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All 3 Main Fights last night were won on FIGHTER'S MENTALITY vs. "playing it safe."
ADESANYA vs. COSTA:
Both fighters were extremely nervous in the beginning, licking their lips. It was evident both were suffering from "dry mouth," a telltale sign of extreme nervousness. Costa started with some body kicks, but he appeared afraid to pick up the pace like he usually does. Costa was clearly more worried about keeping his stamina than he was more focused on bludgeoning Adesanya.
At first, Adesanya was worried also; you could see it in his face too. But there was a turning point, two-thirds the way into Round 1, where you could see Adesanya realized Costa was uncharacteristically holding back, and Adesanya's mind switched from defense to offense. While Costa was posing, Izzy decided to fight, and he took over from there. In Round 2, when Costa started backing up, I literally got up in disgust and got something to drink. Moments later, the muscle-bound, BJJ black belt was curled up in a ball, accepting punishment from the man he vowed to kill.
I am publicly eating crow. Costa fooled me. I never thought he would choke like that. Honestly, that's what Costa did: HE CHOKED. He took the biggest moment in his life, and instead of fighting like the "Champion" he professed himself to be, his nerves got the best of him. He literally froze; he literally used NONE of his assets intelligently. Instead of forcing the fight, and imposing his will, incorporating grappling (where he is superior), Costa just sat there, and stayed in Izzy's range. Costa forced nothing, used none of his strengths, and he proved he did not have a Champion's mentality, which concentrates solely on hitting and winning, not "playing it safe."
Although Izzy was nervous early, he proved to have a Champion's mindset. The moment Izzy realized that Costa was uncharacteristically cautious, Izzy stepped on the gas, seized the opportunity, and took complete control of that fight, finishing the terrified, nervous Costa in completely dominant fashion. I can't stand the guy, but hats off to Izzy for exposing Costa. Costa lost a fan, and (although I don't really like him) Izzy sorta gained one, albeit begrudgingly. I have to admit, I will still root against Izzy after Cannonier beats Whittaker and challenges Adesanya for the title <45>
BŁACHOWICZ vs. REYES:
Reyes had already proven to us that he did not have a championship mindset, by his backpedaling from Jones mid-way in Round 3 in his last fight, a fight he was winning up to that point. Still, Reyes was longer and quicker than Błachowicz, so I gave him the edge, especially early. Again, the man with the stronger mentality prevailed that night. You could clearly tell Reyes was "more worried about getting hit" than he was concentrating on hitting. Reyes' extreme nervousness was stamped in everything he did, every move he made, as well as in the direction he traveled—which was backwards. Błachowicz was a little cautious at first also, even while going forward, but after a couple of minutes, it was obvious Jan came to fight. Toward the end of the first round Jan realized Dominick was being very cautious, which inflated Jan, so he decided to dominate Reyes then and there. Błachowicz predicted he would get a KO in Round 2, and he went out there and did exactly that. Hats off to the new champ.
ROYVAL vs. FRANCE:
This was one hell of a fight! France looked great for about a minute. Extremely precise placement of his kicks and punches. Royval was a step behind, and getting clipped cleanly and sharply. France has a unique gift of absolutely hitting the mark with his kicks and punches. First France clipped the anchor point of Royval's ankle, supporting his weight, dropping him straight down. With the same absolute precision, France clipped the point of Royval's chin, sending him down again, and then clipped the right side of Royval's jaw, with a left hook, when he got up, putting him down a third time.
However, rather than the fight being "over," after three knockdowns, it was instead the turning point and when the real fight began. Rather than being "cautious" after being knocked down 3x, this actually woke Royval up. His response was a devastating, unexpected, spinning elbow, which almost KO'd France, who slumped heavily to the canvas. It was exactly at this point that Royval proved he was a fighter, and France proved he was more interested in "defending himself." Again, mentality prevailed.
You could literally see Royval's confidence and determination to win grow and grow ... and you could literally see these important characteristics disappear from France altogether. At the end of the day, when deep in the heat, Royval proved to be the fighter, and France proved to be "more concerned for his safety."
Thus endeth all 3 Main Fights last night.
