Dillashaw basically fought like Dominick Cruz...

[Thai Otoshi]

...and yet, everyone felt that Cruz had nothing for Barao, for some odd reason.

I was thinking to myself, throughout the first two rounds "He looks like Dominick Cruz out there", and lo and behold, Rogan pointed out the same thing. I don't always agree with Rogan, especially when he starts breaking out the Jergens whenever he sees a leg kick, but he called that fight exactly for what it was.

Constant movement, footwork, head movement, throwing strikes from odd angles, switching stances, mixing in takedowns to throw him off... all classic Dominick Cruz.

Basically the only thing Dillashaw showed more of than Cruz was power.

 

[alexxx]

IMO he fought way more aggressive than Cruz , but Cruz is very very skilled and smart.

Cruz - Barao for next shot while TJ defends once against someone, maybe Assuncao 2

 

[TheComebackKid]

My thoughts exactly

 

[TheLuckiest]

TJ looked incredible. He absolutely looked like he was taking a few pages from Cruz's book. I was very impressed. I always loved Cruz's style so I obviously enjoyed watching this new and improved TJ. I didn't expect what I saw, but TJ made Barao look like he doesn't deserve to be there. I was very impressed.

EDIT: I was very impressed. I think I said it enough now.

 

[Threetrees]

He fought like T.J Dillishaw.

That's basically the same way he beat up Mike Easton except with less takedowns.
Every fighter with good footwork =/= Cruz

He was more aggressive, sat down on punches better and shot for takedowns differently

 

[Lucifer Alpha]

TJ finished the fight. That's not fighting like Cruz.

 

[TKZOMBIE]

TJ finished the fight. That's not fighting like Cruz.

/thread

 

[supernova]

TJ is more aggressive and plants to land power punches. Cruz throws a vast majority of arm punches.

 

[TheComebackKid]

He fought like T.J Dillishaw.

That's basically the same way he beat up Mike Easton except with less takedowns.
Every fighter with good footwork =/= Cruz

He was more aggressive, sat down on punches better and shot for takedowns differently

Cruz had unique footwork and TJ pretty much mimicked it and just added power.

 

[King Kong Bundy**]

yeah like cruz for sure

 

[Sleep Doctor]

Dillashaw is actually aggressive and caused damage constantly. Cruz and Edgar just pitter patter punch and go for meaningless takedowns at the end of rounds to score "points." Totally different. Movement is not exclusive to Cruz.

 

[Thai Otoshi]

He fought like T.J Dillishaw.

That's basically the same way he beat up Mike Easton except with less takedowns.
Every fighter with good footwork =/= Cruz

He was more aggressive, sat down on punches better and shot for takedowns differently

I disagree.

Cruz is very active. He's ALWAYS landing shots. The major difference here is that Dillashaw has more power, and I agree he sits down on punches better. 9/10x Cruz wouldn't have finished Barao.

Also note that it wasn't just footwork that I said Dillashaw displayed similar to Cruz.

 

[kashmir]

TJ finished the fight. That's not fighting like Cruz.

lol

 

[Thai Otoshi]

I gotta admit, that was pretty funny.

 

[flanellograf]

He fought like T.J Dillishaw.

That's basically the same way he beat up Mike Easton except with less takedowns.
Every fighter with good footwork =/= Cruz

He was more aggressive, sat down on punches better and shot for takedowns differently

Thank you. It amazes me how so many mma-fans are so unperceptive. TJ had been looking great lately, and already had some of the best angling, feinting and level switching in mma. All of which was pretty clear could give Barao trouble if you analyzed his last couple of fights (to be fair, it would give anyone trouble; all of those things are severely underutilized in mma).

 

[Concrete]

Way more power in his shots.

 

[Thai Otoshi]

Thank you. It amazes me how so many mma-fans are so unperceptive. TJ had been looking great lately, and already had some of the best angling, feinting and level switching in mma. All of which was pretty clear could give Barao trouble if you analyzed his last couple of fights (to be fair, it would give anyone trouble; all of those things are severely underutilized in mma).

Note that I never said that Dillashaw didn't fight like Dillashaw.

I just noted the similarities of his style to Cruz.

 

[Fight Gone Bad]

Yes he fought like Cruz v7.25
The way he beat Barao was like he was sent here from the future to destroy him.

 

[Tuf_guy]

I personally found it much more watchable than any Cruz fight I've ever seen.

He also showed good head movement/feints and used them to confuse the shit out of Barao in close - he couldn't tell if a takedown or punch was coming (and then there were those headkicks that were coming from the same position).

I felt as if I was literally watching someone play Dance Dance Revolution during Cruz fights, although his style was confounding to his opponents, admittedly, he never was as much of a real threat to them.

I also got the impression he was partially forcing Barao to work early so he'd burn lots of energy. I don't recall much circling after the beginning of the fight

 

[flanellograf]

Note that I never said that Dillashaw didn't fight like Dillashaw.

I just noted the similarities of his style to Cruz.

Well, I wasn't singling you out. I was just generalizing, based on how many people seemed utterly amazed at TJ even having a chance, let alone completely dominating.
But yes, your conclusion is solid. I've long thought that Cruz was too much for Barao, even if TJ is technically more sound. Cruz has a lot of wasted movement, for instance.