It's Time for Amir Sadollah to Take Things up a Notch in the UFC

by Jonathan Snowden on Mar 28, 2011 1:00 PM EDT in UFC Analysis

Amir Sadollah, it seems, is turning the corner. The likable winner of the seventh season of The Ultimate Fighter has always had the public relations side of the fight game under control. Now, almost three years into his professional career, his game is finally catching up to his fame.

On Saturday night, Sadollah won his fifth fight in the UFC Octagon, dismantling DeMarques Johnson, the season nine runner up who had won three of four in the UFC since losing by submission to James Wilks in the Utimate Fighter finale. And it's not just the win that has Sadollah fans excited - it's the way he won. Luke Thomas had the call for SBNation.com:

Hard knee to the body partially folds Johnson and now Sadollah is working on top on the floor in Johnson's half guard. Hard shots on top now from Sadollah and Johnson is struggling to stay alive in this round. Very hard knees to the body from Sadollah, but Johnson manages to stand. Authoratative outside trip from Sadollah leads to mount and now Sadollah is just crushing him. The referee stops the fight.

The second round dominance came only after losing the first round definitively on two judges' score cards. Nothing new there for a fighter who has gone to decision in four straight fights going into Saturday's stoppage. In the second round, Sadollah is typically just getting warmed up.

"I just felt a little better in the second round, more fluid. I'm kind of a notorious late starter as it is," Sadollah told UFC.com. While Johnson was a late replacement for Wilks, who in turn was a late replacement for original opponent Duane Ludwig, Sadollah says he didn't game plan for Johnson to fade as the fight went on. "I didn't go into this fight expecting him to be out of shape. Because I had no idea what he had been doing. He could have come into this fight in the best shape of his life. That's what we do- train. I couldn't assume he was going to gas. It was a fight that I thought if I put the pressure on, things would open up."

What's next for Sadollah is a step up in competition. At 30, time is a wasting. He's not a prospect who can be brought along slowly - when you start your pro career at 27, things need to move at an exaggerated pace. If Sadollah is going to make it to the top, there can't be anymore DeMarques Johnson's or Phil Baroni's. I know the Brit has already called out Chris Lytle, but a bout with Dan Hardy would be perfect to see where Sadollah stands in a crowded welterweight division.

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Comments

He’s already been given that step up in competition though, and he lost to Dong Hyun Kim. It seems like they know he’s somewhat limited and they’re trying to protect him a bit.

Still a Beer Monster.

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by Tim Burke on Mar 28, 2011 1:06 PM EDT reply actions

That was Amir’s fifth career fight. I don’t see how he can be given shit after finished a UFC fighter with a plus-.500 record.

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by Derek Suboticki on Mar 28, 2011 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah

His two losses are to some stiff competition.

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by Neil Manich on Mar 28, 2011 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Who’s giving him shit? I’m saying he’s been given a strong opponent and lost already, so his ceiling is somewhat established. He’s not young.

Still a Beer Monster.

http://www.instrength.com

by Tim Burke on Mar 28, 2011 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions

He can't beat a guy with great top control like Kim

Nate Diaz would be a good fight though. His ceiling hasn’t been entirely pegged down I think.

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by Neil Manich on Mar 28, 2011 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Right, Nate Diaz might work. But lets be real here, the top of the division is full of wrestlers. I don’t think I’m going off the reservation by saying he’ll never be a top-flight guy at 170, nor is that being disrespecful. It’s just the truth. He’s a prospect they’ve invested a bunch of time into, so they’re giving him winnable fights. Let’s not forget DaMarques wasn’t even supposed to be in this fight – it was supposed to be against 20-11 Duane Ludwig.

Still a Beer Monster.

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by Tim Burke on Mar 28, 2011 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Ludwig is a very, very good fighter.

by Derek Suboticki on Mar 28, 2011 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

You’re just saying that because he’s from Denver. We all know he’s a one-dimensional fighter.

Still a Beer Monster.

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by Tim Burke on Mar 28, 2011 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions

He beat Pulver and Sudo when it meant something, Goulet, Fryklund, Yves Edwards. Jacare’s a one dimensional fighter, Maia, Lesnar… one can be very, very good without being great.

by Derek Suboticki on Mar 28, 2011 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Wouldn't bring up that Sudo fight.