That's my $0.02 ... I have to finish eating my crow for breakfast, and my humble pie for dessert <45>
ADESANYA vs. COSTA:
Both fighters were extremely nervous in the beginning, licking their lips. It was evident both were suffering from "dry mouth," a telltale sign of extreme nervousness. Costa started with some body kicks, but he appeared afraid to pick up the pace like he usually does. Costa was clearly more worried about keeping his stamina than he was more focused on bludgeoning Adesanya.
At first, Adesanya was worried also; you could see it in his face too. But there was a turning point, two-thirds the way into Round 1, where you could see Adesanya realized Costa was uncharacteristically holding back, and Adesanya's mind switched from defense to offense. While Costa was posing, Izzy decided to fight, and he took over from there. In Round 2, when Costa started backing up, I literally got up in disgust and got something to drink. Moments later, the muscle-bound, BJJ black belt was curled up in a ball, accepting punishment from the man he vowed to kill.
I am publicly eating crow. Costa fooled me. I never thought he would choke like that. Honestly, that's what Costa did: HE CHOKED. He took the biggest moment in his life, and instead of fighting like the "Champion" he professed himself to be, his nerves got the best of him. He literally froze; he literally used NONE of his assets intelligently. Instead of forcing the fight, and imposing his will, incorporating grappling (where he is superior), Costa just sat there, and stayed in Izzy's range. Costa forced nothing, used none of his strengths, and he proved he did not have a Champion's mentality, which concentrates solely on hitting and winning, not "playing it safe."
Although Izzy was nervous early, he proved to have a Champion's mindset. The moment Izzy realized that Costa was uncharacteristically cautious, Izzy stepped on the gas, seized the opportunity, and took complete control of that fight, finishing the terrified, nervous Costa in completely dominant fashion. I can't stand the guy, but hats off to Izzy for exposing Costa. Costa lost a fan, and (although I don't really like him) Izzy sorta gained one, albeit begrudgingly. I have to admit, I will still root against Izzy after Cannonier beats Whittaker and challenges Adesanya for the title <45>
BŁACHOWICZ vs. REYES:
Reyes had already proven to us that he did not have a championship mindset, by his backpedaling from Jones mid-way in Round 3 in his last fight, a fight he was winning up to that point. Still, Reyes was longer and quicker than Błachowicz, so I gave him the edge, especially early. Again, the man with the stronger mentality prevailed that night. You could clearly tell Reyes was "more worried about getting hit" than he was concentrating on hitting. Reyes' extreme nervousness was stamped in everything he did, every move he made, as well as in the direction he traveled—which was backwards. Błachowicz was a little cautious at first also, even while going forward, but after a couple of minutes, it was obvious Jan came to fight. Toward the end of the first round Jan realized Dominick was being very cautious, which inflated Jan, so he decided to dominate Reyes then and there. Błachowicz predicted he would get a KO in Round 2, and he went out there and did exactly that. Hats off to the new champ.
ROYVAL vs. FRANCE:
This was one hell of a fight! France looked great for about a minute. Extremely precise placement of his kicks and punches. Royval was a step behind, and getting clipped cleanly and sharply. France has a unique gift of absolutely hitting the mark with his kicks and punches. First France clipped the anchor point of Royval's ankle, supporting his weight, dropping him straight down. With the same absolute precision, France clipped the point of Royval's chin, sending him down again, and then clipped the right side of Royval's jaw, with a left hook, when he got up, putting him down a third time.
However, rather than the fight being "over," after three knockdowns, it was instead the turning point and when the real fight began. Rather than being "cautious" after being knocked down 3x, this actually woke Royval up. His response was a devastating, unexpected, spinning elbow, which almost KO'd France, who slumped heavily to the canvas. It was exactly at this point that Royval proved he was a fighter, and France proved he was more interested in "defending himself." Again, mentality prevailed.
You could literally see Royval's confidence and determination to win grow and grow ... and you could literally see these important characteristics disappear from France altogether. At the end of the day, when deep in the heat, Royval proved to be the fighter, and France proved to be "more concerned for his safety."
Thus endeth all 3 Main Fights last night.
That's my $0.02 ... I have to finish eating my crow for breakfast, and my humble pie for dessert <45>
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