ATTRIBUTES
|
ATTRIBUTE
|
RATING |
|---|---|
| Strength | 70 |
| Speed | 76 |
| Cardio | 74 |
| Footwork | 76 |
OFFENSIVE SKILLS
| SKILL | RATING |
|---|---|
| Standing Strikes | 77 |
| Standing Kicks | 73 |
| Clinch Striking | 72 |
| Ground Striking | 74 |
| Clinch Grapple | 72 |
| Takedown | 73 |
| Ground Top Grapple | 78 |
| Ground Bottom Grapple | 77 |
| Submission | 81 |
DEFENSIVE SKILLS
| SKILL | RATING |
|---|---|
| Standing Strikes | 76 |
| Standing Kicks | 75 |
| Clinch Striking | 79 |
| Ground Striking | 75 |
| Clinch Grapple | 70 |
| Takedown | 70 |
| Ground Top Grapple | 75 |
| Ground Bottom Grapple | 79 |
| Submission | 80 |
ULTIMATE TECHNIQUES
RIGHT LONG UPPERCUT
Level 2 — Both Standing, Striking Range
This is Thiago’s most powerful technique from standing. Step your way into the pocket and throw this looping uppercut as a counter.
STRIKE CATCH TO ARMBAR FROM THE BOTTOM
Level 2 — Open Guard, Bottom
This sweet submission can turn the tide of a match quickly. If your opponent is attempting to ground-and-pound you, use this technique submission to catch his punches and lock in an armbar with a possible switch to a triangle.
TRANSITION TO BUTTERFLY GUARD
Level 2 - Side Control, Bottom
Thiago has great grappling skills, and this transition from Side Control, Bottom straight to the Butterfly Guard gives you a direct catch to a triangle.
STRENGTHS
- Aggressive style
- Well rounded
Paulo Thiago has a nice submission repertoire, and he sees his highest attribute ratings there.
He’s not a great stand-up guy, but he’s never been knocked out in the Octagon, and he lands in the middle of the welterweight pack for most of the stand-up.
Thiago is a fun fighter to control, as he is well rounded and can finish a grappling match quickly from almost any position.
If you’re facing a grappler (Jake Shields, BJ Penn), stand up and box. If you’re facing a striker, take the fight to the ground and work for a submission.
He’s got a few submission switches to play with, so if you start to lose the mini-game, switch to the next hold to restart the submission battle.
WEAKNESSES
- Clinch game
- Kicks
- Power
In an interesting twist, strength is one of Thiago’s weaknesses. He’s not a very powerful guy, and he’s pretty much a submission grappler, with the majority of his victories coming from tapout.
Keep the fight standing against him as much as possible and stay out of his guard if the battle does go to the ground.
He’s not going to do much damage with his kicks, and he struggles from the clinch. Your best game plan is to stand up and pick him apart on his feet.
If you’re fighting as a Matt Hughes or Jake Shields type of welterweight, use ground strengths to attack and block Thiago’s submission attempts.