Post by The Sleeping Economist on Nov 30, 2008 19:51:16 GMT -5
Inohara Hideaki here. Being an economist, I find numbers to answer all things. So, I took the top four fighters from the IAH Ultimate Division grand prix to explain each fighter and why the won, or lost their fights.
Victor Gillean
Striking Accuracy - 5/7 (71%)
Striking Accuracy Against - 25/38 (66%)
Submission Attempts - 0/0 (0%)
Takedowns - 3/6 (50%)
Ground and Pound - 10/40 (25%)
Average Damage - 0.94
STRIKING: D
DEFENSE: C
FITNESS: C+
MENTAL: C
GROUND: C+
It's no secret what kind of fighter Victor Gillean is. He wants to take you down faster then the American economy and rain down as many punches as the U.S. does bailouts. What we saw in his first fight against Zandu Barber was that not only does he have power on the ground but also on his feet. His boxing technique looks solid as his limited, but high percentage of strikes landed for might suggest. Considering that his opponent was a slow, big man we'll see how good his hands are standing in the future.
His takedowns were effective and even though he landed only a quarter of his strikes on the ground you can be sure that when he hits you that you will cover up.
His downfall is a lack of striking defense and a suspect chin. He had a high percentage of strikes against him and it didn't take many for Hudson to pt him to sleep. Whether it is a lack of KO defense or toughness is yet to be known but he needs to do something as to not get hit so often.
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Tabu Tolliver
Striking Accuracy - 20/48 (42%)
Striking Accuracy Against - 34/54 (63%)
Submission Attempts - 1/1 (100%)
Takedowns - 1/4 (25%)
Ground and Pound - 1/9 (11%)
Average Damage - 0.56
STRIKING: C+
DEFENSE: C+
FITNESS: C
MENTAL: C
GROUND: D
From a scouting standpoint, it is hard to imagine how Tabu simply took down yours truly and submitted me with ease. It's not that hard to believe, in actuality. While Tabu might have been better off striking against me, despite my ground game he was able to exploit my lack of submission defense and lack of aggression.
All that said, his stand up is much better then his submission game. He was at least connecting with Sakibomb before his was dropped twice and finished by the boxer. Tabu seems to be a reasonably durable fighter who simply lacks the physical and mental prowess that it might take for someone of his skills to be a reach the next level in IAH.
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James Hudson
Striking Accuracy - 67/143 (47%)
Striking Accuracy Against - 66/99 (67%)
Knockdowns - 6
Knockdowns Against - 6
Takedown Defense - 0/0 (0%)
Average Damage - 0.65
STRIKING: B-
DEFENSE: C+
FITNESS: C+
MENTAL: C+
GROUND: D-
The muay thai practitioner who specializes in clinch striking made quick work of his first two opponents, including a devastating high kick KO of Victor Gillean that will play in highlight reels for quite some time. His fight with Sakibomb answered a lot of questions that would have not been been known otherwise, though.
Some say you can't measure heart. They're dead wrong. Having been knocked down six times in one fight before having the referee mercifully step is something of a badge of honor. His durability both physically and mentally can not be questioned.
With all of this said, Sakibomb was able to expose something in Hudson's game. What it is, I'm not sure. Sakibomb was able to stay out of the clinch and avoid all of Hudson's killing lows. Is Dateh's stand up simply better then Hudson's? The scouting report would suggest otherwise. But when you break down the statistics of the fight it would be hard to argue that Hudson's more complete striking game was no match against Sakibomb's. I don't know what he has to do to get on top, but Hudson needs to find the missing link before he becomes a top tier fighter.
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"Sakibomb" Dateh
Striking Accuracy - 98/141 (70%)
Striking Accuracy Against - 32/102 (31%)
Knockdowns - 10
Knockdowns Against - 0
Takedown Defense - 8/8 (100%)
Average Damage - 0.69
STRIKING: D
DEFENSE: C+
FITNESS: B
MENTAL: C+
GROUND: D-
Sakon "Sakibomb" Dateh has the most puzzling of all of the scouting reports. A self proclaimed drunken boxer, Dateh mowed through the tournament with the greatest of ease. But how? Here is what the Sleeping Economist sees:
Fitness. It's just that simple. Dateh is stronger, faster, tougher, more agile and has the cardio to go for days. He has the highest rating in fitness and let that be a lesson to anyone who thinks pure skill beats pure fitness. It takes a combination of both in order to be on top. That isn't to say that Dateh has no skills as a fighter. He's obviously a gifted puncher and there was one thing on display that none of the other fighters showed: Defense.
Stopping all eight takedown attempts against him combined with keeping his opponents percentage of string against him to a mere 31%, Sakibomb was by far the best at avoiding damage. We saw his sharp counters and digging body shots set him ground and pound finishes in all three of his fights. He controlled the fight and set the pace for all of his fights despite a D in striking and a D- in grappling.
