In an interesting story posted on MMA Junkie today, American Kickboxing Academy teammates Jon Fitch and Cain Velasquez apparently disagree as to whether or not jiu-jitsu’s hallowed closed guard, is an effective position any longer to end a fight in modern MMA. Fitch told Fox Fight Game recently (and we’re paraphrasing here in our own colorful manner), that unless you’re submission wizards like Demian Maia and Shinya Aoki, forget about working for subs from the guard as dudes like Chael Sonnen will beat the living hell out of you.
Now, Velasquez is heading into a bout with “Minotauro” Nogueira, a guy who knows a thing or two about brutalizing an opponent’s body and or consciousness from the guard. When asked to share his thoughts on Fitch’s recent claim that essentially the closed guard has passed on, Velasquez reportedly said:
“I don’t believe that,” Velasquez said. “I believe everyone’s dangerous, especially Nogueira on the ground.”
Yes, a wisely chosen response Mr. Rising Contender; the last thing you would want to do is tell the world that ‘you’ll retire if you ever get tapped out from the guard,’ only to have Big Nog slap on one of his patented triangle chokes.
The sport’s evolving, soon guys are going to be turning pro that learned to pass the guard before they could walk, or drilled rubber guard every recess throughout elementary school. That’s some scary sh-t.
To bet on Velasquez vs. Nogueira head here.