Breaking Down Nate Diaz vs. Joe Stevenson At TUF 9 Finale
by Kelvin Hunt on Jun 17, 2009 9:01 AM EDT
in News
Email
PrintWe'll be in for a treat this weekend as we'll get to witness a very good match up between two TUF veterans in Nate Diaz vs. Joe Stevenson. This is a VERY important fight as both fighters are coming off losses. However, Stevenson has lost 3 straight and a loss here could possibly see him released from the UFC. Nate Diaz is coming off a loss to Clay Guida, but it's not a loss that really hurt his stock, as Guida just bear hugged him the entire fight. Yet, he still loss and had he used his length correctly he would have picked Guida a part. Well, let's take a look at how these two match up:
Joe Stevenson-Stevenson is compact and strong, adequate standup skills, very good guillotine, and is pretty difficult to finish
Nate Diaz-Rangy, pretty good stand up, very good BJJ, had good cardio
This is going to be a pretty difficult match up for Joe Stevenson. If the fight remains standing, Stevenson will be giving up a HUGE reach advantage to Diaz. Diaz could just stay on the outside and pepper Stevenson with 1-2's. However, Stevenson could choose to take Diaz down and try to implement some GnP. Stevenson will have a strength advantage, but then again Diaz is very good off his back so I'm not sure Stevenson would want to chance that either. I don't see him KO'ing Diaz, nor do I see him being able to submit him either. I think Stevenson needs to close the distance to nullify Diaz's reach advantage and keep him up against the cage to goto work. He can mix in some take downs to keep Diaz honest, but for the most part he should try to bully Diaz against the cage. Clay Guida enjoyed success doing that and Stevenson may be able to do so as well.
Nate Diaz should just stay on the outside and use his reach advantage to keep Stevenson at bay. We saw how successful Diego Sanchez was in landing combo's against Stevenson and Diaz should be no different. I know Diaz is great off his back, but Stevenson is well versed in submissions as well so he shouldn't chance trying to catch him in a sub from that position. He can't really afford to lose two in a row just because he doesn't have dominant position.
This is a tough fight to call. On one hand you have a guy with his back against the wall in Joe Stevenson. Those type of fighters are always dangerous. I could see Stevenson getting Diaz to the ground while avoiding submission attempts and taking a decision. I could also see Diaz tagging Stevenson repeatedly with Stevenson's cardio becoming a factor later in the fight.
Who you got in this one?
8 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I think you're right
that if Stevenson can force an ugly stalemate but control the clinch against the cage and keep top position on the ground he’ll get a decision.
If Nate wants to win this thing, he’ll need to bust up Joe on the feet and then go for the choke out ala Penn and Florian. I don’t know if Nate has the power in his hands to stun Joe like that though.
"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"
Yup, if Joe takes a page out of Clay’s book and hugs him and then hugs him and hugs him some more, he could get the decision. Also, a barrage of GnP could work for him (not to finish Nate but for the ref to “think” he’s finished).
It’s almost as if Joe hasn’t evolved. I will say that he fights very tough opponents every time out.
Bottom line – I think this is Nate’s fight to lose. Nate by sub.
by The Real T-Bone on Jun 17, 2009 9:59 AM EDT reply actions
I hope you are right
http://www.mmaforreal.com
by Kelvin Hunt on Jun 17, 2009 10:08 AM EDT up reply actions
Diaz
Diaz looks like a good pick here. I feel bad saying this because Stevenson is a BJJ black belt (I believe), but Nate’s skill and range makes his submission game more dangerous. I think Stevenson will try to stand with him and get picked apart.
Nate by Sub. Joe’s been known to flake once the going gets tough (BJ, his last fight)….I see Nate being too crafty for him on the ground and standing to be honest….that loss to Guida completely turned me off toe Guida. I’m dead tired of his Huggy Bear style of fighting now. it’s worse than before Machida became more aggressive. I’ll take elusive over “just holding on” any day of the week.
Gatti. Dekkers. Pele. Aoki. Kang. Vanderlei.
http://theworldsoldestsport.blogspot.com/
by theworldsoldestsport on Jun 17, 2009 4:10 PM EDT reply actions
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
