I have 10 units on GDR, don't see any reason she isn't a significant favorite unless it's expected that Holm is gonna win it on the ground (which I don't think she will). Imo, she's better at everything and has an advantage at every range. She has a sharper kicking game on the outside, a better clinch game, and better footwork/punch selection/head movement in the pocket. Holm is only really effective on the outside with pot-shots and shifting rushes into kicks. As much as she's been billed as a boxer, she can't actually box at all. She also has no jab while GDR has a decent one.
GDR should be fine dealing with Holm's one-off kicks on the outside, and I don't see her backing away from the shifting rushes like Holm needs to put her punch-kick combos together. In boxing range, Holm is pretty terrible. She has no head movement or footwork in the pocket, throws everything extremely heavy on the lead foot so there's little power in her punches, her head comes in straight up, and it takes her forever to recover. GDR has a habit of overextending on her straight, but Holm does that too, and GDR can actually change levels/pivot/move her head in the pocket, and generally do things other than running away in panic which Holm can't. Whenever Holm finds herself in the pocket, she uselessly flicks out her jab and runs backwards, killing her stance and leaving her open on the exit. She has no close-range punches and all her strikes are designed for long range (straight, long, whipping check hook, shifting straight blitzes). GDR can hang there and also throws a nice overhand/uppercut in close. Holm's lead-foot-heavy pot shots and shifting rushes make sure she spends a lot of time in the pocket where she's weak.
Holm isn't comfortable counterpunching unless opponents charge her face-first like Rousey, so I don't see that being a viable route here.
All in all, I don't think Holm is very good at striking and am fading her hard against good strikers. I think her best route is taking it to the ground, but I've only ever seen body lock takedowns (the one against Ronda) out of her and I think GDR's double collar tie game will make that difficult for her. I don't have any confidence in her to be able to shoot, or to do much on top if she does get it down.
Who exactly has GDR beat for you guys to be so confident in her lol? She's 6-3 and her best win is who, Kedzie? I think Holms' experience in championship fights pays off here.
Who exactly has GDR beat for you guys to be so confident in her lol? She's 6-3 and her best win is who, Kedzie? I think Holms' experience in championship fights pays off here.
Great discussion and info on Holm/GDR. How is GDR's cardio? She has never gone 5 in MMA and I have not seen her kickboxing footage. Holm could have an advantage in the championship rounds as she has shown no cardio issues going 5 with Tate or Shev.
I will probably play Silva ITD if the line is juicy. Excuse the expression, but Brunson went full retard vs Whittaker and Silva is still dangerous and has always been accurate with his counters.
Think so too, very doubtful he wants to risk looking like his last fight. He just got drunk on getting fast ko's and going all out. I understand why he approached it that way, it's a huge ego booster, quick payday and it gets people talking, and who knows, he might have lost one of those previous fights instead of getting 4 consecutive first round ko's. But there was a point where he was probably going to pay for it.I actually think Brunson will be much more conservative this time around and will look for takedowns.
Great discussion and info on Holm/GDR. How is GDR's cardio? She has never gone 5 in MMA and I have not seen her kickboxing footage. Holm could have an advantage in the championship rounds as she has shown no cardio issues going 5 with Tate or Shev.
I will probably play Silva ITD if the line is juicy. Excuse the expression, but Brunson went full retard vs Whittaker and Silva is still dangerous and has always been accurate with his counters.
Think so too, very doubtful he wants to risk looking like his last fight. He just got drunk on getting fast ko's and going all out. I understand why he approached it that way, it's a huge ego booster, quick payday and it gets people talking, and who knows, he might have lost one of those previous fights instead of getting 4 consecutive first round ko's. But there was a point where he was probably going to pay for it.
That would be smart, but its also assumptive. Hoping during fight week interviews Brunson gives a little insight in to how he plans on fighting. If hes going all out again, ill gladly play SilvaI actually think Brunson will be much more conservative this time around and will look for takedowns.