Puntsized - Agree 100% about lack of striking defense. I was super impressed at how he dominated, but it was Nam Phan, don't forget.
He will be a good fighter, but he seems to lack power and athleticism. His skills will surely improve, but I don't see him ever being more than a fighter that will trounce lesser competition, yet get bullied against the true athletic submission/wrestling types.
Throw him to the sharks, Sean Sherk would be a stiff test to gauge where he's truly at.
Lacked power and athleticism?!? You did watch the fight correct??? The kid was constantly pressuring, looking for subs, ground n pound, working a tie up, judo throwing constant for 3 rounds straight, that takes incredible power and athleticism.
IMO, next generation fighters will be the ones who have elite level skills in both striking and grappling and who have trained in both since they were kids. Hettes looked great, but I'm not sure if he qualifies.
I got pwned in my pool with this kid/man. The people that knew him even said him by sub. I thought they were nuts and first round I'm watching him nearly get it several times. I hope he takes his time/ufc lets him. He was winging wide punches at aforementioned, got to stop that. I get the Evan Dunham feeling. He's going to be good, but it's going to be a little time. Dunham got the Sherk test and well, I and a lot of us, though he passed.
Awesome fight, seems like a good dude to. Needs to be handled properly and we could see the next big thing eventually. Handled wrong and we could cut a legend down before it even sprouts
I was sitting right where the fighters enter at UFC on Versus 5 in Milwaukee in August, and after Hettes beat bruce leroy he walked into the crowd and sat with like 6 of his buddies for the remainder of the fights. The kid truly is a fan right now that happens to be a nasty fighter, can't wait to see him make a run for the title
Nam is no chump. He was robbed twice in the UFC already (3x if you count TUF).
Sherk is a FW now ?
Puntsized - Agree 100% about lack of striking defense. I was super impressed at how he dominated, but it was Nam Phan, don't forget.<br><br>He will be a good fighter, but he seems to lack power and athleticism. His skills will surely improve, but I don't see him ever being more than a fighter that will trounce lesser competition, yet get bullied against the true athletic submission/wrestling types. <br><br>Throw him to the sharks, Sean Sherk would be a stiff test to gauge where he's truly at. <img src="/images/phone/apple.png" alt="Phone Post" border="0" style="vertical-align:middle;"/>
Puntsized - Agree 100% about lack of striking defense. I was super impressed at how he dominated, but it was Nam Phan, don't forget.<br><br>He will be a good fighter, but he seems to lack power and athleticism. His skills will surely improve, but I don't see him ever being more than a fighter that will trounce lesser competition, yet get bullied against the true athletic submission/wrestling types. <br><br>Throw him to the sharks, Sean Sherk would be a stiff test to gauge where he's truly at. <img src="/images/phone/apple.png" alt="Phone Post" border="0" style="vertical-align:middle;"/>