Mirrors: Comparing Current UFC Fighters to NBA All-Stars
A huge problem with the UFC is that the average person only knows maybe three or four of the companies fighters. The NBA on the other hand is one of the most popular sports leagues in the world. These two organizations are vastly different, as well are the sports they compete in. It’s difficult to compare an individual sport, MMA, with a team sport, basketball, without discussing the shortcomings. So, full disclosure, I’m basing much of these comparisons on the storylines of the athletes, with a dash of individual talent. This is my attempt at getting the casual NBA fan on the same page of the casual MMA fan. So, lets dive in.
1. Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson, Flyweight Champion.
NBA Comparison: Chris Paul, Guard, Los Angelos Clippers
The appropriately nicknamed “Mighty Mouse” is the UFC’s pound-for-pound king. One of the most talented players in the NBA is arguably Chris Paul. Both veterans, they share many common traits. DJ is often considered to be the most talented guy in the UFC, in all aspects of MMA. CP3 is at the helm of one of the NBA’s most high powered offense’s and has been selected to the NBA’s First Team All-Defense six times in his career. Both guys are relatively small, Johnson measuring in at 5'3 and Paul at 6 ft. Despite their height disadvantage, they’ve always managed to come up in the clutch. DJ hasn’t lost since becoming champion, and has defended it 9 times. In his fight with Kyoji Horiguchi, he was able to submit him with 1 second left in the fifth and final round. CP3 is no stranger to last game heroics. In Game 7 of their series with the San Antonio Spurs, Paul hit a last second floater over Tim Duncan that won them the game and series. But despite all of this, DJ and CP3 seem to get overlooked every time the media talks about either the best fighters or the best point guards. Don’t let size fool you, both these men are at the top of their professions.
2. Dominick “Dominator” Cruz, Bantamweight Champion.
NBA Comparison: Shaun Livingston, Guard, Golden State Warriors.
Surprised? Don’t be.
Shaun Livingston was becoming one of the NBA’s most entertaining players until an unfortunate injury forced him to the sidelines during the prime of his career. However, he was able to return from injury to become the best backup point guard in the NBA. Steph Curry’s playoff struggles opened the door for Livingston to step up, hit every inside-the-paint jumper and play like a true starting point guard. He also proved the Warriors don’t need Curry to win games(well at least against the Rockets). The Dominator was the often considered second only to “Mighty Mouse” when looking a the UFC pound-for-pound rankings, a man he beat when fighting at 135 pounds. But, after a string of major knee and groin injuries, he became relatively unknown to the casual viewer. But, now as a seasoned veteran, he earned a shot at the title, and used his cunning, his veteran savvy and unique movement to defeat then champ TJ Dillashaw. When handed a diagnosis that would have ended the careers of many athletes, both Livingston and Cruz were able to overcome their setbacks and become champions.
3. “The Notorious” Conor McGregor, Featherweight Champion
Brazen, loud-mouthed, media-beloved and supremely skilled. These are the words I’d use to describe Conor McGregor. He’s a completely unique athlete, there’s nothing like him in the world of sports. So don’t freak out when I say that his NBA Comparison is… Wardell Stephen Curry.
Steph might not be larger than life, nor intimidating and definitely isn’t Irish. But he’s loved by all media outlets. Every sportscaster in the world seems to love Steph Curry. They love seeing him do the impossible, make mystifying plays that leave you saying “The f**k just happened?”. And like Steph Curry, no likes to hate on Conor more than seasoned fans. Hell, most current fighters hate him and “what he’s done to the game”. Starting to see the comparison? But still, it felt like after knocking out Jose Aldo J.R., the world loved Conor, just like they loved Steph after his Warriors defeated LeBron’s Cavaliers. But, the universe works in mysterious ways, and somehow, everything that was wrong can always be made right. Conor, seemingly at the top of his game, took an irrational pitstop in Stockton, California. Steph returned to Cleveland thinking he’d grab another ring before picking up Kevin Durant on the way to a three-peat. But, Conor McGregor, a self-proclaimed god, was submitted by Nathan Diaz. Steph Curry threw his mouthpiece in discontent as LeBron blocked his dreams of winning a second title. But the best part is that despite their recent losses, both devastating, their still just as beloved by the media as they were before they were proven mortal.
4. Eddie Alvarez, Lightweight Champion.
NBA Comparison: Isaiah Thomas, Guard, Boston Celtics.
