jimufctna24 Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 I gave this one a miss. Boxing gave me my combat sport fix.  What happened with Barao? In the space of 2 years, he's gone from P4P king and potential all time great, to his career being on the rocks at age 29. Stephens had lost 3 out of his last 4, so he was not meeting anyone on a hot streak. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members ColinBollocks Posted May 31, 2016 Paid Members Share Posted May 31, 2016 No longer eating his Pop Eye Dinner? Â SPECULATION SPECULATION SPECULATION!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TildeGuy~! Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 I gave this one a miss. Boxing gave me my combat sport fix. Â What happened with Barao? In the space of 2 years, he's gone from P4P king and potential all time great, to his career being on the rocks at age 29. Stephens had lost 3 out of his last 4, so he was not meeting anyone on a hot streak. Struggles to make the weight at Bantamweight and is too small for featherweight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members wandshogun09 Posted May 31, 2016 Author Paid Members Share Posted May 31, 2016 You have to think he's had his confidence rocked as well, with the two losses, and especially the manner of the losses to Dillashaw. He was soundly beaten twice by TJ, and stopped twice. The stoppage in the second fight was brutal as well. He was knocked out on his feet and the ref was slow stopping it so he took a few extra smacks there. Â In a way, Barao is in a similar boat to Anthony Pettis. Both former champions, both were considered among the pound-for-pound best not too long ago, now they're both floundering. They both still have those undeniable skills in there somewhere but it seems like a couple of bad losses have seen them both mentally unravel. Â With Barao it might also be a case that his power hasn't carried up to 145 with him. He's still adjusting to fighting against bigger guys. This was his first fight at 145 and Stephens was a powerful 155er so it wasn't ever going to be easy. We'll see how he looks next time, I just hope he doesn't see this loss as him needing to go back to cutting to 135 again. All those shitty weight cuts might've taken something out of him long term as well for all we know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Bifkin Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 Barao did alright in the first round but once he got caught he never recovered. It reminded me of Conor against Diaz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members wandshogun09 Posted May 31, 2016 Author Paid Members Share Posted May 31, 2016 Yeah, for Barao it was probably a combination of him taking a lot of punishment in the Dillashaw fights possibly wearing on him/effecting his punch resistance, plus the fact he was in there with a bigger opponent than he's used to. And Stephens is one of the heaviest handed 145ers in the UFC. Â Sadly, as big a fan of Barao as I am, I think we've seen his peak already. I still think he'll win fights and can beat a lot of guys but I'm not convinced he'll ever fully get back to the beast he was from 2011-2014 especially. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members Chunk Posted June 1, 2016 Paid Members Share Posted June 1, 2016 Â I gave this one a miss. Boxing gave me my combat sport fix. Â What happened with Barao? In the space of 2 years, he's gone from P4P king and potential all time great, to his career being on the rocks at age 29. Stephens had lost 3 out of his last 4, so he was not meeting anyone on a hot streak. Struggles to make the weight at Bantamweight and is too small for featherweight. Â Â Look exactly like that to me. That and what Wand says about power not carrying up to 145. Â He landed a few shots but never hurt Stephens. On the other hand, whenever Stephens landed something half decent, Barao looked in big trouble. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members Carbomb Posted June 1, 2016 Paid Members Share Posted June 1, 2016 It's a very odd thing - I would've thought moving up in weight would give a fighter moar powar owing to the extra weight that would be behind his punches (assuming he punches from his legs and not his shoulders), especially when you consider that quite a number of fighters seem to lose power moving down in weight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members lambyUK Posted June 1, 2016 Paid Members Share Posted June 1, 2016 It's a very odd thing - I would've thought moving up in weight would give a fighter moar powar owing to the extra weight that would be behind his punches (assuming he punches from his legs and not his shoulders), especially when you consider that quite a number of fighters seem to lose power moving down in weight.  He may have had more power compared to when he fought at 135. I think this was more of a case of he's fighting bigger guys who can take more punishment. Stephens in particular used to be a lightweight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members Carbomb Posted June 1, 2016 Paid Members Share Posted June 1, 2016 It's depressing - I feel like I'm a bit of a jinx. The moment I declare someone as one of my favourites, they take a dive in form. Â Hmmmm..... Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â TEAM JON JONES 4 LYF Â Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Posted June 3, 2016 Share Posted June 3, 2016 No love for Kid Lightning?!?!? Â Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members wandshogun09 Posted June 3, 2016 Author Paid Members Share Posted June 3, 2016 No. Â He's already getting Miesha Tate's love. What more does the prick want? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Posted June 3, 2016 Share Posted June 3, 2016 I have to admit, seeing Sterling come in with all the hype, the haircut and the gold chain only to get handled was one of the highlights of the show for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Bifkin Posted June 3, 2016 Share Posted June 3, 2016 I didn't see that fight - how did it go? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Posted June 3, 2016 Share Posted June 3, 2016 I didn't see that fight - how did it go? Â Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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