A question for those who know a thing or two about MMA striking (Ank vs Alex #2) Thks!

[Rubios]

Fellow sherdoggers. I *should* have an eye for striking as I've trained -just recreationally- K-1, boxing and MT for more than half my life, and I'm approaching 40. A life long fan aswell.

First and foremost: I want the best fighter to hold the belt, and rankings to tell the truth. Regardless of the style I enjoy the most.
I.e. I enjoy DDP way more than Borz, but if he had won because of the Hail Mary guilly... it would've been awesome but things are much better as they are now.

Ank won the 1st fight fair and square.
May the best man win the rematch. If it's Ank again, cool.

Ank is a striker with a wrestling threat. 1st fight was 80-85% a kickboxing match and Alex stuffed all TDs.

To my eye, Alex is the best striker to adapt well to MMA (so Semmy is out).
I'm not a stan: Izzy should've won at least 1 of their Glory fights. Probably both.
But Alex became a much better striker.
Ilia is the best boxer, Wonderboy i.e. had better kicks... but, as a whole, no one comes close IMHO.

Many flaw his defense. But besides a perfect counter tailored by Adesanya and a punch (from Izzy, too) that rocked him and got "saved by the bell" -when in fact the punch landed well AFTER the bell-, Alex has never been hurt or in trouble.

Ank being a very good to very, very good striker; I can't see what he brings to the table that Alex hasn't dealt with before, squared.
Alex is a 25ish KBer of all time, with 8 title wins in Glory.

TL;DR If Alex is on point for the rematch, and is -mostly- a stand-up fight again...

1. Do you think age has caught up with him, so we won't see that Poatan anymore?

2. Never mixed things up with wrestling/grappling so never trained MMA myself. Does the TD threat affect THAT much even if you stuff them all? Wasn't Jiri a bigger threat in that regard?

 

[Fedorgasm]

1. Do you think age has caught up with him, so we won't see that Poatan anymore?

2. Never mixed things up with wrestling/grappling so never trained MMA myself. Does the TD threat affect THAT much even if you stuff them all? Wasn't Jiri a bigger threat in that regard?

1. Maybe. I mean the age is high enough that he should be declining but we haven't seen evidence of it yet.

2. Yes, the threat of the TD changes everything. And Jiri was also a TD threat but not as much as Ank IMO. I think Alex knew if Ank got him down he wouldn't be able to get back up, so he was way more cautious of Ank's takedowns.

 

[Deceasedxo]

It's all in the threat of the takedown. It changes fighters mentality more than anything else. So many strikers start to look amateur on the feet because they're overthinking about that level change or rush to the fence.

 

[Ara tech]

Pereira was too passive, he could have been more aggressive, he did not do much.

Ank is a right handed southpaw, Pereira was sparring orthodox in clips from all part over the world before fighting Ank, he did not prepare well, taht is a possibility.

I'm sure that he will be more prepared in the rematch.

 

[tigersmoosh]

Pereira was too passive, he could have been more aggressive, he did not do much.

Ank is a right handed southpaw, Pereira was sparring orthodox in clips from all part over the world before fighting Ank, he did not prepare well, taht is a possibility.

I'm sure that he will be more prepared in the rematch.

thats UFC fighters in general. the organization rewards passivity

 

[skylolow]

I think this fight really comes down to how Alex approaches it. He became more or less a counter puncher in the first fight. Not very often was he being aggressive in any way.

Straight up striking skill set I believe most would say Alex has the advantage by a wide margin. But this is MMA and Alex seemed to be much more laid back and letting the fight come to him last time out and when Ank wasn't shooting for takedowns I really think it threw Alex off. I think he was worried that if he was the aggressor and always coming forward Ank would turn it into more of wrestling match and that is last thing Alex wanted. He has to find a good balance if he wants to find any success in this rematch which will require him to be much more offensive this time out.

 

[TriangleMonkey]

Alex felt him and should come out hunting his foe more this time around

If he cant, I don’t think he will have success being champion ever again due to age/miles

Hope Alex wins the rematch, violently

 

[Chagaev]

TD affects a striker's rythm, range control and focus. Just like kicks change things for a boxer, even if he learns to check them.

I expect Alex to time Ank better in the rematch anyway, but the fact that he couldn't do cumulative damage matters too.

