The Weaknesses of Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos

by Luke Thomas on Aug 14, 2009 6:05 PM EDT in MMA News

Couture thinks he's found a few:

It's not a complete mystery what Carano needs to do for success. Staying mobile on the outside, not getting pinned up against the cage at all so a flat-footed pocket exchanger like Cyborg can tee off, take time in the fight to get Cyborg to open up and show how she reacts to feints of various kinds, show Cyborg a lot of looks to keep her guessing, and like Edgar against Sherk, try to keep Cyborg from building momentum by landing a combination and circling out. I also believe Couture's assessment of Cyborg's cardio is correct. Cyborg does train very well and comes with enough gas in the tank to remain competitive, but rather than drain it slowly she dumps it in bursts. And to all but the most oblivious, the post-blitzkrieg moments are those when Cyborg is most vulnerable as she tries to collect herself.

Cyborg is a formidable opponent and I don't decry those who believe she'll prevail, but it is worth observing her shortcomings. Her kryptonite will come in the form of an opponent who is strong but patient, athletic but technical and prepared but is capable of adaptation. With Couture in Carano's corner, she appears to have those qualities and resources in place.

Here goes nothing.

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This is a difficult fight to pick.

I will be suspect of anyone who exudes a lot of confidence in picking one woman or the other. The fight being at 145 and for five rounds at five minutes a piece are huge variables. Gina may be way stronger at 145 than 140. One of the two or both may gas big time.

Based on what I know of the two, which isn’t really a hell of a lot when you take into account the smallish opponents they’ve faced as of late, I’m leaning toward Cyborg. There’s no doubt that Gina is a better technical striker, absolutely none. I’d give Cyborg a slight advantage on the ground. The problem I have with picking Gina to win is simple. I feel like it’s more likely that Cyborg can finish with strikes than Gina. I may be wrong, but that’s the crux of my argument. Bisping’s a far better boxer than Dan Henderson from a technical perspective. Who was more able to knock the other out? I think most would have agreed before the fight that it was Henderson, and more should have come around to that conclusion after the bout.

Certainly as I alluded to, I’m far from confident in my stance. There are just too many unknowns. I just hope both have a good showing, especially from a conditioning perspective. There could be some fairly significant ramifications for female MMA if the action grinds to nothing, because Gina and/or Cyborg aren’t able to meet the conditioning hurdle which a five round fight with comparatively longer frames presents.

by Cannon Jacques on Aug 14, 2009 5:01 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

The fight being at 145 and for five rounds at five minutes a piece are huge variables.

The five rounds at five minutes thing is what gets me worried. I think you’re right that there is a real danger of this ending up with both fighters gassing, which would be horrific to watch. At first I felt Gina was a surefire pick, but the closer we get to fight time, the more I lean towards Cyborg, mostly because of the points you stated. I’m starting to think that Gina may be able to circle for a bit, but after a round or so, I figure Cyborg can catch her. I dunno. Still a very tough pick. I suppose my mind will change again in a few hours.

I love me some Sexyama!

by pud333 on Aug 14, 2009 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions

I think there are a number of factors to consider. I’m about 60/40 Gina.

First, this is the first real training camp Carano has done in MMA. Before it’s been 2 weeks then fight. That’s why she is actually eating right now to come up in weight. She is seriously prepared for the first time.

I think Gina has a lot of power in the overhand right. She’s hurt girls in every fight, though they have been good at tying her up or clinching to prevent a finish. That could happen here, but I think Cyborg lives or dies by the sword.

For every Bisping/Hendo fight, there’s Rich/Hendo where Rich was schooling Dan standing, or Mirko/Wand where he circled and completely picked Wand apart. And I am not sure at all that Cyborg wins in close exchanges, I’ve seen Gina win ones with strikers far better than Cyborg in Thailand and in K-1 amateur bouts in the United States. I think she can take it and then some.

by Michael Rome on Aug 14, 2009 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions

And I wouldn’t be worried about the gassing or anything, this will be a great fight, and I think there will be a finish. They are too good standing, if one gasses they will get KO’ed.

by Michael Rome on Aug 14, 2009 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions

It’s worth noting that Michael Bisping lost for technical reasons. He circled into power, a very basic technical mistake and he paid the price for it.

by Michael Rome on Aug 14, 2009 5:36 PM EDT up reply actions

That's a good point...

but I would have been truly astounded if Bisping would have won that fight. Of course, Bisping/Hendo is far from a perfect comparison to the fight in question. For one, I feel a lot more comfortable in my knowledge of the two men than Cyborg or Gina as far as MMA fighting skills go. What does translate, in my opinion, is that Cyborg has more ways to win like Hendo. I could very well be wrong on this point. I admit that. That’s why I see the fight going Cyborg’s way. However it’s so close, something happening in the weigh in or after could change my opinion.

by Cannon Jacques on Aug 14, 2009 6:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Why does everyone say Cyborg can win on the ground but Gina can’t? There’s only one woman in this fight with a win via sub on their record and it’s not Cyborg. I know that doesn’t mean everything but I don’t understand all this “Cyborg has more ways to win” talk.

Walla walla walla I'm an idiot.

by ufc4 on Aug 14, 2009 9:32 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I was mainly referring to Cyborg’s knockout power. The problem everyone picking has is that we really don’t know how good Gina or Cyborg is on the ground; there’s only anecdotal evidence in both cases. Gina did sub Evinger. You have to give her credit for that. However, I was more impressed with Cyborg’s wrestling and ability to avoid submission attempts against Shayna Baszler. Though she was undersized against Cyborg, Baszler has amazing sub offense and had a decent grip on Cyborg’s leg. The fight between Baszler and LaRosa in Bodog was a grappling clinic, definitely worth watching. I wouldn’t expect Cyborg to go for a submission in this fight, but she could use a dominant position to pound out a victory.

I’ll be the first to admit that my theory rests on several assumptions that could be inaccurate, and I can see the case for Gina possibly having more ways to win. That’s just my personal feeling. I love to watch Gina fight. Her striking is better from a technical standpoint than a lot of male fighters. Besides what I’ve already stated, the long layoffs between fights for Gina give me pause. Sometimes I think it would be better for her if she could be more active in terms of live competition.

by Cannon Jacques on Aug 14, 2009 10:33 PM EDT up reply actions