Daniel Cormier (17-1)
Staple info:
•Height: 5’11” Age: 37 Weight: 205 lbs Reach: 72.5″
•Last Fight: SD win / Alexander Gustafsson (10-3-15)
•Camp: American Kickboxing Academy (San Jose, CA)
•Stance/Striking Style: Orthodox / Kickboxing
•Risk Management: Moderate
Supplemental info:
+ UFC Light-heavyweight Champion
+ Strikeforce HW Grand Prix Winner
+ 2x US Olympian(Wrestling Captain)
+ Brown Belt BJJ
+ 8 KO victories
+ 7 first round finishes
+ 3 Submission wins
+ KO Power
+ Pressure fighting approach
^ Forces high work rate
+ Dangerous overhands & uppercuts
+ Deceptive distance closer
^ Slips & rips his way inside
+ Strong clinch game
^ Effective dirty boxer
+ Diverse takedown game
^ Favors high-crotch single
+ Transitions intelligently on top
+/-Pace bares watching
Jon Jones (22-1)
Staple info:
•Height: 6’4″ Age: 28 Weight: 205 lbs Reach: 84.5″
•Last Fight: Decision win / Ovince ST Preux (4-23-16)
•Camp: Jackson-Wink MMA (New Mexico)
•Stance/Striking Style: Orthodox / Kickboxing
•Risk Management: Fair
Supplemental info:
+ UFC Interim LHW Champion
+ *Former UFC LHW Champion
+ JUCO National Wrestling Champ
+ Multiple Wrestling Accolades
+ 9 KO victories
+ 7 first round finishes
+ 6 Submission wins
+ Athletic & Agile
+ Creative & dynamic striker
^ Preternatural instincts & improv
+ Effectively dictates range
^ Teep kicks, oblique kicks, & hand posts
+ Deceptively effective inside clinch
^ Superb hand fighting/grip disruption
+ Multiple takedown tools
+ Devastating ground striker
+ Always looks to secure rounds
^ Consistently comes on late
+/-Will fight to opponents strength
Summary:
Headlining the legendary UFC 200 card is a grudge match between champions, as now-interim champ, Jon Jones attempts to take back his title against the defending champ Daniel Cormier. Due to Jon’s shortcomings outside of the cage, he was forced to surrender his title and sit on the sidelines as the division moved on. After two hard fought victories over Anthony Johnson and Alexander Gustafsson, Daniel Cormier became the man to take Jones’ spot at the top. Lacking no motivation of his own, Cormier will look to pay Jones back for the previous defeat and disrespect dealt.
Going back to their first fight in 2015, I feel that history has been re-written as our hunger for hyperbole often leads us to swim in the stream of common-narrative. Although the defeat DC suffered to Jones was crushing, it was also much closer than people seem to remember. Similar to our criticisms of MMA Judging, the most recent events and the manner in which they happen often resonate with us the most. That is why someone like Jones can almost inherently make you write-off his opposition, whether you are judging him as a fighter or the one judging his fights. Despite my official pick aligning with the projected favorite, I will attempt to explain why I feel this fight is closer than you might think.
In their first affair, you could have made legitimate arguments for Cormier in the opening two rounds. Although only outscoring Jones officially in one of those rounds(round 2), DC was able to pressure Jones with effect as being the one advancing. Cormier started to take it Jones early in the third, as he looked to be running away with the round until Jones accidentally poked DC in the eye. Despite Jon’s history and rather blatant disregard to the issue, I do not reference that to take anything away from Jones’ performance, as I feel this momentum shift was more than likely inevitable. What I mean by that is that DC began to tire significantly from that point on.
As soon as action resumed from the inadvertent foul, Jones jumped on Cormier and never let up for the rest of the round. From then on, Jon established himself firmly in the fight as he allowed DC to come into the clinch with him, a place where we thought Cormier could have an advantage. However, Jones again stifled the offensive momentum of DC as he put on a hand fighting clinic. Demonstrating the importance of grip fighting, Jones utilized creative forms of wrist control to disrupt DC’s game and open up his own. Using his long frame to multitask inside the clinch, Jones implemented over-hooks(in a similar fashion to the ones that injured Teixeira’s shoulder) as he used his free arm to feed DC’s wrists into the over-hooking hand.
This intricate tie up also allowed Jon the leverage to come over the top with elbows regardless of whether or not he is still holding onto wrists. For those who have not wrestled or grappled in some form, wrist control is the unsung gatekeeper of advancing position, as a solid hand-fighter can befuddle even the best of grapplers. For example, even you are in a disadvantageous position(e.g. on bottom), isolating or controlling a single wrist properly can immediately kill up to 90% of choke and pass completions. It is a hard thing to grasp a non-grappler, but establishing a position can be especially difficult when someone is compromising your grips. We saw not only Cormier struggle here but also Teixeira, as Jones was able to operate like a technically equipped octopus inside the clinch, simultaneously denying them space while taking them into deeper waters.
