Post-Hangover Thoughts - UFC Fight Night 21: Florian vs. Gomi
by Brent Brookhouse on Apr 1, 2010 12:54 PM EDT
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- Kenny Florian outboxed a very good boxer in Takanori Gomi. In his previous fight he outwrestled a very good wrestler in Clay Guida. These weren't wins over the cream of the crop, but they were wins in dominating fashion over very legitimate fighters. It's a real shame for Kenny that BJ Penn is so far above the rest of the division.
- Kenny's jab was a thing of beauty, and a tool that just does not get used enough in MMA. Especially when a guy is showing a lack of head movement. Gomi was trying to move forward and Florian just used his reach and incredible footwork to stay at the distance he wanted and pop the jab all night.
- Speaking of using his length, I think Stefan Struve needs to take a six month break and go train nothing but kickboxing. The height difference against Roy Nelson was hilarious on TV but insignificant in practice. Nelson just walked forward, got close and unloaded a bomb that more or less ended the fight. The punches on the ground were just icing on a big ol' cake. When it comes to Struve he needs to learn that leg kicks aren't good enough for his reach. He should be throwing front kicks to the body and using a solid jab. Those are strikes that keep someone from walking in. It sucks to get hit with a leg kick but it doesn't really keep someone from moving forward.
- Jorge Rivera has looked as good as he has in years in his last two fights. Nate Quarry looked okay early as he was able to land leg kicks but once Jorge found the range of his right hand he was able to just dominate with hard punches, hurting Quarry repeatedly. Rivera looks like he has found new life, he's moving better and he seems like he's taking punches better.
- Ross Pearson fought a really smart fight against Dennis Siver. Rather than looking to just sling punches he found openings and worked to a fairly safe decision against a dangerous guy.
- Without seeing the undercard yet it's too hard to say a ton about most of the fights. Gleison Tibau absolutely wrecked Caol Uno. It was a much needed finish for Tibau and should signal the end of Uno's time in the UFC.
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What should Gomi's next step be?
He didn’t seem physically unfit to be fighting in terms of speed or power (the few times he managed to land), but he started gassing in the second round and those looping punches looked like something out of a 60’s Western (Pull the punchin’ hand out of your pocket and wing that bad boy all arooooooooound town!).
I guess I’m seeing Chuck Liddell syndrome: Too much confidence in his striking and not enough respect for fundamentals. Maybe some time with Freddie Roach could help Gomi return to form, if Gomi still gives a rip? He doesn’t seem like an old 31.
Gomi needs to work up his cardio a bit, and his speed is definitely slower than his prime days. I just don’t think he had enough time to sufficiently get to a point where he was 100% in shape to take on a beast like Kenny. That’s my opinion, and I’m sure most disagree.
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"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
by Leland Roling on Apr 1, 2010 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions
If he can shore up his cardio, where do you see the Gomi from last night ending up in the UFC’s LW division?
Middle-of-the-road.
He has the skill-set to beat some solid wrestle-boxers though if he can sure up cardio and maintain his legs. So, who knows.
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"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
by Leland Roling on Apr 1, 2010 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions
I think the prelims are still free to watch at UFC.com, they were last night. Watch the Okami fight. He looked AWESOME.
by Polyhedron on Apr 1, 2010 12:18 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
If BJ Penn wasn’t the champion of the Lightweight, I can see Kenny Florian being the champ, and possibly being dominant. Struve has potential, but he really needs to work on his standup because having the type of physical tools that he has hopefully won’t be wasted. Rivera honestly looked good, and he would be a good test for up-and-comers and fighters trying to break through to the top.
Struve looks way too clumsy every time I see him fight. Just a giant clumsy dude. Not sure he’ll ever be good. I’m not buying him as a potential contender down the road.
And Quarry should be considered “done” if people are saying Gomi is. He had clear sight of the incoming right hand from Rivera that hit him OVER and OVER, and he just ate it every time. His reaction time must be gone.
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"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
by Leland Roling on Apr 1, 2010 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions
The difference with Quarry is that he was never considered a #1 guy at his weight class, nor were they debating whether he’d once again contend for a belt. Quarry is a guy who goes out to stand and trade, in a robotic fashion, and is just a gatekeeper type of guy.
If you’re debating on whether or not he once again contend, we should probably stay away from “done” as an adjective to that.
