Metamoris 5: JT Torres vs Rory MacDonald

[Jason Mallory]

[Jesse Bell]

After training with Rory for the past two year I will say that he is more than capable of tapping top BJJ guys. He is a master of eating up the spaces and his top game is suffocating. With GnP we could be the worlds best grappler. Regardless, I will choose JT because I think it will go down somewhat like Galvao vs Sonnen. Also JT made Keenan and I think Keenan could take Rory. Don't count out Rory as his size will be a factor.

[Brent Smith]

Wow I didnt realize how smooth Rory rolled. Im really interested in this match now. I worry there will be a Schaub moment with any of the mma fighters that come over though

[Chris Garry]

Interesting. Just hope McDonald goes out more like Sonnen than Shaub.

[Aiseop]

JT is gonna take this. Rory's size will be an initial problem, but JT is nasty grappler who will bring the attack to Rory. There is no chance of a Schaub encounter b/c both fighters wouldn't have it. JT is straight up attacker. Rory is a psycho who'll probably rip a shoulder off is he gets a chance.

[Mike Nall]

JT is gonna take this. Rory's size will be an initial problem, but JT is nasty grappler who will bring the attack to Rory. There is no chance of a Schaub encounter b/c both fighters wouldn't have it. JT is straight up attacker. Rory is a psycho who'll probably rip a shoulder off is he gets a chance.

That's what I've been thinking all along. But now I think it might actually draw the more and more I think about it. I've been hearing things from pretty well respected grapplers that Rory is a beast and probably the best jiu jitsu at Tristar, even better than GSP, etc. Just by the way he was moving in that countdown, I just think that he'll probably be able to keep himself out of some bad spots in a way that other MMA guys in Metamoris haven't been able to do. That coupled with the size difference-someone said recently JT is about 155-160 lbs right now. Rory is probably a good 25 lbs heavier, no?

JT is a killing machine but this will be fun to watch for sure. I still want to pick JT deep down. The flip side to everything I just said is that if Rory does engage more in terms of more jiu jitsu style movements, transitions, and strategies, then I think he'll open himself up for more opportunities for JT to capitalize in a scramble and snag a guillotine, heel hook, or maybe get the back and RNC.

The heel hook is one last thing to consider. Rory has a huge title fight coming up. If he gets put in a heel hook threat I wouldn't expect him to try to fight it too hard. He's on the verge of being a superstar and the risk of defending a fully locked heel hook just isn't worth the reward IMO.

[Tony Toffolo]

good countdown. first glimpse of rory not trying too hard with regards to manufacturing his personality.