Shogun vs Hendo

[VictorCharlie]

I thought the Hendo/Shogun fight was a push odds wise. Other than Hendo's cardio it played it out like I thought. Shogun's aggression was solidly countered by Dan's power. In regards to Dan vs Jones I just don't think Dan is versatile enough or athletic enough to win. Shogun has good striking but its not particularly technical which with Dan's chin and power was countered well. Jones does a particularly good jab at mixing his striking and wrestling to keep his opponent off balance. While Dan is a decorated wrestler he doesn't use it very well offensively or as TD defense. Shields took him down at will and Shogun had success as well. I don't see Dan being able to dictate where and how a fight with Jones happens. His durability and power combined with Jone's flashy striking will provide some opportunities to test the champs beard but I think Jones wins a wide UD or late stoppage. If I were Dan I'd get with Randy and train hard on dirty boxing. His best chance will be to keep Jones against the fence and rough him up on the way to an ugly win. That is a tough task though.

[Kev]

I thought the Hendo/Shogun fight was a push odds wise. Other than Hendo's cardio it played it out like I thought. Shogun's aggression was solidly countered by Dan's power. In regards to Dan vs Jones I just don't think Dan is versatile enough or athletic enough to win. Shogun has good striking but its not particularly technical which with Dan's chin and power was countered well. Jones does a particularly good jab at mixing his striking and wrestling to keep his opponent off balance. While Dan is a decorated wrestler he doesn't use it very well offensively or as TD defense. Shields took him down at will and Shogun had success as well. I don't see Dan being able to dictate where and how a fight with Jones happens. His durability and power combined with Jone's flashy striking will provide some opportunities to test the champs beard but I think Jones wins a wide UD or late stoppage. If I were Dan I'd get with Randy and train hard on dirty boxing. His best chance will be to keep Jones against the fence and rough him up on the way to an ugly win. That is a tough task though.

I have no doubt if he landed on Jones he could finish him. I don't see a young kid like Jones standing up Hendo's proven power. So I give a punchers chance. But Jones is so long limbed he can attack from several yards away, it's like a US aircraft carrier shelling an island out of reach of the nation's defences. I just see it going almost exactly the way the fight with Jones and Rampage did, Hendo being beaten on the outside and then choked out in the championship rounds.

For me, the 205 division has been the weakest in terms of the man at the top for a while. Great strength in depth, lots of very good fighters, nobody great. At welter you have St Pierre, middle Silva, heavyweight Cain and Dos Santos. Light heavy for me didn't have a truly great fighter until Jones came along all the top guys were capable of beating each other, which is why even Forrest Griffin got a belt, and why nobody kept it for more than one or two defences.

Hendo, Machida, Rampage, Rashad, Griffin, Rua etc are all very similar talentwise. There is less seperating any of them, than the gap between them all and Jones. I don't give any of them a shot at upsetting him, other than through some freakish event, shock one punch KO in the first round, DQ, injury etc.