **SDM** » Thu Feb 7, 2013 7:11 pm

Yeah, I'm not getting how it's a squash either.

REDDzone · Post #15 » by **REDDzone** » Thu Feb 7, 2013 7:17 pm

I'm still skeptical about Cormier's cut and how it will affect him. Dude had major physical issues getting down to 211 or whatever for the olympics, 205 won't be a piece of cake imo.

I do think Bones could present problems for him due to his reach, but I don't think he smashes him. I think I'd possibly even favor Cormier is the fight took place at 225 say. Didn't Bones say he may go up to HW as early as late 2013? Its neither of their next fights, a catchweight is the answer imo.

Gold Chain · Post #16 » by **Gold Chain** » Thu Feb 7, 2013 7:36 pm

I also think Bones has fought MUCH tougher opponents than DC.
(Due to Bones being in the UFC, no fault of Cormier)

Susan · Post #17 » by **Susan** » Thu Feb 7, 2013 7:38 pm

cowboyronnie · Post #18 » by **cowboyronnie** » Thu Feb 7, 2013 8:11 pm

The issue with Jones vs Cormier is Jones's leg kicks. DC doesn't fight like MT, he boxes, and boxing stances are not built to handle leg kicks. You shift into your lead leg and you turn your lead perpendiculer with your back. Jones will sidekick and stomp and chop it to pieces; Cormier won't be able to pull his leg up to check and he'll be taking tons of damage cos of how planted it is in the ground. There's no worse match-up in MMA. You can't box when someone has a good lead-leg attack. Cormier is the best boxing-stylist in MMA, bar none, but it's a horrible style against someone as evasive, long, and with such a great repertoire of fancy feet like JJ.

Susan wrote:
Gold Chain wrote:I agree.

DC has never been in there with someone like Bones.

I have to agree, JJ finishes him violently.

At 205 that is. But if JJ moves to HW, DC without a cut is scary.

Um, what? He flat out dominated Bigfoot and Josh Barnett. Barnett is bigger than Jones and stronger to boot. Silva just beat freaking Overeem and Cormier made him look like a B-Level fighter. I mean, look at this freaking slam.

Look at how Silva CRUMBLES from his power. Both Fedor and Overeem were unable to do this to this man. Jones has never faced anybody like Cormier. There's no way Jones finishes him violently. He's not going to put Cormier on his back and he's most likely going to end up on his butt himself.

Holy eff, there's no one who moves more beautifully than Cormier. His mechanics are so relaxed and perfect. :drool:

NZB2323 · Post #19 » by **NZB2323** » Thu Feb 7, 2013 8:53 pm

Jon Jones said that he will move up to HW in the future, but he's going to make Cormier come down because he doesn't want to make it easy for him. Cormier stated that he can make 205, but he'd need some time to cut down.

As for leg kicks, I'm sure that Cain can teach Cormier a thing or two about catching leg-kicks.

It's really hard for me to rank Cormier until I see him at 205. Where does Pettis rank among FWs? Where do Machida and Rashad rank among MWs? Where does Roy Nelson rank among LHWs?

Gold Chain · Post #20 » by **Gold Chain** » Thu Feb 7, 2013 9:06 pm

Susan wrote:Who?

Rashad. Lyoto. Shogun. Vitor.

All 205'rs.

Are you missing what I'm saying, or what?

Here's the point: at 205, I think Bones wins.
DC at HW, I think he's a top 3 guy.

I really think Bones wins at a 205 bout.
If you are so sure of DC in a 205 victory, go see a bookie.