 

[L0ki]

According to Google AI, Ank had 5 minutes and 42 seconds of control.

It was a close fight that Ank edged. I think I had it 48-47 Ankalaev.

Alex wouldn't need to modify much.

If he can avoid the clinch or even surprise Ank with something in there, he should be ok.



I also thought Izzy should've gotten the nod in the decision against Poatan, though Adesanya definitely lost the rematch.

It's interesting. I've not heard anyone really protest what I think was the rematch (the one with the TKO W for Poatan).

 

[rjmbrd]

According to Google AI, Ank had 5 minutes and 42 seconds of control.

It was a close fight that Ank edged. I think I had it 48-47 Ankalaev.

Alex wouldn't need to modify much.

If he can avoid the clinch or even surprise Ank with something in there, he should be ok.

I can see 'on paper' that summary but as a practical matter, only Ank hurt and stunned Alex, but Poatan was never able to reciprocate. Alex landed a decent volume of leg kicks but didn't appear to slow Ank down at all.

That fight was broadly speaking one way traffic, albeit it several 'close' rounds, Alex was always a step behind.

 

[Rubios]

Thk you all for your insight!
If Alex keeps being able to stuff the TDs, the threat is something a striker can stop worrying so much about, and doesn't constantly loom over his head?
Or is it generally so "hardwired" that one cannot turn off the switch?

I mean, could you racionalize it and decide to go for the hunt the last minute of every round, i.e.?

 

[theincognito]

Pereira respected the takedown threat too much. Ank was never even close to getting him down. In the rematch, I can see Pereira coming out swinging. But that may play into Ank's hands.

 

[Bars]

I think Ank is levels above in striking: faster, better boxing, more agile, better fight IQ
No one has really been able to outstrike Ankalaev in LHW

 

[Aurelian]

In his short UFC career, Poatan probably amassed a fuck load of money. I'm not sure the drive is still there as much as it used to be.

I think he does want revenge though. I'm honestly not seeing how he wins this though unfortunately. Big Ank wants it more so to speak.

 

[WoozyFailGuy]

It'll all come down to the hand fight like the first fight. Alex knows he can stuff TDs so it might play out differently.
Ank won 90% of the handfight due to the td threat last match, then with that while forcing Poatan to constantly circle off, he could take dominant outside foot position as well. I've rewatched the fight only once recently, and while it is inactive especially for an Alex fight, I found it much more enjoyable the second time through than my initial live viewing.

Alex's style is a unique one, a stalking one shot counter striker with some of the more devastating calf kicks we've seen, while being the most credentialed striker in the organization since Semmy.

Meanwhile Ankalaev has put together some of the most disciplined sambo backed counter boxing in the organization. It doesn't look pretty, it's not flashy, but it works and it flusters guys at all levels. His only minuses so far were a worse fight IQ earlier in his career, but he's improved it by leaps and bounds.

I was excited for the first match, I'm a fan of Alex and Ank has proven himself to be his biggest challenge. I'll enjoy the rematch as well, as if Ank wins outside of Ank vs Jiri we don't really have any fun fights at LHW for a long time (not yet sold on Ulberg and I thought Jan won their fight).

Sadly, Alex is right on the cusp where most combat athletes start slowing down, but admittedly, he isn't most athletes. I do think his heavy schedule definitely wore him out a bit, so it will be interesting to see if Alex with some actual time off comes back motivated enough to take the gold back.

 

[TheTickG]

Fellow sherdoggers. I *should* have an eye for striking as I've trained -just recreationally- K-1, boxing and MT for more than half my life, and I'm approaching 40. A life long fan aswell.

First and foremost: I want the best fighter to hold the belt, and rankings to tell the truth. Regardless of the style I enjoy the most.
I.e. I enjoy DDP way more than Borz, but if he had won because of the Hail Mary guilly... it would've been awesome but things are much better as they are now.

Ank won the 1st fight fair and square.
May the best man win the rematch. If it's Ank again, cool.

Ank is a striker with a wrestling threat. 1st fight was 80-85% a kickboxing match and Alex stuffed all TDs.