Bit of controversy surrounding that one.

"[UFC]’s a great rush, eh? It makes your sphincter get real tight." - Harold Howard

by lowellthehammer on Mar 28, 2011 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Educate me

by Derek Suboticki on Mar 28, 2011 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Too many options here...

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by Richard Wade on Mar 28, 2011 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions 6 recs

I LOL’d.

Still a Beer Monster.

http://www.instrength.com

by Tim Burke on Mar 28, 2011 5:06 PM EDT up reply actions

classic

The only good bug is a dead bug!

Head Kick Legend

by Anthony Pace on Mar 28, 2011 5:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Split rounds going into the third

Fight gets stopped to check a cut on Ludwig, instead of restarting the fight with Duane on the bottom like he was when Big John stopped the fight it’s restarted on the feet. Duane edges the decision.

"[UFC]’s a great rush, eh? It makes your sphincter get real tight." - Harold Howard

by lowellthehammer on Mar 28, 2011 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions

So you’re saying he was a good fighter 8 years ago.

Still a Beer Monster.

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by Tim Burke on Mar 28, 2011 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m saying that your list of “good fighters” is way, way too short.

by Derek Suboticki on Mar 28, 2011 5:51 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m saying he’s a third-tier guy at 170 in the UFC. The UFC wouldn’t be matching him up with Amir if they saw a ton of upward mobility in Amir’s near future. They wanted a slugfest that looked good on TV. That’s it.

Still a Beer Monster.

http://www.instrength.com

by Tim Burke on Mar 28, 2011 6:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Ok

You have to be a pretty good Goddamn fighter to have a job at 170 in the UFC.

by Derek Suboticki on Mar 28, 2011 7:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks, tips.

Still a Beer Monster.

http://www.instrength.com

by Tim Burke on Mar 28, 2011 11:05 PM EDT up reply actions

is it fair to him for the UFC to just give him winnable fights if he wants the step up in competition?

or is this just a case of the UFC getting a return on a TUF winner?

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by F'n Clownshoes on Mar 28, 2011 4:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Heh

I haven’t seen it mentioned, but the way Amir trapped Johnson’s arm around his head from mount is EXACTLY what Kim did to Sadollah in their fight.

by ihateemo on Mar 28, 2011 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions

I'd get behind that

except Hardy is on a 3 fight skid and Amir is on a 2 fight winning streak. Jake Ellenberger, Mike Pierce, Chris Lytle, and Nate Diaz would all be fun fights. I wouldn’t be against seeing him fight John Hathaway either.

"If I wanted to spend a half hour between two hairy legs I'd go to your mother's house." -Don Frye

by mburtoni on Mar 28, 2011 1:10 PM EDT reply actions

Ellenberger/Pierce would be mismatches.

If you’re looking to build Sadollah up with some proven commodities the rest aren’t bad though.

"[UFC]’s a great rush, eh? It makes your sphincter get real tight." - Harold Howard

by lowellthehammer on Mar 28, 2011 1:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Diaz vs. Sadollah

Sounds like a fight on the playground. Diaz the bully sends one too many in Amir’s direction and we get to see a different side of him.

by H8ff0000 on Mar 28, 2011 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions

I’d like to see him against Hardy or Swick. I think most wrestlers would end up grounding him out.

If you can't wow them with brilliance, then baffle them with bullshit.

by DayGeaux on Mar 28, 2011 1:10 PM EDT reply actions

Is Mike Swick still alive?

CroCop vs BigNog, under the Strikeforce banner, in Alabama! #buhbye

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by SteveevaD on Mar 28, 2011 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, he’s just had some esophagus issue that has held him out for a while.

Still a Beer Monster.

http://www.instrength.com

by Tim Burke on Mar 28, 2011 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions

swick is good idea. would be pretty competitive, especially considering his long layoff.

by woooburn on Mar 28, 2011 1:20 PM EDT up reply actions

I like the Swick idea a lot.

