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Originally Posted by Celtic1982citleC
"The Iceman" Chuck Liddell has ZERO NADA ZILCH ground game...and is one of the best MMA fighters ever at 205. Period. Not having a great ground game doesn't automatically dismiss you as a great MMA fighter.
Also, I think a lot of people continually forget...this was Kimbo's THIRD REAL MMA FIGHT! No athlete hits their peak in their 3rd professional appearance. A QB in his 3rd start? Pitcher in his 3rd start? Boxer in his 3rd pro fight isn't going to see a top contender. Kimbo is being brought along slowly. Is James Thompson a top flight fighter? No. But he was a significant step up in competition from Tank Abbott and Bo Cantrell. James Thompson had a record of 16-8 going into the fight w/ some credible wins. Granted he had been knocked out a few times as of late, but it's MMA - it happens. I give Kimbo credit for not folding in the fight when things didn't go his way. He battled back and earned a tough W over a game fighter. I don't think Kimbo's next fight will be Brett Rodgers, as much as Rodgers would like it to be. Kimbo needs a few more fights before fighting a prospect of Rodgers caliber. Kimbo has shown he has made some progress - but still has a long way to go.
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Liddell is an excellent wrestler though and he uses his skill to stay off the ground. Kimbo is a terrible wrestler. Either he learns to wrestle and stay off the ground or he needs to learn a ground game. This was Kimbo's first fight that lasted more than a minute or so and his cardio was def lacking. He looked gassed by the end of the first round.
sherdog.com said the next fight was going to be against rogers. I know its WAY too early to be setting up the fights, but I took that an ran with it. I haven't seen any official announcement so it may not be true.