I hope Bellator is smart enough to stay away from Cowboy if he was to be released in the near future. He's well past his prime and brings nothing to the table at this point. Some of their signings have been good. Signings like Cyborg, Davis, Bader, Rory, Bendo and Anderson. Those Fighters were all still top 10 level. Cowboy is no where near that.
First things first - I think he is washed and he should retire. But I think it's more than just being old and shopworn. He had bad match-ups after bad match ups and vs. top flight competition. But his last fight shows something more - his style is kinda outdated in modern MMA.
So... why?
He's not a fleet of foot point fighter or in your face dutch stylist, his thing is striking geared against wrestling shots complimented with decent jitz off his back, if he gets taken down. Nowadays the base level of MMA striking (specially at 155!) is a lot better than even 5 years, let alone when Cowboy was in his prime. The wrestlers he chew up before, now can do it all. Maybe two-three years ago I would've said his style is outdated at the elite level, but the game has gone so far that now his style is outdated a level below that.
He is totally fucking up short and stocky wrestlers/grapplers who have loopy hands and stay at kicking distance with him (Iaquinta, Hernandez). But he gets flummoxed by rangier guys, or even people who throw just more of a straight shots (and feints) and are not crashing the distance predictably. His posture is too upright, upper body too stiff, feet stuck in the mud... He can't compete in boxing range, can't chase down mobile strikers and equally can't get away if he's pressured. Dedicated strikers fuck him up badly (Till, Masvidal), but even just more composed fighters who can pressure him relatively safely and are taking the iniciative just outpoints him. Examples are Ferg and the the dollar store Ferguson - Niko Price.
I'm sure some of you who are a lot better with the technique terms and have watched a lot more tape and maybe have practice can add more detail (which I would love to read), but in short this is my take - Cerrone mainly ran out of comfortable match-ups. There is hardly any Patrick Cotes or Rick Storys at WW anymore, and at LW are even less - you gotta look for guys outside the top 20...
Cheers!
You make lots of good points, but I think you're overlooking a BIG factor: he looked more sluggish than I've ever seen him during this last fight. By far. That's not his style, but speed. On the contrary, I think his style is STILL a great mma style: varried and crisp striking/muay thai with tight ground game/defense. But he was SO SLOW the other night, that of course it looks inefective. Bummer, because he was an exciting fighter. I don't know, I just don't see him beating any remotely top competition.First things first - I think he is washed and he should retire. But I think it's more than just being old and shopworn. He had bad match-ups after bad match ups and vs. top flight competition. But his last fight shows something more - his style is kinda outdated in modern MMA.
So... why?
He's not a fleet of foot point fighter or in your face dutch stylist, his thing is striking geared against wrestling shots complimented with decent jitz off his back, if he gets taken down. Nowadays the base level of MMA striking (specially at 155!) is a lot better than even 5 years, let alone when Cowboy was in his prime. The wrestlers he chew up before, now can do it all. Maybe two-three years ago I would've said his style is outdated at the elite level, but the game has gone so far that now his style is outdated a level below that.
He is totally fucking up short and stocky wrestlers/grapplers who have loopy hands and stay at kicking distance with him (Iaquinta, Hernandez). But he gets flummoxed by rangier guys, or even people who throw just more of a straight shots (and feints) and are not crashing the distance predictably. His posture is too upright, upper body too stiff, feet stuck in the mud... He can't compete in boxing range, can't chase down mobile strikers and equally can't get away if he's pressured. Dedicated strikers fuck him up badly (Till, Masvidal), but even just more composed fighters who can pressure him relatively safely and are taking the iniciative just outpoints him. Examples are Ferg and the the dollar store Ferguson - Niko Price.
I'm sure some of you who are a lot better with the technique terms and have watched a lot more tape and maybe have practice can add more detail (which I would love to read), but in short this is my take - Cerrone mainly ran out of comfortable match-ups. There is hardly any Patrick Cotes or Rick Storys at WW anymore, and at LW are even less - you gotta look for guys outside the top 20...
Cheers!
And this was @ 170 where he's supposed to be the lighter and quicker guy!
Sub off your back is quickly becomming a thing of the past. Unless you are 2nd degree black belt or some shit, modern fighters have seen this and can deal with a lot of guards pretty well. You are gonna just lose rounds being on your back.
