BoxRec

danamba7 wrote:Anyone seen the CM Punk documentary? Seen the first 2 episodes and though it was an OK watch but as a beginner he was absolutely shocking. He genuinely couldn't even through punches properly. The injury might have been the best thing that could've happened to him because it's given him more time to improve. I'd still be surprised if he beats Gall who actually looks quite good.

I'm genuinely worried about CM Punk. This is such a huge stage to be debuting on. After seeing Gall fight, I'm not giving Punk much of a chance. But, I just hope he doesn't get completely embarrassed.

Phil Brooks (CM Punk) 0-0 with no MMA experience is in the UFC.

His practice partner, Ben Askren, was passed over by the UFC when his contract was up in Bellator.

zojo, wrote:Phil Brooks (CM Punk) 0-0 with no MMA experience is in the UFC.

His practice partner, Ben Askren, was passed over by the UFC when his contract was up in Bellator.

Yeah it's definitely not fair but from a business stand point you can see why UFC are investing in him because the returns could be great.

When I first heard about it I thought Punk would already be decent in at least someway (I know nothing about WWE and didn't realize Brooks was a bit of a geek growing up). Then after watching the documentary I'm starting to think it was a mistake. Unless he's improved drastically since that was filmed, he just doesn't seem to have the knack for fighting.

I was shocked how bad he was. I thought he must have been able to fight a little for them to sign him but no, he can't. He's shit at wrestling too. I see him getting smashed to pieces.

Impractical Poster wrote:

p4p1 wrote:

lefty wrote:Regarding Askren- it would be interesting to know how he'd approach a fight with Maia. His entire game really is to take you down and then control you from thr top pretty much. I don't think that strategy would be smart against the present Maia. Shields managed it but I think Maia has improved since then.

Wonder if Ben would try and keep it on the feet. If so, god that would be one ugly fight lol. Both of them are dire on that front.

Have you seen Maia vs Fitch?

Maia gave Fitch a bit of his own treatment.

Best part about that fight and maybe the best thing to happen in the UFC ever was when Fitch tried to complain about Maia stalling

Tomasino wrote:I was shocked how bad he was. I thought he must have been able to fight a little for them to sign him but no, he can't. He's poo at wrestling too. I see him getting smashed to pieces.

The UFC doesn't care they can get people to tune in for his Debut win or lose. They don't need a long term plan with everyone and at 35 they wouldn't have one. Just an easy way to make a quick buck.

Respect to the guy though he's throwing it all out there for everyone too see and not taking an easier way out.

zojo, wrote:Phil Brooks (CM Punk) 0-0 with no MMA experience is in the UFC.

His practice partner, Ben Askren, was passed over by the UFC when his contract was up in Bellator.

That's not due to his talent level though. It's because he doesn't have a crowd pleasing style combined with the fact he likes to talk shit to Dana and other people. He'd be serious threat to every top welterweight in the UFC. He absolutely schooled Bellators current champion. .

p4p1 wrote:

lefty wrote:Regarding Askren- it would be interesting to know how he'd approach a fight with Maia. His entire game really is to take you down and then control you from thr top pretty much. I don't think that strategy would be smart against the present Maia. Shields managed it but I think Maia has improved since then.

Wonder if Ben would try and keep it on the feet. If so, god that would be one ugly fight lol. Both of them are dire on that front.

Have you seen Maia vs Fitch?

I don't think I have actually!

p4p1 wrote:

Impractical Poster wrote:

p4p1 wrote: Have you seen Maia vs Fitch?

Maia gave Fitch a bit of his own treatment.

Best part about that fight and maybe the best thing to happen in the UFC ever was when Fitch tried to complain about Maia stalling

I missed that. That's awesome!

lefty wrote:

zojo, wrote:Phil Brooks (CM Punk) 0-0 with no MMA experience is in the UFC.

His practice partner, Ben Askren, was passed over by the UFC when his contract was up in Bellator.

That's not due to his talent level though. It's because he doesn't have a crowd pleasing style combined with the fact he likes to talk poo to Dana and other people. He'd be serious threat to every top welterweight in the UFC. He absolutely schooled Bellators current champion. .

I agree. He would most likely become a champion. And his style isn't for the massive casual type fans that tune into the UFC a lot of the time.

Khabib/Askrin could make for an interesting fight though. Even though they fight a weight class apart, they probably walk around at about the same weight.

Impractical Poster wrote:

lefty wrote:

zojo, wrote:Phil Brooks (CM Punk) 0-0 with no MMA experience is in the UFC.

His practice partner, Ben Askren, was passed over by the UFC when his contract was up in Bellator.

