UFC 128: "Shogun vs. Jones", March 19th, Newark, N.J.

[ukgaz]

"My knee is 100 percent," Rua told MMAjunkie.com through his manager and interpreter, Eduardo Alonso. "I've done everything to fix it. I've been training hard for a long time.

"I was training already from October on, but I started training 100 percent around November when the doctor released me to train 100 percent. I never felt any pain or any problems with my knee after the surgery. I was respecting the doctor's orders and doing exactly as he told me."




I have to say the size difference from the weigh in picture is big. I'm almost certain this will be a ground/ clinch battle with Jones keeping him close to avoid the kicks.

A great fight and I can see ways that both can win. Jones could blitz him and just out wrestle and out muscle him. If Rua has cardio issues due to the injury he could stop him. For Rua if, and it is a big if, the knee is strong I could see him kicking the hell out of Jones. Jones chin and sub defense is unknown at this time so they are unanswered questions at this time

 

[ukgaz]

 

[DeFactoCrippler]

Sorry didn't see this post.

Rua got a title shot because he did the same thing that Jones has done

How do you figure? he came in and lost to griffin, struggled a little against Coleman (wh lets face it is a total Can) and knocked out chuck lidell who really shouldn't have been in there.

He got in a slap fight for points against Machida, although I agree on the rematch though.

Shogun has speed and power that you don't see a lot. He uses both his hands and feet to do damage not just score points. We know Shogun's game, we don't know all of Jones game yet. How will he handle it if he gets tagged and hurt?

If Jones gets tagged its over, but if that were that simple Mirko Crocop would still be relevant

Maybe he doesn't get hit, he hasn't so far. I'm not saying Jones won't win because he is a tremendous talent. I just think for where the price is Rua is the correct play.

Thats what I don't get. the oddsmaker just woke up one morning and made a virtual unknown a rather heavy fav (imo) over the champ and legend?

 

[The Sponge]

Jones took a nice shot against Badar . Said he felt it but in the fight he shrug it off so it looks like the Chin has passed the first test.

 

[layinwood]

Crippler, put your picks up and keep coming back my man. There's nothing more we love in this forum than someone to go back and forth with.

Also, what I meant by saying Rua did the same thing as Jones is that what he did in Pride I just didn't state that.

I want to win my bet but I'm really hoping for a war. The one thing I worry about with this fight is that Jones will get Rua down and play it safe and stay low in the guard to avoid sub attempts and also keep control of the position. It will give Jones the win but make for a boring fight.

I'm not sure who the 5 rounds favors. I would like to see them test the waters though.

 

[DeFactoCrippler]

Also, what I meant by saying Rua did the same thing as Jones is that what he did in Pride I just didn't state that.

That's what I mean. They gave him a title shot based on what he did before a multi year layoff. Which was based more on ticket sales and the fact they were paying him for doing nothing, imo.

The only reason I keep bringing this up is because peopel say Shogun should beat him because he is the "champ". I believe he is only the champ because of politics rather than the fact he is the best at 205.

I want to win my bet but I'm really hoping for a war. The one thing I worry about with this fight is that Jones will get Rua down and play it safe and stay low in the guard to avoid sub attempts and also keep control of the position. It will give Jones the win but make for a boring fight.

I think the only reason greg jackson does that with GSP is because they don't want to suffer a loss and bring a halt to the gravy train that is GSP. I don't see his corner being THAT cautious here.

I don't see why Jones wouldnt use his ground and pound either. it's lethal man, just one elbow and your opened up or looking like brandon vera.

I'm not sure who the 5 rounds favors. I would like to see them test the waters though.

Probably Shogun as that means he's neutralized the takedowns.

