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Warning: TLDR here.
Today:[USA MMA Scene]
MYTH : BJ was always a frontrunner, could never overcome 'adversity' to win a fight...
Keyword here is obviously 'adversity'.
Could BJ weather the storm & rally to make it competitive in the final rounds, or was he indeed a 'perennial' frontrunner?
In BJ´s case, 'adversity' had more to do with his conditionning in the championships rounds, and his mental reaction when he couldnt get the TD/Top Control.
It was indeed not so much about him bein´hurt or somethin´...
4 cases...
1/ BJ vs Jens Pulver 1:
Org.: UFC 35 [2002]
Fight Configuration:
> Cage
> 5 x 5 mns Rd.
Weight Class: LW
Result: BJ Dec. Loss (Majority: 48-45/48-47/47-47)
Technical Assessment of the Fight:
> The 1st Rd was pretty competitive:
BJ arguably won the 1st half, gettin´the fight to the ground:
Ground Control BJ = 2mn10s
But Pulver managed to get back to his feet, got trapped in a standin´guillotine but slammed BJ on the ground.
Ground Control Pulver 1 = 1mn40s
After a stand-up call by the Ref., Pulver started to put pressure on BJ, who looked hesitant and chose to pull guard [out of nowhere...]
Ground Control Pulver 2 = 1mn
> Overall, BJ was arguably dominated by the end of the Round, physically and even mentally, potentially...
> But... BJ did rally in the 2nd Rd:
Got the TD:
Ground Control BJ 1 = 1mn55s
Pulver escaped, only to get taken down again:
Ground Control BJ 2 = 2mn20s
Decisive Sequence:
Pulver was arguably saved by the bell, armbar locked.
> In the next Rd, BJ couldnt implement his gameplan, failed to take Pulver down, got reversed and dominated:
Ground Control Pulver 1 = 1mn50s
After another failed TD attempt:
Ground Control Pulver 2 = 1mn20s
> Overall, BJ was clearly windin´down in this 3rd Round.
> In the 4th Rd, BJ got reversed again after a failed TD attempt:
Ground Control Pulver 1 = 1mn25s
BJ escaped, and managed to take Pulver down:
Ground Control BJ = 20s
Reversed again:
Ground Control Pulver 2 = 40s
After a stand-up call by the Ref., BJ appeared much more active and landed the crisper punches in the last 2 mns.
> Overall, BJ did rally in this Round and made it competitive.
> Final Rd: they went toe-2-toe, both scorin´with counter- punches mainly.
Pulver had the crisper shots, the best combo at the end of the Round, and BJ landed a low blow.
> Overall, a competitive Round, arguably won by Pulver.
OVERALL: a competitive fight, especially on the feet, while Pulver had more Ground Control.
BJ did rally in the final rounds and made it competitive.
2/ BJ vs Caol Uno 2:
Org.: UFC 41 [2003]
Fight Configuration:
> Cage
> 5 x 5 mns Rd.
Weight Class: LW
Result: Draw [48-46/47-48/48-48]
Technical Assessment of the Fight:
> BJ arguably won the 1st Rd:
Took Caol down, and even got his back.
Ground Control BJ 1 = 1mn20s
Caol escaped, but BJ took him down again, and got his back again.
Ground Control BJ 2 = 1mn40s
> In the 2nd Rd, Caol was more active, bouncin´, usin´ more kicks.
Mixin´it up, Caol took BJ down twice in this round:
Ground Control Caol 1 = 50s
Ground Control Caol 2 = 30s
> Again in the 3rd Rd, Caol managed to take BJ down:
Ground Control Caol 1 = 1mn
BJ did take Caol down, even got briefly his back, but got reversed.
Ground Control BJ = 25s
Caol ended the Round on top, with some decent GNP.
Ground Control Caol 2 = 45s
At that point, BJ was arguably down on the scorecards, 2 Rds to 1.
> But he rallied in the 4th:
Took Caol down, got his back again.
Ground Control BJ 1 = 1mn20s
...but was reversed again:
Ground Control Caol = 50s
BJ escaped, then took Caol down again (and again got his back briefly):
Ground Control BJ 2 = 25s
At the end of the Rd, BJ took Caol down again:
Ground Control BJ 3 = 3s
> Overall, BJ was more active in this Rd, with crisper punches and more Ground Control.
> The final Round was pretty tough to score, both goin´toe-2-toe.