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"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
by Leland Roling on Apr 1, 2010 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Gomi needs to take on some lower comp. Kenny is pretty much considered the #2 lightweight in the world. Which means everyone but one person “should” lose to him. Losing to kenny isn’t a sign of being done otherwise the entire lw division is essentially finished
Like breast cancer I have something to get off my chest
by II SMASH II on Apr 1, 2010 12:20 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Yeah, she’s an Asian handbag model, right?
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"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
by Leland Roling on Apr 1, 2010 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions 6 recs
do u really think aoki could beat kenny?
i think kenny completely dominates that fight, and rips alvarez a new one as well
Aoki is a hell of a fighter, but he would get trounced by Florian.
And people having Alvarez over Florian are out of their damn minds.
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by Brent Brookhouse on Apr 1, 2010 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions 7 recs
I kind of like the idea of Alvarez vs. Florian.
Alvarez is a do-or-die type of fighter. He goes for the finish, is pretty exciting, very conditioned, and can brawl. Ya never know, I think he’d do better than what Gomi did. I’d still pick Florian, but I don’t know about a blowout.
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"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
by Leland Roling on Apr 1, 2010 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Alvarez / Florian would eb an amazing fight.
I know Alvarez lost to Aoki, but I still think Alvarez would fair better against most UFC fighters. Aoki wouldn’t be able to take down the glut of UFC wrestle boxers (Sherk, Griffin, Stevenson, Maynard, Edgar) or Penn or Kenny Florian for that matter. I think he would lose a lot of stand up battles.
Oh so rec'd.
Bolts from the Blue // "He looks like a catfish" - Nick Hardwick on Brandon Siler
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I have
And me and everyone else with a brain on this site would agree that 9/10 times kenny takes that fight easily.
Like breast cancer I have something to get off my chest
by II SMASH II on Apr 1, 2010 12:48 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I said it when Gomi got signed and I’ll say it again. The best fight for him at this point in his career is against Sam Stout.
by Polyhedron on Apr 1, 2010 12:30 PM EDT via mobile reply actions 1 recs
I think Kenny wins that fight wherever he wants it, and I really like Pearson.
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by Dave Strummer on Apr 1, 2010 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions
I’d like to see Pearson vs Maynard. They both have quite crisp striking and are good wrestlers. Would be interesting though I’d say Maynard would be a big favourite
"If I had a green shirt on, a pink shirt, a blue shirt, If I had a fuckin' tie-dyed Hawaiian shirt from 1952, Bobby still won that fight" Forrest Griffin
Pearson/Maynard is interesting. And Florian/Sotiropoulos is really interesting to me. Florian wouldn’t have the reach and the ground game is very close. Overall it’d be a really interesting fight.
Florian/Diego is the “must see” but Florion/Sotiropoulos is right behind it for me.
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by Brent Brookhouse on Apr 1, 2010 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Those do sound like fun fights.
As much as I like Florian/Sotiropoulos, I wouldn’t mind seeing Sot vs Maynard for a title shot though. That would let Kenny get one more fight in and develop a little more.
Maybe let him try to get revenge over Sherk or something. That fight would kill time and answer the big wrestling question. I know Sherk isn’t a contender anymore, but it would help remove a big question mark from Florian’s record.
Florian and easily.
Bolts from the Blue // "He looks like a catfish" - Nick Hardwick on Brandon Siler
Bloody Elbow // " looks like your comment violated rule #4. and it’s a heck of a rule, rule #4" - Kid Nate
Sorry, Gomi did not look like a boxer
- too many telegraphed punches, no technique.
- Kenny looked really good against a guy who kept his hands by his waist. Gomi is a really poor defensive striker.
- Kenny outwrestled Clay Guida??? HUHHH? I don’t remember a whole lot of wrestling in that match.
- And Jorge Rivera took advantage of Quarry’s striking hole already exposed by Rich Franklin.
- Ross Pearson looked really great.
- GO ROY NELSON!!!
"There's nothing cool about taking punishment" - Floyd Mayweather Jr.
He took down Clay and beat the shit out of him. He “won” any period where they did wrestle in the fight.
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by Brent Brookhouse on Apr 1, 2010 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
yeah, I’m just sayin the majority of the fight was standing, there wasn’t a whole lot jockeying for position. His strikes set his eventually rear choke hold victory.
