My Opinion: The legacy of Cesar Gracie's team in question

[Grimm]

Add another question to team Gracie's legacy. Jake Shields was put on paper as a great grappler entering into the elite UFC. Nick and Nate Diaz have had their highs and lows in the octagon but have they delivered? For Shields I'd say no. I believe Nate is making a run like that of the one he had after he win TUF. Nick following his controversy ridden loss to Condit was extra painful with his suspension. As of last week Nick added another low, by not showing for a Superfight under BJJ ruled with Estima. Tonight Gilbert Melendez won via Split Decision but didn't look like the "best Lightweight in the World " as stated by teammate Nate Diaz. I give this team great praise and believe they aren't fighting to full potential. I saw a less than hungry Jake Shields get stopped quick and making the move back to 185 in search of winning ways. The problem is there aren't easy fights in the UFC. Nate is making a good run but which form of himself would show if he faced either Ben Henderson or Frankie Edgar if the fight presented itself tomorrow if either pulled out to injury? Only time will tell what will happen in the lagacy of a few former StrikeForce Champions, a current StrikeForce Champion and a former TUF season winner?

[FKA]

IMO jake shields did ok considering what he's been through in SF he totally out wrestled a bigger stronger wrestler in dan henderson make no mistakes he dominated a healthy dan who had no excuses.he comes to ufc and split decisions martin fing kampmann a war machine no easy feet.He loses to the best ww but does it in style by hitting gsp more then he has been hit in his last 10 fights and at the end gsp looked like he lost that fight lol.Next he loses to ellenberger in a fight he shouldn't have gone on with after his father died he was obviously out of it mentally and had a shitty camp and he paid but showed heart in not screwing up the whole card by backing out.

shields last fight wasn't that impressive but it was a win and people don't take in to account how much his fathers passinf affected jake not only in the obvious emotional way but his father was one of his main coaches not only for work outs but for gameplanning as well.His father had been in that position since jake had been wrestling in highschool.

Honestly shields brought the best fight to gsp in years and with some time to get his head straight he will remain a top contender at welterweight just be patient grimm.

[FKA]

Nate diaz is my fav of the diaz brothers his jujitsu IMO has always been better technically then his brothers atleast he uses it better strategically instead of defensively or as a last resort like nick does alot of the time.Also after Nick was supposed to fight gsp they brought in serious pro boxing coaches to sharpen nicks skills and it showed alot in nates fights following his boxing has come along tremendously as well as his ability to control the clinch game and hurt guys with dirty boxing.Nate will be champion i beleive i n the near future.Nate right now is the shining star at the cesar gracie camp.

[FKA]

Nick diaz has had a good but dramatic run in the ufc so far dominating bj penn like no other.His fight with condit didn't live up to the hype but i feel that was more condits fault he said he wasn't scared to stand with diaz but he never stood in the pocket throwing point scoring no power leg kicks isn't standin.He came close to standing in the first round and ate a couple combos he didn't like and got on his bicycle.But anyway with nick he is more emotional and deep if his mind isn't right it shows in his performances and has been evident as of late.

He didn't show up to press confrences and after he lost the fight with gsp his motivation went down for sure and then when u got condit doin what he did he just got fed up.

As far as the jujitsu super fight ordeal that was completely the shitty organizing done by the gracies diaz would have participated but a lack of communication and general respect led to a bunch of bs but all drama aside diaz has serious skill and puts on good fights every time.I wanna see a diaz condit rematch after condit loses to gsp.

Honestly this is the only scenerio in which i sort of agree the cesar gracie camp lost respect but it wasn't due to the fighters more due to management and cesar gracie himself.

[FKA]

OK so finally gilbert melendez........

he looked plain shitty last night but honestly do you blame him????

you virtually clear out the roster and still no bid to the ufc.I mean come on eddie alvarez gets all this attention and a possible ufc contract just because he beats aoki who gilbert beat 2 years ago lmao.I agree alvarez should be in the ufc as he is a current top ranked world class light weight but to leave gilbert out is retarded.

for one gilbert would smash alvarez take him down at will and out box him or break him with his cardio.secondly now that gilbert beat thomson there is literally NO ONE is sf to fight.

Gilbert had little to no motivation for this fight and it was evident like he said post fight it was a lose lose fight for him if he lost well obviously all his momentum is gone u put on a bad show well then u got people hatin like u do now but hell even if he went out there at one hundred percent and smashed thomson in the first round would it have mattered???

its a guy he beat already and rankings wise isn't even close,a win doesnt move gilbert up or down in rankings the fight was basically pointless and was made just to put asses in seats and make a decent card.

IMO dana only kept gilbert in SF to keep decent nameable stars on fight cards but its not worth it your kiling guys careers.if gilbert doesnt make it into the ufc in the next fight or 2 i see him retiring he looked really pissed and at his witts end post fight but i dont blame him i FIRMLY believe he belongs in the UFC to atleast prove his worth.

If alvarez gets in after gettin his ass whooped by chandler then beating a guy melendez already beat (in a better fashion IMO)Im gonna be just as outraged.

[Grimm]

Mad appreciation for the input FKA. Really good stuff. I'd hate to see the Gracie guys fall like AKA; having Thompson, Cain and Fitch lose on top of Dave Camarillo leave along side Koscheck.

[FKA]

no prob grimm im tired of people putting out great blogs and seemingly people just browse through it without taking time to acknowledge the guy who did work.If you can take time to read it you can atleast take time to drop an opinion or two lol.

i read shields is returning to middleweight im not sold on the idea i liked him where he was bigger but it seemed the cut was draining his cardio way too much so we will see i personally think he neds a month or two off to get his mind right and truly wrap his mind around everything and then move forward in the proper manner.

[Grimm]

Shields at 185 is either hit or miss(badly). I think the StrikeForce curse was estabished with Shields making champion at 185 and Dan Henderson winning at 205 then moving up to defeat Fedor. To get back to the point, Shields will not have as easy of a run in the UFC like he did in StrikeForce. Added bonus Henderson will not have the same luck as in StrikeForce and this will be proven with his fight with Bones!