Truth About Almeida

So there's a lot of criticism about Almeida's performance last night. While I agree it wasn't his best performance, remember this . . . he had YET to win two fights in a row in the UFC. Every time he won a decision, and people began to talk about him as a possible contender, he lost his next bout. I imagine that was somewhere in the back of his mind.

I expect this win to do a lot for his mental (which has been his biggest opponent to success in the UFC, IMO). I expect a more confident, agressive Almeida in his next match (closer to the Almeida that dominated in Japan).

He will never be a contender in the UFC. Doesn't have all the tools.

OriginalTUFer - He'll tap GSP.


LOL. That is a good joke.

The truth? Almeida earned the win -- I had him by decision before the fight and it went about how I expected.

By all accounts a great guy and definitely a good fighter -- never heard anything but good things about his academy too... but he's just nowhere near contention now. I used to think he'd get the fire going and maybe even give Silva some problems down the road, but no way.

He was great in 2004 but I honestly think we old fans and jiu-jitsu folks tend to overrate him a little.

TH

Hugh Jorgan - He will never be a contender in the UFC. Doesn't have all the tools.

Your quote, mixed with the length of time you've been on this Forum, gives me the impression you haven't seen Almeida's best.

In terms of striking, watch Round 3 of his match with Cote. In terms of takedowns, re-read all of the posts over the last couple weeks about how stellar Grove's takedown defense is. I'll skip talking about submissions, for obvious reasons. The only real issue is his cardio, which I believe has been affected by nerves. My point is that I believe this win over Grove will put Almeida over a huge speed bump in his UFC record to date.

I did like the way he faked a shot to throw the right hand. He also faked a torreando pass to land a right nicely.

But then he almost got caught in an armbar too.

TH

I don't really think he "almost got caught in an armbar" either. I give Grove a LOT of credit, because I've never seen anyone get even THAT close to sinking an armbar on Almeida in MMA. However, I remember seeing Ricardo escaping armbar attempts like that back in 1998, when I visited Renzo's academy for the first time (three academies ago, when he shared the floor with a kung fu class). I don't think Grove was actually anywhere close to finishing.

170 is the right move for him. He looked tiny next to Kendall.

 wonder how his arm feels

I don't think Grove was actually anywhere close to finishing.


Last night at the press conference, Almeida said that Grove pretty much had it locked, but he adjusted his grip on Ricardo's wrist and he was able to get out. He also was unable to straighten his arm at the press conference.

tjmitch - 170 is the right move for him. He looked tiny next to Kendall.


 I agree.  i think he needs to go down in weight.

So why does Renzo corner Almeida but never Serra??? Serra would of done so much better in his career if he listened to and stayed with Renzo.

Mark Hunter - I don't really think he "almost got caught in an armbar" either. I give Grove a LOT of credit, because I've never seen anyone get even THAT close to sinking an armbar on Almeida in MMA. However, I remember seeing Ricardo escaping armbar attempts like that back in 1998, when I visited Renzo's academy for the first time (three academies ago, when he shared the floor with a kung fu class). I don't think Grove was actually anywhere close to finishing.


Yes he was. Almeida said so himself in the postfight presser. He said he thought there was no way out. Kendall made a mistake trying to adjust his wrist and that gave him an opening to escape.

I was really hoping that Kendall finished that armbar...talk about an upset!

people keep ragging on Almeida's cardio, but there was never a moment where he wasn't expending energy, did anyone count his number of takedowns? and if the bell didn't ring in the 3rd he would have had another one.

Also, he basically walks around at 185 and on top of that Kendall is as big as it gets at 185, and he basically carried him around the cage.

At 170 his cardio will be even better, and he'll actually have size advantage.

Almeida is just in the UFC at the wrong time. The modern rules are against him. A fighter works hard for 3 minutes for a takedown and then the other fighter only has to survive a minute or so to the bell or 30 seconds or so for a standup. Go back to the old rules of 15 minute rounds or no rounds and no standups and ground fighters will again dominate.

Big Dog was awesome, great wrestling and escape.

The fight was very boring though.

The night of the human blankets...

I wanna see Big Dog at 170. His striking looked crisp last night and obviously he has great wrestling and ground game. Drop down to 170 and fight someone like Kos.

GAME-DOG - So why does Renzo corner Almeida but never Serra??? Serra would of done so much better in his career if he listened to and stayed with Renzo.


I think it's a Brasilian thing.