I always thought Shogun had decent hands by MMA standards. There really is a massive gap between MMA striking and professional boxing.
His boxing has always been basically brawling. His chin was good enough he could make it work but if you watch his fights against Nog and Hendo he gets beat pretty bad in the boxing department. His kicks and knees and clinch have always been pretty good though.
Honestly, I know everyone always talks about his striking but it's his ground game where he is best at.
As long as he is just going there to sharpen his hands and not letting these guys mess with his game too much it will be a good thing. Some guys in the past have let these boxing coaches fuck with their stance and try make them boxers. Its still mma.
Agreed, but Shogun has been doing Muay Thai since he was a kid, it'd take a long time and a lot of work to get him to abandon his MT stance.
Yeah Shogun has one of the most traditional MT stances in MMA. He even exaggerates the steps
U guys need to understand by Freddie's standards if you depend more on kicks or don't punch anywhere close to a pro boxer you have NO HANDS...at all...not even a tiny bit...Ok?
I'd take prime Shogun as a pick'em against any LHW ever, maybe any fighter ever... especially if it's Pride rules in a ring.
His injuries will probably keep him from ever regaining that form, but Shogun is still a very dangerous guy if he can stay healthy enough to get in shape.
I know all about his surgeries. I wasnt aware he had issues since his last one. His knee will clearly never be the same, but the fact that hes in rehab for it proves that its something more serious than that.
Zanzoken - I'd take prime Shogun as a pick'em against any LHW ever, maybe any fighter ever... especially if it's Pride rules in a ring.
His injuries will probably keep him from ever regaining that form, but Shogun is still a very dangerous guy if he can stay healthy enough to get in shape.
Not sure how accurate Roach's statements are but if he can keep his knee healthy enough and come in with better striking skills and conditioning then he'll be able to compete with anyone at LHW besides Jones and Gus. Conditioning is one of his two his biggest weaknesses so that alone would be a big help. I still think his wrestling needs a lot more work too.
Sad seeing MMA faggots act like they know more about punching technique than Freddie Roach. It's very obvious Shogun can't punch right. The punch he KO'd Machida with was timed well but was pretty damn atrocious. He knows what the hell he's talking about.
Tank Abbot knocked people out too, does that mean he has good hands?
Deaf Forever - Sad seeing MMA faggots act like they know more about punching technique than Freddie Roach. It's very obvious Shogun can't punch right. The punch he KO'd Machida with was timed well but was pretty damn atrocious. He knows what the hell he's talking about.
Tank Abbot knocked people out too, does that mean he has good hands?
What I ment was, the term "throw a punch correctly" is subjective. That is one person's opinion of how to throw a punch correctly. Lots of people punch lots of different ways. Lots of trainers differ in what they consider "the correct way to throw a punch". Rafael Cordeiro obviously didn't think shogun was throwing them wrong, pretty sure he and Rudimar Fedrigo taught Shogun how to punch, and I trust at least one of those guys knows what they're doing.
Chimp Strength - Thiaguy is current his in a bush outside Freddie's place waiting for the right moment to pounce. How dare you say such things about Shogun Freddie??? You will pay!!!
I have a friend that trains at wildcard and he was telling me that some MMA guy was working with Freddie and his hands were horrible. Upon further inspection it turned out to be Shogun and I told him he is a pretty big deal in the MMA world.
Something I've noticed about some "traditional" approaches, is that the traditional approach (in Muay Thai in particular) has this emphasis on personal fortitude and courage, a willingness to stand toe to toe, that ultimate victory is when your the "will" of another man, with your own. To humble another through conviction alone is the pinnacle of mastery (ill stop..too high to be talking/typing philosophy...itll be lost)...there is an odd beauty to it..
In THAT approach..ala Wanderlei/Stann/Akiyama/Diaz/Rua
Defense is taught as striking first, effectively countering your opponents strike with a strike of your own...forward forward. DEFENSE as a descrete concept within certain martial philosophies in simply NOT permitted....because defense implies "wilting"...it is seen as a LACK of offense..you are using energy to "protect" not "defeat opponent"...
You know what I mean? Some guys are taught to ALWAYS go for the kill....go until you stop him or he stops you...screw defense...throw yourself at him until one of you breaks.
There is no "defense" in that philosophy/style/approach....
But DAMN...when you have two people who embrace THAT spirit...it is something to behold..and neither leaves "beaten" (Lauzon v Miller, Grice v Bermudez ....recently)
My point is...Rua's only real defensive posture/maneuver has been a rudimentary "forearm shell" defense...on the ground he is either being hit or going for a half guard sweep or knee bar/leg lock from the bottom...and on top he's advancing for mount w GnP period.
Rua fights like a destroyer...and he's never developed (understandably given his philosophy..he's CHOSEN/been taught NOT to) a tactically or strategically sound defensive strategy that STILL incorporates offense. As soon as am opponent finds a way to nullify Rua's offense, Rua has no more tools...because he doesn't play to counter...or bait in the "savy boxer" sense...he's a will vs will kinda fighter.
At which point the opponent can start picking and choosing their shots, and grinding him down...by choosing to SELECTIVELY ENGAGE...Rua NEVER "selectively" engages...hes always trying to engage.
