I don’t see it as much different. Nog was super elite in 2003. Bjj as a whole was better 12 years later, and also Poatan lost by rnc in his very first MMA fight.
Even with the progression in bjj, 2003 Nog is going to be better than 2015 Ottoni, granted, but Poatan was in his very first MMA fight, crossing over from kickboxing. It’s about as relevant as Mirko getting armbarred by Nog.
Poatan got RNCd in his FIRST MMA fight, crossing over from kickboxing. You’re not wrong, Mirko got subbed by a better bjj guy, but it was in Mirko’s tenth MMA fight, and again, Poatan got subbed in his fist MMA fight.
I think I’d rather focus on their performances as strikers in MMA, since I think that has more to do with who would win if they faced each other.
Exactly. Blacksplosiveness can KO anyone. Lots of fighters throughout history have been KOd by one by guys that otherwise are not anywhere near their level.
Excellent post. Almost all great fighters hang on too long. Unlike in most sports, when they can’t compete with the best players anymore, they find the next guy. When you fall in love with a fighter, you are almost guaranteed to get your heart broken.
“The first four years” seems like a convenient span to compare. It cuts off some of Mirko’s losses that occurred before he was old at all. Poatan has a better record that Mirko did, even being charitable and cutting off some of Mirko’s losses that happened when he was up there in age.
Israel, Strickland, and Hill are all tough strikers. He stopped them all. Nobody else has beaten Stickland by anything other than a split decision in six years.
They’re both about 220-225. Unless we’re talking about Mirko when he was past his Pride days, but you guys say that’s not the best version. Mirko is what? 6’2"? Poatan is 6’4"
It goes both ways. Some of Cro Cop’s opponents were big dudes, but he fought some little guys too. Takada, Sakuraba, Randleman, Wanderlei…not big guys relative to light heavyweights and heavyweights.
