After rashad vs Rampage we now know three things:

[OneManGang]

1. Rashad has a glass chin

2. Rampage would smash Rashad in a bar fight

3. Rashad is a hot candidate to win dancing with stars

[George Whorewell]

4. Neither fighter is in Shoguns class

5. There needs to be a rule change in the way fights are scored so that laying on someone and pressing them against the cage while making no efforts to finish the fight or mount any type of significant offense does not result in winning rounds

[WeightPSHR]

4. Neither fighter is in Shoguns class

5. There needs to be a rule change in the way fights are scored so that laying on someone and pressing them against the cage while making no efforts to finish the fight or mount any type of significant offense does not result in winning rounds

4. Agree

5. Totally disagree...although boring, it is a strategy showing control. It also wears down opponents, therefore it is offensive.

Just like LNP, it is boring, and is only allowed for so long before a ref intervenes.

[George Whorewell]

Yeah but at the same time, there has to be a limit placed on this stuff. Pride used to issue yellow cards where a fighter could have half of his purse pulled for not being agressive+ doing lay and pray. Also, lay and pray only works if you successfully execute a submission. If you just lay there and get pounded on, the other guy is going to finish the fight or score points by staying in your guard and dropping bombs. The same thing that was done in PRIDE needs to be brought to the UFC. Fights will be more exciting, PPV events will be worth watching again and being a one dimensional pussy wont enable you to eek out decisions against superior fighters.

[WeightPSHR]

Yeah but at the same time, there has to be a limit placed on this stuff. Pride used to issue yellow cards where a fighter could have half of his purse pulled for not being agressive+ doing lay and pray. Also, lay and pray only works if you successfully execute a submission. If you just lay there and get pounded on, the other guy is going to finish the fight or score points by staying in your guard and dropping bombs. The same thing that was done in PRIDE needs to be brought to the UFC. Fights will be more exciting, PPV events will be worth watching again and being a one dimensional pussy wont enable you to eek out decisions against superior fighters.

The strategy of pushing a fighter against the fence is nothing new. We are just seeing guys that are better at it. Randy has really used this a lot lately to deal with faster, stronger fighters.

The sport is evolving and guys are finding ways to win. Plain and simple. If you are a true fan of the sport you will realize that the sport is all about displaying technique and talent. The refs always have their way of helping to limit a snoozefest, but all in all, it is part of the sport.  If you do more then offer fight category bonuses, it takes away from the RAW aspect and almost directs the way a fight should go. Not a fan of this. Much why PRIDE was often suspect in how 'real' it was or how some people thought that fights were fixed.

[George Whorewell]

Yeah, but Randy would try to use that strategy to finish guys, not to dry hump them until the bell sounded.

PRIDE forced these guys to actually fight and gave the fighters motivation to do so.

I dont think that it takes any real talent to hold somebody down and do nothing, or push them against the cage and do nothing. All it means is that your a good wrestler who is afraid of throwing punches and is probably incapable of submitting anyone.

Wrestling in MMA should be means to an end, not an end in itself.

A simple rule change, or doing what was done in PRIDE will correct this annoying trend once and for all.

[CARTEL]

How is leaning on a guy up against the cage ring control?

To me, we might as well have racked up some points for Rampage than for take down avoidance during that time.

It's boring as hell.

[OneManGang]

Making the octagon smaller would also take away the advantage of the "ballroom dancers"

[coltrane]

1. Rashad has a glass chin

2. Rampage would smash Rashad in a bar fight

3. Rashad is a hot candidate to win dancing with stars

How does getting hit by one of the best strikers in the UFC and NOT being KO'd make you a "glass chin"?

Youre a moron.  I bet you picked Rampage over Evans too with the rest of the idiots on this board?!  Experts in vegas had Rashad winning this fight... as well as myself.  I was the only one who picked him..   Most, if not ALL on this board don't know jack shit about picking a good fight.

[*ChuteBoxe*]

How does getting hit by one of the best strikers in the UFC and NOT being KO'd make you a "glass chin"?

Wow, that's a little extreme right there breh.

[coltrane]

Wow, that's a little extreme right there breh.

Ahem, excuse me Ma'am, but


Weren't YOU the one who was all about Rampage kicking Rashads ass?  Please dude. 

[George Whorewell]

I think your taking this a little bit too far.

I predicted a Rampage KO ( which was 1 cenitmeter away from happening 3 times while Rashad was on his back) or a typically boring, uneventful Rashad type decision where he inflicts no damage on his opponent.