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by Neil Manich on Mar 28, 2011 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions

I think it’d be a pretty good gauge to see where Amir is at. After Swick I’d give him a wrestler and see if he can put a wrestler away.

If you can't wow them with brilliance, then baffle them with bullshit.

by DayGeaux on Mar 28, 2011 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions

How about Sadollah vs. John Hathaway

Or maybe Amir vs. the winner of Alves / Story

CroCop vs BigNog, under the Strikeforce banner, in Alabama! #buhbye

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by SteveevaD on Mar 28, 2011 1:11 PM EDT reply actions

That seems like a bit

too much of a step up.

by Mandmeisterx on Mar 28, 2011 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Hathaway might be good, but either Story or Alves would run through Sadollah…

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by The American Ronin on Mar 28, 2011 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions

I like Sadollah vs. Hathaway a lot.

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Bloody Elbow // "Everybody underestimates the kick in the groin." - Bas Rutten

by Richard Wade on Mar 28, 2011 4:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Amir looked awesome Saturday

Hes been looking better and better every fight but I felt as if he was turning the corner as well.

If you wanna throw down in fisticuffs, fine! I've got Jack Johnson and Tom O'Leary waitin' for ya...right here!

by ODBasyoucansee on Mar 28, 2011 1:11 PM EDT reply actions

He looked great in this fight, but let’s not dismiss his competition here… DeMarques Johnson is a borderline UFC fighter that was fighting on very short notice as indicated by his very limited gas tank.

With that said, I’m a big Amir fan, and was very happy to see him get a great finish. A decent step up in competition is in order, and I wouldn’t be opposed to him facing Dan Hardy, but that might be a tad too much for him. How about Hathaway? Or maybe the winner of Nate Diaz and Rory McDonald?

by Shnak on Mar 28, 2011 1:12 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Styles being what they are, I'd wonder if Hardy might actually be the easier bout.

by Brent Ducharme on Mar 28, 2011 1:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Amir looked very good in this fight. With his streak that he has, he has proven that he can beat the lower-tier of the UFC Welterweight Division. He definitely needs a step up in competition, but with his losses to Hendricks (quick stoppage) and Kim, I personally don’t feel that he should go that far up in competition. Someone like Diaz, McDonald, Foster, Lytle, Ebersole, etc would work in my opinion.

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by chrisbboy82 on Mar 28, 2011 1:18 PM EDT reply actions

Yep, agreed. Those guys you listed would all be fun fights. I wouldn’t be opposed to see him tested against Hardy, though. I think he’s got good enough striking technique to make it a good fight on the feet, and if Hardy’s getting the better of him, Amir can take it down and work for submissions.

by Shnak on Mar 28, 2011 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Love Amir

Anyone who can have a job as serious as being a cagefighter and still not take themselves serious gets a rec from me.

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by Medium Nog on Mar 28, 2011 1:21 PM EDT reply actions 13 recs

Warning sign of being on BE too much.

Anyone who can have a job as serious as being a cagefighter and still not take themselves serious gets a rec from me.

When you start handing out recs in your day to day life.

"[UFC]’s a great rush, eh? It makes your sphincter get real tight." - Harold Howard

by lowellthehammer on Mar 28, 2011 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions 7 recs

Good eye.

Medium Nog, you wild!

by Brent Ducharme on Mar 28, 2011 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions

It's great to use after sex

Baby, that’s a rec.

by Derek Suboticki on Mar 28, 2011 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions

If any girl I slept with knew what that was

I would have to leave her.

"Run and tweet THAT, homeboy."

by TheFilt on Mar 28, 2011 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Leave her? You mean marry her.

by Ether Bunny on Mar 28, 2011 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions

I think some of the guys here treat BE as their man cave. I’d burn down villages to meet an attractive woman that knew something about MMA.

by Derek Suboticki on Mar 28, 2011 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions

I think that's what it is

My girl knows more about MMA than anyone I know, but if she was here blogging about it…..

Its almost like the Clayton Bigsby skit when he leaves he wife because she’s with a black man.

