"Fedor just too dominant, too good at punching people in the face."

HaikuPat · 11-10-2006, 04:47 AM

Brandon Vera: "No, I don't think Fedor is as well rounded as Barnett he's just too dominant, too good at punching people in the face. The way he punches people man he's trying to kill people, with both hands. He's in a whole different class by himself."

I know Fedor worship threads are made every 5 minutes... so here is another one. Vera mentioned something people don't really give Fedor too much credit for: his striking. Not only that, but suggests it's his strongest and most effective weapon (above GnP or subs) and I agree.

Fedor has IMO fought the best strikers in both K1 and MMA and been dominant every time. He has an unorthadox but explosive style - faster and more accurate hands than anyone gives him credit for. No question his strongest characteristic is how smart he fights, but for someone who has out struck CroCop and Schilt, you'd think his striking would be brought up more if not for the fact he doesn't really KO people, usually just TKO's like his beatdown of Big Daddy.

Sure he didn't stand and bang with Schilt... but he proved much faster than he was. Schilt tried to keep distance and use knees to keep Fedor at bay and he slipped right past them and threw him to the ground. And sure CroCop wasn't the best striker in K1, but I think it's reasonable to consider him one of the best strikers of all time in any combat sport. You can argue who won the standing portion of that fight, Fedor did get his nose broken, but Fedor matched, outstruck, dodged and tagged CC with low kicks and that hilarious high kick right after CC's LHK. People say CroCop needs to be more confident in his striking to beat him like he was against Wand, but if you watch his fight against Fedor it wasn't because he was counterstriking and not pushing the fight unconfidently - it was because Fedor was stalking CroCop every second, each time CroCop missed a punch or got in range Fedor was swinging for the fences.

And just because Vera said this too in that MMANEWS interview, when asked about a fight against Tim Sylvia who despite all the hate still gets love as a MMA striker:

Brandon Vera: For the first round I think it's boring. Tim would just be jabbing him around. Jabbing, jabbing, jabbing and moving around. And then second round I think Fedor would just figure it out and start scoring to the body heavy [starts laughing] and then just start swinging to the head after that. I don't see Tim, I just don't see Tim beating Fedor. He's not, I don't wanna say he quits, because he's structurally sound. But Tim's game plan, the way he fights - I don't think it'd work against Fedor.

...

Luis Cruz: I think Fedor's speed is extremely, I don't know how to tell you...

Brandon Vera: ...Yeah, I tell you [about Tim's jabbing] Fedor would get fed up with it and just f***ing punch Tim in his elbow while he's throwing a jab, and break his arm again.

Luis Cruz: I just think looking at him [Fedor], you can't tell how fast he really is.

Brandon Vera: Exactly, because he's a fat little pudgey dude. It's a bad stereotype.

Luis Cruz: That's what Tim said about him [laughing]

Brandon Vera: Yeah, I mean that's what he's like until he punches you in the stomach and busts your spleen open.

When people define MMA striking, I would bet most think of Wand, CC, Liddell etc mainly just people who get a lot of KO's... I'm not saying Fedor would do well in K1 or Boxing, but he has fought the best strikers that have stepped into a MMA ring and for his part beat them at their own game.

p^2 · 11-10-2006, 04:57 AM

The first true champion of MMA

reddirt · 11-10-2006, 05:00 AM

Interesting. Fedor is by far the best fighter in the business. He seems pretty damn good at everything....including striking.

nok_u_out · 11-10-2006, 05:02 AM

Gr8 dude, thanks

MethadoneMan · 11-10-2006, 05:10 AM

Great interview.

crazysoccerblad · 11-10-2006, 05:17 AM

Ya, thanks for that. I'd pay to see Fedor in a boxing match. Unorthodox, but definitely exciting.

Liesje · 11-10-2006, 05:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazysoccerblad

Ya, thanks for that. I'd pay to see Fedor in a boxing match. Unorthodox, but definitely exciting.

i would pay too, but i wouldn't expect him to fair well. his standup is entirely dependent on the threat of his takedowns and submissions, which forces his opponents to be cautious and they frequently neglect the power and accuracy of his punches.

but i think vera was referring to his ground and pound more than his stand up - he has the best ground striking in the history of mma obviously.

Hanoi Rox · 11-10-2006, 05:26 AM

Oh good, another hug Fedor's nuts thread. As pure striker he's not that good. The reason he has "outstruck" strikers is because they are scared of getting taken down and he isn't. Plain an simple. Other and Zuluzhino, has he ever KO'd anyone on his feet? I guess it's because he wins that everyone tries to exhault him to the rank of god.

waa · 11-10-2006, 05:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HaikuPat

No, I don't think Fedor is as well rounded as Barnett he's just too dominant, too good at punching people in the face. The way he punches people man he's trying to kill people, with both hands. He's in a whole different class by himself.

so true its like accurately swinging for the fence

macspeed09 · 11-10-2006, 05:38 AM

I don't know why people say Fedor's stand up is questionable because he did not stand-up with schilt. That's stupid. Taht is why Fedor is still and will remain champion because he does not fight his opponents gameplan. Unlike Couture and Babalu who abandoned their gameplan just to prove that they can bang....and look what happened to them now.