Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Cyborg - Jan 29th

[poopoo333]

UFC welterweight champion Georges Saint-Pierre has already been to London twice to train with Roger Gracie, who is getting ready for his fourth MMA bout this coming weekend.

As reported by Jack Encarnação on Sherdog.com, GSP (21w, 2l) was stopping through London in 2010 when he figured he would stop by Roger’s academy to test himself.

“I got my ass kicked pretty bad,” he said, deciding to stay on awhile an train some with Roger for his last fight, his second unanimous decision win over Josh Koscheck.

In 2011, the Canadian returned to help Roger (3w, 0l) train for his Strikeforce fight against Trevor Prangley.

“Roger is really good at taking the fight where he wants it – to the ground. He’s much better than people think. He’s not just a Jiu-Jitsu guy. Roger is a true MMA fighter,” said GSP in praise.

Besides wrestling with GSP in London, Roger also sharpened up his boxing skills with local trainer Clay O’Shea and got pointers from undefeated veteran Joe Calzaghe.

[MMA_scientist]

From what I heard/read I had the thought in my head that Roger just dominated Randleman in the fight (I had never seen the fight before because thats when I was in Vegas so I was just going off what I had read) When I actually saw the fight I wasnt as impressed as I thought I was going to be . Roger's striking is a little worse than I expected and I was expecting to see him takedown Randleman and submit him and he didnt take him down it was a knee that put him to the floor.If he had taken Randleman down and submitted him there wouldnt be much doubt he could do the same to Prangley. I still expect Roger to win and he may do so easily but I'd rather just sit and watch .I'm trying to be more picky about what I bet

I think Roger was more in control in that fight than we think. After Roger starting tagging him, Randleman tried to take him down, and Roger stuffed it. You could see a definite difference when Roger starting pouring it on. Why did he stuff a takedown? He likes to be on top yes, but a sweep would have been easier. I think he is just cautious and was waiting to find a hole to exploit. That is how he is... he finds a hole and then kills you. If you watch his grappling matches, he is a genius on the mat, and I don't mean it in hyperbole. The fight match will look somewhat even, then he finds a hole, and then next thing you see is Roger in mount choking a guy. I think he is just extremely cerebral about his approach to grappling and MMA. But a lot of his grappling matches look the same way... he doesn't look like he is dominating, then he starts crushing.

But I totally admit that Roger is my hero. So that could be clouding me quite a bit.

[Mr. IWS]

This Jacarae/Lawler fight reminds me of the Lawler/Shields fight except..........

Jacarae has better JJ, standup, and is a bigger fighter then Shields was. Seems to me more and more, that Jacarae is the play here.

[Luke]

I think Roger was more in control in that fight than we think. After Roger starting tagging him, Randleman tried to take him down, and Roger stuffed it. You could see a definite difference when Roger starting pouring it on. Why did he stuff a takedown? He likes to be on top yes, but a sweep would have been easier. I think he is just cautious and was waiting to find a hole to exploit. That is how he is... he finds a hole and then kills you. If you watch his grappling matches, he is a genius on the mat, and I don't mean it in hyperbole. The fight match will look somewhat even, then he finds a hole, and then next thing you see is Roger in mount choking a guy. I think he is just extremely cerebral about his approach to grappling and MMA. But a lot of his grappling matches look the same way... he doesn't look like he is dominating, then he starts crushing.

But I totally admit that Roger is my hero. So that could be clouding me quite a bit.

You're probably right , Gracie will probably win easily I'm just chicken

[edman5555]

This Jacarae/Lawler fight reminds me of the Lawler/Shields fight except..........

Jacarae has better JJ, standup, and is a bigger fighter then Shields was. Seems to me more and more, that Jacarae is the play here.

I agree.

[MMA_scientist]

I agree.

That is what I thought too. My concern is that Shields probably does have better takedowns than Jacare (or at least he is more persistent), and he was unable to get Lawler down. He had to jump guard into a guillotine. Jacare's servicable standup makes him more likely to use it. Shields is 100% committed to the takedown. If Jacare gets stuffed a few times, he will probably just say screw it and bang it out.

[edman5555]

You really think so? Jacare seemed like he had good takedowns in the fights that I have seen him in. I should probably watch more tape. He is also a lot bigger and stronger than Jake. He seems pretty brutish also.

[MMA_scientist]

He is a much higher level athlete than Shields, he is faster and more powerful... but he got stuffed on several takedowns against Kennedy. He also could not get Mayhem to the ground in their second fight (which Shields did quite easily). Shields knows his only way to win the fight is by takedown, and he never gives up on it. When Jacare has gotten stuffed in the past, he just starts striking. The good news is that he may very well win the striking. But I just think Lawler could very possibly force a standup fight and win it. I hope not, and Jacare should obviously be favored though.

[edman5555]

I just read the play by play for the souza kennedy fight and it was very close first of all. Second, I don't think Souza took many shots, though he did get stuffed when he did.

[MMA_scientist]

^ that's what I am saying. He WILLINGLY stood the whole fight when he couldn't get the takedown. I am concerned he will do the same thing with Lawler.

[edman5555]

just read the play by play for Souza/Villsaenor. He took Villa down a lot in that fight, almost constantly. He seems to be using a lot of ground and pound also.

[MMA_scientist]

yeah, he did use his takedowns more in that fight, but then again he was successful with it almost every time. My concern is that if he does not find sucess with the takedown, he is just going to say fuck it, and start trading hands.

It is a big stink for nothing though, because even if Lawler catches him, he will have to knock him out cold, because if he goes down to finish, Jacare is going to reverse him quick and probably end it. Jacare is going to win, over 5 rounds, he will find a way to get it done. Just telling you why I am not betting it.

[edman5555]

pbp for Souza vs Mayhem 1 has Jacare taking him down multiple times.

[edman5555]

Their second fight only went 2 minutes.

[edman5555]

yeah, he did use his takedowns more in that fight, but then again he was successful with it almost every time. My concern is that if he does not find sucess with the takedown, he is just going to say fuck it, and start trading hands.

It is a big stink for nothing though, because even if Lawler catches him, he will have to knock him out cold, because if he goes down to finish, Jacare is going to reverse him quick and probably end it. Jacare is going to win, over 5 rounds, he will find a way to get it done. Just telling you why I am not betting it.

Heh ok. "Jacare is going to win" "I am not betting it" . Something does not add up here. I get it though, Lawler has heavy hands and good takedown defense.