"Run and tweet THAT, homeboy."

by TheFilt on Mar 28, 2011 5:29 PM EDT up reply actions

I’ve done that….it’s an ineffective strategy.
More effective was accompanying a posse of [straight] female friends to a “gay” bar that was overflowing with tattooed [straight] college girls that were almost all MMA fans. This strategy works every time….

by saabstorey on Mar 29, 2011 10:16 AM EDT up reply actions

HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA that NEVER gets old.

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Is our Blood not Poison?
On my knees in the black light
Praying for Salvation, bitter Redemption
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But your children will not...

by ProfessorBLove on Mar 28, 2011 5:48 PM EDT up reply actions

hey snowden

who’s next for rumble?

i’m thinking condit, maybe? or maybe a WW winner from 129 (diaz, macdonald, ninja or patrick).

i know rumble lost to koschek recently, but if GSP is not going to move up to 185, then I think he should get in the fast lane to a title shot.

by Clifford J on Mar 28, 2011 1:31 PM EDT reply actions

I want to see Rumble’s newfound liking for wrestling tested. Let’s see him against Ellenberger or Dong Hyun Kim. What about Matt Hughes (if he can be bothered enough to fight again)?

by Shnak on Mar 28, 2011 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions

good suggestions

hughes seems a little cruel at this point. he’s indicated he wants to stay on the senior circuit and he’s certainly earned it if that’s what he wants.

by Clifford J on Mar 28, 2011 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions

that was my first thought

what did Matt do to you, buddeh?

If you wanna throw down in fisticuffs, fine! I've got Jack Johnson and Tom O'Leary waitin' for ya...right here!

by ODBasyoucansee on Mar 28, 2011 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Well, he can’t do much worse against Rumble than he did against Penn, can he?

by Shnak on Mar 28, 2011 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Rumble surely hits harder than Penn.

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by James Brady on Mar 28, 2011 5:17 PM EDT up reply actions

So, Hughes would get more knocked out than he was by Penn? I doubt there are levels of being knocked out…

by Shnak on Mar 28, 2011 8:50 PM EDT up reply actions

not sure what he’s done to earn a path to a title shot. that was his first win since some time in 2009

by POW on Mar 28, 2011 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions

i just mean

he is someone who, physically, you can see how he could threaten gsp and there aren’t many credible threats left at ww. if he wins a couple more (ellengerger and kim are quality opponents) then i think he should get early consideration.

by Clifford J on Mar 28, 2011 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions

If Shields loses to GSP, that’ll make two bodyguards to protect GSP’s throne, Fitch and Shields. Anyone that wants to get to a WW title shot will have to go through one of those two guys first, and I honestly don’t see how Rumble wins against either of those.

by Shnak on Mar 28, 2011 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

You dont see a way Rumble could beat Shields? Not saying it would happen, but that certainly isnt out of the realm of possibility.

by Hutchy on Mar 28, 2011 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions

What does Rumble have that Hendo doesn’t?

by Shnak on Mar 28, 2011 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions

At this point in their careers? The ability to not take his foot off the gas in the 2nd round. Hendo dominated that first round before gassing out, IF hypothetically Rumble didnt gas, theres no reason he couldnt pull the upset.

by Hutchy on Mar 28, 2011 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions

I don’t know about that. I’ve never seen Rumble do the amount of damage to anyone that compares to what Hendo did to Shields in that first round alone. Shields is one tough guy, I doubt he gets KO’ed or TKO’ed by anyone at WW.

by Shnak on Mar 28, 2011 8:52 PM EDT up reply actions

this is an excellent way to put it. Rec’d

by saabstorey on Mar 29, 2011 8:46 PM EDT up reply actions

OK I’ll buy it. I wouldn’t put it past the UFC to push this guy through, but like Shnak says, Rumble probably doesn’t beat either of those guys, so the stars would really have to align just right.

by POW on Mar 28, 2011 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions

This kind of talk was around

when Johnson was beating up on the Kevin Burns and Yoshiyuki Yoshidas of the world and it made no sense then either. I see no way Rumble beats GSP. At all.

That being said he’s an exciting (most the time) and talented guy and fights with Kim/Ellenberger would be fun to watch. But don’t get your hopes up that he’s going to become anything more than an upper/mid tier kind of guy.