If Cormier does not have a new approach toward Jon’s clinch warfare, we may see him struggle to get his wrestling or dirty boxing game going in this rematch. With most of DC’s favored takedowns taking place inside the clinch, Jones command of this area will be crucial if he means to limit Cormier’s arsenal once again. Should Jones find success in shutting down DC’s wrestling, Cormier may be relegated to fighting within the mid and outside ranges. Although Cormier was overmatched on the outside(as most are against Jones), he did some things nicely in the mid-range that he may revisit. A deceptively good kicker, DC was able to land effectively to Jones legs and body. Going to the legs, in particular, may serve Cormier well considering the lack of build to Jon’s frame in that area.
I do not mean to judge a book by it’s cover when referring to the skinniness of Jon’s legs, but it is after all the reasoning behind his nickname. Not only that, I believe that the consistent kick-heavy arsenal that Jones relies upon to maintain range comes with a cost. In reviewing footage of Jon’s fight history, I noticed that no matter how hard the battle, Jones would consistently limp as the contest came to a close. I am not sure if this is a part of DC’s team’s approach or awareness, but I do feel that Jon is acutely aware of this. Often switching stances when leg kicked(or when he feels like disrupting your game), Jones will almost bait you to come forward and throw as he uses brutal oblique kicks(that often buckles the knee) to dissuade you from approaching in said space.
Cormier’s best shot in this fight ultimately lies within the boxing range. Although he struggled to find Jones here the first time, DC showed solid improvements to his punching pursuits in his fight with Gustafsson. Whether Alexander is committed to countering or evading, the Swede can be difficult to deal with in exchanges. That said, DC was able to continually close-in on Gustafsson despite the disparity in height and reach. Even though Cormier showed signs(and possible trends) to how he is holding up in these wars, it is hard to criticize a fighter for being exhausted after such a grueling battle. However, considering that DC is facing arguably the best round-winner in MMA, Cormier will have little room for error or inconsistency.
Coming on late in rounds with his patent taste for takedowns and flashy techniques, we have even seen an ill-prepared Jones dig deep to fend off defeat. Although I see Cormier’s overhands & uppercuts being his best chance at auditing Jon’s head-movement tendencies, Bones has become increasingly aware inside the pocket as I feel this has been his biggest improvement as of late. If Cormier cannot score the knockout, then he will be forced to compete with Jones for scorecard supremacy, something that remains a daunting task. Unless Jones suffers from a performance related intangible, I have a hard time seeing Jon’s adjustments and creativity not come through. Although my heart will be rooting for Cormier, the official pick here is Jonny Bones.
Official Mixed Martial Analyst Pick: Jones – Decision
Staple info:
•Height: 5’11” Age: 37 Weight: 205 lbs Reach: 72.5″
•Last Fight: SD win / Alexander Gustafsson (10-3-15)
•Camp: American Kickboxing Academy (San Jose, CA)
•Stance/Striking Style: Orthodox / Kickboxing
•Risk Management: Moderate
Supplemental info:
+ UFC Light-heavyweight Champion
+ Strikeforce HW Grand Prix Winner
+ 2x US Olympian(Wrestling Captain)
+ Brown Belt BJJ
+ 8 KO victories
+ 7 first round finishes
+ 3 Submission wins
+ KO Power
+ Pressure fighting approach
^ Forces high work rate
+ Dangerous overhands & uppercuts
+ Deceptive distance closer
^ Slips & rips his way inside
+ Strong clinch game
^ Effective dirty boxer
+ Diverse takedown game
^ Favors high-crotch single
+ Transitions intelligently on top
+/-Pace bares watching
Jon Jones (22-1)
Staple info:
•Height: 6’4″ Age: 28 Weight: 205 lbs Reach: 84.5″
•Last Fight: Decision win / Ovince ST Preux (4-23-16)
•Camp: Jackson-Wink MMA (New Mexico)
•Stance/Striking Style: Orthodox / Kickboxing
•Risk Management: Fair
Supplemental info:
+ UFC Interim LHW Champion
+ *Former UFC LHW Champion
+ JUCO National Wrestling Champ
+ Multiple Wrestling Accolades
+ 9 KO victories
+ 7 first round finishes
+ 6 Submission wins
+ Athletic & Agile
+ Creative & dynamic striker
^ Preternatural instincts & improv
+ Effectively dictates range
^ Teep kicks, oblique kicks, & hand posts
+ Deceptively effective inside clinch
^ Superb hand fighting/grip disruption
+ Multiple takedown tools
+ Devastating ground striker
+ Always looks to secure rounds
^ Consistently comes on late
+/-Will fight to opponents strength
Summary:
Headlining the legendary UFC 200 card is a grudge match between champions, as now-interim champ, Jon Jones attempts to take back his title against the defending champ Daniel Cormier. Due to Jon’s shortcomings outside of the cage, he was forced to surrender his title and sit on the sidelines as the division moved on. After two hard fought victories over Anthony Johnson and Alexander Gustafsson, Daniel Cormier became the man to take Jones’ spot at the top. Lacking no motivation of his own, Cormier will look to pay Jones back for the previous defeat and disrespect dealt.