That's not due to his talent level though. It's because he doesn't have a crowd pleasing style combined with the fact he likes to talk poo to Dana and other people. He'd be serious threat to every top welterweight in the UFC. He absolutely schooled Bellators current champion. .

I agree. He would most likely become a champion. And his style isn't for the massive casual type fans that tune into the UFC a lot of the time.

Khabib/Askrin could make for an interesting fight though. Even though they fight a weight class apart, they probably walk around at about the same weight.

I know I sound like a sadist but like I was saying to jujigatame- I quite enjoy wtching Askren as the top control he displays is really impressive. It's not very exciting to watch but jujigatame made the Rigondeaux comment and that's a very fitting one I think.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ehz1UI2Tng8

Jujigatame you're a BJJ blackbelt right? What do you think when watching Maia? The reason I ask is because I love watching Maia but I don't roll so whilst I understand certain positions and submissions and chokes I admit I'm totally ignorant compared to someone that practises the sport and in particular is at a high level.

I'm not sure Askren is quite THAT good. He did dominate Koreshkov but that was a long time ago, when Koreshkov was only 22. I think he could beat some fringe contenders but I don't think he'd beat the elite of the division. He hasn't fought anyone with a pulse in years, and his performances even against low-level opposition don't suggest he's really evolved as a fighter in any way.

I'd actually like to see Askren/Shields. It might even be possible since Shields was having some contractual dispute with WSOF and could end up a free agent.

I'm actually only a brown belt even though I've trained for over 15 years. At some point I decided to go 95% no-gi despite my instructors telling me this would prevent me from advancing in rank.

Maia is an absolute marvel. I am in awe of him. He may not be the most accomplished sport BJJ competitor in MMA, but he's absolutely the greatest BJJ practitioner in MMA, hands down. What he did to another high-level BJJ practitioner in Gunnar Nelson was amazing. He made him look utterly inept. Furthermore, he seems to have come to an understanding that world-class technique on the ground is worthless without takedowns. He dedicated himself to getting unstoppable takedowns and he got them. When's the last time you saw him fail to take someone down? Everyone knows what he's going to do and nobody can stop it. And he's 38 years old!! Unreal.

Brown belt/black belt- both a very high level! .... You're in NYC right? If so, do you train out of Renzo's school? I also wondered if you had ever rolled with Danaher? I remember him being mentioned a lot as a very interesting and smart guy when GSP was still fighting.

I'm actually getting more and more interested in the discipline and contemplating taking it up as a hobby. I'm just outside London and I think Roger Gracie has an academy in london but I could be wrong on that!

Regarding Maia though- I agree. I remember for a decent portion of his ufc career he became a bit too obsessed with becoming a good striker. He almost to some extent neglected what makes him brilliant to focus on striking.

Now he's finally fully focused on using his BJJ but at the same time realised that it's no good being brilliant on the ground if you can't get the fight there. So to combat that flaw he clearly worked a ton o improving his wrestling and his takedowns generally and is now is almost mpossible to defend against.

Aside from his brilliance though he also comes across as a genuinely super nice guy. I hope he does win the belt before he retires.

lefty wrote: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ehz1UI2Tng8

Jujigatame you're a BJJ blackbelt right? What do you think when watching Maia? The reason I ask is because I love watching Maia but I don't roll so whilst I understand certain positions and submissions and chokes I admit I'm totally ignorant compared to someone that practises the sport and in particular is at a high level.

You should get into the BJJ lefty, I notice you like the grappling skills in MMA.

Tomasino wrote:

lefty wrote: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ehz1UI2Tng8

Jujigatame you're a BJJ blackbelt right? What do you think when watching Maia? The reason I ask is because I love watching Maia but I don't roll so whilst I understand certain positions and submissions and chokes I admit I'm totally ignorant compared to someone that practises the sport and in particular is at a high level.

You should get into the BJJ lefty, I notice you like the grappling skills in MMA.

Yeah, I do really like it mate. I didn't used to though as I had no understanding of it whatsoever. I mean I still don't really understand it properly lol but I I have a basic understanding now atleast.

lefty wrote:Brown belt/black belt- both a very high level! .... You're in NYC right? If so, do you train out of Renzo's school? I also wondered if you had ever rolled with Danaher? I remember him being mentioned a lot as a very interesting and smart guy when GSP was still fighting.

I'm actually getting more and more interested in the discipline and contemplating taking it up as a hobby. I'm just outside London and I think Roger Gracie has an academy in london but I could be wrong on that!

Regarding Maia though- I agree. I remember for a decent portion of his ufc career he became a bit too obsessed with becoming a good striker. He almost to some extent neglected what makes him brilliant to focus on striking.

