Back in 2004 when Kimbo-mania first started running wild, the question was raised "just how good is he?" Naturally, that translated to "how would he do in MMA?" It's a very Pro's vs. Joe's concept, and a lot of people have gotten vicarious kicks from it.
But really, the question has been answered. There is absolutely nothing left to prove. Kimbo can win some fights against second tier MMA competition (being very generous there), but will never progress as a fighter and will probably never prove as exciting as he was when he was cracking orbital bones and letting people take free shots at him.
Huge kudos to ATT for getting him as prepared as they have, but the guy has reached his glass ceiling, so how about we move on?
He proved that street level striking can be as good or better than the striking of Tier 1 MMA fighters (not necessarily tier 1 strikers but maybe that too). Houston's striking has proven itself against solid fighters and Kimbo's striking (punching) was right up there with Houston's, if not better.
How fast should a decent athlete be able to catch on to a basic ground game (back control with hooks, choke, etc.). Kimbo (and Houston) still seemed like a fish out of water when he hit the mat.
I expected both to be decent on the mat by now - and they weren't. I've seen freshmen HS kids get a good wrestling foundation in one season. Aptitude plays a big part and both guys don't seem to have it.
Until someone proves Kimbo wrong with their hands, his hands are legit. Who will be the first to stand in the pocket and bang with him?
Monsters Ball - I think Kimbo is still improving but he will always be B/C level.I was willing to take one for the team in order that the UG can return to talking about something else.
His best bet would be to try and drop to LHW.
"so how about we move on?"
Nobody is making you create Kimbo threads like you just did.
I am looking forward to seeing Kimbo in more UFC fights but have pretty much accepted that his best work will always be his YouTube backyard fights.
greco yeoman - Until someone proves Kimbo wrong with their hands, his hands are legit. Who will be the first to stand in the pocket and bang with him?I think the list is longer than you might realize. Are you asking which not-that-highly-ranked fighters would stand in the pocket? Or just which fighters in general? If its the latter then I would put Liddell high on the list. The guy favors punching about 5:1 over kicks and almost never uses his ground game for anything but defense.
greco yeoman - He proved that street level striking can be as good or better than the striking of Tier 1 MMA fighters (not necessarily tier 1 strikers but maybe that too). Houston's striking has proven itself against solid fighters and Kimbo's striking (punching) was right up there with Houston's, if not better.
He did O.K against a 3rd rate 205lb-er. I'm not sure he could even compete against a third rate heavyweight.
There would be PLENTY of heavyweights who would take Kimbo's presence as an afront and salivate at the opportunity for beating him at his own game just to prove a point. And they'd do it of their own accord, without some dirt bag promoter offering them money to keep it standing.
Start naming these heavyweights with great hands, PLEASE
I'm somewhat impressed that he at least knew what he was supposed to be doing on the ground (getting mount, getting the hooks in, trying for the RNC) He'll never be a factor in any weight class, but at least he is trying to improve. How many fighters get beat by the same shit repeatedly or never improve a glaring weakness? Kimbo is too far behind the curve to factor in a division, but I give him some credit for attempting to round out his game.
Now he needs to figure out how to check a leg kick and apply a RNC. He could have ended that fight had he known how to do either, but thats to be expected for a dude that has so little background in this style of fighting.
I find it hard to believe, with all the months of training at his disposal, that he couldn't perform a choke. That's why I questioned his aptitude for mat work.
kimbo didnt prove shit. houston looked like he got paid to lose. not saying that he did, but that's what it looked like.
he still has exactly zero good wins on his record
greco yeoman - Start naming these heavyweights with great hands, PLEASE
exaclty...
also if i may add -- other than maybe (and i say it VERY lightly ) brett rogers who is going to stand and bang with kimbo straight up from start to finish...? i dont see any in hwt. he would could hang with the ufc hwt guys if it was standing... (see him vs roy nelson) nelson was about to get dropped trying to trade blows with kimbo and got lit up a couple times before going for a takedown
lhw wise i only see liddell , rampage, and rashad most likely to keep it standing and trading blows all the way
greco yeoman - Start naming these heavyweights with great hands, PLEASEKongo, Buentello, Cro Cop, Vera, Nogueira, Barry, Hardonk.... I'm getting hand cramps here. Need I continue?
^
LOL, don't forget Junior Dos Santos or Yvel.
greco yeoman - Until someone proves Kimbo wrong with their hands, his hands are legit. Who will be the first to stand in the pocket and bang with him?
Seth Petruzelli
I agree with pretty much everything slo ko posted, except I would add: Never Say Never.
The probabilites are highly on the side of your argument, but you never know. Crazier things have happened. Not sure I can name one, but surely they have.
^^ both correct, OP is correct, Kimbo is a good guy and had a nice story, but really thats all there is to it, the guys too old and doesn't have the background (i.e. elite wrestling , JJ, striking, etc) to fall back on. Oh and that's not the right usage of the term "glass ceiling"
Zamiel - OP should learn what glass ceiling means.whoops. lol
guess that sort of changes the entire meaning of this thread.