Best examples of a fighter nullifying great footwork

[jeff7b9]

Tbf he stole a lot of his footwork from Willie Pep who had amazing footwork sir.

Indeed he did.

Funny and ironic hearing a boxing guy shit on Cruz's footwork when he literally based it all on boxing.

 

[jeff7b9]

Alex Pereira strikes me as an anti-footwork guy.

He uses his left hook to block the weak side exit. He doesn't try to out dance his partner, he plods intelligently forward, uses high guard when needed, knows range well.

 

[StonedLemur]

Indeed he did.

Funny and ironic hearing a boxing guy shit on Cruz's footwork when he literally based it all on boxing.

I thought it was common knowledge sir.

 

[StonedLemur]

The key difference is Pep's footwork was clever, considered, reactive. Cruz's is literally just random nonsense.

It might have been inspired by, but the difference between them is huge

Its actually patterns that Pep himself did though sir.

 

[jeff7b9]

I thought it was common knowledge sir.

I feel like demographics have shifted a bit, where there is now a mix of more Conor era noobs who could be out of the loop on golden years-wec merger era mma.

It always made me laugh how Dom would praise old school boxing for giving him ideas he adapted into effective mma footwork, but yet Dom would throw the absolute ugliest "punches" I ever saw in my life.

Dom had creativity, a decent head on his shoulders, no desire/willingness to get hit at all and absolutely no power and managed to craft the perfect style for those attributes.

 

[Lawrence]

I'll probably get blasted for this.

Tyron Woodley vs Wonderboy in their first fight.

Wonderboy does have good footwork for MMA and his style & Woodley found him a number of times and it really surprised me.

I don't think it was an accident and I also don't think it was 100% fear of being taken down.

There was a time when Tyron was a very smart fighter.

 

[jeff7b9]

Its actually patterns that Pep himself did though sir.

Facts.

Actually Pep's signature "V step" currently used brilliantly by Lomachenko and Usyk is likely the reason why Dom adapted a switch hitting style.

I think Dom also took his "crouch and pop" style/technique from Willie Pep.

Obviously it has to be adapted for a sport with takedowns and kicks.

 

[StonedLemur]

Facts.

Actually Pep's signature "V step" currently used brilliantly by Lomachenko and Usyk is likely the reason why Dom adapted a switch hitting style.

I think Dom also took his "crouch and pop" style/technique from Willie Pep.

Obviously it has to be adapted for a sport with takedowns and kicks.

Yep, Dom had a vision and made it work for himself, and did it well I might add sir.

 

[scytheavatar]

One of the best example is Topuria vs Volkanovski. It really did seem in the first round that Volkanovski was going to run away with the fight, the manner Topuria trapped him was impressive.

 

[jeff7b9]

One of the best example is Topuria vs Volkanovski. It really did seem in the first round that Volkanovski was going to run away with the fight, the manner Topuria trapped him was impressive.

That first round felt like a time bomb to me and the 2nd round was the boom.

Volk was leaving openings and being sloppy about his angles and his guard.

 

[arcadeperfect]

lol at Cruz and "great footwork" in the same sentence. He just randomly shuffles around like a spaz, often into punches.

If you want great footwork look at Pacquiao, Floyd, Inoue, Usyk. Most elite boxers.

I always hated Cruz's fighting style.

 

[dc007]

Weidman vs Machida

 

[TankAbbott4Eva]

It's not a bad point to be fair. When you do stuff that's not by the book, not textbook, not taught in gyms, then yes it can catch people off guard and work really well. Soliman is a good example, he had that awkward herky jerky style that people can struggle with.

Another example is Mayorga, unpredictable without the typical rhythm and style of a boxer, and had more success than he should have Vs elite boxers.

Maidana too, but Maidana had a lot of attributes that put him well above the other two.

Nevertheless calling it "great footwork" is a bit retarded. Great footwork is knowing where and when to move, reading your opponent, being able to manoevre them into position, get out of position efficiently, with the least amount of movement.

Cruz's random footwork is just that, random nonsense. And the sort of thing any fighter could do if they chose to.

I feel like Cruz is somewhat lucky to have fought in MMA and the era that he reigned in, in a developing division. Against more skilled fighters with better boxing, he would have been caught a lot more often. A bit like this.

Maybe it falls under the category of good strategy as opposed to good foot work, i hear what you're saying.

And on Floyd I kind of never noticed his footwork or balance too much, it's because he was never off balance and feet always in the right place, amazing, does stand out compared to McGregor of course.

 

[OmegaRugal]

Just because Cruz and his random footwork were effective doesn't

so effective it's bad?

Lol

 

[FlowchartRog]

Maybe it falls under the category of good strategy as opposed to good foot work, i hear what you're saying.

And on Floyd I kind of never noticed his footwork or balance too much, it's because he was never off balance and feet always in the right place, amazing, does stand out compared to McGregor of course.

That's exactly right, Floyd's positioning and balance was always perfect. It's so subtle and smooth you don't really notice, just always in position to throw or evade, and always perfectly balanced. Very good footwork.

Pacquiao has incredible footwork that was put to good use dominating bigger guys, but Pacquiao's was more obvious. He had blazing fast feet and could turn on a dime, move in and out and cut angles quicker than anyone else. Which was obviously a big reason he was able to dominate welterweights as well as he did, for a guy who started his career at 106 pounds.

 

[FlowchartRog]

Indeed he did.

Funny and ironic hearing a boxing guy shit on Cruz's footwork when he literally based it all on boxing.

Nah what's funny and ironic is that it's basically a homeless man's impression of Pep, and you have morons in this thread saying stuff like "bUt bOXInG fOOtWoRk dOeSn'T wOrK iN UFC!" while praising Cruz's supposedly incredible footwork.

 

[ColombianFist]

With Loma Teo was able to stay inside of Loma's footwork to avoid getting pivoted every time. footwork depending guys always try to engage you so you chase them.

 

[blaseblase]

RDA exposed Pettis' poor footwork.

 

[biscuitsbrah]

Nah what's funny and ironic is that it's basically a homeless man's impression of Pep, and you have morons in this thread saying stuff like "bUt bOXInG fOOtWoRk dOeSn'T wOrK iN UFC!" while praising Cruz's supposedly incredible footwork.

I can tell you are highly passionate about what constitutes good footwork and that’s just like your opinion man.
Maybe I meant to say was fighters who have quick feet, move a lot, and rely on their movement and feints to fight. If it’s not subtle, efficient footwork like you claimed. Someone like Amir Khan.

As it was said before, some of Willie Peps footwork and patterns was adapted to mma. Not directly translated.

But sure Cruz has terrible footwork and canelos is better. Call it what you want. But I think people with quick feet and movement have great footwork, even if it’s not the most efficient. It’s highly effective for a lot of people’s unorthodox styles.

I seriously doubt you’ve ever fought or trained against a movement fighter, who “just moves randomly”. If you did you would probably have a bit more respect for the style. Quick, active, feet and movement is very hard to deal with, yes it does takes a lot of athleticism and conditioning. I consider it great footwork. You call it what you want.

 

[Barteh]

Alex Pereira strikes me as an anti-footwork guy.

He uses his left hook to block the weak side exit. He doesn't try to out dance his partner, he plods intelligently forward, uses high guard when needed, knows range well.

You need footwork to be in the right place and be in that range he understands so well. Just because it looks simple doesn't mean it's not great footwork.