Silva, GSP, and BJ are the best for me, along with Fedor, though I'd like to see Fedor do something of note sometime soon. Silva still reigns at #1. I consider his win over Henderson to be better than Penn's win over Sherk, handily.
That is the worst matchup in MMA for Aoki, probably the only LW I literally cannot see him beating. BJ is far more versatile, and is even better at Aoki's one super-strength, grappling.
GSP would beat Penn again he would keep it standing. He is much more explosive . BJ can submit him, but he won't. I like Machida alot he will fight one more time and then fight for the title. He seems a little small for light heavyweight though. He looks like he has forceably gained weight by putting on muscle it isn't natural. I still think that Henderson can beat Rampage if he just thinks.
I think it's definatley between BJ and GSP. GSP has flashier stand up, with more weapons like those fast kicks. ANd GSP also is a lot stronger at his weight than BJ and has better cardio (of course). But BJ has an iron chin and awesome JJ. I think that BJ could win if he could get GSP on the ground, but I don't think he could. GSP would win late. So to summarise: Because of BJ's JJ skills he is P4P#1 and only loses due to size to the p4p#2 GSP.
Still has some names to beat. His skillset and strategy make for extremely boring fights. But when you really look at his game, he is solid all the way around, is so far able to addapt to different types of fighters. Skilled and fast on the ground, good at stuffing takedowns, and seems to be like a chess player while standing up, always looking to counter and very patient.. Too patient. I look at a guy like Anderson Silva and see a technically sound, honed tall striker who makes extremely good use of his height with Muay Thai knees. Has poison in his hands and legs, and is solid enough on the ground to ward off most ground attacks and is decent with his submission game, but imo was exposed by Henderson, who really showed that with a good game plan, he could be the man to beat Silva. Just his particular style is a good matchup. Look at Fedor, Machida, BJ, GSP and I cant really think of a style or skillset that straight up gives them problems off the top of my head. Machida still has a bit to prove, but I see no holes in his game other than him being extremely boring.. Machida seems to have nothing extraordinary in the natural ability department. Isn't extremely powerful or flexible, or fast. Extremely cerebral thus far.
He's just about 4 steps ahead of his opponent mentally. Anticipates everything. The only thing that's seemed to get near to him was Tito pulling out something he's never done before. If that's what it takes to beat the guy then yeesh, he's going to be tough to beat.
Anyone who back pedals 4 minutes and 40 seconds of the round will give problems to anyone. He will get annihilated by Chuck. He will lose the first time he fights someone who is not going to chase him.
Perhaps he won't he just may out think Chuck. Force Chuck into being the aggressor. Counter and not get hit.
Your right. Machida has yet to beat a defensive striker who will force him to go offensive.. Rather the type of guy who would wait all night for Chuck to come after him and look to counter and follow up with an immediate takedown attempt.. Machida still has a bit to prove, but not many guys like Liddel out there to test him like that.. But I think Liddel would be that bane of a style for Machida.
He could.. I don't think we saw a very good outing of Chuck that fight though.. Chuck can be a very accurate striker, as odd and loopy as his strikes are, he is quite accurate. He looked all over the place vs Jardine.
I just think Lyoto's too smart. Chuck tends to excel against people who fly forward against him himself looking for takedowns or with wide blows like Wandy did. Lyoto aint going to fight a Babalu/Couture style fight. Sure, he's better than Chuck on the ground, but he's got good points scoring kicks and I don't think he needs to take him down because of that. I do think Lyoto/Chuck would be boring as ****, though.
Yes its a fight I myself would hate to see. Im intresting in seeing how Machida would do agianst a guy with good boxing like Rampage who can come forward with good technique and move his way in with his jab without taking much damage and possibly get a clinch.
In a Thai clinch yes. But if Rampage can get a bodylock on someone hes a freakish strong guy usually he takes people down.
