Which of these light heavyweights has the best chance to beat jones?

You forgot to add King Mo.

 

Phil Davis a few fights down the line.

 

I give Rampage a good chance of KO'ing every 205 lb'er in the world on his night so he got my vote .

Stylistically Machida may have the best chance , outside of those i dont see anybody beating him !!

 

Phil Davis maybe, we haven't seen his full potential yet and he looks very good. If Mousasi had a decent takedown defence I'd give him a great shot, but Jones is a horrible style match for him. His wrestling is just as good as King Mo's, but his attacks from the top are ten times as vicious.

I don't know about Machida. I think he's lost a lot of his confidence after Shogun II and Rampage. The Couture fight will tell us something about where he is as a fighter.

And there is always Anderson Silva, if he moves up to 205lbs.

 

Machida has the best shot, because of his style but I don't see him eluding Jones for a full 5 rounds, or catching him with something to hurt him.

I don't think anybody beats Jones actually, I don't even think anyone will last 5 rounds with the guy. He's too strong, too athletic, too dynamic.

 

Thats exactly the point , he basically picked Shogun Rua apart on the feet by using his athletic prowess to a) take him down and b) tire him out using his top game , its a scary concept !!!

 

None, Machida has the best shot at lasting the 5 full rounds. His strategy works. Shogun had the best gameplan of being more patient than him and with his non attacking style, it made him tentative and cost him.

Problem with Jones is his reach is immense. Playing counter puncher to a guy who you cant reach is a non winning formula.

As elusive as Machidas style is and as risk averse he is, if Jones decides to engage, I really dont know if he can fend him off.

 

I meant to vote Machida, but clicked Rua instead.

But those are the two I would pick out anyway.

Rua will be a different animal entirely a couple more fights into this comeback from surgery.

Machida will test Jones in ways he hasn't been tested before because of his speed, movement and elusiveness.

Other than those two, the only guy I give a prayer is Hendo, because of his chin, wrestling credentials, and proven power.

I wouldn't make even any of these three a favourite against him though.

 

Good analysis.

 

I just tell the truth. I love boxing and MMA fans still cant grasp the styles matchup thing. I got laughed at in these same forum when I said that Chael would put a beating on Silva based on "styles" and that it would be pretty much one sided. I was pretty much the only one if you pull that thread up.

I dont live in nostalgia but while picking fights can be tough like Edgar/Penn, there are some obvious analysis that can be made. I tell you one thing now, if Cain and Overeem fights, Cain will take Reem down at will and pretty much dominate him like that unless he clips him on the takedown attemp. And I love Reem.

 

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