Jeff Monson VS Mike Whitehead -- Grappling

[DJColdfusion]

Jeff Monson just won the Absolute Division ant the AGGRO sub-grappling tournament. He "fought" former UFC heavyweight Mike Whitehead (who has a better ground game than he has ever been given credit for) to a 2-point victory that went into tripple overtime (6 minute bout, 5 minute over time X 3). Both guys are absolute studs.

I actually got the chance to roll with Monson last night for just over an hour. He worked off his back for almost the entire time and I don't care what anyone says, that guy has a solid guard game. He won't try to submit that many people from his back but he will either sweep you or escape and counter attack. His half-guard game has got to be the second best in the UFC (maybe the first but I personally have to give Pe De Pano that one). He deserves all of the success he has achieved and will hopefully achieve in the near future.

[OmaPlata]

Im surprised Whitehead could even hang with Monson. Monson is BJJ black belt by now isnt he?

[DJColdfusion]

Whitehead pushed the match for the entire initial match and the first overtime.

Monson's back had been bugging him, I hope I didn't have anything to do with that from rolling with him the night before, but he never complained.

Monson really brought it during the second and third overtime and both of those guys showed a ton of talent.

Whitehead has some great takedowns and takedown defense. He had several opportunities to score and just couldn't convert it for the points. The guy is a stud and may be the most UNDERRATED NHB grappler out there right now.

Monson has a better bottom game than anyone has EVER given him credit for. I've rolled with black belts before and I've rolled with ADCC competitors before and I've never been in the guard of anyone as slippery as Jeff Monson before. He only swept me once during the hour or so that we trained but it was a slick sweep and he escaped, returned to standing, like the man was made out of lightning. I am admittedly no where near his level but guys don't get away from me like that, it just doesn't happen . . . until now.

The coolest moment of the entire tournament was when Dave Anderton (310 2X All-American) threw Sergio Farnes (405) with about five seconds left in a previously scoreless match.

[OmaPlata]

Originally Posted by DJColdfusion

Whitehead pushed the match for the entire initial match and the first overtime.

Monson's back had been bugging him, I hope I didn't have anything to do with that from rolling with him the night before, but he never complained.

Monson really brought it during the second and third overtime and both of those guys showed a ton of talent.

Whitehead has some great takedowns and takedown defense. He had several opportunities to score and just couldn't convert it for the points. The guy is a stud and may be the most UNDERRATED NHB grappler out there right now.

Monson has a better bottom game than anyone has EVER given him credit for. I've rolled with black belts before and I've rolled with ADCC competitors before and I've never been in the guard of anyone as slippery as Jeff Monson before. He only swept me once during the hour or so that we trained but it was a slick sweep and he escaped, returned to standing, like the man was made out of lightning. I am admittedly no where near his level but guys don't get away from me like that, it just doesn't happen . . . until now.

The coolest moment of the entire tournament was when Dave Anderton (310 2X All-American) threw Sergio Farnes (405) with about five seconds left in a previously scoreless match.

Wasnt ANderton going to face Mir? What happened in that match?
How did you end up rolling with Monson? Do you guys train at the same school? What color belt are you in BJJ? You must be at least purple to have any kind of attempt to give monson a sweat lol

[DJColdfusion]

Mir got kicked in the face on Wednesday and lacerated his eye on his training partner's toe nail so Anderton and Mir did not happen.

I'm a purple belt but I'm not so sure how much "sweat" I gave him. He did say that he couldn't work his "normal" game and commented that he wasn't use to rolling with someone that is stronger than he is. But I am under absolutely NO delusion that I am anywher even close to his level. He's one of the best in the world and it wouldn't be a difficult argument to place him as the best in the world.

When I dropped him off at his hotel I thanked him for the opportunity to train with him and told him that for me, as an MMA/grappling fan, it had to be something similar to an NBA fan (who happens to get into the occasional pickup game with his buddies) getting a chance to play a game of HORSE with Michael Jordan.

[OmaPlata]

Originally Posted by DJColdfusion

Mir got kicked in the face on Wednesday and lacerated his eye on his training partner's toe nail so Anderton and Mir did not happen.

I'm a purple belt but I'm not so sure how much "sweat" I gave him. He did say that he couldn't work his "normal" game and commented that he wasn't use to rolling with someone that is stronger than he is. But I am under absolutely NO delusion that I am anywher even close to his level. He's one of the best in the world and it wouldn't be a difficult argument to place him as the best in the world.

When I dropped him off at his hotel I thanked him for the opportunity to train with him and told him that for me, as an MMA/grappling fan, it had to be something similar to an NBA fan (who happens to get into the occasional pickup game with his buddies) getting a chance to play a game of HORSE with Michael Jordan.

WTF? You are stronger than Monson????????? Hes a MONSTER. Thats one reason he is so good on the ground, his strength allows him to make some moves easily. good job

[DJColdfusion]

Originally Posted by OmaPlata

WTF? You are stronger than Monson????????? Hes a MONSTER. Thats one reason he is so good on the ground, his strength allows him to make some moves easily. good job

The guy is just plain good. I've rolled with I don't know how many blackbelts and his open guard game is right up there with the best of them. He doesn't throw a ton of subs from the bottom but he can defend, counter, and escape from the best of them and his perennial battles with Pe De Pano show that.

I was impressed with his conditioning, his drive, his incredible skill, and the fact that he was just plain cool. Super great guy.

[J-Luck]

Originally Posted by DJColdfusion

The guy is just plain good. I've rolled with I don't know how many blackbelts and his open guard game is right up there with the best of them. He doesn't throw a ton of subs from the bottom but he can defend, counter, and escape from the best of them and his perennial battles with Pe De Pano show that.

I was impressed with his conditioning, his drive, his incredible skill, and the fact that he was just plain cool. Super great guy.

Wait... how big/tall are you...

[DJColdfusion]

6'5" (1.9 Meters???) and 350 (159 Kilos) pounds. And yes, I am fat . . . but loveable . . . and a little ticklish.

[OmaPlata]

Originally Posted by DJColdfusion

6'5" (1.9 Meters???) and 350 (159 Kilos) pounds. And yes, I am fat . . . but loveable . . . and a little ticklish.

Careful you might be turning him on with the ticklish stuff, shhhhhhhh.

[jubaji]

*sniff-sniff*

[J-Luck]

Originally Posted by DJColdfusion

6'5" (1.9 Meters???) and 350 (159 Kilos) pounds. And yes, I am fat . . . but loveable . . . and a little ticklish.

You must find that you are difficult to roll with becuase of your size. I'm not questioning your skill, but your size must help immensely.

[DJColdfusion]

Of course it helps but the problem with most big guys is that they just push. They don't worry about position or transitions. Many of them don't even understand the concept of a setup. If I was like "most" big guys then Monson wouldn't have even broken a sweat, the guys is just too damn good for your average big guy to do a damn thing against.

I just can't wait to get back to class tomorrow. I tried to focus as much as possible on how he was working his open guard. I took a few pages of notes after I got home (Mike Brewer got me into that bad habit) and I plan on trying to work some of it into my own game . . . or atleast trying to. The techniques he used were techniques I already know he just (yes "just" does not do his work justice, I know) combined them in a manner that I can't recall seeing before and he did them all better than I can . . . currently . . . alright, lets be honest, I'll never be on his level but I can still learn from him and capitalize as much as possible on the opportunity I had to roll with someone on his level.

TTT for Jeff Monson.