I don't think Poatan would ever beat Izzy again...

[Gregoire1]

I think the opposite.

 

[Edward Henry Greb]

Izzy has a very high IQ.

I think he figured out Poatan.

He was methodical before, like he is in most of his fights. He snipes and moves a lot. This obviously works against 99% of his opponents, but it's hard to do for 5 rounds without making a small mistake. A small mistake against Poatan and you're likely going to take a shot you can't recover from.

However, Izzy realized the best way to beat a bully is to be the bully. Poatan leaves his head wide open and dares people to attack, but they rarely have because they feared his power.

Izzy's precision is second to none and he figured out all he has to do is unload. Poatan's head is there for the taking and at 36, it'll be hard to change his ways.

I think bully Izzy would take his head off every time now because he solved the Poatan puzzle. Izzy will likely revert back to sniping going forward because other fighters are better defensively than Poatan, but if he faces Poatan again, bully Izzy will return and he'll put Poatan out again.

You do realize that this was Alex' best performance, outlanding Izzy 2 to 1, prior to the mistake.

All Alex has to do is the exact same performance, but not going for the kill so quickly. Izzy is very athletic, and he doesn't start slowing down till about the end of the third to the fourth round. Watch all his fights.

At the end of the Gastelum fight, Izzy could barely stand in the 5th round. No more movement. He was pretty much the same way with Pereira in the fifth, which is when he got killed.

Alex just needs to break Izzy down for 4 rounds first.

 

[ComfortablyNumb55]

I think the opposite.

I was against the trilogy happening immediately.

But truth be told, I want it now to see if I'm right.

Just book the shit.

 

[j18lee]

Or, prior to this fight, one could say, Adesanya would never beat Pereira since he tried 3 times and failed all 3 times.

 

[Steve Fox]

Alex was up 3-0 against Izzy and was winning the fight until he got careless (props to Izzy for setting up the counter and capitalizing), and now he can't win another fight against Israel?

Recency bias is strong on Sherdog

Yup, just wait for the "Poatan should implement an heavy wrestling plan if he ever fights Izzy".

 

[Minnja]

The fascinating thing about their fights is that there are so many moments of “almost” winning or one fighter looking good but then losing etc. I do kind if agree that Izzy will have an advantage in their next fight but only because on top of KO ability i tend to think Izzy also probably wins decisions if neither wins by KO (yeah I know Alex won their only decision)

it’s really just an awesome matchup tbh. Only way this fight will lose its luster is if either shows signs of aging. People forget Izzy is 33 and has had many fights too. He definitely is looking sharp but who knows how long he has left at the top and for all we know Pereira might also be on the decline.

But as we seen ib their last 4 fights when they are healthy and in or close to their primes this is a top notch matchup

 

[jitzmonkey]

We've seen that a hands up cautious/calculated Alex can beat Izzy.

Alex who gives Izzy's speed a chance whether in a tight body lock (fight 1 R3) which lead to an Izzy TD or hands down flurrying Alex vs. fresh Izzy which will lead to the champ's hand speed taking over will probably lose.

We already (should) have known that since before the second fight.
185 is tough, though. And after that nasty KO, it's not a great idea for quite a while unless he's coming super conservative and fighting way down the rankings.

 

[Dr. Rose]

One could also point out Izzy was easily winning the first fight before a late mistake. And only time stopped a KO in the first fight.

I haven't watched the kickboxing fights, but I've seen people say Izzy was robbed in one of them? Not sure. I should watch.

People are too quick to say robbery on here. As a lifelong kickboxing fan, it was about as close to a coin flip decision as is possible.

 

[Orochimaru 大蛇丸]

Alex was up 3-0 against Izzy and was winning the fight until he got careless (props to Izzy for setting up the counter and capitalizing), and now he can't win another fight against Israel?

Recency bias is strong on Sherdog

I definitely think Pereira could win, they’re obviously very evenly matched

But it’s funny how in the first fight Izzy was minutes away from winning a decision, but got caught towards the end of the last round with a somewhat controversial stoppage, but nobody was bringing that up over and over as if the KO was somewhat of a fluke

But in the second fight Izzy wins the first round, gets a KO in the second round, but everyone is saying “Alex was winning but he got careless”

 

[daltonames]

One could also point out Izzy was easily winning the first fight before a late mistake. And only time stopped a KO in the first fight.

I haven't watched the kickboxing fights, but I've seen people say Izzy was robbed in one of them? Not sure. I should watch.

First kickboxing fight was very close. It was not a robbery. He was KO'd by Poatan in their final kickboxing fight. He was winning the first MMA fight yes, but easily? no it wasn't easy. His legs were getting chewed up and he was getting hit.

They're very evenly matched. Izzy is the better striker, but Alex is the bigger guy who hits way harder. If they fought 10 times in MMA I'd guess it would be 5 - 5 or maybe 6 - 4 either way. Izzy would be a favorite in the trilogy but that's in no way a gimme fight for him.

 

[Ibm]

Alex was winning the fight EVEN more than the last one..before getting knocked out. Id favor Alex in the rematch, he remains focused and he wins it clearly.

 

[AMAZINGUFC]

Izzy has a very high IQ.

I think he figured out Poatan.

He was methodical before, like he is in most of his fights. He snipes and moves a lot. This obviously works against 99% of his opponents, but it's hard to do for 5 rounds without making a small mistake. A small mistake against Poatan and you're likely going to take a shot you can't recover from.

However, Izzy realized the best way to beat a bully is to be the bully. Poatan leaves his head wide open and dares people to attack, but they rarely have because they feared his power.

