If he knew how to check a kick, he'd probably be undefeated............I'm obviously exaggerating, but yeah, dude doesn't check kicksNever learned how to check leg kicks
He could counter wrestling with Jitz. He is good enough when he actually goes to it. KO power means nothing. The pitter patter punches he throws are way more effective. Checking a kick is part of his lack of fight IQ. Speed is not a requirement either. He breaks down guys by being relentless, and that is a different game than guys that go by speed. See Nate Conor one.No he didn’t. No wrestling, no ko power, can’t check a leg kick and no speed.
I don't believe that at all. The sport has not evolved like you say. Maybe a few guys have, but not the whole sport.Yeah, absolutely not.
He's a great fighter, but his style is more than a decade behind the evolution of the sport. That he's even competitive is a testament to how well Diaz uses the limited tools he has tactically.
Example: The Ricardo Arona archtype (Good offensive wrestling, great bjj, no striking) wins 10/10 times, The Sean Sherk archtype(great wrestling, good BJJ defense, no striking) beats him 9/10 times, and the Cro-Cop archtype(great striking with kicks, good takedown defense, no BJJ) beats him 9/10 times.
Those are all 1.5 dimensional styles. You need to go back to mid 2000s to see champions that would be the definite underdog against a wrestler, a BJJ guy, AND a striker who are all utilizing one medium of offense and 2 forms of defense.
Diaz is an immensely talented fighter, but he did not have the skills to be UFC champion at any point since the LW division was brought back.
If anything, Diaz massively overachieved.
He could counter wrestling with Jitz. He is good enough when he actually goes to it. KO power means nothing. The pitter patter punches he throws are way more effective. Checking a kick is part of his lack of fight IQ. Speed is not a requirement either. He breaks down guys by being relentless, and that is a different game than guys that go by speed. See Nate Conor one.