Demetrious Johnson (c) vs. Wilson Reis & Rose Namajunas vs. Michelle Waterson RBR

You're looking at it from a legacy/resume standpoint, I'm just comparing their relative skills.

 

Just watched his fight now.

DJ looked sensational, don't get me wrong. But this hype about his ground game improving to the point he can submit a black belt, that wasn't a Jiu Jitsu specialist submission really, he later on the ground and pound quite heavy, as Reis went to block the attacks he left his arm out and then DJ submitted him.

Very good move and clearly a dangerous attack but let's not pretend it was world class Jiu Jitsu submission game that won him the fight.

 

Yes, Wanderlei is better in certain aspects of striking but I wouldn't say he is the better striker. DJ like you said has better punching technique, better counter striker, better strike variation/selection, timing, defense, ring IQ. Wanderlei clearly has the edge in P4P power.

 

No i was talking about DJ, i mean if people are calling him the goat can we say he's better than the earlier goats such as Gracie, Sakuraba and Wanderlei?

If you're gonna base greatness on resume and achievements he's dominating his division so i see that. But if you're gonna base on who the best man to compete in MMA is he better than those men?

Gracie was entirely grappling based but could submit anyone his own size imo. Being on the mat with Gracie even for a strong wrestler is asking for trouble.

Sakuraba was effective striking and on the mat plus he had incredible TDD, if he was competing in his own division in Pride image how long he'd have reigned as champion for.

Wanderlei wasn't as effective on the mat but was an incredible striker and his TDD massively improved after the Tito loss.

All 3 of these had holes in their game but we're incredible h2h forces against someone their size. Is DJ any better of a h2h force than those men?

 

Whitaker was very impressive with his TDD, it wasn't offensive like Wanderlei but it was very effective.

The one time Jacare took him down he rolled back up almost immediately.

I'd have liked to have seen the fight progress though, this isn't pride do he could have soccer kicked him at that point he'd have had to g&p from back mount and that isn't a guaranteed method of victory.

A rematch would be good here.

I'd love to see the following over the next 8 months

Bisping vs GSP (I'm a sucker for hype)
Rockhold vs Romero (I'd make that for an interim title like they did for Liddell back in the day)
Whittaker vs Jacare
Anderson vs Weidman 3
Mousasi vs Gastelum

This division is red hot ATM. On top of that you have Belfort who can end anyone within the first minute of the fight and there's Brunson who could still be a relevant name at the top of it.

 

Although it probably won't happen I'd like to see a Cruz-DJ rematch. DJ has improved greatly since that fight, while Cruz hasn't been the same since all the injuries.

 

Cruz is another one who ranks very high for me. There are so many casuals out there who say Anderson is the GOAT but Cruz coming back after 4.5 years of inactivity (I know he had that one fight with Mizugaki) to beat Dillashaw is far better than anything he ever did.

 

Yes MW is stacked. Belfort isn't ending anyone though, that guy needs to retire pronto.

 

It's probably the best comeback in MMA history.

What else is there to compare really?

Mir beating Lesnar and then Nog was a great comeback imo. Gracie beating Hughes would have been the goat comeback definitely. Cruz beating Dillashaw is the best so far imo.

 

It's hard favouring anyone over MM. Garbrandt has the best chance if he can safely cut the weight.