DDP's performance was overshadowed by Strickland's incredible durability.

[heohanwuoc]

DDP landed so many big shots that would have knocked out or at least knocked down most middleweights, such as full-power spinning fists, spinning elbows, and right hands. He also landed left high kicks to the head and body all day. But because Strickland was unfazed (until the huge right hand that broke his nose), people think this fight was boring. Even Pereira’s fights would have looked boring and unimpressive if he had faced someone who could absorb all of his shots.


Bisping's esque:

 

[BullyKutta]

It's going to be Strickland's undoing.

Once the chin is gone, it's permanently gone. It never lasts forever.

 

[jbsnibz56]

glazing a jab fighter is crazy

 

[volcom5]

dricus beat a out of prime Strickland, Strickland would have won in his prime!

 

[tritestill]

DDP's performance was overshadowed by Sean looking like he wanted to take a nap mid fight, instead of engage in the violence he swore his oath towards

 

[NoSmilez]

It's hard to hit someone who is always moving back.

 

[ElLunico]

It's easy to look durable when you hide in a shell and just try and defend any strike and not take any risks. We've seen fighters in worse shape and still try to win. Strickland fought like a pussy

 

[wolfss]

That skinhead look was worse than the beating Sean took.

 

[GilErick]

DDP style works

 

[AstralPanda]

It's going to be Strickland's undoing.

Once the chin is gone, it's permanently gone. It never lasts forever.

Not sure what fight you were watching

But Sean barely absorbed any strikes directly to the chin.

He took some shots, but overall defended his chin very well, dricus struggled to hit him most of the night.

 

[Arm Barbarian]

DDP's performance was overshadowed by Sean looking like he wanted to take a nap mid fight, instead of engage in the violence he swore his oath towards

This.

Sean did absolutely fuck all in this fight, and actually outdid himself with lack of activity. He's never getting anywhere near another title shot again with that do-nothing performance.

 

[AZZA B]

DDP's performance was overshadowed by Sean looking like he wanted to take a nap mid fight, instead of engage in the violence he swore his oath towards

Came on here to post something similar, if you scream out “Fight to the death Dutchman!” and the do fuck all for 5 rounds then Sean only has himself to blame.
I’m a fan of Strickland, I had him winning the first fight. I don’t like DDP at all, but DDP won that fight fair and square.

 

[Gun'n'Run]

Not sure what fight you were watching

But Sean barely absorbed any strikes directly to the chin.

He took some shots, but overall defended his chin very well, dricus struggled to hit him most of the night.

DDP landed that one shot that really took away any chance of Strick winning the D but outside of that, Strick landed the cleaner harder shots.

I think the strike breakdown was 11-8 ratio of sig strikes, but 66% of DDPs were kicks which he never landed a clean hard kick, no buckling leg kick or bad body shot or clean headkick. Strick was like 75% punches and most of the punches he landed he landed way cleaner both to body and head.

Stricklands style in these fights has been super non judge friendly, he loses fights like a Diaz bro, he sorta handles all the offense and keeps himself rolling with shots and taking shots in okay places, then lands clean precise shots, then wonders why he loses the decision to the rabid wolverine guys.

DDP deserved it for the big shots in rd 4 but I mean outside of that

 

[FreddieRoachsVoice]

I to this day believe that Strickland vs Pereira had a real EliteXC vibe to it (IYKYK).

I'm not at all saying that Pereira wouldn't have KO'd Strickland legitimately but the UFC sure wanted a marketable new opponent for Izzy at the time and Strickland somehow managed to get himself 2 title shots under pretty dubious circumstances not long after that.

I thought it was pretty back then but that inexplicably foolish gameplan and quick exit by Strickland looks even more odd in hindsight considering the performances he has had since.

We'll never know but the guy definitely has a chin on him. Glad he had a career comeback and made some money for himself

 

[WoozyFailGuy]

I to this day believe that Strickland vs Pereira had a real EliteXC vibe to it (IYKYK).

I will only call your point retarded by the merit of challenging you to find a single time Strickland tried a takedown.