Izzy's precision is second to none and he figured out all he has to do is unload. Poatan's head is there for the taking and at 36, it'll be hard to change his ways.

I think bully Izzy would take his head off every time now because he solved the Poatan puzzle. Izzy will likely revert back to sniping going forward because other fighters are better defensively than Poatan, but if he faces Poatan again, bully Izzy will return and he'll put Poatan out again.

Now it's like discussing the sex of angels, they will never fight again anyway...

 

[Takes Two To Tango]

Problem with Poatan he opens up so much when he goes for the kill. He doesn't throw straight punches that often and usually throws winged punches. So it gives the opportunity for a nasty counter. Adesanya obviously exploited that and I think Izzy can capitalize in that technique of Poatan.

 

[Gilday]

Before inexplicably rushing in and unloading on Izzy, he was picking him apart easier than he ever had before in their previous fights

 

[Street Bishop]

I imagine Alex and his camp would draw up some kind of counter for the overhand. He should honestly bring in some pro boxers, ones who won't hesitate to punish him for not keeping those hands up.
Izzy is so fundamentally sound though. Alex can't give him any windows.

 

[Asking for Total War]

Izzy has a very high IQ.

I think he figured out Poatan.

He was methodical before, like he is in most of his fights. He snipes and moves a lot. This obviously works against 99% of his opponents, but it's hard to do for 5 rounds without making a small mistake. A small mistake against Poatan and you're likely going to take a shot you can't recover from.

However, Izzy realized the best way to beat a bully is to be the bully. Poatan leaves his head wide open and dares people to attack, but they rarely have because they feared his power.

Izzy's precision is second to none and he figured out all he has to do is unload. Poatan's head is there for the taking and at 36, it'll be hard to change his ways.

I think bully Izzy would take his head off every time now because he solved the Poatan puzzle. Izzy will likely revert back to sniping going forward because other fighters are better defensively than Poatan, but if he faces Poatan again, bully Izzy will return and he'll put Poatan out again.

All Pereira needed to do was step back and take his time. It was only round 2. If it was Israel's strategy to pull Pereira to the cage and give that genetic freak a false sense of security that he could finish him there like he did in Round 5 last fight, that strategy can now be adjusted for. Poatan was able to have his way with Izzy whenever he backed him up to the wall. It was very successful until the KO. He didn't respect the striking of Izzy and had no reason to until then. If Pereira can lean on Glover for the next half-year and learn some very basic grappling skills to wear-down Izzy against the cage and fight in tight quarters with elbows (if Poatan Power can be utilized in the form of elbows, look out!), that would be hard to contend with. To have that man readied to squash anyone against the fence for several minutes WILL wear anyone down. Remember, Pereira has barely been in MMA. It's all fairly new to him. He needs to learn the basic skills I've mentioned above. It's likely he does fight the rubber match, forget Mr. South Africa. Unless, that insane weight cut is leaving him without a chin to take shots. (How hard did Izzy actually hit him?) Do we want to see that? Whittaker lost twice to Izzy and he's the next best MW. Duplesis doesn't bring anything that can make it even close. Poatan was brought in to challenge the seemingly unstoppable Israel Adesanya. He has and it's 1-1 in MMA... Pereira is merely the Izzy Terminator. Doubt he can beat any top LHW.

 

[Ares Black]

Izzy has a very high IQ.

I think he figured out Poatan.

He was methodical before, like he is in most of his fights. He snipes and moves a lot. This obviously works against 99% of his opponents, but it's hard to do for 5 rounds without making a small mistake. A small mistake against Poatan and you're likely going to take a shot you can't recover from.

However, Izzy realized the best way to beat a bully is to be the bully. Poatan leaves his head wide open and dares people to attack, but they rarely have because they feared his power.

Izzy's precision is second to none and he figured out all he has to do is unload. Poatan's head is there for the taking and at 36, it'll be hard to change his ways.

I think bully Izzy would take his head off every time now because he solved the Poatan puzzle. Izzy will likely revert back to sniping going forward because other fighters are better defensively than Poatan, but if he faces Poatan again, bully Izzy will return and he'll put Poatan out again.

He might never win another fight in the UFC.

 

[ChangeIsComing]

lol what a dumb post, glad you have everything figured out. But until he was reckless Alex looked great and was winning.

 

[Motivated BJ Penn]

I'm suggesting Poatan's defense is poor, but he got away with it because people didn't think they could capitalize without being finished.

Izzy now knows he possesses the power to brutally end Poatan and it'll be available every fight.

Its only poor if hes going in recklessly for the kill. Before that Poatan was picking Izzy apart from range with leg kicks, while Izzy could not land the one two combo that was his only effective punch on the first fight. And he tried it many times, hes just not good at leading.

All Poatan has to do to win next time is keep on the leg kick game until Izzy cant stand no more, and THEN go for the kill on the later rounds. Or if he wants to be super conservative, just outpoint him to a decision.

 

[stacrafty]

For sure Alex would be underdog if they fought again…

Not only does Izzy have great fight IQ but I don’t know how many more weight cuts Alex can survive and fight peak at 185.

Hahah alex was the underdog even at 3-0.

In ALL the past fights izzy has hit first and had alex in serious trouble. Call it luck or charity or just fate... Alex got out via the refs help and then the luck of the bell. But not this time.

Alex is still a threat offensively. But he will be really tested here physically and mentally. Is his chin actually effected? Can he make the weight cut? - apparently it was pretty close this time. Then the mental side. Izzy handle it being "0-3" with the world mocking him. Can Alex handle that?

It'd pick 70% izzy 30% Alex at least.