Yah, it's peculiar. Go back to the Chute Box days w/ gym wars, brawling at Pride for free, go further back to Rickson subbing Duarte on the beach for 0 money, go FWD to Wand fighting Chael for free on TUF, go more forward to Werdum Sparta kicking GOAT Edmond.....I think it's just bred into them. Ido "The touch butt sensei" Portal grew up there and said Conor will just maul Brazilian fighters because he approaches it like a business and to them, it's all about honor, not crossing lines and 'hespect'. So far, it has been very true: just russle their jimmies, make them mad and then KO them stiff because they are off their game and emotionally involved.
Being able to deal with the trolls is akin to the hardest opponent Bruce Lee said that you could fight: your own self. Although BJJ is from Japanese JJ. somewhere along the line, that street tough Favella attitude got mixed in there. Like everything, it is a double edged sword but certainly a detriment for Prize Fighting at the highest levels. Conor has essentially laid a blue print for how to beat a Brazilian fighter and how to take away their most important tool: their mind.
It is essentially harder, not smarter vs smarter, not harder.
