If these two faced each other again in the near future how would you see it going? 9 years ago JDS began one of the best runs of form in MMA history by knocking Werdum out. A fight between these two could set up a new number 1 contender (assuming Miocic beats JDS next) if Cain never returns to full fitness, or set up a final eliminator Vs Reem (if Miocic doesn't face him next). I give Werdum the edge here, think he'd score a submission over JDS.
I agree. I think despite being several years older Werdum is the far fresher of the two, he's also made drastic improvements in the striking department since they first fought. Werdums had the edge here due to the improvements he's made in the striking department and all of the wars Dos Santos has been in.
Werdum has managed to avoid a lot of wars whereas JDS is in nothing but wars. I can see Werdum beating JDS and then Reem. Not sure he'll ever beat Miocic though.
I really worry for JDS's health down the line. Those are the kind of beatings that really damage guys. Can't see JDS beating Miocic again, he barely managed to do it the first time around. He's only gotten older and taken more damage since. Miocic stops him in the 3rd or 4th rd is my guess. After that... Hopefully he retires.
I don't think he'll retire tbh. He's probably still gonna be a top 5 ranked HW and he took an awful lot of scalps on the way to the crown. There's a lot of men who want to gate crash the top rankings and he's a shortcut there. Werdum, Mir, Hunt can all put themselves in a great position if they beat JDS. Everyone has already written JDS out of this fight, including me. It's tough for him to improve his own position, it would have to be Werdum or Reem neither of which are good fights for him after this loss to Stipe. He's gonna be used as a stepping stone now imo. Mir wants to be right back in the mix, i know that for a fact and Hunt or Werdum will wanna avenge their loss to him. Looking at the HW picture I'd have to assume Miocic fights Reem after JDS so the others are probably available.
According to DW, Werdum turned down a rematch with JDS, which is puzzling as you'd think he would want revenge for the most humiliating loss of his career. He might be be scared to get another taste of that ear flapping uppercut!
I used to think JDS was completely shot and was going to get destroyed by Ben Rothwell but he instead put on one of his best performance in years so he might still have something left. Maybe that kidney disease he had before the 2nd Cain fight isn't affecting him anymore.