jessica had the much quicker hands and was lighting her up in the first
Jessica Eye disappointed my yesterday. Since her (overturned) win over Sarah Kaufman, I felt Eye was a legitimate potential challenger to Ronda Rousey's throne. Eye's boxing has been crisp for years. Not only accumulation, but power behind her shots. The loss to Alexis Davis is somewhat debatable.
Miesha beat Jessica with experience. Eye was destroying Tate with effective counter-punching, until Miesha landed the stiff jab and big overhand right in the latter portion of Round 1, which changed the entire complexion of the fight. Tate displayed improved striking, and was far more well-rounded in her MMA game than Eye. Miesha won most of the exchanges in the clinch and dominated Eye at every turn on the mat, although Jessica showed adequate submission defense.
Beyond the lack of a ground game from Jessica Eye, I saw weaknesses in her stand-up as well. She keeps her chin out instead of tucked, presenting a stationary and easy target. Her camp in Cleveland need to emphasize better defense and head movement in the future. Also, Jessica doesn't throw enough kicks for my liking.
Miesha gonna get her arm ripped off by Honda again.
Highlights the need for a Ronda vs. Cyborg bout even more.
FOTY written all over it. Ferguson is a pretty relentless pressure fighter in the stand-up, and Barboza has the fastest switch kick in the game by far. "El Cucuy" is a brown belt in BJJ, and Barboza is no slouch with his grappling either.
Johnson, with a win over Dariush, arguably has a case for a title shot or at least a #1 contender eliminator
I actually expect Dariush to tap Michael Johnson. Johnson is vulnerable to the sub and Dariush is a top-notch grappler at 155. Plus Beneil has showed improved striking under Cordeiro, much like RDA and Werdum.
Bethe's chin is beyond sturdy doe
I saw Bethe light up Jessamyn Duke live in Baltimore, but she hasn't really fought sturdy competition. Correia certainly has nothing for Ronda on the mat. Rousey's taking her 0.
if Dodson wants to move up he has a chance with his power and quickness and he has beaten tj
Since Benavidez 1, Dodson is the only 125'er to come close to dethroning "Mighty Mouse." Had him stunned and almost out twice in their fight, actually rook 2 rounds off D.J. Where Dodson got killed was with Johnson's Muay Thai clinch. "Mighty Mouse" wrecked Dodson with knees and elbows.
Im obv not a regular or afficinado but these two are probably 2 of the top 5 most skilled fighters in the sport imo.
"Mighty Mouse" is likely the fastest overall fighter in the sport, and one of the most technically gifted.
Besides Dodson, who else is at 125. They're scraping bottom of the barrel.
TJs hands and foot work are insane.
Henry Cejudo is probably two fights away from seriously challenging D.J. Elite wrestling and his boxing is improving daily.
Another future 125'er I love as a title contender is Ray Borg. Also has great wrestling to go with a variety of submission attempts.
Cody Garbrandt got next for Team Alpha Male. I've been privately hyping him to
@DeadsetAce prior to the Brimage victory. Fast, powerful hands to go with a solid wrestling base. He's going to challenge for the bantamweight title one day, and sooner than later.