Re-Evaluating Miguel Torres After His Loss at WEC 47

Sakara=Excitement · 03-08-2010, 08:45 PM

Re-Evaluating Miguel Torres After His Loss at WEC 47 - Bloody Elbow

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Not long ago Miguel Torres was regarded as not only far and away the best bantamweight in the world, but also one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. After two straight losses, MMA watchers are beginning to change their tune.

Here's Kelvin Hunt speculating on Torres' loss of his intimidating edge:

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With his performances(and help with the media) Torres had built this invincible aura around him. It seemed as if he could do whatever he wanted in the cage. If you wanted to stand and bang, he'd beat you there. If you wanted to take him down, he'd just submit you. However, now after suffering back to back dominating losses, will other bantamweights view him in the same light? The same fighter that ran through each opponent time and time again, or will they sense some vulnerability now?

This situation kind of reminds me of the Mirko Cro Cop KO loss to Gabriel Gonzaga at UFC 70. It seemed as though that loss took some of Mirko's soul with it. It also took away the mytique and aura that Mirko once possessed, and I wonder if Torres will follow the same path? The difference between Cro Cop and Torres is that Torres is in his physical prime right(29 years old) now, whereas Cro Cop was well over the age of 30 when he made his UFC debut and began going downhill. Torres still has time to correct the flaws in his game(notably take down defense and much needed strength), but only time will tell if he's willing to do what it takes to evolve with the fight game. It's no secret that other bantamweights are gunning for the top spot. Dominick Cruz is a prime example of that. The question now is: Will other bantamweights go into fights with Torres now with less respect and more confidence in their abilities to beat him?

And Zak Woods takes a critical look at Torres' past opponents:

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In early 2009 Torres defeated Takeya Mizugaki, who was signed from Greatest Common Multiple (bet you haven't heard of that promotion before) on short notice to fight the bantamweight champion. Yet Mizugaki was able to win two early rounds a fact that caused many to jump all over Takeya as an immediate bantamweight contender. Since that fight Mizugaki barely won a split decision over Jeff Curan and is 1-2 in theWEC.

Torres' previous opponent was Manny Tapia in late 2008. Manny is 0-3 since that fight and is now out of the WEC. In the summer of 2008 Miguel fought Yoshiro Maeda who subsequently loss to Rani Yaha and was cut from the WEC. Maeda fought in DREAM's featherweight GrandPrix losing in the second round though he recently defeated Chase Beebe and Kleber Koike though that victory was due to illegal groin strikes. Prior to Maeda, Miguel defeated Chase Beebe who is since 0-4 (granted one was an outright robbery) and currently resides outside the WEC.

MMA is an extremely fluid sport that is still evolving at a breakneck pace, yet from just two years ago only one opponent that Torres defeated in the WEC still resides in that promotion and that is Takeya Mizugaki.

In my mind, the story is less the fall of Miguel Torres than it is how rapidly the talent levels are increasing in the featherweight and bantamweight divisions. I have to give much of the credit to Zuffa and the efforts of the WEC to treat these divisions seriously as top-flight divisions for men's MMA.

QOTSA420 · 03-08-2010, 09:02 PM

I think Miguel is starting to feel what Hughes, Liddell, and most recently Pulver are feeling. Which is a more talented hungry brand of fighters. But unlike the champs before him, he is young enough and has the talent to rapidly fill the holes in his game. By adding some wrestling and strength he could maybe make another title run. There have been many great fighters that have been in his same postition: Shogun, Liddell, Mir, BJ, etc, who have been down and seemingly out but manage to come back even stronger. Yet on the other hand there are the Cro Cops, Sylvias, and Arlowskis who have had a much more difficult time recovering from these expierences. I'm intersested in seeing how the fallen featherweight handles this kind of pressure and I'm pulling for him.

WAR TORRES!

roaddawg · 03-08-2010, 09:12 PM

Ahh its the same old tune.

- Fighter beats alot of people and looks unstoppable
- People regard that fighter as one of the best if not the best
- Fighter eventually gets beaten followed by more losses
- Fans turn on the fighter

Anyone who keeps fighting will eventually lose. Welcome to the fight business.

Chute_Boxe44 · 03-09-2010, 04:17 AM

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Originally Posted by roaddawg

Ahh its the same old tune.

- Fighter beats alot of people and looks unstoppable
- People regard that fighter as one of the best if not the best
- Fighter eventually gets beaten followed by more losses
- Fans turn on the fighter

Anyone who keeps fighting will eventually lose. Welcome to the fight business.

It's really funny, I never would have put it that way, but I totally agree. I mean how often have we seen this happen over the years now.

It's just that I have always felt Torres was overrated. Nothing against the man, he is always incredibly entertaining to watch and he always gives it his all. It's just that he has never seemed to fight any elite fighters in my opinion. Now he's in the same boat as Faber. In the past both were the kings of their divisions, but now they'r having trouble stringing wins together. It's mainly due to the fact of how the WEC has grown so much over the last two years. They have managed to get some depth to both their Feather/Bantom weight divisions and now its not so easy to dominate anymore.

Overall, I do think Torres will be back on top at some point in the next year or two. But I don't think he will ever be viewed as one of the top pound for pound fighters as he was less than a year ago.

lwbrewer · 03-09-2010, 09:01 AM

Lot of good points here I especially like Roaddawg's short post. One thing missed in my opinion Is the press demands he was a poster boy for WEC doing shows right before the fight. A did it get him out of preping for the fight correctly and/or B mentally take away from him. IMHO A & B were both factors along with proir posts.

Lance Eastwood · 03-09-2010, 09:14 AM

Yeah it is clear to see now he has some holes in his game. If you are going be on your back you need to have Damien Mia level skills which Torres does not. Adding some wrestling or middle game as I call is crutial at this point. He needs to have the threat of a takedown to help his striking and compliment his ground game by not being the one taken down and on his back always.

TheKidInside · 03-09-2010, 09:28 AM

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Originally Posted by Lance Eastwood

Yeah it is clear to see now he has some holes in his game. If you are going be on your back you need to have Damien Mia level skills which Torres does not. Adding some wrestling or middle game as I call is crutial at this point. He needs to have the threat of a takedown to help his striking and compliment his ground game by not being the one taken down and on his back always.

umm...he has 22 submission wins...

TBEAR · 03-09-2010, 09:30 AM

I have to agree with RD...everyone even Fedor will lose at somepoint

TBEAR · 03-09-2010, 09:32 AM

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Originally Posted by TheKidInside

umm...he has 22 submission wins...

The only thing yu could have added was shut up dude.

Well put in a few words

Trojan Fight Club · 03-09-2010, 09:45 AM

I always felt as if he was overrated, but he is still a great fighter. He has a lot of wars in his day, a lot of fights will take a toll on a fighter no matter how good. He lost to two world class athletes which is nothing to be ashamed of, as RD said this is the fight business and people will lose.

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