 

[kegray1]

Defacto likes the multiple quote more than Kickserv likes GSP or ukgaz likes Pride. :scared

 

[kickserv]

or as much as Ghost Kid loves this "smiley".......:mj07:

 

[BUCSnotYUCKS]

I don't even see this one being close. Why all the love for Rua? The only reason he is champ is because the UFC wanted to make some money off his contract while his knee was still in one piece.

thats why his road to the title went loss- rebound win against Coleman (lol) and a KO of Chuck Lidell who shouldn't have really been fighting.

But for some reason this mediocre performance deserved a title shot (which he lost).

Jones, on the other hand, has just been eating people.



He excels in striking from the clinch but not defending against the tricky judo throws and trips that Jones employs. There is no way Shogun keeps this off the ground, especially since he has been training for Rashad Evans.

You slight Shoguns opponents but who the fuck has Jones fought? Absolutely nobody. A bunch of lay and pray wrestlers with ZERO striking ability.

Shoguns opponents vs Jones opponents are laughable.

FYI, Shogun will be the aggressor in this fight. I promise. Jones won't know how to handle that. Everyone mentions his reach advantage, but have we ever really seen it?

I find it so funny how everyone just a year ago was talking about how Machida will hold the title for as long as he wants, but now all the sudden he's slighted? LMFAO

 

[kickserv]

I really thought BUCSnotYUCKS was going to be betting on Jones:shrug:


Perplexing:shrug:

 

[DeFactoCrippler]

Defacto likes the multiple quote more than Kickserv likes GSP or ukgaz likes Pride. :scared

I have been training internet for quite a while now.

 

[DeFactoCrippler]

You slight Shoguns opponents but who the fuck has Jones fought? Absolutely nobody. A bunch of lay and pray wrestlers with ZERO striking ability.

Shoguns opponents vs Jones opponents are laughable.

Do mean in as a whole or in the UFC. Obviously overall shogun has fought better opponents overall.

But when he came off the layoff and returned to to MMA in the UFC he fought Griffen and lost.

He beat Coleman and Lidel. Both were fights that were pretty much gifts as he was handed the title shot. Despite this he still had trouble with Coleman.

It keeps coming down to "Shogun did such and such over five years ago". If we give people credit for what they did before long layoffs, Micheal Jordan should be able to come back in the league and dominate.

FYI, Shogun will be the aggressor in this fight. I promise. Jones won't know how to handle that. Everyone mentions his reach advantage, but have we ever really seen it?

I agree Shogun will com out swinging because thats his only chance. I don't think his reach matters as there is no way Jones will stand and trade.

Jones will either take him down and pound him out, or Shogun will tag him.

If Shogun wins it will be like the Machida rematch where he just clips him and and you're like, wtf happened.

I find it so funny how everyone just a year ago was talking about how Machida will hold the title for as long as he wants, but now all the sudden he's slighted? LMFAO

Lol yea thats how the hype machine goes. They need to sell the fights so they make something up, and in Machida's case they gave him some kind of "mystique".

I remember when Dan Hardy had his title shot. They kept talking about his "vicious left hand". I don't think he had a KO in the UFC.

I'm sure the UFC will try and hype Randy Couture in his nexxt fight too, but Vegas doesn't seem to give him the same respect.

 

[BUCSnotYUCKS]

Do mean in as a whole or in the UFC. Obviously overall shogun has fought better opponents overall.

But when he came off the layoff and returned to to MMA in the UFC he fought Griffen and lost.

He beat Coleman and Lidel. Both were fights that were pretty much gifts as he was handed the title shot. Despite this he still had trouble with Coleman.

It keeps coming down to "Shogun did such and such over five years ago". If we give people credit for what they did before long layoffs, Micheal Jordan should be able to come back in the league and dominate.



I agree Shogun will com out swinging because thats his only chance. I don't think his reach matters as there is no way Jones will stand and trade.

Jones will either take him down and pound him out, or Shogun will tag him.

If Shogun wins it will be like the Machida rematch where he just clips him and and you're like, wtf happened.



Lol yea thats how the hype machine goes. They need to sell the fights so they make something up, and in Machida's case they gave him some kind of "mystique".

