Junior college national champ Curtis Blaydes picked up a win, while ACC champ Max Rohskopf lost his UFC debutThe UFC was back at it again this past weekend. Plenty of wrestling talent was featured on this most recent event, consisting of a nice mix of seasoned veterans, a few peaking thoroughbreds, a veteran finally getting his big shot, and even a supposed future champion.
For the most part, these former wrestlers put in some quality work on Saturday night, with each combatant showing a plethora of skills and athletic attributes sharpened by countless hours spent in wrestling room. Wrestlers went 3-1 in fights against non-wrestlers, with two other bouts being wrestler vs. wrestler. Here's what we learned about each one.
Curtis Blaydes
What we learned: The big man from Chicago, now riding a four-fight win streak, made the wise choice regarding his approach on Saturday night. Blaydes talked a big game in the weeks leading up to this fight, boldly predicting a dominant "ragdolling" of a very dangerous opponent. What wound up happening was not quite that, but in my eyes was equally impressive.
Not so much dominant as it was a calculated, workmanlike, performance from a fighter that knows he's close to a title shot, Blaydes did what he had to do to get the W and keep the momentum going. Blaydes has proven his ability to finish fights in dramatic, violent fashion, but this time had to rely heavily on wrestling, and the superb mental and physical conditioning of a wrestler.
Blaydes scored a UFC heavyweight division record 14 takedowns on his Russian foe. He encountered plenty of resistance, weathered a rally or two, and still came out victorious. An Illinois high school state champ who wrestled Division I for a season before transferring to Harper College and winning a junior college national title, Blaydes came to the UFC with a good degree of hype, and thus far has enjoyed a steady climb toward the top. Winning gut-check decisions with much on the line, despite pressure from fans and promoters to put entertainment first, is a hurdle every ascending fighter must clear, Blaydes can now continue his climb.
Max Rohskopf
What we learned: There are many factors to consider when predicting success in the cage, and MMA is a volatile sport to say the least.
Prior to Saturday night, when the name Max Roshskopf came up in MMA circles, it was often paired with terms like prodigy, natural, the future, and the like. The All-State Ohio high school wrestler and ACC conference champ for the NC State Wolfpack has all the physical tools and useful connections a young fighter can hope for. With fantastic coaches from all of MMA's core disciplines enthusiastically vouching for him, when a UFC slot opened up at the last minute, the former Division I standout wrestler got the call.
In the early goings of his first UFC fight, under the bright lights of the Octagon, Rohskopf performed as advertised. Confident and bold, we saw the young upstart flashing legit offensive goods, with all requisite skills (especially his insane scrambling ability) apparently sound. Ideally sized for the 155-pound division with both a firm grasp of fundamentals and a penchant for dumping convention on its head (pun intended), things unfolded nicely at the start of his UFC debut.
Unfortunately, Rohskopf quit between the second and third round. In the process, his momentum and goodwill took a considerable hit. What went wrong? It would seem that a mix of poor game planning, overconfidence, lactic acid, adrenaline, and a game opponent all played a part. Who knows how the emotional young fighter will rebound from this loss? Hopefully this young talent doesn't harp too much and gets another shot under better circumstances.
Justin Jaynes
What we learned: Experience means a whole lot in the fight game, and Justin Jaynes' time spent on the regional MMA scene has served him well.
The All-State Michigan high school wrestler who spent four years on a Division III wrestling team at Olivet College has been putting in his time, paying his dues, and now seems primed to make an impact in the UFC.
In a similar position to Rohskopf, a former wrestler in a short notice fight looking for a quick finish. The difference was experience. Going all out for the kill is a risky proposition in fighting, in that if you don't finish the fight, you're left with an empty tank. Jaynes' additional years of experience and familiarity with the dreaded adrenaline dump, allowed him to execute his punching blitz flawlessly. With obviously powerful hands, experience, solid wrestling, and sound grappling, look for Jaynes to rack up some wins in the lightweight division.
Josh Emmett
What we learned: Four years into his UFC tenure, after some nasty injuries and a few hard to swallow losses, Josh Emmett is now hitting his stride. Emmett looked great on Saturday night. He fought a super-tough, super-durable, rising talent and he won an absolute dogfight.
A wrestling product of the Golden State, the California Junior College state placewinner (fifth) and two-time national qualifier for Menlo College came into MMA via Team Alpha Male, like so many wrestlers before and after him. And while his wrestling resume isn't among the most impressive you will find in the NorCal MMA Mecca, he has always had an ace up his sleeve in his numbing punching power. Emmett's hands are among the most dangerous in the 145-pound division. Along with those hands of stone, Emmett is an extremely powerful individual who has grit and toughness to spare. Now, with experience, skill, and momentum finally converging on the same trajectory, we will see just how far his no-frills, rugged style of wrestle-boxing will take him.
Jim Miller
What we learned: After many years at or near the top of the UFC lightweight division, if healthy, the Garden State's Jim Miller is still a very dangerous fighter.
Always highly active and a model of consistency, the UFC's winningest 155-pounder in history has been plagued by Lyme disease the last five or so years. This has resulted in losses that could have been wins, and an inability to train hard. With this nasty disease and father time always on the offensive, not to mention the young savage he was fighting, the All-State New Jersey high school wrestler who spent a year in the room with the Virginia Tech Hokies, was once more able to fend off the wolves and continue his winning ways. Bravo Mr. Miller.
Bobby Green
What we learned: The eccentric 12-year MMA veteran is still immensely talented and a ton of fun to watch.
Californian Bobby Green has always been a bit unconventional in his approach to fighting. Known to train only when he had a fight lined up, the two-time All-State California high school wrestler fights like a matador. Lightning-fast and flexible, with insane reflexes, he is downright graceful in his execution. Having been slowed down by tough breaks in his personal life and a rather whimsical attitude toward training and fighting, at 33 years old Green showed that if he has the interest, he still has the tools to make a run towards the top end of the division.
Clay Guida
What we learned: At age 38, with 17 years in the fight game (14 of them inside the UFC), apparently Illinois native Clay Guida is aging in slow motion.
Guida and the aforementioned Green stepped into the Octagon on Saturday night and got right after it! Guida was his usual self; nonstop movement, unrelenting wrestling offense, lots of scrambles, enough striking to keep foes honest, and a bottomless gas tank. Once on a national championship winning JUCO team at Harper College before a very brief Division I stint at the University of Northern Colorado, the lifelong wrestler still relies on wrestling and the hard-nosed wrestler style, more than anything. Great showing for Guida despite the close decision loss.
Frank Camacho
What we learned: The combat athletes from the Pacific Islands are tough as nails with rock-solid resolve. Hailing from both Guam and the Northern Marian Islands, MMA veteran Camacho is no exception.
Much like one of his coaches Melchor Manibusan, a five-time senior world team member from Guam, Camacho wrestled at the senior level in addition to fighting MMA, winning 84-kilo gold at the 2006 Micronesian Games in freestyle. Despite being knocked out by the debuting Justin Jaynes on Saturday night, Camacho continues to entertain with his aggressive, well-rounded skills, and by never shying away from a fire fight. Keep doing your thing, Frank.
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