The latter occured.

And one of the best strikers in the UFC? He not even a top 3 striker at 205, let alone the entire UFC.

Rampage hit Rashad with barely a glancing blow and he went down. The rest of the fight Rashad didn't come close to standing with Rampage. We saw the same exact thing happen in the Thiago Silva fight and we saw him get Ko'd by Machida. He has a glass jaw period.

He's a great wrestler, a great athlete and has no chin, no submission skills and is an average striker at best.

 

[*ChuteBoxe*]

Ahem, excuse me Ma'am, but
Weren't YOU the one who was all about Rampage kicking Rashads ass?  Please dude. 

I wanted Rampage to kick Rashads ass and he didn't, now did I call Rampage the best striker in the UFC, no, I'm not that ignorant.

[coltrane]

I wanted Rampage to kick Rashads ass and he didn't, now did I call Rampage the best striker in the UFC, no, I'm not that ignorant.

Go back and reread my post bro.  I said Page was one of the best strikers.  Not THE best.

Read slowly.

[OneManGang]

How does getting hit by one of the best strikers in the UFC and NOT being KO'd make you a "glass chin"?

Youre a moron.  I bet you picked Rampage over Evans too with the rest of the idiots on this board?!  Experts in vegas had Rashad winning this fight... as well as myself.  I was the only one who picked him..   Most, if not ALL on this board don't know jack shit about picking a good fight.

You are the ignorant and idiot! The punches did not connect cleanly or "on the button" and still he went down from those glancing blows. A fighter with an ok chin would not even flinch. Anyway "your boy" will be exposed again. He is an athlete without a chin and not a fighter.

[coltrane]

You are the ignorant and idiot! The punches did not connect cleanly or "on the button" and still he went down from those glancing blows. A fighter with an ok chin would not even flinch. Anyway "your boy" will be exposed again. He is an athlete without a chin and not a fighter.

I must've hit a nerve with OneManGang. 

I thought the punches landed pretty well.  Not the best, but not light either.     

Youre statement of Rashad being "not a fighter" is the most ignorant and idiotic thing i've seen on this board.  At least the other guys on here don't make THAT dumb of a statement.  Go here http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Rashad-Evans-10200 and look at his record.  15-1.  He's gone the distance, and won by KO.  You're right though... he sucks and isn't a fighter.      MORON.   

[WeightPSHR]

You are the ignorant and idiot! The punches did not connect cleanly or "on the button" and still he went down from those glancing blows. A fighter with an ok chin would not even flinch. Anyway "your boy" will be exposed again. He is an athlete without a chin and not a fighter.

Hard to deny the performances that Rashad has had.  You are correct, Rashad in just an OK fighter, but he is a great athlete, trains hard, and most importantly, he always has a great game plan. This is a winning formula.

[coltrane]

A win is a win.  Period.

True MMA fans understand that.  Most fights don't end up in a KO or a tap out.  I'd say the majority go to a decision. 

Rashad not being a good fighter cause a lot of his fights go the distance is pure bullshit.  Listen to Rogan (who i see as a pretty good commentator and someone who understands the sport).  He'll be the first to say that it's crap when the ref stands them up and lets them go toe to toe again.  What about the ground game etc?  The dirty boxing along the wall?  It's ALL part of the fight.  Rashad has this all down and comes with a great game plan for his opponent.

[WeightPSHR]

A win is a win.  Period.

True MMA fans understand that.  Most fights don't end up in a KO or a tap out.  I'd say the majority go to a decision. 

Rashad not being a good fighter cause a lot of his fights go the distance is pure bullshit.  Listen to Rogan (who i see as a pretty good commentator and someone who understands the sport).  He'll be the first to say that it's crap when the ref stands them up and lets them go toe to toe again.  What about the ground game etc?  The dirty boxing along the wall?  It's ALL part of the fight.  Rashad has this all down and comes with a great game plan for his opponent.

Agree 100% with this. Look at most of the guys on top. They legally do what they have to do to win. If Rampage had a better game plan he would have been able to escape the pressure against the fence. All part of the game.

The sport is changing and some of these older and possibly more talented guys are getting beaten by the smarter fighters who have great game plans.
Franky Edgar is another one that comes to mind. Couture has been allowed to stay competitive because he has been smarter as well.

Real MMA fans can appreciate the technical aspects of this sport as well.  I will admit that Rashad/Rampage sport was rather dull in comparison to all the prefight talk, but Rashad was doing more then just pressing Rampage against the fence. If only it were that easy....