Jones went from Hendo to Sonnen to Machida to Belfort?

[HugeMMAFan]

Does anyone think here that Jones refusing Sonnen has shot him in the foot? Belfort is inconsistent, but if Machida can close the distance and land some shots, I wonder how well Vitor will do. Once Vitor Belfort lands the first punch, the rest are soon to come. He's not going to counter-strike like Machida is. If Vitor can blitz Jones early in the fight, it could be a finish. Vitor's footwork isn't as good as Machida's, but it's not bad, and Vitor has great hand speed and punching power, backed up by good boxing technique.

[2K1GSXR1000]

This guy does. Said that in another thread about this. Vitor takes souls with that sick blitz he does. You can't count him out. He's 4-1 in his last 5 fights, and NONE of them have gone into the second round.

[Ash]

Vitor's always had problems with even mediocre wrestlers. I don't think it's unrealistic to expect Jones to immediately take him down and work from there.

[tantryl]

Yup. Clinch. Sling. Pointy bastard elbows to the face from the top position.

[HugeMMAFan]

Vitor's always had problems with even mediocre wrestlers. I don't think it's unrealistic to expect Jones to immediately take him down and work from there.

Yup. Clinch. Sling. Pointy bastard elbows to the face from the top position.

I think these are fair points, but I notice Bones has some trouble if someone gets inside his reach, like Machida did. For guys with long arms, there seems a minimum amount they need to have to be effective. Go closer than that, and they lose a lot of their effectiveness.

[tantryl]

Machida succeeded on getting inside and out... briefly and to little impact. The second he got too close for too long... clich, sling, pointy bastard elbows. And you think Vitor is going to be better it? Nah. He can move in pretty well, but his moving out isn't close to Machida's.

[HugeMMAFan]

Machida succeeded on getting inside and out... briefly and to little impact. The second he got too close for too long... clich, sling, pointy bastard elbows. And you think Vitor is going to be better it? Nah. He can move in pretty well, but his moving out isn't close to Machida's.

I concede that, but I think he doesn't have to move as well as Machida. If Belfort can land that first punch, the second punch will come soon after. And if that lands... the others will come quickly.

[Str8Ryt]

I think Vitor's best shot is to just blitz Jones from bell to bell hoping for the KO. If he waits too long he's going to get put on his back and elbowed to death or get the jab kick to the chin.

[wtf im nameless]

I think Vitor's best shot is to just blitz Jones from bell to bell hoping for the KO. If he waits to long he's going to get put on his back and elbowed to death or get the jab kick to the chin.

Agreed, well, except I'd swap the jab kick to the chin with getting put to sleep like Machida.

[tyrannor]

Vitor will abandon all game plan and fight like Rashad.