Herschel Walker vs James Thompson - Jan 30th

[achillesthegreat]

What are our thoughts about this? Is he a flash in the pan because he is 47 years old? Wikipedia has him down as fighting James Thompson. Thompson needs no introduction.

Herschel is 6'1, 225 pounds with a 74" reach.

I understand he was a top NFL player but I don't really know much about that. From reading about him I understand he was quite special but that was a long time ago.

"Walker is also intriguing for being one of the few pro football players to become successful without the use of free weight training. Rather than a heavy weight room regimen, Walker used bodyweight exercise, calisthenics, and conditioning. He remains to this day an oddity in the pro football world. He has been said to do hundreds of pushups and situps daily, rather than lift weights, while maintaining extremely low body fat.

He has a sixth-degree black belt in tae kwon do and he nearly made the Olympic team in the sprint relay. He competed in the 1992 Winter Olympics in two-man bobsled, finishing seventh. He ran the 100 meters in 10.22, the 100 yards in 9.3. He also won back-to-back American Superstars competitions in 1987 and 1988. Walker stated in a phone interview on The Jim Rome Show on November 20, 2006 that he still performs 2,500 sit-ups and 1,500 push ups every morning. He has been going through this same routine every morning since high school."
- Wikipedia

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[LB3000]

I don't really have much interest as I think its a bit of a joke. I just hope he doesn't get seriously hurt. Its not just his age i'm worried about, I also read he has a history of mental illness? Not seen anything about James being his first fight (someone prob just made it up), it would be good first fight though. Just like Kimbo, I have nothing against the guy and wish him the best.

[québecwarrior]

At this age, the fact is, no one can take a good punch. He will get hurt...
Although he has the perfect opponent.
Thompson has no defense, has the worst glass jaw possible and is very slow.

[jimmie]

His legs look strange like they are shacking, I just dont like his movement. The kicks remind me of my own and trust me that aint good. There is such a slow windup on them that he would get killed trying that in a ring. I know its padwork but watch other fighters padwork and noboddy is kicking that slow. The punches actually arent to bad he seems to have decent snap behind them but they still come out awkwardly. I think Thompson will KO him quickly and brutally. However its Thompson we are talking about just graze him with a jab and hes sleeping.

[Wilhelm]

Jeez, he's so flat-footed. He also bounces his hands when he punches, which I think every beginner does. For a sixth-degree blackbelt in TKD I would have thought his kicks would be a lot more balanced and quick, but they looked like crap.

Thompson isn't a great fighter, but he's not as bad as people are making out. If this fight is legit, Thompson will win easily.

[Rattler]

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[achillesthegreat]

I am not impressed with him in the training video. I hope his grappling is better. The coach looks terrible. He pretty much taught him the 1-2 and high kick. No knees, elbows, uppercuts, combinations etc He drops the jab on recoil as he is slightly overshooting. He looks slow too.

[Grievesy]

Don't care about this fight at all. Not too fond of these sort of sideshow fights, they're a joke and make a mockery of the sport imo. That said, if he is gonna fight, James Thompson is a perfect opponent. If Walker has any semblance of power he will knock Thompson out, should he land. With his advanced age though this could end badly for him.

[scurlaruntings]

Not interested in this at all. If Thompson cant even put im to sleep he may as well call it time already. He's fast turning into everyones favourite whipping boy. And whats with these NFL guys that think they can have it!?!?!?

[LB3000]

Not interested in this at all. If Thompson cant even put im to sleep he may as well call it time already. :yep The same applys for Walker too. Even though I said its a good first match for Walker, I would still slighty favor Thompson to win. I think they will give Walker a easier first fight. All this Thompson talk is based off wiki with no source.

[rekcutnevets]

I'm surprised by how athletic he still looks. The reason he looks slow is because of the time in between strikes. Strike for strike, most mma heavyweights aren't any quicker.

I'm inclined to believe his trainer sucks, because there is no way I would hold that session in front of the press is he were my fighter. Not that I'm Greg Jackson, or even Quinton Jackson, when it comes to coaching mma fighters. I still say they should have shown him doing some not sport specific circuit training, if anything at this point.

Say what you want about Thompson, but he is an experienced fighter. Thompson was way more willing against Kimbo's strikes than Houston Alexander was, and he was bullying Brent Rogers before Rogers found space to land the knock out blow. I'm not saying that Thompson is any kind of contender, but he is not the fighter you put a near 50 year old newbie in against.

If the Thompson fight rumor is true, and that footage is supposed to reveal any sort of skill set; then misguided is the weakest applicable word describing Walker's mma career thus far.

[El Puma]

Walker will lose despite punches to Thompson's chin being what rear naked chokes are to Frank Trigg