"[UFC]’s a great rush, eh? It makes your sphincter get real tight." - Harold Howard

by lowellthehammer on Mar 28, 2011 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions

this guy doesnt have another gear to shift in to

its just not there, he is what he is, and thats all that he is

like popeye, but not

Jonny Bench called.

by Sterling Archer on Mar 28, 2011 1:52 PM EDT reply actions

Gotta love Baboo Baby

by nitecastle on Mar 28, 2011 2:15 PM EDT reply actions

Whoa...

there’s a reference lost on most.

by POW on Mar 28, 2011 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions

john hathaways a solid next fight

amir’s a solid fighter, but hes never gonna be elite or top 10 especially in the crowded ww division

wrestlers like pierce, ellenberger, story, hendricks, and pyle would crush him

if he does get a top 10 opponent though, kampmann would be a solid matchup since he’d stand and bang with him

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by milk72 on Mar 28, 2011 2:17 PM EDT reply actions

I know this will never happen now but I'd love to see Amir vs Condit

I’ll happily settle for Hathaway, Lytle, Hardy or Paulo Thiago.

by F'n Clownshoes on Mar 28, 2011 3:07 PM EDT reply actions

I thought it was kind of silly how Rogan and Goldie kept calling Amir’s Muay Thai “very technical”. I mean come on, he’s not THAT good. Am I missing something here? It looks very pedestrian to me. Certainly not bad, but far from high level. His sloppy leg kicks fest versus Sobotta sure didn’t do much for me.

by Horselover Fat on Mar 28, 2011 3:13 PM EDT reply actions

He may have decent fundamentals, but it’s severely lacking in speed, power, and finesse IMO. Thoughts?

by Horselover Fat on Mar 28, 2011 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions

his fundamentals seem to improve every fight...

his sloppy leg kicks dictated the fight against Sobotta. pedestrian? really? i don’t know what gym/dojo you train in but his striking in general was much, much better than ordinary, average or undistinguished.

by F'n Clownshoes on Mar 28, 2011 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions

You could be right, maybe I’m too hard on him here. To be fair I can’t really recall any other of his fights, and I just remember the Sobotta one being somewhat of a snoozer.

by Horselover Fat on Mar 28, 2011 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Walla walla walla everybody sucks nobody’s ever impressed.

by Derek Suboticki on Mar 28, 2011 3:18 PM EDT reply actions

Seriously, theres noting wrong with being a solid fighter. I mean, the guy HAS won fights, its not like hes 0-10. Hes a solid fighter who probably is vulnerable to wrestlers. So what? You just described half the UFC roster.

by Hutchy on Mar 28, 2011 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions

I think Sadollah would destroy Zaromskis. I’d like to see that fight.

by Derek Suboticki on Mar 28, 2011 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Sadollah needs to fight Hardy

by UFC Champ 420 on Mar 28, 2011 3:56 PM EDT reply actions

I said this here a few days ago. Clearly Snowden got it from me :)

by H8ff0000 on Mar 28, 2011 4:20 PM EDT reply actions

haha yeah I said it as soon as Hardy lost

by UFC Champ 420 on Mar 28, 2011 5:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Amir vs. Hardy is perfect. Amir needs a name, and Hardy needs a win. If Dan can’t beat Amir, then he’s just not going anywhere. He’s not a kid either. I’ll be pulling for Amir though. Dan had his once in a lifetime shot, and he was in no way up to it. I’d love to see Amir work his way into the top ten.

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by Kwisatz Haderach on Mar 28, 2011 6:02 PM EDT reply actions

Amir vs Condit would be great

that would be a great step up for Amir

by elmojo on Mar 29, 2011 12:05 AM EDT reply actions

And quite a step down for Condit… Condit needs a better fight than that to further his career. He needs to fight a top-10 guy, if not a top-5 guy. Someone like a Sanchez, Alves, Thiago?, Ellenberger, Kim. Someone of that caliber. Anything less and he’s backpedalling and getting away from a title shot.

by Shnak on Mar 29, 2011 6:54 AM EDT up reply actions