Man, every fucking time a goddamn wrestler outstrikes a goddamn striker these stupid-ass threads pop up.
The Threat of the takedown changes the complexion of fights. Why did Lee look like a good striker against Barboza? Why did Khabib look decent on his feet against a "tentative" Iaquinta?
Because of the threat of the takedown.
Woodley outstruck Wonderboy, Wonderboy seemed "tentative", etc.
There's so much examples.
As much as I agree Vvarhead that the threat of the wrestling is what gave Cub Swanson pause, it's still one hundred percent on Cub Swanson to find a way to work around that, and overcome this glaring flaw as a fighter. To me, Cub Swanson seems like a stand up fighter, he likes to work with a lot of kicks, looping hooks, it's safe to say he's a striker. It also seems to be safe to say he's useless on the ground, and has a fear of getting taken down.
He wouldn't have to respect it as much if he had some confidence in his own game plan, and actually worked on working off his back and improving his BJJ game to give Frankie SOME trouble. Now obviously that still wouldn't be enough, but Cub reduced himself to a Jab last night because he only worked on how to stop the Takedown for the fight, not how to pressure or frame himself, he still hasn't overcome this fear of getting taken down and that comes with a huge lack of preparation in a fight.
Cub's fear of getting taken down and being pummeled is his fault. He said it himself in an interview, he never really worked with his GI in the early stages of his career, so it's his fault he's deathly afraid of getting taken down, he obviously hasn't pushed past this adversity and it showed big time yesterday.
People with BJJ skills to catch wrestlers like Ortega, and Max, wouldn't be so weary of getting takedown because they're comfortable working in those positions, and would know what to do. Cub Swanson, who chooses to favor striking over everything else, gets completely neutralized once the treat of the takedown is there.
This might not make sense, but Cub Swanson beat himself yesterday, Frankie did what he had to do, but TO ME, it was very clear he didn't game plan properly for this at all. He was afraid, and lacked confidence, his Mental is not up there to be a Championship level fighter unfortunately.
Now I get that no amount of BJJ training will turn him into a Brian Ortega, or a Max Holloway who can catch submissions rather sneakily, but it's better to develop something than not have it at all. Cub Swansons a good and exciting stand up striker, but that's it, his own lack of preparation and being a complete fighter so to speak, was the reason he lost, and was so afraid.