- Joined
- Dec 25, 2011
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I re watched DDP v Stylebender and came away with the following thoughts:
1) The Good:
Even though he makes mistakes, I find DDP fundamentally defensively sound, which to me was the difference maker in that fight. While he was getting lit up by Stylbender on the feet, it was all through his guard, which consists primarily of an ever present high guard and in disciplined stance. Also, I realized for the first time that his weird style reminded me of GSP in many ways. His funny jacked body and outward pointing feet, and the way he would explod on the takedowns. He looked identical mid-air! If he cleaned up his timing and added a crisp jab and some super man punches he would look like GSP 2.0.
Izzy did much better than I remember him doing. I feel he was on his way to handlily beating DDP before he got caught (more on that later).
2) The Bad:
DDP is a stud for sure, but his standup is almost amateurish compared to Stylebender. This was mitigated by the take down threat, but it took four rounds to get any return on the take downs, and even then it was more because Izzy had been caught and was compromised than anything else. Watching that fight, I did not see anything that made me think he has much chance against a world beater (what I consider a dominant champ and next level athlete- MM, GSP, JJ, Volk, Ilia, prime Conor, that type of thing).
3) The Ugly:
Stylebender is so defensively irresponsible that it's a miracle he made it as far as he did in the UFC. He relies completely on his instinct and marked technical superiority, but with his hands down and head forward all he needs is one touch, and when that one touch hits he is completely out of stance and completely vulnerable. He reminds me of a pre-Chama Jiri and Deontay Wilder. Defensively reckless and prone to turn his back to gain distance when he has to reset. I mean, damn.
Conclusion:
I feel that DDP is not long for the belt, beyond his athletacism and tank, I do not look favourably on DDP for the Khamzat fight.
Izzy should work on his defensive fundamentals or retire before he gets exposed (again and again). He's likely a 50/50 for the belt against anyone in the top 5, with the deciding factor being on whether his unprotected head gets tagged.
1) The Good:
Even though he makes mistakes, I find DDP fundamentally defensively sound, which to me was the difference maker in that fight. While he was getting lit up by Stylbender on the feet, it was all through his guard, which consists primarily of an ever present high guard and in disciplined stance. Also, I realized for the first time that his weird style reminded me of GSP in many ways. His funny jacked body and outward pointing feet, and the way he would explod on the takedowns. He looked identical mid-air! If he cleaned up his timing and added a crisp jab and some super man punches he would look like GSP 2.0.
Izzy did much better than I remember him doing. I feel he was on his way to handlily beating DDP before he got caught (more on that later).
2) The Bad:
DDP is a stud for sure, but his standup is almost amateurish compared to Stylebender. This was mitigated by the take down threat, but it took four rounds to get any return on the take downs, and even then it was more because Izzy had been caught and was compromised than anything else. Watching that fight, I did not see anything that made me think he has much chance against a world beater (what I consider a dominant champ and next level athlete- MM, GSP, JJ, Volk, Ilia, prime Conor, that type of thing).
3) The Ugly:
Stylebender is so defensively irresponsible that it's a miracle he made it as far as he did in the UFC. He relies completely on his instinct and marked technical superiority, but with his hands down and head forward all he needs is one touch, and when that one touch hits he is completely out of stance and completely vulnerable. He reminds me of a pre-Chama Jiri and Deontay Wilder. Defensively reckless and prone to turn his back to gain distance when he has to reset. I mean, damn.
Conclusion:
I feel that DDP is not long for the belt, beyond his athletacism and tank, I do not look favourably on DDP for the Khamzat fight.
Izzy should work on his defensive fundamentals or retire before he gets exposed (again and again). He's likely a 50/50 for the belt against anyone in the top 5, with the deciding factor being on whether his unprotected head gets tagged.
