MMA Analysis: UFC 130 Breakdown for Rick Story vs. Thiago Alves
Thiago Alves has adequate wrestling and actually managed to outwrestle John Howard in his last outing in the Octagon, but by and large, he’s not known for his wrestling prowess. His tremendous standup has in some ways alleviated his need for a top notch takedown game, but it has also hurt his ability to stop the takedown. Both Jon Fitch and Georges St Pierre took him down at will in their matchups. It could be a long night for Alves if he can’t keep Story from taking him down. Alves scores a 5 out of 10 in wrestling.
Rick Story is a wrestler. He’s got the wrestling pedigree wrestling in High School at Bethell High School in Washington and was the 2006 NAIA National Wrestling runner up at 184lbs for Southern Oregon University. He has seamless takedowns and a very tough clinch game. When he has a fighter down, he has very heavy accurate ground and pound. Rick has good balance and he can stuff takedowns and avoid being put on his back. He scores an 8 out of 10.
Eventually the ref broke them apart due to inactivity against the cage, but Alves threw a knee and Story pressed Alves against the cage, yet again. Story is definitely a grinder. His trainers and coaches have said that from day one and this fight was
The term “grinder” in mixed martial arts latches on to no one more than Jon Fitch. American Kickboxing Academy's welterweight insists if his all fights went into the championship rounds, his last six wins—and his February draw with BJ Penn—would have