Who would you back to win these two UFC MW rematches?

I like Maia over Sonnen by submission at some point. Sonnen is well behind Maia on the ground this has been proved and his Jiujitsu skills havent seemed to improve much. Sonnen even when hes getting the better standing will shoot eventually. At some point in time this fight will hit the ground and thats where Maia will find a sweep or submission like last year.

I like Belfort by KO, Wanderlei is slower and his punch resistance is worse then it was when Vitor brutally KOed him over a decade ago. I dont see Wanderlei being able to win the exchanges or avoid being hurt and eventually stopped. The ground game is damn near even so im not sure he has a plan B.

 

Maia already handled Sonnen and I don't see any changes in Sonnen to suggest the outcome in a second fight would be any different. Sonnen's weakness is his submission defence and this fight will hit the ground. When it does I thinkit would only be a matter of time until Maia submits him.

I also have Belfort by KO for similar reasons to jimmie. Wandy's punch resistance is not where it was and I doubt at this stage he would be able to handle Vitor's speed and power. It would be fun while it lasted and a highlight reel KO!

 

Maia is a very bad matchup for Sonnen.

Wanderlei beats Vitor.

 

Vitor already damn near knocked Wandy's head off back in 1998 and in less than a minute. Belfort's punches are just too fast, precise, and powerful. I don't see the fight going differently today.

 

These fights have happened and we know the results. However if they were to happen again I would still expect Wanderlei to get caught and overwhelmed. Sonnen could beat Maia but Sonnen is so suspect to a submission.

 

Vitor tends to break mentally if he doesn't get the fight going his way right away. I just have yet to be fully convinced by him as the "new Vitor" for the millionth time.

He could very well win, he is a very good puncher and Wandy's chin and reactions are going.

 

Very good points but how do we know Wanderlei will be able to push Vitor ? Wandy doesnt match up that well. How do you see the fight going for Silva to get the victory ?

 

If he were to win it would probably look a lot like his fights against Franklin and Bisping.

 

100%

 

Maia beats Sonnen, he's a submission maestro, Sonnen is a one dimensional wrestler, tons of gas in the tank, but ultimately always susceptible to subs, and always puts himself in position to be subbed.

Wand, theoretically gets caught by Vitor. Like Beebs said, his reaction time is going, his chin has never been the best, but his recovery has always been among the best in the world.

 

Maia beats Sonnen again. Sonnen never seems to learn from his mistakes.

Belfort beats Want again. Belfort is just way to fast and technical for Wanderlei.

 

I voted for Maia, but I don't think it's automatic at all.

He showed that he can sprawl and brawl with Filho, twice. Different fighters of course, but if things go Sonnen's way, I can see him winning that fight.

It's a close fight for sure, especially after how good he looked against Marquardt and Silva.

 

Styles makes fights as they say and if I were to build a fighter to be either Sonnen or Wandy they'd probably look something like Maia and Vitor
Chael as stated numerous times has zero sub defence and I dont need to point out Maia's ju jitsu credentials
Wandy is a striker who is EXTREMELY aggressive. In the 3rd Jackson fight her tempered this slightly and was winning the exchanges, even though he didnt really land anything truly meaning full. Then the second he got aggressive and started windmilling Rampage put him on his ass. Vitor has the tools to be either style Wandy chooses to employ, straight, fast powerful punches are great defence agains the wild hooks Wandy throws.