He got a title shot because he was the only one to accept on short notice. He then beat the champ, which explains his second title shot against the guy that took the gold from him by SD. Neither of those are dubious in the least bit.

 

[Vergilius]

DDP landed that one shot that really took away any chance of Strick winning the D but outside of that, Strick landed the cleaner harder shots.

I think the strike breakdown was 11-8 ratio of sig strikes, but 66% of DDPs were kicks which he never landed a clean hard kick, no buckling leg kick or bad body shot or clean headkick. Strick was like 75% punches and most of the punches he landed he landed way cleaner both to body and head.

Stricklands style in these fights has been super non judge friendly, he loses fights like a Diaz bro, he sorta handles all the offense and keeps himself rolling with shots and taking shots in okay places, then lands clean precise shots, then wonders why he loses the decision to the rabid wolverine guys.

DDP deserved it for the big shots in rd 4 but I mean outside of that

I agree with a lot of this. The thing is, Strickland's clean shots weren't exactly of the headsnapping variety either. He's got a good, hard jab, but the right hand has to follow it with more regularity. It almost never does. Can't win a fight if you don't land powershots. Landing a jab to the head isn't better than landing a kick to the legs or midsection. Strickland didn't really get the teep going much in this one either. I thinkt he leg kicks affected him somewhat.

 

[GluttonforPunishment]

I to this day believe that Strickland vs Pereira had a real EliteXC vibe to it (IYKYK).

I'm not at all saying that Pereira wouldn't have KO'd Strickland legitimately but the UFC sure wanted a marketable new opponent for Izzy at the time and Strickland somehow managed to get himself 2 title shots under pretty dubious circumstances not long after that.

I thought it was pretty back then but that inexplicably foolish gameplan and quick exit by Strickland looks even more odd in hindsight considering the performances he has had since.

We'll never know but the guy definitely has a chin on him. Glad he had a career comeback and made some money for himself

It's fishy to get decked by an Alex Pereira left hook? Go to bed.

 

[7 others]

Really goes to show how lethal Alex's left hand is

He literally caught Sean on the tip of his chin and his eyes rolled back

 

[r-harper-1]

Strickland fought to survive, that’s what he does …..talks tough and then spars

 

[FreddieRoachsVoice]

I will only call your point retarded by the merit of challenging you to find a single time Strickland tried a takedown.

He got a title shot because he was the only one to accept on short notice. He then beat the champ, which explains his second title shot against the guy that took the gold from him by SD. Neither of those are dubious in the least bit.

Happy??


Izzy did not need to be on UFC 293. They finally had a clear cut #1 contender in DDP and they offer him his title shot on 7 weeks notice after he'd just fought? When does this ever happen??

DDP vs Izzy was never a scheduled bout so it's not like some last second substitution was needed and another main event couldn't have been booked well ahead of time to preserve this fight for later.

Strickland was 2-2 and coming off of a win over a borderline UFC newcomer so he wasn't exactly screaming title contender at the time but they sure chugged forward and publicly buried DDP in a hurry. I guess a fight between a journeyman and a -770 favorite champion was too compelling to pass up, hmm?? They even had the guy who just beat Strickland be the back-up lol.

And now Khamzat is easily the clear cut #1 contender and we have a fresh MW fight everyone is DYING to see but... Strickland gets a rematch? After a lousy split decision over a completely irrelevant opponent? That's pretty fortunate for a guy who was previously passed over for a title shot despite being on a 6 fight win streak at the time. Who did he fight instead again?

Even if Strickland had never shot a takedown which you falsely claimed, the guy is a competent grappler and is sure a hell of a lot better at wrestling than Pereira. His gameplan was an absolute s*icide mission against a completely one-dimensional striker but hey... everyone won in the end, didn't they?

Izzy got a fresh contender and the win he wanted, the UFC got a new star who conveniently never gets wrestled despite having an obvious glaring weakness, and Strickland got 2 title shots and a title reign after 8 years of going nowhere in the UFC.

While this is obviously just a conspiracy theory, it sure wouldn't be unheard of in the world of prize fighting. Izzy was completely out of viable contenders at the time and a 37 year old kickboxer is ranked #3 P4P in the world. It's all a bit convenient