I remember when Dan Hardy had his title shot. They kept talking about his "vicious left hand". I don't think he had a KO in the UFC.

I'm sure the UFC will try and hype Randy Couture in his nexxt fight too, but Vegas doesn't seem to give him the same respect.

Come on, did you really compare Dan Hardy to Lyoto Machida? Machida is a cream of the crop fighter. Dan Hardy? haha

Randy knows this fight with Machida is his swan song and he's gonna retire after a HUGE payday.

You keep talking about Chuck/Coleman, but keep never mentioning Machida lol

I promise you Jones won't be pounding him from the ground. Jones ground game is sloppy. You know why he's got away with it? Because every guy he has fought has had no confidence for fighting off their back.

Like a few have mentioned, for every sloppy kick, punch, anything, that Jones throws, Shogun is gonna make him pay.

 

[THE_THONG]

bucs is a good analyzer of pure striking

 

[WhatsHisNuts]

Here is my analogy:

Jones: The undefeated Mid-Major college basketball team riding a lot of hype. From what we've seen, they look capable of beating anyone, but we just don't know what will happen when the competition ramps up (drastically).

Rua: BCS conference team with a solid history of winning big games against elite opponents but has also stumbled at times.

I'm on Rua not because I think he is a lock,I'm on him because the odds justify a play based on what I know about both fighters.

 

[WhatsHisNuts]

One guy looks comfortable, one doesn't. Go RUA!

 

[gardenweasel]

anybody else notice the breakdown in the "pro`s pick" article on sherdog?...


it`s funny...pretty much every hispanic and /or brazilian picked rua...and almost every black dude(with the exception of shamar bailey)and most americans in general picked jones...

and folks wonder why we can`t get decent decisions?...most people just don`t have a clue how to be objective....can`t get past their own preferences/biases to give an objective opinion on an issue... guess it`s human nature...:mj03:

 

[DeFactoCrippler]

Come on, did you really compare Dan Hardy to Lyoto Machida? Machida is a cream of the crop fighter. Dan Hardy? haha

I wasn't comparing them in terms of skill, I was comparing the way the UFC over-hyped both fighters.

Randy knows this fight with Machida is his swan song and he's gonna retire after a HUGE payday.

Exatcly, we both know Randy is done, but the UFC isn't going to say that because they need to hype the fight.

You keep talking about Chuck/Coleman, but keep never mentioning Machida lol

I was speaking more about his road to the title and how the title shot was pretty much handed to him. That is why I keep mentioning them.

But I have said he wasn't exatcly dominant against Machida in the first fight, and Machida was a very good matchup for him. The fight with Jones will not be like this (trading strikes) no matter what happens.

I promise you Jones won't be pounding him from the ground. Jones ground game is sloppy. You know why he's got away with it? Because every guy he has fought has had no confidence for fighting off their back.

If someone is good off their back that means he ca either submit from his back, or be able to reverse the position. I don't really know what makes you think he able to do that.

He has one submission in his career against a pure wrestler in a time when BJJ skills and submission defence weren't where they are at now.

You will have to go way back to pride days to even see him reverse someone from the bottom. (I don't even remember it happening I'm just assuming he did)

But people still want to make it seem that if Shogun is on his back Shogun has him right where he wants him

Like a few have mentioned, for every sloppy kick, punch, anything, that Jones throws, Shogun is gonna make him pay.

They also mention that Shogun will be throwing a number of kick at Jones' lead leg. Despite the fact that Shogun clearly wants to keep the fight off the ground.

 

[The Sponge]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-8HssBs1Kk&feature=player_embedded

 

[layinwood]

Defacto, you keep bringing up Coleman and using a LOL but I'm pretty sure Coleman beat Bonnar who is on Jones list while he's been on this rise. So if you laugh at one of Shogun's opponents then surely that was embarrassing that Bonnar took him the distance.