Had I written this article 3 weeks ago, this would be about Rafael Dos Anjos, the former Lightweight champion, who was knocked out by Eddie Alvarez in the first round of their fight earlier this month. But, here I am, writing about the new champ, Philly’s own Edward Alvarez. Perpetual tough guy, Alvarez is the definition of heart. This is a guy who went over 150 rounds of hard sparring in preparation for his fight with Dos Anjos. When looking at the NBA, no All-Star embodies this mentality quite like fellow newcomer, Isaiah Thomas. At 5'9, 185 pounds, Thomas is considerably undersized, yet managed to average 22 points and 6 assists last year. Selected as the last pick in the 2011 NBA draft, he started his career as an underdog. Like Thomas, Alvarez prides himself on always being the underdog, using it to propel him to becoming the only fighter with both a Bellator and UFC belt under his name. Scrappy, hard-nosed and never give up are what make both Alvarez and Thomas the high level athletes they are today.
5. Tyron “The Chosen One” Woodley, Welterweight Champion.
NBA Comparison: DeMar Derozan, Guard, Toronto Raptors.
Who saw that coming?
Tyron Woodley knocked out the king of the Welterweight Division, Robbie Lawler, in devastating fashion. Athletically, he’s worlds ahead of everyone in the division. Skill-wise, He’s about not in the top ten. But, what he lacks in either kicking or jiu-jitsu, he makes up for in smooth and fluid striking, hard-nosed wrestling and the athleticism possessed by very few fighters on the UFC roster. DeMar Derozan fits a pretty similar build. The 6'7 shooting guard relies heavily on his sometimes unbelievable athleticism and his mid-range game to account for his less than stellar perimeter play, along with his subpar ball-handling ability. It’s a match made in heaven, if heaven was Toronto(It most certainly isn’t.)
6. Michael “The Count” Bisping, Middleweight Champion.
NBA Comparison: Carmelo Anthony, Forward, New York Knicks.
The well-rounded Brit is known maybe more for his talents as an analyst then as a fighter, but yet after years of coming so close to a title shot only to get either knocked out or foiled by questionable judges, he finally got his shot at UFC 199. There, The Count was able to end Luke Rockhold’s short run as champion within the first five minutes. Carmelo Anthony, is not going to win a championship, unless a miracle happens and LeBron, Chris Paul and Dwayne Wade(#teamBananaBoat) all sign with the Knicks before they end their careers. This, unlike the Kevin Durant signing, will never happen. Ever. Sorry Knicks fans, but your years of pain and suffering will only end when you rid yourselves of the selfish, jump-shooting aficionado you traded your entire team for back in 2011. Unless you get the KD or LeBron, you don’t win championships on trades, you win them on draft night. Ask Golden State and San Antonio. Where was I? Oh yeah. Both these veterans are very talented and deserve recognition for these talents. But if or when they actually win something, we’ll all be more surprised than Russell Westbrook after checking twitter on the 4th of July.
7. Daniel “DC” Cormier, Light Heavyweight Champion.
NBA Comparison: Tim Duncan, Forward, San Antonio Spurs.
Now, hear me out. No, DC doesn’t mean as much to MMA as Tim Duncan does to the NBA, nor does he have the longtime credentials in the sport that the Big Fundamental carries on his sleeve. However, Daniel Cormier is the champion, the role model and the true embodiment of the sport of MMA, in the same way Duncan is for basketball. Unselfish? Check. DC is well known for his support of fellow teammates, often cornering them for their fights. Tim Duncan is definition of unselfish, just watch literally any video of him. Role model? Check. While the world(myself included) looked the other way as Jon Jones threw away his career with relentless partying and some less then stellar decision making, DC was doing all the right things. We all love Jones so much that we see DC as bad guy, when we should see him as the true hero. After reading his article about losing his daughter, I realized I was cheering for the wrong guy. Youth basketball coaches across the world should show every aspiring NBA prospect videos of Tim Duncan passing, because the well oiled machine that is the Spurs offense is what basketball is all about. With a looming two year suspension over Jon Jones’s career, its time to back Daniel Cormier as the true champion, because nobody is coming close to that belt.
8. Stipe Miocic, Heavyweight Champion.
NBA Comparison: DeAndre Jordan, Center, Los Angelos Clippers.
This one was hard. DeAndre Jordan is the NBA’s Stipe Miocic. He’s powerful, athletic, and as a highlight tape longer than then all three Lord of the Rings movies. Stipe has power, athleticism and a pretty nasty collections of knockouts on his tape. The age of the back to the basket big is winding down, just like the age of the heavy handed, one dimensional heavyweight. Nowadays, teams want a 6'10 guy who can run the floor, block shots, dunk, grab boards and set screens(see Bismack Biyombo), and leave the point scoring to the perimeter players. In the heavyweight division, you need to be able to punch, kick and grapple. You can’t just stick to one thing and think you’ll win a championship, just ask Mark Hunt how that turned out. Stipe may not wow you with technical striking, powerful and well placed kicks or a stellar Jiu-Jitsu game. But, he’s strong, fast, heavy-handed and can defend himself on the ground. Don’t ask him to get someone in guillotine or a heel hook and don’t ask DeAndre Jordan to hit a contested late game 15 footer. Just let them do what they’re good at, and sit back and enjoy the fire works.