Roop vs. Bowles

This is the official discussion thread for Roop vs. Bowles. Let's see what you've got.

Bowles finally returns!

This outta be interesting!

It's about time! I like this fight.

So happy Bowles is back ... I think he should beat Roop handily. The only thing that worries me is the layoff. 

As much as I dislike Roop's fighting style, he's the fighter who wins every fight he should lose and loses every fight he should win.

I wouldn't be surprised if he won this, but Bowles is the favorite and I hope he wins.

Roop's getting KTFO or Guillontined. Pick one.

Duuuuuuude ... I cant even explain how happy I am that Bowles is back..

Brian Bowles
============
Striker/grappler 
aggressive 
ok striker 
contact striker 
ok punching tech. 
heavy handed
throws various punching combos 
weak kicker 
rarely kicks 
> avg striker in the clinch   
< avg head movement 
> avg footwork 
ok clinch td 
ok shoot td 
prefers to shoot for td 
> avg clinch tdd 
weak shoot sl or dl tdd 
> avg top control 
> avg jits 
avg guard passing ability 
> avg gnp 
< avg guard 
avg chin 
> avg cardio 

George Roop
============
Striker/grappler
aggressive 
ok striker 
contact striker 
ok punching tech. 
throws various punch/kick combos/ 1-2 or 1-2 kick mostly  
ok kicker 
> avg leg kicks 
throws kicks to the legs/body/head 
> avg striker in the clinch  
< avg head movement 
ok footwork 
weak clinch td 
avg shoot td 
prefers to shoot for a DL against the cage 
avg clinch tdd 
weak shoot sl or dl tdd 
> avg top control 
< avg jits 
weak guard passing ability 
ok gnp/good elbows 
avg guard/ active w/ strikes 
< avg chin 
ok cardio 


Interesting fight to cap. Brian has been inactive lately recovering from frail hands. roop fought then other month while making his ufc BW debut and beat a motivated duran.

both guys are around the same level of striking. bowles has the power edge while roop is the better kicker out of the 2.

For bowles to win he has to get inside roops kicking range and chin check Roop. Brian could take roop down and play the ground game to try to win via dec/tko/sub but brians top game is not the greatest. 

Roop needs to stick to his bread and butter and just try to mark up brian for three rounds to claim a decision victory. 

Brian via KO or Dec

Confidemce meter: 6/10


What the Odds should be
=======================
Brian Bowles -175
George Roop +140

This SHOULD be a gimme for Bowles, but he's been of a long, long time and Roop has surprised me before. 

No way Bowles loses to Roop. Unless something happened to him that completely destroyed his confidence.

The return of Mark Wahlberg's twin

Bowles wins via decision, then promptly rematches Uriah Faber as the headliner of some foreign UFC ppv that includes a decent undercard with superb matchups that don't make the televised portion. Bowles via UD.

I normally go with Bowles, but due to his long lay off and injuries I'm going to go with the underdog. Roop has dropped weight, and looking to make an impact at 135lb. I know this is a long shot but I'm taking Roop via decision.

Interesting fight between a talented guy who's been out a year and a half vs. the biggest bantamweight I've ever seen. Seriously, how the hell does 6'1" Roop make 135lbs??? Anyway, while he's much taller than Bowles, Roop only has an inch and a half reach. I got Bowles by decision, but I don't think he's gonna finish the giant.

The only question I have about Bowles is the layoff, otherwise I think he should dominate Roop

wow what a size difference!

Bowles puts on so much weight after he weighs in, thats one thing i remember... His power and strength will be too much for Roop.

Especially given that Roop is tall and skinny. That high center of gravity does not bode well for him here.

Mike Bohn ‏@MikeBohnMMA 55s

From Keith Kizer of the NSAC: "Brian Bowles tested positive for an elevated T/E ratio (> 20). A complaint will be forthcoming."