UFC on Fox 2

[SPX]

I think Okami could get him down.

Yes, I suppose I have more faith in Okami's TDs than Maia's.

[Ludo]

Bisping may be a slight favorite here but how long can he keep Maia from getting the takedown? Demian is pretty crafty at getting it to the ground if thats where he wants it. The problem for Maia here is he hasn't necessarily wanted to lately. He may have fallen in love with his hands to the point where he won't go back to his grappling even if he's losing.

[SPX]

I've honestly lost a bit of faith in Maia's TDs. I pretty much think taking Sonnen down was a fluke at this point. It's not that he doesn't work for takedowns . . . it's that he doesn't always get them. He struggled with Munoz . . . he even struggled with Grove.

[Ludo]

I've honestly lost a bit of faith in Maia's TDs. I pretty much think taking Sonnen down was a fluke at this point. It's not that he doesn't work for takedowns . . . it's that he doesn't always get them. He struggled with Munoz . . . he even struggled with Grove.

Well his takedown wasn't really a takedown in the wrestling sense. As I remember Maia pulled a drag takedown on Sonnen. He had Sonnen in the clinch with Chaels back against the fence and he dragged backward and turned to land in mount.

[SPX]

Well his takedown wasn't really a takedown in the wrestling sense. As I remember Maia pulled a drag takedown on Sonnen. He had Sonnen in the clinch with Chaels back against the fence and he dragged backward and turned to land in mount.

Well it wasn't a double-leg, if that's what you mean. But it was still a takedown.

[SPX]

[SPX]

I'll also post this, from the same event. . .

Better days for Dan Hardy:

[Ludo]

Well it wasn't a double-leg, if that's what you mean. But it was still a takedown.

That is what I meant. If he had gone for a double leg Chael probably would have stopped it or ended up on top. Maia threw something Sonnen never expected and thats probably got a bit to do with why it worked.

[SPX]

Could be. Though that was a pretty Greco-esque move minus what looks like some leg action.

Maybe it was a lesson for Sonnen, because with the way he's been performing lately, I just can't see him falling into that trap again.

[Ludo]

I'll also post this, from the same event. . .

Better days for Dan Hardy:

Hardy's only UFC finish...

[Ludo]

Could be. Though that was a pretty Greco-esque move minus what looks like some leg action.

Maybe it was a lesson for Sonnen, because with the way he's been performing lately, I just can't see him falling into that trap again.

Oh absolutely not. I doubt that kind of maneuver ever works on Sonnen again. I do think Maia is still all wrong with Sonnen, though if they fought right now Chael might elect to stand and trade, he definitely has more power in his strikes.

[SPX]

Hardy's only UFC finish...

War Hardy. Fuck the haters.

[SPX]

Oh absolutely not. I doubt that kind of maneuver ever works on Sonnen again. I do think Maia is still all wrong with Sonnen, though if they fought right now Chael might elect to stand and trade, he definitely has more power in his strikes.

Chael's standup is underrated, I think. Though it's hard to get too much info considering all his fights only stay on the feet for about .08 seconds.

[Ludo]

Chael's standup is underrated, I think. Though it's hard to get too much info considering all his fights only stay on the feet for about .08 seconds.

Well while he obvious strength is wrestling I think if he's forced to stand he's more than capable, and he's strong enough that if he connects it could hurt anyone. He did drop Anderson after all. I try not to put too much stock into that since I'm pretty sure nobody, including Anderson, thought Chael would even throw a punch. But the fact is he hit Silva hard enough to drop him.

[MMA_scientist]

Maia has gotten the takedown in every fight he has had except Silva and Marquart (I firmly believe he would get Marq down though and rape him in a rematch). It is also worth noting that Maia has faced a lot of guys from a wrestling base in the UFC (Herman, Miller, Munoz, Sonnen, Miranda). If Mayhem can get Bisping down, Maia can IMO (don't forget that Mayhem fought much of his career at WW and Bisping at LHW). Maia by submission. Also, Bisping won't be able to put him away standing either, and may get beat there too. All in on Maia.