My favorite type of game planning is a fighter preparing to keep the fight where they're most comfortable. A perfect example I think is JDS. His TDD is amazing, so he's able to keep the fight right where he wants it. You see him exercise more caution in the striking when he's against someone with a dangerous ground game: Gonzaga, Cain.
I think it's these simple styles that are the most exciting.
Being biased, I could say Nick Diaz in his non-Condit fights. He controls the striking everytime, almost asking his opponent to go for a takedown so he can pull off a submission.
Chael Sonnen's is very effective, although he really does need some sub defence. He is an outstanding wrestler and weak striker, so his entire gameplay involves taking you down and beating you up until the bell goes.
Anderson Silva in his non-Sonnen fights too. He keeps at a distance which makes it hard to strike or take him down, makes you attempt one or the other and catches you as you do.
I don't like mechanical gameplays. I like the ones that are natrual to the fighter and it's their common style. Guida and Condit went from being fighters that I liked to being fighters I'll never like again in their one fights.
there was one in particular, I don't remember who the opponent was, but the gameplan was to fight the first 2 rounds in the clinch to influence the opponent's bloodflow so he couldn't perform as well anymore. that was sick
Bj Penn's game plan against Jon Fitch was actually pretty smart. Coming out to take Fitch down and wrestle was completely unexpected and you could tell Fitch was not prepared for it.
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I'll tell you the worst game plan. It was Ken Shamrock vs Royce Gracie II where Ken decided to stay in Royce's guard for a full 30 minutes to end the fight in a draw.
Oh and James Toney wearing ankle warmers to enable Randy to get a better grip when he shot in for an ankle pick. Sadly I saw the odds was too good so I dropped a hundred on Toney; 5:1 OR 3:1. Friend and I split it. SOB!
Best game plan which I don't necessarily agree with was Condit vs Diaz. It sucked...but he won against a very tough opponent and got a title shot. Maybe that should be categorized as the "most effective" game plan rather than being the best or most exciting.
So the absolute best at the moment would have to be Ronda Rousey. Nine arm bars in a row. Same game, same submission, same attack. Hasn't been stopped yet.
I don't think Condit's gameplan was good. Okay, he won, but surley a good gameplan means that you undisputedly won in clear fashion. The fight went 3-2 rounds and several people called it to Diaz. I felt Condit had won but there are thousands who think Diaz did enough. The judges might have agreed.
I agree it was garbage game plan, but in the context of things it was effective.
Lets say that Nate and Nick are one entity because they pretty much are identical. So Diaz is mopping out Miller, Marcus Davies, Cerrone, Paul Daley, Zaromskis, Shamrock, KJ Noons, Cyborg, and BJ PENN. That's a pretty impressive list. If you notice all of these are all top of the food chain strikers. Yet they got outstruck by Diaz and co. So GJ and Condit came up with a dastardly plan of backpedalling and "winning." Again it sucked I agree 100%, but they pulled it off and derailed the train for the time being.
As far as a beautifully executed game plan it pretty much goes to GSP cuz that's all he does. He doesn't finish and goes the distance.
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