Bryant Jennings is wasting his prime

I thought he maximized his lack of background in the sport with his great athleticism and dedication when he got a shot vs Wlad and made a good fight out of it. He lost fair square and clear but he earned the respect of the crowd.

I thought he fought a dumb fight with Ortiz but at least went for it and left on his shield. Kind of disappointed he hasnt gotten back in the mix.

I'd say we probably saw the last of him much like a Charles Martin. A fighter who was maneuvered to a big fight and then went away despite taking the notoriety and the experience and getting back in the picture

 

Fair assessment. I think Martins head isn't in the game anymore and possibly in a weird place(assuming those videos aren't just a PR stunts), but we could see Jennings back in the mix if the right fight falls on his lap. Of the two Jennings has the tools and mentality to bounce back and get in the mix. I definitely think we've seen the best of Martin though.

 

who promotes Jennings? Is he in between promoters or managers? Seems weird that he just seems to have stalled. He lost to Wlad but didnt take much of a beating and vs Ortiz he got stopped but wasnt knocked cold or suffered what appeared to be a career shattering defeat

maybe the Ortiz loss did more to his mental state than we thought. Seth Mitchell was rolling guys and then had the Chazz Witherspoon scare but came away and continued then got fully exposed by Banks and then Arreola. Maybe Jennings would suffer that fate in his next fight. I'm not calling him exposed in the way Mitchell was, Mitchell just couldnt take the punches coming back, wasnt truly a fighter or at least cut out for the top level.

Jennings really hadnt been all that tested I felt going to fight Wlad. I never saw him really rocked or hurt or legitimately dropped. Wlad hit him with a couple big shots but the power didnt seem there in the fight and Jennings was never visibly hurt. Jennings got beat up by Ortiz and suffered a real stoppage loss, no controversy or anything. Maybe he realized what it is like to be hit and hurt and removed from your senses and just doenst want it anymore. So instead of suffering a Mitchell and going out shell shocked and lose he is just taking what he got and finding a new way to live

 

He was dropped by Tupou but it was ruled a slip and not a knockdown, but Jennings himself admitted it was a legitimate knockdown later on. I think his chin isn't the greatest but his recuperative abilities are solid. He actually managed to recover and took some rounds off Ortiz after being hurt early on... Had Ortiz not landed that peach of an uppercut we might not be having this discussion now. I think his inactivity comes down to his wanting marquee fights and none have fallen on his lap. At this point though he needs to step into with a top 50-100 guy just so the rust doesn't build up.

 

I like Jennings. Thought his performance vs. Wladimir was great (yes, yes, I know) and at the time, extremely understated. His fight with Ortiz was an entertaining one too. Solid losses... Honestly, I'd be OK with him coming back and fighting two or three 6 or 8 rounders against journeyman this year before one last big go to be highly relevant in 2018. Kind of think it's a great idea for where he is, realistic options, etc. Or, as I wish for most athletes I like, just retire now.

 

One of the things I think people forget about Jennings v Ortiz (must admit I was one until I watched it again recently) up until the stoppage that was a close fight. For some reason I remembered it as Ortiz had it all his own way. Which wasn't the case.

 

I thought that was a great fight. Jennings def won a couple rounds. It was a close-ish fight, but really, Ortiz looked to be upping it prior to the stoppage. Jennings was the one getting hurt and I think that is why the general perception is more of a landslide win as opposed to competitive... Underrated fight, though.