Daniel Cormier vs. the UFC Heavyweight Division
Author : Jack Barrington1316026658
If this question sounds premature, that’s because it is: How does Daniel Cormier match up with the UFC heavyweight division?
The answer, obviously, is that it’s too early to tell. Cormier was impressive in knocking out Antonio Silva last Saturday, but there are still unanswered questions about him, not to mention a very tough fight against Josh Barnett on the horizon.
MMA is a sport of ifs and maybes, though, and discussing fights that may never happen is more fun than it should be--in the same way that watching two men fight in a cage is more fun than it should be. Simply put, the prospect of how the unexpected Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix finalist matches up with the marquee names in the UFC is one too enticing to resist.
Cain Velasquez – The current champ. Cormier trains with Velasquez and has already said publicly that the two would never fight, but assuming they would, this is a bad fight for Cormier. They have skill sets built on similar foundations, but Cain is by far the more complete fighter right now, regardless of Cormier’s superior wrestling pedigree. Cain is the best heavyweight in the world and would show it in this fight, being too quick, too explosive and too skilled standing. Velasquez by stoppage.
Junior Dos Santos – This is another bad fight for Cormier. Dos Santos is the naturally bigger fighter, but is also quick enough and smart enough to neutralise Cormier’s usual speed advantage. If Dos Santos made good use of his jab, utilizing the game plan Antonio Silva should have followed, he is more than capable of stifling Cormier’s offense and riding out a comfortable victory. Dos Santos by decision.
Alistair Overeem – Overeem was less than impressive against Fabricio Werdum, but the UFC new boy is still a bad stylistic matchup for Cormier. As long as Overeem is in shape, his diverse striking arsenal poses serious issues for Cormier standing, while his size, combined with a good sprawl and clinch game, are enough to keep the fight on the feet. Overeem by decision.
Brock Lesnar – I actually like Cormier in this fight. Brock has size and power, but his wrestling technique has looked less than stellar against other fighters with wrestling backgrounds and, despite the size disparity, it is hard to see Cormier being bullied around. This fight looks similar to Brock vs. Cain, only considerably less dominant. Cormier uses movement, wrestling smarts and sharp punches to finish things within two rounds - and Brock continues to be this generation’s Mark Kerr. Cormier by stoppage.
Frank Mir – This is a tricky but winnable fight for Cormier. Mir, despite the criticisms often levelled at him, is still one of the better fighters in the division--being dangerous standing on the ground is a big advantage at heavyweight. Mir’s last few performances have been unimpressive, though, and providing Cormier shows some sort of punch resistance, the optimist in me says the rookie dictates where the fight takes place, and uses his speed to outstrike Mir on the feet in a competitive fight. Cormier by decision.
Daniel Cormier is a work in progress. He has the natural tools to compete with a lot of heavyweights already, but there is still work to do if he wants to catch up with the division’s elite. Cormier is still raw, and the predictions above may be slightly optimistic and fuelled by hype, but that’s part of what the heavyweight division is about, isn’t it?
How do you think Daniel Cormier fares against the UFC top five? And how does he match up with the best of the rest; the Shane Carwins, the Rodrigo Nogueiras and the Brendan Schaubs of the division?
