If styles make fights, after last night there's little doubt in my mind that Cruz would have handled Barao. He looked confused by all the movement.
Why do people keep saying this? TJ showed power that Cruz hasn't shown before which obviously rattled Barao. Not to mention Cruz would have been coming in off of a huge layoff. A factor that you people seem to forget.
I agree but there are many contrarian idiots who are about to come in here bashing you. They will cite "similar footwork but more power" in their silly arguments about how night-and-day different last night's Dillashaw is to Cruz. Even though literally everyone reminisced of Dominick Cruz during last night's main event.
I think Dillashaw hits a world harder than Cruz and has more of a "Killer instinct" However, before last night I would have argued Barao dominates Cruz. I still think he could beat him but it got much more interesting, imo.
The comparison to cruz imo is a little insulting to TJ. Cruz' movement can be erratic and pointless at times. There was absolutely nothing erratic about TJ's movement. He fought a very disciplined fight.
Ah. So now you guys are making predictions on a hypothetical match. That makes MUCH more sense. And it also belongs in the wasteland.
Tj mixed power with foot work he baro off balance and guessing he fought an educated fight and the finish at the end was the icing on the cake
The movement was a factor, but moreso I think it was TJ's SPEED. Cruz is a bit slower than TJ was pushing the pace last night.
Who cares if Cruz doesn't have power. Barao barely touched tj and wouldn't touch cruz. And cruz will take him down more too
Cruz had 2 finishes in his last 10 fights. TJ has 7 finishes in his 10 fights. I don't think Cruz would have hurt him early and put Barao off his game.
People recover dude. Ala Franky gray one and two. It was his style that put him off his game. Nobody except those two guys fight like that and Cruz does it even.better
Recover a bit sure, but fully no. Had Renan got that leg lock he was trying for after the knockdown he still would have had a medical suspension, that was a huge punch, landed cleanly and it flash KOed him. You can't just shake that off and be uneffected. Yes Frankie probably took more from Gray then Barao did and went on to win, but no doubts it affected him. I know Joe says cutting less weight will help with recovery so maybe that is true, if so it would explain Frankie coming back strongly while Renan basically just hung in there. And of course FRankie doing that was something remarkable and very very far from the norm.
Dillashaw's movement, constant switching of stances, and unusual angles were incredibly reminiscent of Cruz. Everyone arguing otherwise is simply wrong.