Now he's finally fully focused on using his BJJ but at the same time realised that it's no good being brilliant on the ground if you can't get the fight there. So to combat that flaw he clearly worked a ton o improving his wrestling and his takedowns generally and is now is almost mpossible to defend against.

Aside from his brilliance though he also comes across as a genuinely super nice guy. I hope he does win the belt before he retires.

Agree.

BJJ is ridiculously intricate and technical. I enjoy listening to analysis from people more in the know than myself. They pick up on the tiny details of passes and setting traps which I just wouldn't see. Luke Thomas is really good at that on his Monday morning analyst show on YouTube, not sure if you watch it? I think it was him who was saying Maia is that good, his take downs are completed in such a way to put him in a position to pass quickly or even attempt a submission if it's there. He never just double legs straight into someones full guard. He's thinking 2 steps ahead of whoever he's fighting. Like the Paul Scholes of MMA.

lefty wrote:Brown belt/black belt- both a very high level! .... You're in NYC right? If so, do you train out of Renzo's school? I also wondered if you had ever rolled with Danaher? I remember him being mentioned a lot as a very interesting and smart guy when GSP was still fighting.

I'm actually getting more and more interested in the discipline and contemplating taking it up as a hobby. I'm just outside London and I think Roger Gracie has an academy in london but I could be wrong on that!

Regarding Maia though- I agree. I remember for a decent portion of his ufc career he became a bit too obsessed with becoming a good striker. He almost to some extent neglected what makes him brilliant to focus on striking.

Now he's finally fully focused on using his BJJ but at the same time realised that it's no good being brilliant on the ground if you can't get the fight there. So to combat that flaw he clearly worked a ton o improving his wrestling and his takedowns generally and is now is almost mpossible to defend against.

Aside from his brilliance though he also comes across as a genuinely super nice guy. I hope he does win the belt before he retires.

I train at Marcelo Garcia's now, but I did actually train at Renzo's until 2006, and believe it or not, the first BJJ class I ever took was taught by John Danaher, when he was a brown belt. He's brilliant but also ... "enigmatic" for lack of a better word. As a teacher I found him to be a mixed bag. He's extremely analytical and detail-oriented, but I don't think he's well-suited to a large class setting. He's not proactive about helping people or explaining things. He just shows a move and then sits on the side of the mat waiting until it's time for the next move. He doesn't walk around and observe and correct mistakes and answer questions. I think people who train privately with him (including BJJ pros like Garry Tonon and Eddie Cummings, and of course MMA guys like GSP) get a lot more out of him.

I do believe Roger has a school in London, you should definitely check it out. London Fight Factory and Gracie Barra London are probably good options as well.

jujigatame wrote:

lefty wrote:Brown belt/black belt- both a very high level! .... You're in NYC right? If so, do you train out of Renzo's school? I also wondered if you had ever rolled with Danaher? I remember him being mentioned a lot as a very interesting and smart guy when GSP was still fighting.

I'm actually getting more and more interested in the discipline and contemplating taking it up as a hobby. I'm just outside London and I think Roger Gracie has an academy in london but I could be wrong on that!

Regarding Maia though- I agree. I remember for a decent portion of his ufc career he became a bit too obsessed with becoming a good striker. He almost to some extent neglected what makes him brilliant to focus on striking.

Now he's finally fully focused on using his BJJ but at the same time realised that it's no good being brilliant on the ground if you can't get the fight there. So to combat that flaw he clearly worked a ton o improving his wrestling and his takedowns generally and is now is almost mpossible to defend against.

Aside from his brilliance though he also comes across as a genuinely super nice guy. I hope he does win the belt before he retires.

I train at Marcelo Garcia's now, but I did actually train at Renzo's until 2006, and believe it or not, the first BJJ class I ever took was taught by John Danaher, when he was a brown belt. He's brilliant but also ... "enigmatic" for lack of a better word. As a teacher I found him to be a mixed bag. He's extremely analytical and detail-oriented, but I don't think he's well-suited to a large class setting. He's not proactive about helping people or explaining things. He just shows a move and then sits on the side of the mat waiting until it's time for the next move. He doesn't walk around and observe and correct mistakes and answer questions. I think people who train privately with him (including BJJ pros like Garry Tonon and Eddie Cummings, and of course MMA guys like GSP) get a lot more out of him.

I do believe Roger has a school in London, you should definitely check it out. London Fight Factory and Gracie Barra London are probably good options as well.

Ah Garcia the wizard. Yeah I can imagine that in regards to Danaher actually. I could imagine explaining things in a manner which is overcomplicated and rather complicated due to him expecting people to be on his wavelength automatically.

