2. Jones is just that good, plain and simple. The guy throws around top level wrestlers like they’re nothing, and peices the other parts of his repetoire around that. His MMA game is really something to marvel at. I think very few people would have a chance in the cage with him in the world (at any weight). I would also put big money on Jon if him and Anderson were to ever fight.

3. I posted this on FO, and it kind of pertains to your question: “What is it called when you can’t take even a light solid shot to the temple. Each time he’s been touched there (Nog, Nelson, Cro Cop elbow) he’s either been rocked or knocked out cold.”

He does a lot of things well, but I think he’s a career gatekeeper because of that inability to take a shot.

4. It depends on what you qualify as contender. Will he get to top ten status at some point? I would say yes. But I also think that the Pearson fight (which I scored for Pearson, and it seems the majoriy of online chatter agrees with that), showed he’s not really a top of the top tier when it comes to talent.

But as you said, with that takedown defense continuing to become excellent, improving his cardio, and maybe working more on placing that high class power he’s got; Barboza could become something special.

5. I would like to know your opinions on where Forrest goes from here. Even in the wins against Tito and Rich he didn’t look that great, and against Shogun he looked abysmal.

Personally, I’d like to see him take a fight at HW to see how he handles it.

Yea…Barboza could easily be 1-2…like I said…I still think he lost the Njokuani fight…either way…his takedown defense is off the chain…so he should be able to make some headway…not many guys willing to do what Pearson did against that level of striker IMO.

2. I think Jones is just that good. There is the rare fighter that defeats his opponent mentally at the same time he defeats them physically. Silva is that guy. Jones seems to be that guy too. As for Rua, I love the idea of a Rua/Hendo matchup. All the Pride guys will be salivating as well.

3. With a win, he was. Even if his wins were over unimpressive, aging fighters, a win streak is a win streak. And the UFC promoted Patrick Cote, Dan Hardy, etc. as legitimate “contenders.” Although I guess it depends on how you define contender. Would he be somewhere on a short list of fighters for the belt? Yes. Did he stand a chance of actually winning the belt? Not yet. Either way, moot point.

4. Can he? You bet. Will he? It’s awful crowded in there. Not sure he’s gonna be able to keep winning these unbelievable close decisions. He could pretty easily be 1-2 in the UFC.