Vega is underrated. Echemendia was the perfect guy to beat him and can't

[Hammerlock3]

Title basically my thoughts. Reactions welcome.

If you want a clarification about what I mean by "underrated", I feel like you hear less about him than the big 4 at 133 and I think he's better than 3 of em. If you offered me a 2/1 bet on him vs mendez I'd take it and make a small bet, if you offered 3/1 i'd make a big bet. 

[flyingcement]

Agreed

[Spladle]

I’ll predict Vega loses before making it to Mendez. 

[ionel]

5 minutes ago, Spladle said:

I’ll predict Vega loses before making it to Mendez. 

But what if Mendez doesn't make it to Vega?  

[Spladle]

3 minutes ago, ionel said:

But what if Mendez doesn't make it to Vega?  

I mean, seems less likely to happen but that’s why they wrestle the matches. 

[BarSeries]

Mendez vs Vega is probably the match I'm most intrigued to see. 

[PlatoPirate]

I agree that Vega is really, really good. I think he makes the finals. I also think Mendez is wrestling unbelievably well right now. I’m a total Oklahoma State homer, but it’s hard to pick against Mendez. I hope I’m wrong. 

[jackwebster]

I didn't want to say anything bc ... uh ... jinx/magical thinking, but I agree.  Eche is a nightmare match up for Vega in neutral: strong, attacks above knee without really going to a knee, and a relatively low attack rate that doesn't give Vega too many opportunities to counter but enough to make it look like Vega's stalling (The first match was better in this regard than the second.)

You can't give Vega multiple looks at that cradle cuz he's patient and will get it. He's (rightfully( confident in his ride and in his ability to get out faster than the other guy; so, he's ok with going to tbs.

Yeah, he's been put on his ass several times and almost given up takedowns. But, giving up a td doesn't end the match. 

[Curt Foley]

Vega could be extremely dangerous to anyone, especially wrestling him the first time.  With that said, Mendez is off the charts technical for this day and age.  Mendez with the sizeable win IMO.

[Simpleman424]

Yea what are we even talking about here…in my circles and sites I follow it’s pretty unanimous Vega is talked about basically as a sure fire finalist. I think he’s talked about just enough. And hinting like Ech is a worst matchup than Mendez for Vega…? Mendez will major Vega…no doubts at all. 

[jackwebster]

7 minutes ago, Simpleman424 said:

Mendez will major Vega…no doubts at all. 

This seems to be the consensus, and I wouldnt bet against Mendez. But, why did Hardy give him him fits in the B1G finals?

[1032004]

40 minutes ago, jackwebster said:

This seems to be the consensus, and I wouldnt bet against Mendez. But, why did Hardy give him him fits in the B1G finals?

I don’t think a major is the consensus 

[jackwebster]

3 minutes ago, 1032004 said:

I don’t think a major is the consensus 

Yeah, overstatement on my part. Would you agree that most believe he wins comfortably? Like, it's not a lock on the level of MM and Barr, but Mendez is gonna win.

[H82Lose]

1 hour ago, ionel said:

But what if Mendez doesn't make it to Vega?  

how much? I will take any wager on this one.

[BruceyB]

35 minutes ago, jackwebster said:

Yeah, overstatement on my part. Would you agree that most believe he wins comfortably? Like, it's not a lock on the level of MM and Barr, but Mendez is gonna win.

I definitely agree that most people think it's a controlled win for Jesse. 

I would expect the same. Vega hasn't given up a takedown this year, but he has looked dead to rights at least a couple of times that I can recall, and has been close to being taken down on other occasions. I think the difference is that Mendez will finish where others fell just short. I'd predict something like 7-3 but I could see it being a major if Vega cracks after giving up a second takedown to make the win feel out of reach and Mendez is able to pour it on late.

Edit: Just to be clear, I really like Vega and what he's been able to do as a gangly true freshman has been extremely impressive. I can't wait to see what he looks like after an offseason of being able to put on a little more muscle and make some of the offensive gains that a lot of guys make between their first and second year in college.

Edited March 11 by BruceyB

[Simpleman424]

1 hour ago, jackwebster said:

This seems to be the consensus, and I wouldnt bet against Mendez. But, why did Hardy give him him fits in the B1G finals?

Mostly just familiarity…they’ve faced each other 5-6 times already. Hardy played the “Please don’t Major Me!” Game at the finals is all. This will be Vega and Mendez first meeting and, unlike Echemendia, Jesse has the elite strength AND technique to drive through and/or finish shots. Vega hasn’t faced a Mendez yet…

[Simpleman424]

45 minutes ago, jackwebster said:

Yeah, overstatement on my part. Would you agree that most believe he wins comfortably? Like, it's not a lock on the level of MM and Barr, but Mendez is gonna win.

Yea I’m not saying a 14 point major here…more like sliding into an 8-10 point win. Couple takedowns, riding time, escape,  hit his tilt on one of the rides for a few backs and get out of there.