“outwrestled” . . . kind of exaggerates what occurred, he just beat the sh*t out of him.
"There's nothing cool about taking punishment" - Floyd Mayweather Jr.
by VeeisAnimated on Apr 1, 2010 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions
One of Struve's many holes....
is that his movement absolutely sucks. He moves like a slow giant and ALWAYS backs himself into the corner. JDS and Nelson backed up Struve into an identical spot and it was lights out for Struve. You can’t use your length if you corner yourself like he does.
I think even Buentello had him cornered in his fight so again Struve’s defensive faults are warranted but he needs to fix his movement to get himself out of spots so he can use his length.
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he also doesn’t seem to take a punch very well. it’s breathtaking when he gets his knees buckled and crumpledrops from a mile up in the sky right down to the floor. even Buentello did that to him, although it wasn’t a full KO blow
he does the baby giraffe at least once in most fights.
by Grappo on Apr 1, 2010 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions 5 recs
Struve somewhat reminds me of Hong Man Choi. Just SLOOOOOW.
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"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
by Leland Roling on Apr 1, 2010 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Couple thoughts
I feel bad for Gomi, while I figured Florian would be able to beat him I was really hoping for Gomi to come in and add a little excitement to the division. Though I feel he’s far from ‘done’ as a fighter, his next fight will tell us just how much he has left.
Florian’s jab was sick…that is all.
Jumping around a bit, did anyone else think that Quarry just looked slow? Rivera beat him to every punch, he threw a few kicks and a counter or two, but in a fight with two seasoned veterans he certainly looked the slower fighter as Rivera simply picked his spots.
I cannot agree with Brent enough about Struve. In the buildup he talked about using his length and then we all watched Nelson simply walk right up to him and blast him in the face. Okay, maybe not exactly like that, but didn’t it almost seem that easy?
The Pearson v. Siver fight was fantastic. Pearson clearly won but it was an electric fight. I really like both of them as a fighter and I love Pearson’s potential and I simply can’t wait to see him fight again.
Tibau looked almost 2 weight classes bigger than Uno, I was afraid for his safety when the fight started and cringed everytime Uno got close to the monster across him. Will Tibau be a force in the division? He certainly could be, but he has to put together a better performance against the top of the division to have a chance.
Overall I loved the night and I must say that the new season of TUF intrigued me also, some great opening fights.
Kenny's jab was absolutely incredible. Gomi ate jabs all night like a fat kid eats smarties.
I don't want to lick any butt. - GSP
like roy nelson eats smartys
And that’s by the truck load
"When i get in there, in his face ,pressin the action,I'm RUFF NECKIN'EM,I'm throwin him around,I'm punchin him,hes punchin me, I'm eatin his shots and I'm Blastin him back in the face he's not goin to be able to handle it ." - Chris Leben on how his fight with Anderson Silva is gonna go.
by Rayce. on Apr 1, 2010 1:55 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Florian just executed Penn-esque performance
Oustanding boxing and end it with a rear naked choke. Almost there Ken Flo, almost there.
I am. I think. I will. - Ayn Rand
Kenny is getting better but I don't
agree that he is almost there. BJ would have KOd Kenny last night standing.
Agreed.
Kenny is looking comfortable striking but that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s reached the level of a “good” striker in the UFC. Ross Pearson, Gray Maynard and your Tyson Griffins would also look superb against the Takanori Gomi we saw UFC Fight Night 21.
"There's nothing cool about taking punishment" - Floyd Mayweather Jr.
by VeeisAnimated on Apr 2, 2010 8:33 AM EDT up reply actions
I was equally frustrated by Gomi’s performance, and impressed with Kenny’s. I wouldn’t say Gomi’s done, but I’m not particularly hopeful about his future either. I’d like to think Kenny gets Maynard next, and parlays himself into getting another shot at BJ after Penn/Edgar.
Struve still can’t use his reach effectively. Not much else to say besides that. I thought it was obvious going in that Nelson would have more power. I’m not sure I’m liking his chances though if Nelson/JDS pans out.
Rivera looked good, and continues to build himself a nice streak. Maybe they can do Rivera/Cote again depending on how Cote’s comeback fight against Belcher goes.
Pearson/Siver was a good fight. Dennis was in there, but Ross fought aggressively and smart.
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