So Marcelo (I don't know if you get to train with him or one of his assistant's who were probably ex students of his) a good teacher?

Yeah I do need to do my research and check all those different schools out

danamba7 wrote:

lefty wrote:Brown belt/black belt- both a very high level! .... You're in NYC right? If so, do you train out of Renzo's school? I also wondered if you had ever rolled with Danaher? I remember him being mentioned a lot as a very interesting and smart guy when GSP was still fighting.

I'm actually getting more and more interested in the discipline and contemplating taking it up as a hobby. I'm just outside London and I think Roger Gracie has an academy in london but I could be wrong on that!

Regarding Maia though- I agree. I remember for a decent portion of his ufc career he became a bit too obsessed with becoming a good striker. He almost to some extent neglected what makes him brilliant to focus on striking.

Now he's finally fully focused on using his BJJ but at the same time realised that it's no good being brilliant on the ground if you can't get the fight there. So to combat that flaw he clearly worked a ton o improving his wrestling and his takedowns generally and is now is almost mpossible to defend against.

Aside from his brilliance though he also comes across as a genuinely super nice guy. I hope he does win the belt before he retires.

Agree.

BJJ is ridiculously intricate and technical. I enjoy listening to analysis from people more in the know than myself. They pick up on the tiny details of passes and setting traps which I just wouldn't see. Luke Thomas is really good at that on his Monday morning analyst show on YouTube, not sure if you watch it? I think it was him who was saying Maia is that good, his take downs are completed in such a way to put him in a position to pass quickly or even attempt a submission if it's there. He never just double legs straight into someones full guard. He's thinking 2 steps ahead of whoever he's fighting. Like the Paul Scholes of MMA.

I know of Thomas but haven't actually listened to his shows. It sounds like I need to.

There's a mma writer who breaks down fighters on reddit who has a serious circle jerk around him called Jack Slack who I'm not as big a fan of as a lot of people are. He's british if you don't know who he is.

I prefer this American guy called Connor Ruebusch (might have messed thre spelling of the surname up there lol).

Marcelo used to teach every class at his school but in recent years (since he had a couple of kids) he only teaches a couple times a week. I like him as an instructor, but he actually has a bit of the opposite problem as Danaher. He obviously has a passion for teaching, he walks around the room and answers question with enthusiasm, he rolls (spars) with his students, etc. His enthusiasm for training is infectious. His only problem is that sometimes I don't feel like he can effectively communicate certain concepts. He does a lot of very unique things and I almost get the impression sometimes that he may not even fully understand how he does them. Every once in a while he'll show a move and I'll think to myself "there's no way I'm ever gonna be able to do this live" and I can see when people are drilling the move that lots of other people are having problems with it too. He makes a real effort to help people with every move, but sometimes it feels like a lost cause.

jujigatame wrote:Marcelo used to teach every class at his school but in recent years (since he had a couple of kids) he only teaches a couple times a week. I like him as an instructor, but he actually has a bit of the opposite problem as Danaher. He obviously has a passion for teaching, he walks around the room and answers question with enthusiasm, he rolls (spars) with his students, etc. His enthusiasm for training is infectious. His only problem is that sometimes I don't feel like he can effectively communicate certain concepts. He does a lot of very unique things and I almost get the impression sometimes that he may not even fully understand how he does them. Every once in a while he'll show a move and I'll think to myself "there's no way I'm ever gonna be able to do this live" and I can see when people are drilling the move that lots of other people are having problems with it too. He makes a real effort to help people with every move, but sometimes it feels like a lost cause.

Yeah that makes sense. I have a feeling Maia would be a good teacher. Purely going off his personality but I could be way off the mark.

I agree Maia is likely a great teacher, especially because his game has no flash to it. It's mostly just super-refined versions of the basics.

He actually held a seminar at Marcelo's earlier this year. I didn't go, primarily because I'm a cheap-ass and because it wasn't at a very convenient time for me. I kind of regret it.

jujigatame wrote:I agree Maia is likely a great teacher, especially because his game has no flash to it. It's mostly just super-refined versions of the basics.

He actually held a seminar at Marcelo's earlier this year. I didn't go, primarily because I'm a cheap-ass and because it wasn't at a very convenient time for me. I kind of regret it.

The fact that his English seems better than the majority in and around the MMA community adds to me thinking he'd communicate his ideas in an understandable manner aswell as seeking like he'd care a lot about helping his students.

Nevermind mate, he'll probably end up doing another one there in the near future? It seems like from the small snippets I've seen that he gets along well with Garcia and probably one of the few people in BJJ that he looks up to himself alongside some of the other greats like Roger Gracie and others.