Did RDA Steal Pettis' Soul Along With His Belt?

[Hardkore]

Ever since Pettis took that horrendous beating at the hands and knees of RDA, and subsequently lost his belt. We've seen Showtime get fence fucked by Eddie Alvarez, then get handled by the smooth striking of Edson Barboza.

Did RDA take Pettis' soul when he took his belt from him? Do you think it's more mental/confidence issue or that it's a technique/skill problem that he's going through? Or maybe both?

 

[Z28LS1L98]

Maybe he was a bit overrated ?

 

[Mr. Hammer]

I don't know but I can't remember a harder fall from grace. Going from submitting Benson and Gil Melendez to three decisive decision losses in a row.

 

[CJohnny]

Just doesn't had improved. Fighters got better, he is the same or worse.

Dude try a punch or a kick every round a fight. You can't beat fighters if you don't use what you have more than once. Against Alvarez he was almost saying what he was going to do, in his last fight he did nothing.

 

[Soul On Ice]

Weaknesses have been exposed in his game and he's showed no progress towards improving on those areas.

Thinks is a combination of guys figuring him out and him losing a bit of confidence in the process.

 

[Chain Saw]

Pettis just needs to work on his boxing and TDD.

 

[ZackZed]

Just doesn't had improved. Fighters got better, he is the same or worse.

Dude try a punch or a kick every round a fight. You can't beat fighters if you don't use what you have more than once. Against Alvarez he was almost saying what he was going to do, in his last fight he did nothing.

He actually looked so much worse than what he used to be. I dont see that same hungry and pissed of Pettis anymore.

 

[Hardkore]

Weaknesses have been exposed in his game and he's showed no progress towards improving on those areas.

Thinks is a combination of guys figuring him out and him losing a bit of confidence in the process.

I would agree with that, granted he's fought top level guys, but man he hasn't looked at all in any of those losses. I can't remember anything noteworthy he did or made me go "wow".

 

[SCTwins]

I'm hoping he stays at Jackson's and works on his boxing. Especially inside. If you crowd him he becomes practically harmless.

 

[SimonNova]

Careful before saying Pettis is clearly on his way down. he is still young, and I was expecting Barboza to win the last fight cuz Pettis' offense mainly comes from lightning quick submission attemps or his kicks and Barboza struggled with guys using mostly their hands when exchanging in the standup. Im not ready to call Pettis soulless yet. But he really needs to get back to the drawing board.

 

[Hardkore]

Pettis just needs to work on his boxing and TDD.

He was trying to his best Mcgregor impersonation with those caporiera kicks. Seemed like he was trying to look for a home run kick instead of letting it come to him.

 

[Blanqa Blanqua]

Pettis just needs to work on his boxing and TDD.

And his timing, and his takedowns, and his ground game, and his power, and most of all his fear. He seems afraid to truly engage.

 

[laugh@u]

He didn't take his soul, he just exploited the big giant gaps in his game.

 

[Chain Saw]

And his timing, and his takedowns, and his ground game, and his power, and most of all his fear.

I'll give you timing. He's become gun shy.

Everything else, what the fuck? Why would Pettis want to take anyone down? And he definitely has power in his kicks, and a pretty slick submission game.

 

[trevedian]

Pettis needs to improve his boxing and wrestling.

 

[Hardkore]

I'm hoping he stays at Jackson's and works on his boxing. Especially inside. If you crowd him he becomes practically harmless.

That's a great point, he def doesn't like it when you get inside on him, and his feet has always been better than his hands. The skill difference in the set ups, combinations, and movement between Pettis and Barboza was greater than I thought it would be. Barboza working with Mark Henry, Edgar, and Alvarez clearly paid dividends.

 

[SimonNova]

Even if he DID lose his soul its possible to get one back. Nate anyone? RDA also took his soul, but then Nate stole Conor's.

 

[Mr. Hammer]

And his timing, and his takedowns, and his ground game, and his power, and most of all his fear. He seems afraid to truly engage.

Which is unfortunate because he's got a solid chin on him.

 

[Mpower]

Maybe he was a bit overrated ?

I rarely if ever make that type of accusation. especially against a fighter I like. But I think youre right.

Many times, MMA fans and especially MMA media and promotion dont give a fighter enough time to test themselves agsint a variety of opponents before hailing them as the best. Or worse yet, one of the P4P best. Although I do believe the TS is right that RDA took something from Pettis, he's exactly where he should have been all along. He lacks KO power, he lacks powerful movement in general. He lacks wrestling, apart from back against the cage underhook takedown prevention. Pettis is much like Nate Diaz...a double threat specialist. striking at range and slick submissions. He lacks the explosive, powerful shot to get a fight to the ground. And he lacks the KO power to make a grappler pay for trying to close the distance and get it to the ground. because of this, he's gun shy and basically prepares to be taken down instead of letting his hands go. Nate on the other hand, lets his hands go regardless of takedown threat.

Last weekend was a bit of a unique situation. Barboza is a specialist himself, but he's GREAT at his specialty instead of very good like Pettis. naturally, the better striker won. All in all, Pettis needs to get stronger and especially more powerful if he's going to stay in the LW division.

 

[JohnyBrabo]

Just not the same guy, he doesn't take chances like he used to. Unfortunately he has devolved. Anthony "Fauxtime" Pettis.