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Match-up Discussion MK2 Johnny Cage VS Jax

MKB

Forum General Emeritus
VS


Rules of this discussion:
  • You may contribute anything that will further the interest and understanding of the matchup. This includes strategies, videos, combos, etc.
  • Feel free to answer the default questions posed in the first reply, though you are not required to do so.
  • Please keep the discussion focused on the two characters in question.
 

MKB

Forum General Emeritus
Hate to bust your balls here, but Jax ain't gettin' his balls busted in this matchup.

Jax has the ability to play turtle/tank here which bodes very well for him and sucks ass for Cage. If Jax plays keep away and ground pounds a few times while looking for the aaHK (or backbreaker) he is going to have a very easy path to victory. Even if Cage gets in close, Jax can push him away with ducking LP, GP. If you manage to crossover Cage, apply jab pressure until you land a quadraslam or unleash a GP once out of range. You might even attempt an overhead smash then followup with a crossover JK, backbreaker.

Cage needs to get in close; that much is obvious. How he closes the distance will determine how much of a chance in hell he has against Jax. Jumping in is disastrous as it will end with an aaHK or any other number of options Jax has. Simply walking toward Jax will result in eating a few ground pounds (or an MGP along the way.) What Cage will need to do is throw a green ball or two at Jax to potentially hit him during the setup for the GP, then continue advancing. Once slightly within sparring distance, unleash a shadow kick. Shadow kicks also work wonders from inside close range. I've found that most Jax players who eat a shadow kick will attempt a quick jump-in out of anger/frustration. Jax really has no reason to jump in against Cage, but if he does then counter with either a green ball, shadow uppercut, uppercut, take your pick.

Cage leaves this match beaten down with blue balls and busted balls. Jax wins going away, 9-1.
  • Best way to close the distance on Jax?
  • Better CQC?
  • Should Jax bother getting in close?
 

mortal_jason

Kitana's Bodyguard
You said it... Johnny gets bodied in this match. And yet it's one of my favorites with Cage!
It's so fun because it features arguably the most aggressive fighter in Cage, vs the biggest turtler in Jax.

CAGE
Of all the matches for Johnny, this is the most critical for him to be within sweep distance at all times. Never stop chasing Jax!
Jumping in is a bad play, but a necessary one. Mix up your jumps so they are unexpected or else Jax will get accustomed to aaHKing you.
If Jax is anti-airing you every time, then your only other option is chasing him down by foot. Who cares if you eat a ground pound or wave punch, you must get in to win. Once you get close to Jax, it's time to have some fun. Unleash everything Cage has, and expect that Jax will try to get away, and counter him when he does. Where you really want Jax is trapped in a corner, and if you chase him long enough he will end up there. Your best bet to beat him is getting him in a corner and applying mad CQC. This is the only situation where Cage becomes any kind of a threat to Jax.

JAX
This match can only worry Jax if Cage is smart and aggressive. But even the best Cages will get demolished by his ground pounds and anti-airs. When you unleash some aaHKs, backbreakers, and multi-slams, poor Johnny looks like a Crash Test Dummy.
Basically just keep your distance from Cage, and he can't do anything. It's easy enough to ground pound under JC's green balls, which is all he can do from across the screen. Don't allow yourself to get backed into a corner, and if you do, choose your exit wisely, as Jax can eat some serious corner combos from Cage. Wave punches are very effective because Johnny gets caught on a lot of projectiles when he's in the air.

My Cage is no slouch, but I guarantee you against the best Jax players, I won't win more than 3 out of 10 with Cage. Vs Scorpangel we have incredible matches, very often close. But Cage works so hard to do damage, while Jax just has to sit back and MGP.

This is a 9-1 match for Jax, for sure.