Natalia’s biggest problems in the top 5 are probably Shevchenko and Namajunas. I think momentum is with Natalia vs any of them though. Silva has just been totally out striking everyone so far because she’s extremely quick. I don’t see Manon being an issue because she’s just too plodding and slow. They have some similar weapons but Fiorot’s advantage in that fight is strength and I don’t think that will help her much as Natalia is a better grappler. We need to see Natalia in a 5 round fight, as this could all change very quickly.
@@djccombat5530 Alexa would likely be a 5 round fight so there’s some answers we need to get about Silva first, but as it stands I’d lean towards Natalia. I think she’s a lot quicker than Alexa, with more varied tools, and is better on the ground. You mentioned that Natalia wouldn’t have a takedown threat, but I don’t think this is correct. She rightfully avoided grappling with Andrade, but she’s hit quite a few very nice judo throws and when she came into the UFC it was her grappling that was being praised. I think Natalia could very well take Alexa for a ride if she needed to, but I think her striking advantage would mean she doesn’t have to. I do think Alexa has better hands, but Natalia has a way around that which Shevchenko doesn’t - and it’s movement and volume. Alexa is able to land so often on Shevchenko because Valentina is a very reaction heavy fighter - and she falls for Alexa’s feints and then stays in the same position to be hit. Natalia throws first most of the time and she throws combinations whilst moving backwards. I think she matches up very well against Grasso - but we don’t know if her style can sustain 5 rounds. You mentioned the Marina Rodriguez fight as evidence that Natalia would struggle against strikers, but I think this is a little bit flawed. Marina had so much success because Natalia was a much greener fighter and she was very young, but also because she was matching the volume with her own and catching Natalia with fast combinations. I don’t think there’s a similar style of striker in the top 5, and everyone including Grasso fight in more of a sniping style with shorter combinations - which I don’t think is going to be very effective against somebody as quick and mobile as Natalia.
@@maryf720 Hmm but I think Alexa could counter the judo of Natalia and hop on the back. She could also use leg kicks to slow down Silva’s movement. And 5 rounds, yea I don’t think she’ll be able to sustain that style for 5. Lots of movement and backing up is exhausting and she was clearly fading against Jessica. Grasso will have more success cutting her off and hitting her and the deeper it goes imo the better it is for Alexa but who knows Silva could improve that.
@@djccombat5530 Alexa’s success of taking the back has only happened against Shevchenko and Calderwood - Natalia seems to be a much more aware grappler than either of them, and chooses her takedown opportunities very carefully. Grasso really doesn’t leg kick that often either, especially not with any considerable power behind it. Regarding cutting off the cage - I don’t know about Grasso being able to cut off the cage better than Andrade was - I was actually quite surprised that Jessica could do it to that extent when every other fighter has struggled to do the same thing. I’d say Grasso really hasn’t fought anybody like Natalia, and whilst Grasso is very good - her style isn’t totally unique and is a lot more predictable. I’d say the most similar match so far would have been Natalia vs Andrea Lee - Grasso would take a similar approach but with less kicks and better boxing / but we all saw Andrea getting totally picked apart and nearly finished. Grasso would have to completely smother Natalia, and I just haven’t seen that ability or game plan from her before. I’d also disagree that Silva was fading against Andrade. I think Jessica puts on an especially tiring pace because she gets in really close and stays in your face for the whole fight - but Silva was still moving quickly and even started pressuring Andrade at some moments in round 3. Jessica was smothering her as best she could, and even with that more awkward style to deal with Natalia was piecing her up from start to finish. Natalia and Alexa do also have a common opponent in Araujo - and Natalia made her look like she didn’t even belong in there with her, whilst Grasso was going tit for tat and had a lot of even exchanges. Silva’s athleticism just looks like it’s on another level.
@@maryf720You are right, many people talk about Natália Silva's Taekwondo, her movements and kicks, but few people talk about or know that she also has very good jiu-jitsu, but as she said, she doesn't use it because she likes to fight standing up, her style. She still hasn't shown all of her skills, believe it or not. In fighting, she is like a brilliant and dedicated student. She once said that she only liked to do things to the highest level of perfection possible, that's why she is so good, like that dedicated student in the class who only gets 10s.
I'm inclined to agree with you.
