Originally Posted by Couchwarrior

I wouldn't call submitting a BJJ black belt from your back "less than impressive", but who am I to judge. Anyway, these are my opinions on the subject:

BJ Penn
1. Biggest weakness: Cardio and work ethic.
2. Biggest threat at the moment: Kenny Florian.

Georges St.-Pierre
1. Standup (which only indicates how great his wrestling and ground game is), possibly chin and/or mental game.
2. Thiago Alves

Anderson Silva
1. Wrestling/takedown defense.
2. Anderson Silva. I don't think anyone can beat him right now unless he does some stupid mistake.

Forrest Griffin
1. Punching power, explosiveness.
2. Lyoto Machida, although I think Rashad will beat him in his next fight.

Antonio Nogueira
1. Predictability. Everybody knows that he will be going for the takedown if he gets a chance, so you know what to look out for.
2. Gabriel Gonzaga. I don't think he could stop Nog, but he could bully him around to get a decision win without getting subbed.

Brock Lesnar
1. Submission defense
2. Antonio Nogueira

Originally Posted by Couchwarrior

I wouldn't call submitting a BJJ black belt from your back "less than impressive", but who am I to judge. Anyway, these are my opinions on the subject:

BJ Penn
1. Biggest weakness: Cardio and work ethic.
2. Biggest threat at the moment: Kenny Florian.

Georges St.-Pierre
1. Standup (which only indicates how great his wrestling and ground game is), possibly chin and/or mental game.
2. Thiago Alves

Anderson Silva
1. Wrestling/takedown defense.
2. Anderson Silva. I don't think anyone can beat him right now unless he does some stupid mistake.

Forrest Griffin
1. Punching power, explosiveness.
2. Lyoto Machida, although I think Rashad will beat him in his next fight.

Antonio Nogueira
1. Predictability. Everybody knows that he will be going for the takedown if he gets a chance, so you know what to look out for.
2. Gabriel Gonzaga. I don't think he could stop Nog, but he could bully him around to get a decision win without getting subbed.

Brock Lesnar
1. Submission defense
2. Antonio Nogueira

Originally Posted by Bazza89

I'm still unsure on whether Sherk could get him down TBH. He's got really good TDs but we've seen BJ stuff much bigger wrestlers shots.

Originally Posted by 69nites

Sherk trying to box with BJ was stupid. Crazy stupid. Sherk should have been shooting hard on BJ all fight long. BJ expends a lot of energy with his TDD, shooting on him all night would actually push his cardio. You know unlike throwing the exact same combo all night eating jabs . I'm still pissed off about his gameplan lol.

Originally Posted by 69nites

Sherk trying to box with BJ was stupid. Crazy stupid. Sherk should have been shooting hard on BJ all fight long. BJ expends a lot of energy with his TDD, shooting on him all night would actually push his cardio. You know unlike throwing the exact same combo all night eating jabs . I'm still pissed off about his gameplan lol.

Originally Posted by Villian

i pick brock lesnar for obvious reasons

Originally Posted by The Lone Wolf

After watching Anderson Silva vs Travis Lutter on UFC wired lastnight, and seeing Silva look less than impressive off his back, i'd like to hear peoples opinions on the current champs, their weaknesses, and who you think could take the belt from them.

So. . .

Lightweight: BJ PENN - His weakness is without doubt his cardio and work ethic. He would likely struggle against someone who will wear him down and break his will. I think Tyson Griffin could actually be BJ's toughest fight at lightweight right now.

Welterweight: GEORGE ST PIERRE - I would say his weakness is his stand-up. Yes, thats right. I think its where he is most vulnerable. I've seen it time and time again where he leaves himself open, and his head movement sucks. He'd struggle against a good striker, with good takedown defence. Discounting BJ as he's not a WW, i'd be inclined to go for a ranked outsider in Mike Swick.

Middleweight: ANDERSSON SILVA - Going off what is fresh in my mind, which is the Lutter fight, Silva seems to struggle on the ground. He has a great guard where he utilises a body triangle off the bottom, but when he was mounted, he got clocked with what could have been fight ending blows if Lutter wasnt such a wobbly no hoper. And his "defence" was initially to raise his arms up and try and prevent Lutter from swinging. So someone with a good ground game would be difficult for Silva, so i'm going for Maia or Reljic.

Lightheavyweight: FORREST GRIFFIN - His weakness is his striking. His punches are fluid, he mixes well with his kicks, but he lacks that KO power. Meaning his fights are likely to be wars, cos he just doesnt quit. His biggest obstacle will be a good wrestler and fast striker. And i hate to say it, but thats Rashad Evans

Heavyweight: ANTONIO NOGUEIRA - Difficult one here because he doesnt have any glaring weaknesses. His stand-up isnt great, but he has an inhuman ability to take a shot. His wrestling isnt great, but his jitz is awesome. His biggest problem would be a guy with good standup and good jitz, or enough sense not to participate in the groundgame at all.

Heavyweight: BROCK LESNAR - Brock is still learning the do's and dont's of MMA, and has weaknesses in all areas. Jitz being the most prominent, then striking, and just a few holes in his wrestling. I think he'd struggle against powerful strikers with some jitz knowledge.

I pick Gonzaga to give both of these the most trouble.

What are your thoughts?

Originally Posted by The Lone Wolf

After watching Anderson Silva vs Travis Lutter on UFC wired lastnight, and seeing Silva look less than impressive off his back, i'd like to hear peoples opinions on the current champs, their weaknesses, and who you think could take the belt from them.

So. . .

Lightweight: BJ PENN - His weakness is without doubt his cardio and work ethic. He would likely struggle against someone who will wear him down and break his will. I think Tyson Griffin could actually be BJ's toughest fight at lightweight right now.

Welterweight: GEORGE ST PIERRE - I would say his weakness is his stand-up. Yes, thats right. I think its where he is most vulnerable. I've seen it time and time again where he leaves himself open, and his head movement sucks. He'd struggle against a good striker, with good takedown defence. Discounting BJ as he's not a WW, i'd be inclined to go for a ranked outsider in Mike Swick.

Middleweight: ANDERSSON SILVA - Going off what is fresh in my mind, which is the Lutter fight, Silva seems to struggle on the ground. He has a great guard where he utilises a body triangle off the bottom, but when he was mounted, he got clocked with what could have been fight ending blows if Lutter wasnt such a wobbly no hoper. And his "defence" was initially to raise his arms up and try and prevent Lutter from swinging. So someone with a good ground game would be difficult for Silva, so i'm going for Maia or Reljic.

Lightheavyweight: FORREST GRIFFIN - His weakness is his striking. His punches are fluid, he mixes well with his kicks, but he lacks that KO power. Meaning his fights are likely to be wars, cos he just doesnt quit. His biggest obstacle will be a good wrestler and fast striker. And i hate to say it, but thats Rashad Evans

Heavyweight: ANTONIO NOGUEIRA - Difficult one here because he doesnt have any glaring weaknesses. His stand-up isnt great, but he has an inhuman ability to take a shot. His wrestling isnt great, but his jitz is awesome. His biggest problem would be a guy with good standup and good jitz, or enough sense not to participate in the groundgame at all.

Heavyweight: BROCK LESNAR - Brock is still learning the do's and dont's of MMA, and has weaknesses in all areas. Jitz being the most prominent, then striking, and just a few holes in his wrestling. I think he'd struggle against powerful strikers with some jitz knowledge.

I pick Gonzaga to give both of these the most trouble.

What are your thoughts?