Now, this will come across as petty, but I’ve heard this line used so many times: “…a sport where there are so many ways to win, and even more ways to lose.” Can you point out even one way to lose that isn’t by default also a way to win? The answer is no. Again, not to be petty, but this line is being used at least once a month in MMA articles, and it doesn’t make any sense.

Both Lindland and Hendo (all due respect to the guys) have terrible submission games, which is why someone like Babalu, who can fight from that position, would be best.

It’s not just the plum, though. And any fan who paid attention to the fights with Lindland and Hendo (which you mentioned, so I assume you watched) would know that he can’t work his way out of the clinch in general. Which is why Babalu’s Greco game would be a problem.

You’re right that Babalu does strike stupidly when he gets inside, and you’re right that if he did that with Rampage, he’d be smashed into the ground.

As for Rampage’s weakness in the standup, you missed the entire point of what the larger space of the Octagon allows him to do (circle and do damage with strikes while avoiding that plum).

You can’t stop Rampage definitively with a thai plum either, as Rampage has rocked guys out of that position plenty of times before.

Juanito’s not an expert in alot of things. You don’t think that training with guys like Brandon Vera has improved his thai plum defense? He was anticipating a fight with either Shogun or Wanderlei right after winning his title, I think that him not training for the thai plum is even less doubtful than him training for the Greco game or the submission game.

As far as Rampage’s guard not being a weakspot. Have you ever watched footage of the guy train? His guard is bad. You don’t think a grappler like Babalu would exploit that? You’re nuts.

Rampage is not particularly vulnerable off his back. Both Lindland and Hendo put Rampage on his back a number of times and Rampage won those fights.

The thing about Rampage is that his footwork and striking are actually a LOT better than people give him credit for. Rampage trains with Juanito Ibarra, whom people forget is a boxing coach. Juanito’s background is in boxing, and he has honed Rampage’s striking skills tremendously. It’s baffling to hear people laud someone like Chuck as a genuine striker and then dismiss Rampage when Rampage outstruck Chuck on the feet in both their fights. Babalu would have NO chance against Rampage and would get knocked out trying to come in for the TD.

It should be obvious to any real fan that Rampage’s known weakness is the Muay Thai plum. Wand and Shogun both demonstrated that. Rampage gets caught in the plum, takes knees and gets stopped. Juanito (Rammpage’s head coach) is not a Muay Thai expert, so it’s doubtful that Rampage would have significantly improved his plum defense since his PRIDE days. Rampage is also somewhat vulnerable to a Greco-Roman clinch, but you can’t use deadly knees to the head in a Greco Clinch, so (as Lindland showed) you can’t really stop Rampage definitively with a Greco-Roman approach.

Josh, you need to watch the fights and dig deeper in your analysis. It’s a great subject, but you’re off to a poor start. Stop being so speculative and discuss the actual patterns which are evident from the fights themselves.

You’re right that Rampage is an evolving fighter, but when we get up to this level, all of the guys are. I’m just pointing out what I believe to be the primary flaw in his game, and Rampage knows that his jiu-jitsu sucks as much as I do (and he’s said so, publicly).

Still, you’re right that he’s working to improve that game. We’ll see if he does. Until I’ve seen the proof, I think Babalu would be the best guy for the job for the reasons I’ve enumerated.

If you look at his fight with Dan Henderson, he’s displayed incredible skills on the ground. And just like he said “I got jui jitsu.” Now, I’m not claiming he’s a blackbelt but he’s working on it and will surely improve. But with that said, Jackson better improve his clinch power.

Here’s an example to help illustrate my point. Rich Franklin is not known for his jui-jitsu at all. He doesn’t look to take his opponents down. But his defense against Travis Lutter’s armbar was perfectly executed. Ok, I’m no bjj expert, but Franklin’s escape was very impressive. Kenny Florian is another example, he is an ever-changing fighter.

I never thought about that, but yeah I would love to see Thiago Silva versus Quinton Jackson.

“The largest wrecking ball” is Anderson Silva. Yeah, he systematically kills all hype, conjecture, hypothesis with every fight in the Octagon. He’s one of the few fighters that truly validated Joe Rogan’s hyperbole since he entered the UFC. Sure he has weaknesses, he knows he can be beat, he has, but the question is how, by who and under what circumstance?