Championship Caliber Fighters That Do Not Handle Adversity Well

[MikeHolmes]

In light of how easily Conor wilted against Nate Diaz, I was thinking of top caliber fighters that can fight through adversity and those that are pretty much done when the going gets tough. Vitor Belfort, Conor McGregor, Rumble Johnson, Alistair Overeem, and BJ Penn come to mind. On the flip side, Jon Jones, Robbie Lawler, Frankie Edgar, and Fabricio Werdum stick out as having a lot of heart. Some might disagree because of the tapping to strikes, but GSP's recovery against Condit, winning the first BJ fight, and turning it on in the 5th round against Hendricks were full of heart.

 

[SpiderCrawl]

RRR.

 

[JoshR86]

I would also throw HH coming back from that 2 round beat down, and Weidman never gave up in the Rockhold bout

 

[ShinyaAokiFan]

Chuck Liddell never handled adversity well, also I think Lawler just has heart have yet to really see him get put into a compromising situation yet.

Wouldn't have thought of Chuck in that category.

 

[MTNinja]

Anthony Pettis.

/thread

Ronda doesnt count.

 

[Deleted member 359865]

Wouldn't have thought of Chuck in that category.

you're right, I went a head and deleted it because in comparison to the guys TS put on the list Liddell probably could have weathered a lot more, Liddell would be better suited on a one dimensional list. Still a huge Ice Man fan though.

 

[MikeHolmes]

Chuck Liddell never handled adversity well, also I think Lawler just has heart have yet to really see him get put into a compromising situation yet.

Disagree with Liddell. Guy Metzger was dominating him. Someone like Overeem would have crumbled. Liddell dominated some fights, but he did win some fights where he had to handle adversity. Pele, Belfort, Metzger, Wand, Overeem. Liddell's style relied on giving to get and he didn't have great cardio, such as the Rampage and Randy beatdowns. His chin just failed him towards the end.

 

[MikeHolmes]

Anthony Pettis.

/thread

Ronda doesnt count.

I don't understand. If Pettis was a wilter, RDA would have finished him within 5 rounds. He also had that war with Bendo in WEC. Needing better wrestling defense doesn't mean he has no heart.

 

[JAGDPANZER209]

TJ got sloppy after getting frustrated against Cruz

 

[BjPenn2016FW]

Barboza has all the tools.. dont know about the heart/chin

 

[EGarrett]

Anyone who had very early success or a ton of talent. People who have to scrap their way to the top learn to bite down.

Ronda doesnt count.

True. Not championship caliber.

 

[MTNinja]

I don't understand. If Pettis was a wilter, RDA would have finished him within 5 rounds. He also had that war with Bendo in WEC. Needing better wrestling defense doesn't mean he has no heart.

I thought TS was sort of asking who cant get themselves out of a sticky situation

 

[Project 86]

I thought TS was sort of asking who cant get themselves out of a sticky situation

thats not what he is asking

not being able to get out of a sticky situation and mentally folding is completely different

not being able to can be a skill gap while folding is like what chael sonnen does time and time again

 

[jase0910]

A "championship caliber fighter" who "doesn't handle adversity well" is an oxymoron.

 

[milliniar]

Brock Lesnar

 

[Bonos]

Fedor against Bigfoot

 

[Rematch]

Brock Lesnar

Lesnar vs Carwin suggests otherwise.