That should tell everyone that he does have weaknesses in the skill department. He obviously can punch but there are question about his kicking and clinching ability. As for what he can do to improve, he'd probably best be off simply increasing his physical advantage while continuing to improve his punching and defensive abilities.
Victor Gillean
Striking Accuracy - 5/7 (71%)
Striking Accuracy Against - 25/38 (66%)
Submission Attempts - 0/0 (0%)
Takedowns - 3/6 (50%)
Ground and Pound - 10/40 (25%)
Average Damage - 0.94
STRIKING: D
DEFENSE: C
FITNESS: C+
MENTAL: C
GROUND: C+
It's no secret what kind of fighter Victor Gillean is. He wants to take you down faster then the American economy and rain down as many punches as the U.S. does bailouts. What we saw in his first fight against Zandu Barber was that not only does he have power on the ground but also on his feet. His boxing technique looks solid as his limited, but high percentage of strikes landed for might suggest. Considering that his opponent was a slow, big man we'll see how good his hands are standing in the future.
His takedowns were effective and even though he landed only a quarter of his strikes on the ground you can be sure that when he hits you that you will cover up.
His downfall is a lack of striking defense and a suspect chin. He had a high percentage of strikes against him and it didn't take many for Hudson to pt him to sleep. Whether it is a lack of KO defense or toughness is yet to be known but he needs to do something as to not get hit so often.
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Tabu Tolliver
Striking Accuracy - 20/48 (42%)
Striking Accuracy Against - 34/54 (63%)
Submission Attempts - 1/1 (100%)
Takedowns - 1/4 (25%)
Ground and Pound - 1/9 (11%)
Average Damage - 0.56
STRIKING: C+
DEFENSE: C+
FITNESS: C
MENTAL: C
GROUND: D
From a scouting standpoint, it is hard to imagine how Tabu simply took down yours truly and submitted me with ease. It's not that hard to believe, in actuality. While Tabu might have been better off striking against me, despite my ground game he was able to exploit my lack of submission defense and lack of aggression.
All that said, his stand up is much better then his submission game. He was at least connecting with Sakibomb before his was dropped twice and finished by the boxer. Tabu seems to be a reasonably durable fighter who simply lacks the physical and mental prowess that it might take for someone of his skills to be a reach the next level in IAH.
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James Hudson
Striking Accuracy - 67/143 (47%)
Striking Accuracy Against - 66/99 (67%)
Knockdowns - 6
Knockdowns Against - 6
Takedown Defense - 0/0 (0%)
Average Damage - 0.65
STRIKING: B-
DEFENSE: C+
FITNESS: C+
MENTAL: C+
GROUND: D-
The muay thai practitioner who specializes in clinch striking made quick work of his first two opponents, including a devastating high kick KO of Victor Gillean that will play in highlight reels for quite some time. His fight with Sakibomb answered a lot of questions that would have not been been known otherwise, though.
Some say you can't measure heart. They're dead wrong. Having been knocked down six times in one fight before having the referee mercifully step is something of a badge of honor. His durability both physically and mentally can not be questioned.
With all of this said, Sakibomb was able to expose something in Hudson's game. What it is, I'm not sure. Sakibomb was able to stay out of the clinch and avoid all of Hudson's killing lows. Is Dateh's stand up simply better then Hudson's? The scouting report would suggest otherwise. But when you break down the statistics of the fight it would be hard to argue that Hudson's more complete striking game was no match against Sakibomb's. I don't know what he has to do to get on top, but Hudson needs to find the missing link before he becomes a top tier fighter.
---------------------------------------------------------
"Sakibomb" Dateh
Striking Accuracy - 98/141 (70%)
Striking Accuracy Against - 32/102 (31%)
Knockdowns - 10
Knockdowns Against - 0
Takedown Defense - 8/8 (100%)
Average Damage - 0.69
STRIKING: D
DEFENSE: C+
FITNESS: B
MENTAL: C+
GROUND: D-
Sakon "Sakibomb" Dateh has the most puzzling of all of the scouting reports. A self proclaimed drunken boxer, Dateh mowed through the tournament with the greatest of ease. But how? Here is what the Sleeping Economist sees:
Fitness. It's just that simple. Dateh is stronger, faster, tougher, more agile and has the cardio to go for days. He has the highest rating in fitness and let that be a lesson to anyone who thinks pure skill beats pure fitness. It takes a combination of both in order to be on top. That isn't to say that Dateh has no skills as a fighter. He's obviously a gifted puncher and there was one thing on display that none of the other fighters showed: Defense.
Stopping all eight takedown attempts against him combined with keeping his opponents percentage of string against him to a mere 31%, Sakibomb was by far the best at avoiding damage. We saw his sharp counters and digging body shots set him ground and pound finishes in all three of his fights. He controlled the fight and set the pace for all of his fights despite a D in striking and a D- in grappling.
That should tell everyone that he does have weaknesses in the skill department. He obviously can punch but there are question about his kicking and clinching ability. As for what he can do to improve, he'd probably best be off simply increasing his physical advantage while continuing to improve his punching and defensive abilities.