> Cant post these 15 Gifs here in the OP, so look for them in the 2nd/3rd post of this thread.
3/ BJ vs Takanori Gomi:
Org.: K-1 Rumble on the Rock 4 [2003]
Fight Configuration:
> Cage
> 5 x 5 mns Rd.
Weight Class: LW
Result: BJ Win [RNC, 3rd Rd]
Technical Assessment of the Fight:
> BJ arguably won the 1st Rd:
Took Gomi down quickly and even got his back.
Ground Control BJ 1 = 2mn40s
Then Gomi reversed him:
Ground Control Gomi = 1mn05s
BJ escaped, got back to his feet, and took Gomi down again (& got his back again):
Ground Control BJ 2 = 1mn02s
> Then BJ began to lose the momentum in the 2nd Rd (with Gomi stuffing [4] TDs and connecting with jabz)...
This Rd had BJ clearly windin´down and somehow clueless about how to implement his gameplan.
> Finally, BJ took him down pretty quickly in the 3rd and secured the RNC.
4/ BJ vs Lyoto Machida:
Org.: K-1: Hero's 1 [2005]
Fight Configuration:
> Ring
> 3 x 5 mns Rd.
Weight Class: OW [191 lbs vs 225 lbs]
[Note: BJ asked for Fujita 1st (!)]
Result: BJ Dec. Loss
Technical Assessment of the Fight:
> BJ was game in the 1st Rd: more aggressive, literally stalkin´ Machida.
After a failed trip by Machida, BJ ended on top:
Ground Control BJ = 1mn50s
> Competitive Round. BJ arguably more active, more Ground Control.
> Then, in the 2nd Rd, Machida started to use the clinch and trips to get the fight to the ground, which had a clear effect on BJ´s pace:
Ground Control Machida = 35 sec
BJ scored with a few counter-punches, but Machida was more active with leg kicks (one high kick too)& 1 uppercut.
> BJ clearly lost this Round. Outgunned and winding down.
> But... BJ was still game in the 3rd Rd, forcin´Machida to look for the clinch again [somehow stallin´against the ropes].
BJ was once again pressurin´him in the final mns of the fight.
> Competitive Round. Considerin´the weight difference, legit reaction from BJ, who arguably finished stronger.
Today:[USA MMA Scene]
MYTH : BJ was always a frontrunner, could never overcome 'adversity' to win a fight...
Keyword here is obviously 'adversity'.
Could BJ weather the storm & rally to make it competitive in the final rounds, or was he indeed a 'perennial' frontrunner?
In BJ´s case, 'adversity' had more to do with his conditionning in the championships rounds, and his mental reaction when he couldnt get the TD/Top Control.
It was indeed not so much about him bein´hurt or somethin´...
4 cases...
1/ BJ vs Jens Pulver 1:
Org.: UFC 35 [2002]
Fight Configuration:
> Cage
> 5 x 5 mns Rd.
Weight Class: LW
Result: BJ Dec. Loss (Majority: 48-45/48-47/47-47)
Technical Assessment of the Fight:
> The 1st Rd was pretty competitive:
BJ arguably won the 1st half, gettin´the fight to the ground:
Ground Control BJ = 2mn10s
But Pulver managed to get back to his feet, got trapped in a standin´guillotine but slammed BJ on the ground.
Ground Control Pulver 1 = 1mn40s
After a stand-up call by the Ref., Pulver started to put pressure on BJ, who looked hesitant and chose to pull guard [out of nowhere...]
Ground Control Pulver 2 = 1mn
> Overall, BJ was arguably dominated by the end of the Round, physically and even mentally, potentially...
> But... BJ did rally in the 2nd Rd:
Got the TD:
Ground Control BJ 1 = 1mn55s
Pulver escaped, only to get taken down again:
Ground Control BJ 2 = 2mn20s
Decisive Sequence:
Pulver was arguably saved by the bell, armbar locked.
> In the next Rd, BJ couldnt implement his gameplan, failed to take Pulver down, got reversed and dominated:
Ground Control Pulver 1 = 1mn50s
After another failed TD attempt:
Ground Control Pulver 2 = 1mn20s
> Overall, BJ was clearly windin´down in this 3rd Round.
> In the 4th Rd, BJ got reversed again after a failed TD attempt:
Ground Control Pulver 1 = 1mn25s
BJ escaped, and managed to take Pulver down:
Ground Control BJ = 20s
Reversed again:
Ground Control Pulver 2 = 40s
After a stand-up call by the Ref., BJ appeared much more active and landed the crisper punches in the last 2 mns.
