Hopefully we will get to see Perreira vs Izzy and while I think Izzy will have come along from that last fight esp as in relates to MMA, does any other MW pose a threat to him?
I think the old guard of Weidman’s era along with Jacare and maybe even Rockhold may have been tougher fights for him aside from Whittaker. Romero did what he does - dangerous in spurts and when he did try to wrestle, couldn’t hold Izzy down and doesn’t have much of a ground game anyhow.
Stylistically, I think Weidman may have been Izzy’s nightmare matchup. Not as tall as Izzy but 6’2” compared to 6’4” and I think may also not have had as long reach but had like 76-78” reach and also had a very good control fo range from striking to tds (see the Machida fight …yes Machida is diff from Izzy).
Also had good cardio, good chin (in his prime), very good mma wrestler and also had a good ground game.
Jacare and Rockhold would prob finish Izzy on the ground but their tds were not as good as Weidmans, esp Rockhold.
The irony is that Weidman was one of the loudest anti-PED advocates ….however I’m not at all convinced that’s what his decline was. At any rate, Weidman was a rangy wrestling machine with good striking to transition into it. That’s a tough fight for Izzy. No one in his era has the same frame and skills.
Weidmans problem he was too big for 185 and too small for 205. When he was on his he gear it helped with that huge cut. Once he got off the gear he faded away