To my eye, Alex is the best striker to adapt well to MMA (so Semmy is out).
I'm not a stan: Izzy should've won at least 1 of their Glory fights. Probably both.
But Alex became a much better striker.
Ilia is the best boxer, Wonderboy i.e. had better kicks... but, as a whole, no one comes close IMHO.

Many flaw his defense. But besides a perfect counter tailored by Adesanya and a punch (from Izzy, too) that rocked him and got "saved by the bell" -when in fact the punch landed well AFTER the bell-, Alex has never been hurt or in trouble.

Ank being a very good to very, very good striker; I can't see what he brings to the table that Alex hasn't dealt with before, squared.
Alex is a 25ish KBer of all time, with 8 title wins in Glory.

TL;DR If Alex is on point for the rematch, and is -mostly- a stand-up fight again...

1. Do you think age has caught up with him, so we won't see that Poatan anymore?

2. Never mixed things up with wrestling/grappling so never trained MMA myself. Does the TD threat affect THAT much even if you stuff them all? Wasn't Jiri a bigger threat in that regard?

Way too much tiny text.

Here is the key point regarding striking:
Alex made excuses and acted like he didn't lose the fight.

Not always, but usually when a former champ does that, they stop improving and continue losing.

 

[Rubios]

I think Ank is levels above in striking: faster, better boxing, more agile, better fight IQ
No one has really been able to outstrike Ankalaev in LHW

(OP) First, I think I would be a douche if asking for insight and then be nitpicky about other's opinions.

I just invite you to watch some of the title fights/defenses of Alex in Glory. He has EIGHT title fight wins there, btw. Or Pereira - Izzy #2 (yes, I know the outcome )

I believe you'll think -very- different afterwards.

 

[don't ask]

Fellow sherdoggers. I *should* have an eye for striking as I've trained -just recreationally- K-1, boxing and MT for more than half my life, and I'm approaching 40. A life long fan aswell.

First and foremost: I want the best fighter to hold the belt, and rankings to tell the truth. Regardless of the style I enjoy the most.
I.e. I enjoy DDP way more than Borz, but if he had won because of the Hail Mary guilly... it would've been awesome but things are much better as they are now.

Ank won the 1st fight fair and square.
May the best man win the rematch. If it's Ank again, cool.

Ank is a striker with a wrestling threat. 1st fight was 80-85% a kickboxing match and Alex stuffed all TDs.

To my eye, Alex is the best striker to adapt well to MMA (so Semmy is out).
I'm not a stan: Izzy should've won at least 1 of their Glory fights. Probably both.
But Alex became a much better striker.
Ilia is the best boxer, Wonderboy i.e. had better kicks... but, as a whole, no one comes close IMHO.

Many flaw his defense. But besides a perfect counter tailored by Adesanya and a punch (from Izzy, too) that rocked him and got "saved by the bell" -when in fact the punch landed well AFTER the bell-, Alex has never been hurt or in trouble.

Ank being a very good to very, very good striker; I can't see what he brings to the table that Alex hasn't dealt with before, squared.
Alex is a 25ish KBer of all time, with 8 title wins in Glory.

TL;DR If Alex is on point for the rematch, and is -mostly- a stand-up fight again...

1. Do you think age has caught up with him, so we won't see that Poatan anymore?

2. Never mixed things up with wrestling/grappling so never trained MMA myself. Does the TD threat affect THAT much even if you stuff them all? Wasn't Jiri a bigger threat in that regard?

This is how the voices in my head talk.

 

[Rubios]

Ank being a right handed southpaw is a key factor.
But I can't decide if it's an advantage or a handicap vs Alex.

1. Regarding leg kicks, Poatan is the only MMA fighter I've seen throw these weird lead leg calf kicks effectively. Meaning doing damage. Vs a southpaw, the distance is so short that he can land them from the outside -where they hurt the most- at will.
It's the best kick you can use vs a wrestler: sneaky and doesn't compromise your balance.

2. Hand fighting. Ank's lead hand being the dominant one vs Alex left hook/upwards jab is an advantage, clearly.
But Alex is very, very good at hand fighting.
You could say "you 'tard, tell me where his handfighting comes from when he used to fight with GLOVES".
Well, Alex has a very solid -and evident- traditional Thai background.

I'd say the right handed southpaw thing evens itself to a non factor IMHO.

 

[Aluminati]

This is how the voices in my head talk.

No, we don't.