Going back to their first fight in 2015, I feel that history has been re-written as our hunger for hyperbole often leads us to swim in the stream of common-narrative. Although the defeat DC suffered to Jones was crushing, it was also much closer than people seem to remember. Similar to our criticisms of MMA Judging, the most recent events and the manner in which they happen often resonate with us the most. That is why someone like Jones can almost inherently make you write-off his opposition, whether you are judging him as a fighter or the one judging his fights. Despite my official pick aligning with the projected favorite, I will attempt to explain why I feel this fight is closer than you might think.
In their first affair, you could have made legitimate arguments for Cormier in the opening two rounds. Although only outscoring Jones officially in one of those rounds(round 2), DC was able to pressure Jones with effect as being the one advancing. Cormier started to take it Jones early in the third, as he looked to be running away with the round until Jones accidentally poked DC in the eye. Despite Jon’s history and rather blatant disregard to the issue, I do not reference that to take anything away from Jones’ performance, as I feel this momentum shift was more than likely inevitable. What I mean by that is that DC began to tire significantly from that point on.
As soon as action resumed from the inadvertent foul, Jones jumped on Cormier and never let up for the rest of the round. From then on, Jon established himself firmly in the fight as he allowed DC to come into the clinch with him, a place where we thought Cormier could have an advantage. However, Jones again stifled the offensive momentum of DC as he put on a hand fighting clinic. Demonstrating the importance of grip fighting, Jones utilized creative forms of wrist control to disrupt DC’s game and open up his own. Using his long frame to multitask inside the clinch, Jones implemented over-hooks(in a similar fashion to the ones that injured Teixeira’s shoulder) as he used his free arm to feed DC’s wrists into the over-hooking hand.
This intricate tie up also allowed Jon the leverage to come over the top with elbows regardless of whether or not he is still holding onto wrists. For those who have not wrestled or grappled in some form, wrist control is the unsung gatekeeper of advancing position, as a solid hand-fighter can befuddle even the best of grapplers. For example, even you are in a disadvantageous position(e.g. on bottom), isolating or controlling a single wrist properly can immediately kill up to 90% of choke and pass completions. It is a hard thing to grasp a non-grappler, but establishing a position can be especially difficult when someone is compromising your grips. We saw not only Cormier struggle here but also Teixeira, as Jones was able to operate like a technically equipped octopus inside the clinch, simultaneously denying them space while taking them into deeper waters.
If Cormier does not have a new approach toward Jon’s clinch warfare, we may see him struggle to get his wrestling or dirty boxing game going in this rematch. With most of DC’s favored takedowns taking place inside the clinch, Jones command of this area will be crucial if he means to limit Cormier’s arsenal once again. Should Jones find success in shutting down DC’s wrestling, Cormier may be relegated to fighting within the mid and outside ranges. Although Cormier was overmatched on the outside(as most are against Jones), he did some things nicely in the mid-range that he may revisit. A deceptively good kicker, DC was able to land effectively to Jones legs and body. Going to the legs, in particular, may serve Cormier well considering the lack of build to Jon’s frame in that area.
I do not mean to judge a book by it’s cover when referring to the skinniness of Jon’s legs, but it is after all the reasoning behind his nickname. Not only that, I believe that the consistent kick-heavy arsenal that Jones relies upon to maintain range comes with a cost. In reviewing footage of Jon’s fight history, I noticed that no matter how hard the battle, Jones would consistently limp as the contest came to a close. I am not sure if this is a part of DC’s team’s approach or awareness, but I do feel that Jon is acutely aware of this. Often switching stances when leg kicked(or when he feels like disrupting your game), Jones will almost bait you to come forward and throw as he uses brutal oblique kicks(that often buckles the knee) to dissuade you from approaching in said space.
Cormier’s best shot in this fight ultimately lies within the boxing range. Although he struggled to find Jones here the first time, DC showed solid improvements to his punching pursuits in his fight with Gustafsson. Whether Alexander is committed to countering or evading, the Swede can be difficult to deal with in exchanges. That said, DC was able to continually close-in on Gustafsson despite the disparity in height and reach. Even though Cormier showed signs(and possible trends) to how he is holding up in these wars, it is hard to criticize a fighter for being exhausted after such a grueling battle. However, considering that DC is facing arguably the best round-winner in MMA, Cormier will have little room for error or inconsistency.
Coming on late in rounds with his patent taste for takedowns and flashy techniques, we have even seen an ill-prepared Jones dig deep to fend off defeat. Although I see Cormier’s overhands & uppercuts being his best chance at auditing Jon’s head-movement tendencies, Bones has become increasingly aware inside the pocket as I feel this has been his biggest improvement as of late. If Cormier cannot score the knockout, then he will be forced to compete with Jones for scorecard supremacy, something that remains a daunting task. Unless Jones suffers from a performance related intangible, I have a hard time seeing Jon’s adjustments and creativity not come through. Although my heart will be rooting for Cormier, the official pick here is Jonny Bones.
Official Mixed Martial Analyst Pick: Jones – Decision
