Topic: Cruz vs. Barão
Cruz vs. Barao
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11.17.2013 | 2:07 PM ET
"This is the droid you're looking for."
Responses
11.17.2013 | 2:07 PM ET
Prediction: Barão | Decision
* Edited at 11.17.2013, 2:09 PM ET *
"I bought a Bruno mars cd once - gunn4206"
11.17.2013 | 5:40 PM ET
Will be interesting to see if the long layoff has any impact.
"He wont be able to handul my riddum" - Georges St-Pierre
11.18.2013 | 8:12 AM ET
"Why are you booing me? I am the GOAT. **** you." - Patricio "Pitbull" Freire
11.18.2013 | 11:48 AM ET
"Demons run when a good man goes to war."
11.18.2013 | 11:58 AM ET
Prediction: Cruz | Decision
We shall see.
"When a game cannot be won, change the game."
11.18.2013 | 2:00 PM ET
"I'm coming in your backyard and I'm gonna **** you up" -Carlos Condit
11.18.2013 | 2:23 PM ET
"Why are you booing me? I am the GOAT. **** you." - Patricio "Pitbull" Freire
11.18.2013 | 3:59 PM ET
Prediction: Barão | KO/TKO | Round 1
* Edited at 11.18.2013, 4:06 PM ET *
"You don't have to be perfect, just dont be fraudulant"
11.18.2013 | 5:29 PM ET
"If I have a goal, then it is to escape from this literalism. I'll never achieve it; in the same way that I'll never manage to describe what really dwells within my character, although I keep on trying."
11.18.2013 | 6:56 PM ET
Prediction: Barão | KO/TKO | Round 3
11.18.2013 | 8:06 PM ET
"الله أكبرl"
11.18.2013 | 8:11 PM ET
Prediction: Barão | KO/TKO | Round 4
it's gonna be great watching Cruz get ****** up :)
"RIP Bill Burgess , RIP CthuluJones"
11.18.2013 | 8:44 PM ET
"God please give me patience, if you give me strength I will just punch them in the face."
11.18.2013 | 8:59 PM ET
Tearing your MCL/ACL/PCL (or whatever the ****) twice in two years would drastically change any fighter, let alone a fighter like Dominick Cruz who solely relies on movement to win.
If Cruz is the same fighter he always was, Barao has no chance. He doesn't have the speed to touch Cruz and he doesn't have the wrestling to scare Cruz. The problem with fighting Dominick Cruz is that the key to beating him is solely based off of timing, and it's extremely hard to rely on perfect timing against a guy with a style as unorthodox as his.
Dominick Cruz often switches stances before he throws a combination, the key is to catch him when he switches right before because that is the one split second where he is open to hit. Cruz's supreme head movement, excellent chin and seemingly perfect ability to mix strikes with takedowns and judo throws is just way too much to deal with, especially when you're facing his style for the first time.
However, if Cruz is significantly slower because of the injuries, Barao will have his way with him. It would be the equivalent of fighting a sightly faster Tim Elliot (who in opinion is the fighter that resembles closest to Cruz in style).
"الله أكبرl"
11.18.2013 | 11:01 PM ET
Prediction: Cruz | Decision
I've never been a fan of Cruz's style, but his fights are never really close, and his style could prevent any serious damage done by Barao, so Cruz for the upset.
11.18.2013 | 11:24 PM ET
First, Barao has a chance even if Cruz is the same fighter he once was. I'll grant you that if Cruz comes back as good as ever, Barao should be considered a moderate underdog, but I don't buy that he has no chance. Nobody with the kind of leg kicks Barao possesses has fought Cruz. If Barao can land some of those leg kicks early (much easier said than done on a guy with as much crazy fast lateral movement as Cruz tends to use) then Cruz could have some major problems avoiding Barao's power shots, which could change the course of the fight very quickly. If Barao knocks down Cruz, I also see Barao as someone quick enough to use the opportunity, maybe not necessarily finish, but I can definitely see Barao actually keeping Cruz on his back for a little bit. Faber got the knock down, but he was incapable of capitalizing due to his speed disadvantage, a disadvantage that I do not believe is as great for Barao; the gap in speed is narrower.
Second, and this is super minor, but Cruz really isn't that much like Elliott. I mean, I can't really compare Cruz to ANYONE because he is so unique in his use of lateral movement. Elliott is a flat footed fighter that wings his punches, but he's not really all that great at avoiding other people's punches, nor does he cut the cage off effectively with his lateral movement. I like the guy, I just don't really see the comparison of style with Cruz.
Overall, I'd say the general sentiment is obviously that the fight hinges on whether or not Cruz can truly come back from a 28 month layoff and 2 torn ACLs that required surgery.
"Surrender??!! You think this letter on my head stands for France?" - Captain America
11.18.2013 | 11:46 PM ET
If you're talking about the first round of their second fight, that was in no way shape or form a knockdown. Cruz tripped up after a Faber punch but that was more because he was off balance than he was hurt, that's kinda why he resumed fighting literally instantly.
You see, a lot of people don't understand that comparison, and that is fair. One of the reasons why I say that Eliot is the closest thing to Cruz is because I'm emphasizing just how unique Cruz is in the history of fighting period.
But don't get me wrong, it's not some crazy comparison; in terms of offense Eliot is the closest fighter I have seen to Cruz. Eliot actually does possess similarities to Cruz that I've never seen other fighters have. He switches stances a fair amount, he has his hands always at his hips, he directly faces his opponents and he takes certain angles for strikes that I've only seen Cruz use. His winging punches actually make him that much more similar to Cruz, because Cruz is almost exclusively limited to swinging and looping punches.
The reason for Eliot's lack of success is because he employs an extremely risky style without having a safety net to protect him. Cruz gets away with his frighteningly risky style because of his ability to move out of the away not only through his body movement but his head movement as well.
"الله أكبرl"
11.19.2013 | 12:03 AM ET
Prediction: Barão | Decision
11.19.2013 | 12:09 AM ET
Prediction: Barão | Decision
"I bought a Bruno mars cd once - gunn4206"
11.19.2013 | 12:09 AM ET
"If I have a goal, then it is to escape from this literalism. I'll never achieve it; in the same way that I'll never manage to describe what really dwells within my character, although I keep on trying."