> Overall, BJ did rally in this Round and made it competitive.
> Final Rd: they went toe-2-toe, both scorin´with counter- punches mainly.
Pulver had the crisper shots, the best combo at the end of the Round, and BJ landed a low blow.
> Overall, a competitive Round, arguably won by Pulver.
OVERALL: a competitive fight, especially on the feet, while Pulver had more Ground Control.
BJ did rally in the final rounds and made it competitive.
2/ BJ vs Caol Uno 2:
Org.: UFC 41 [2003]
Fight Configuration:
> Cage
> 5 x 5 mns Rd.
Weight Class: LW
Result: Draw [48-46/47-48/48-48]
Technical Assessment of the Fight:
> BJ arguably won the 1st Rd:
Took Caol down, and even got his back.
Ground Control BJ 1 = 1mn20s
Caol escaped, but BJ took him down again, and got his back again.
Ground Control BJ 2 = 1mn40s
> In the 2nd Rd, Caol was more active, bouncin´, usin´ more kicks.
Mixin´it up, Caol took BJ down twice in this round:
Ground Control Caol 1 = 50s
Ground Control Caol 2 = 30s
> Again in the 3rd Rd, Caol managed to take BJ down:
Ground Control Caol 1 = 1mn
BJ did take Caol down, even got briefly his back, but got reversed.
Ground Control BJ = 25s
Caol ended the Round on top, with some decent GNP.
Ground Control Caol 2 = 45s
At that point, BJ was arguably down on the scorecards, 2 Rds to 1.
> But he rallied in the 4th:
Took Caol down, got his back again.
Ground Control BJ 1 = 1mn20s
...but was reversed again:
Ground Control Caol = 50s
BJ escaped, then took Caol down again (and again got his back briefly):
Ground Control BJ 2 = 25s
At the end of the Rd, BJ took Caol down again:
Ground Control BJ 3 = 3s
> Overall, BJ was more active in this Rd, with crisper punches and more Ground Control.
> The final Round was pretty tough to score, both goin´toe-2-toe.
> Cant post these 15 Gifs here in the OP, so look for them in the 2nd/3rd post of this thread.
3/ BJ vs Takanori Gomi:
Org.: K-1 Rumble on the Rock 4 [2003]
Fight Configuration:
> Cage
> 5 x 5 mns Rd.
Weight Class: LW
Result: BJ Win [RNC, 3rd Rd]
Technical Assessment of the Fight:
> BJ arguably won the 1st Rd:
Took Gomi down quickly and even got his back.
Ground Control BJ 1 = 2mn40s
Then Gomi reversed him:
Ground Control Gomi = 1mn05s
BJ escaped, got back to his feet, and took Gomi down again (& got his back again):
Ground Control BJ 2 = 1mn02s
> Then BJ began to lose the momentum in the 2nd Rd (with Gomi stuffing [4] TDs and connecting with jabz)...
This Rd had BJ clearly windin´down and somehow clueless about how to implement his gameplan.
> Finally, BJ took him down pretty quickly in the 3rd and secured the RNC.
4/ BJ vs Lyoto Machida:
Org.: K-1: Hero's 1 [2005]
Fight Configuration:
> Ring
> 3 x 5 mns Rd.
Weight Class: OW [191 lbs vs 225 lbs]
[Note: BJ asked for Fujita 1st (!)]
Result: BJ Dec. Loss
Technical Assessment of the Fight:
> BJ was game in the 1st Rd: more aggressive, literally stalkin´ Machida.
After a failed trip by Machida, BJ ended on top:
Ground Control BJ = 1mn50s
> Competitive Round. BJ arguably more active, more Ground Control.
> Then, in the 2nd Rd, Machida started to use the clinch and trips to get the fight to the ground, which had a clear effect on BJ´s pace:
Ground Control Machida = 35 sec
BJ scored with a few counter-punches, but Machida was more active with leg kicks (one high kick too)& 1 uppercut.
> BJ clearly lost this Round. Outgunned and winding down.
> But... BJ was still game in the 3rd Rd, forcin´Machida to look for the clinch again [somehow stallin´against the ropes].
BJ was once again pressurin´him in the final mns of the fight.
> Competitive Round. Considerin´the weight difference, legit reaction from BJ, who arguably finished stronger.
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