Natalia is a problem. Her skillset is good. Let her fight against Maycee or Erin. I'm glad their a new face. Women's Flyweight class look excitied
Natalia would wipe the floor with all these girls besides Karine Silva Manon & maybe val rose would get destroyed
Natalia’s biggest problems in the top 5 are probably Shevchenko and Namajunas. I think momentum is with Natalia vs any of them though. Silva has just been totally out striking everyone so far because she’s extremely quick. I don’t see Manon being an issue because she’s just too plodding and slow. They have some similar weapons but Fiorot’s advantage in that fight is strength and I don’t think that will help her much as Natalia is a better grappler.
We need to see Natalia in a 5 round fight, as this could all change very quickly.
@@maryf720 what about Alexa?
@@djccombat5530 Alexa would likely be a 5 round fight so there’s some answers we need to get about Silva first, but as it stands I’d lean towards Natalia.
I think she’s a lot quicker than Alexa, with more varied tools, and is better on the ground.
You mentioned that Natalia wouldn’t have a takedown threat, but I don’t think this is correct. She rightfully avoided grappling with Andrade, but she’s hit quite a few very nice judo throws and when she came into the UFC it was her grappling that was being praised. I think Natalia could very well take Alexa for a ride if she needed to, but I think her striking advantage would mean she doesn’t have to.
I do think Alexa has better hands, but Natalia has a way around that which Shevchenko doesn’t - and it’s movement and volume. Alexa is able to land so often on Shevchenko because Valentina is a very reaction heavy fighter - and she falls for Alexa’s feints and then stays in the same position to be hit. Natalia throws first most of the time and she throws combinations whilst moving backwards. I think she matches up very well against Grasso - but we don’t know if her style can sustain 5 rounds.
You mentioned the Marina Rodriguez fight as evidence that Natalia would struggle against strikers, but I think this is a little bit flawed. Marina had so much success because Natalia was a much greener fighter and she was very young, but also because she was matching the volume with her own and catching Natalia with fast combinations. I don’t think there’s a similar style of striker in the top 5, and everyone including Grasso fight in more of a sniping style with shorter combinations - which I don’t think is going to be very effective against somebody as quick and mobile as Natalia.
@@maryf720 Hmm but I think Alexa could counter the judo of Natalia and hop on the back. She could also use leg kicks to slow down Silva’s movement. And 5 rounds, yea I don’t think she’ll be able to sustain that style for 5. Lots of movement and backing up is exhausting and she was clearly fading against Jessica. Grasso will have more success cutting her off and hitting her and the deeper it goes imo the better it is for Alexa but who knows Silva could improve that.
@@djccombat5530 Alexa’s success of taking the back has only happened against Shevchenko and Calderwood - Natalia seems to be a much more aware grappler than either of them, and chooses her takedown opportunities very carefully.
Grasso really doesn’t leg kick that often either, especially not with any considerable power behind it.
Regarding cutting off the cage - I don’t know about Grasso being able to cut off the cage better than Andrade was - I was actually quite surprised that Jessica could do it to that extent when every other fighter has struggled to do the same thing.
I’d say Grasso really hasn’t fought anybody like Natalia, and whilst Grasso is very good - her style isn’t totally unique and is a lot more predictable. I’d say the most similar match so far would have been Natalia vs Andrea Lee - Grasso would take a similar approach but with less kicks and better boxing / but we all saw Andrea getting totally picked apart and nearly finished. Grasso would have to completely smother Natalia, and I just haven’t seen that ability or game plan from her before.
I’d also disagree that Silva was fading against Andrade. I think Jessica puts on an especially tiring pace because she gets in really close and stays in your face for the whole fight - but Silva was still moving quickly and even started pressuring Andrade at some moments in round 3. Jessica was smothering her as best she could, and even with that more awkward style to deal with Natalia was piecing her up from start to finish.
Natalia and Alexa do also have a common opponent in Araujo - and Natalia made her look like she didn’t even belong in there with her, whilst Grasso was going tit for tat and had a lot of even exchanges. Silva’s athleticism just looks like it’s on another level.
@@maryf720You are right, many people talk about Natália Silva's Taekwondo, her movements and kicks, but few people talk about or know that she also has very good jiu-jitsu, but as she said, she doesn't use it because she likes to fight standing up, her style. She still hasn't shown all of her skills, believe it or not. In fighting, she is like a brilliant and dedicated student. She once said that she only liked to do things to the highest level of perfection possible, that's why she is so good, like that dedicated student in the class who only gets 10s.