Dustin deserves more respect for his skillset advancing

[Dionysian]

For plenty of reasons but specifically for what he did against prime Islam...

Undisputed WW champ (JDM) = Islam wins via huge skill-gap in grappling
LW contender (Moicano) = Islam wins via huge skill-gap in grappling
LW contender (Dustin) = Islam (#1 P4P) wins FOTY-candidate war (yes via grappling but still)
LW contender (Volk rematch) = Islam wins via KO
LW contender (Volk while #1 P4P) = Islam wins competitive fight (grappling definitely playing a factor)
Undisputed LW champ (Charles) = Islam wins every aspect, finishes via grappling

One guy in there noticeably fared better recently. Clearly post-Khabib Dustin did his homework and for a "striker" showcased some amazing advancements in his game... and it was at the tail-end of his career too which makes it all the more impressive.

 

[Kung Fu Kowboy]

Jumping Guillotine should be called the Poirier.

 

[podsox]

Conor picking him as an opponent for the comeback tour was a really bad idea

 

[Harlekin]

He did all that with a fucked up hip.
In his last fights his shoulder and rib was also gone

 

[hbombbisping]

Or maybe Khabib is just a better grappler.

 

[Dionysian]

Or maybe Khabib is just a better grappler.

I'm not sure if Islam would even dispute that but ultimately I'm not sure how that relates to what this thread is about

My point was that Dustin clearly had a far superior performance vs Islam compared to others held in higher regard in terms of grappling skill.

For instance, JDM. I saw multiple people pre-fight that said "if Dustin can cause trouble getting TDs just imagine how hard it'll be to get JDM down" and obviously the opposite was the reality. Then afterwards not too many conceded it was because Dustin made great improvements at the end of his career, prepped like a madman, and had the performance to reflect that.

Conor picking him as an opponent for the comeback tour was a really bad idea

lol yup... even moreso a bad idea when the corrupt org gave Conor a "do over" after the second fight when the whole world saw the gap between the two... gee whiz what would happen in the third fight...

 

[gentel]

Jumping Guillotine should be called the Poirier.

I know jumping the gilly is often a mistake that gets guys into bottom positions, but I do think that it's underrated for how much cardio it takes to fight your way out of a guillotine

If the choice is between getting taken down, or taking yourself down with a guillotine that'll take a lot of time and energy for your opponent to get out of, jumping the gilly can be considered a decent choice

 

[Dionysian]

I know jumping the gilly is often a mistake that gets guys into bottom positions, but I do think that it's underrated for how much cardio it takes to fight your way out of a guillotine

If the choice is between getting taken down, or taking yourself down with a guillotine that'll take a lot of time and energy for your opponent to get out of, jumping the gilly can be considered a decent choice

I dunno man... actually committing to finish (as the guy on bottom) and potentially burning your arm out and then not getting it while on bottom sucks from a cardio standpoint

 

[HHJ]

The guy was just a gritty blood and guts warrior. He was never the best but he could give the best hell.

MMA fans were lucky to have him.

 

[Here's Johnny!]

I dunno man... actually committing to finish (as the guy on bottom) and potentially burning your arm out and then not getting it while on bottom sucks from a cardio standpoint

Someone can be stuck for a while without committing to the choke though which. Means they aren't advancing or striking you

 

[EYEKICKFACES]

Lol he was dominated and tapped out, Volk put on a better performance in the first fight coming up a weight class. Dustin's always been the bridesmaid when it counts, never the bride.

 

[Dionysian]

Someone can be stuck for a while without committing to the choke though which. Means they aren't advancing or striking you

Yeah but who cares? I can relax in a non-locked choke all day. To immobilize them requires arm cardio. So best case scenario you are sacrificing your cardio solely to not get punched for a few seconds. I'll take that deal all day long as the guy on top.

Lol he was dominated and tapped out, Volk put on a better performance in the first fight coming up a weight class. Dustin's always been the bridesmaid when it counts, never the bride.

You can be behind in a fight while also not being dominated. That fight was a textbook example.

 

[Portland8242]

I'm not sure if Islam would even dispute that but ultimately I'm not sure how that relates to what this thread is about

My point was that Dustin clearly had a far superior performance vs Islam compared to others held in higher regard in terms of grappling skill.

For instance, JDM. I saw multiple people pre-fight that said "if Dustin can cause trouble getting TDs just imagine how hard it'll be to get JDM down" and obviously the opposite was the reality. Then afterwards not too many conceded it was because Dustin made great improvements at the end of his career, prepped like a madman, and had the performance to reflect that.


lol yup... even moreso a bad idea when the corrupt org gave Conor a "do over" after the second fight when the whole world saw the gap between the two... gee whiz what would happen in the third fight...

Yeah I really think it showed just how much better elite LW's are than WW's.

Elite LW's like an older/bad hip Dustin and a young Tsarukyan seemed better than JDM at defending Islam's grappling.