I don't understand why people said TJ had no chance.

I heard this a lot. I like most people, thought he was the underdog, but only because of how good and dominant Barao has been for so long.

But to me, it was never a squash match, and I told all my friends at the bar with me. They were like "Who is this guy?"

I'll admit I hadn't seen much of Dillashaw, but I did see his amazing performance vs Mike Easton in January and I was IMMEDIATELY impressed with how technical his striking was. I knew the guy was a serious threat based just off the level of his technique.

I get the impression that most people thought this was a squash match along the lines of Griffin vs Silva, and I'm a little disappointed in my fellow MMA fans for not seeing just how great Dillashaw was before this fight.

 

So whats your point???You know this game so much???

 

TJ hadn't really beaten a top guy so no one really knew HOW good he was. They just knew he was good. We all knew that Barao was "a monstah" so that is why lots of people assumed it would be a squash match. It's not like TJ hadn't been KO'd by a fast fighter with lots of power before. With that said I thought he was gonna do better against Barao than most people thought. I picked him to lose a decision which was a lot since I considered Barao #1 P4P before that fight.

 

Point is, I don't get how MMA fans (and some media) were so naiive as to view this as a squash match.

To me there is a clear distinction when it comes to a matchup like Griffin vs Silva or Jones vs Chael and Barao vs Dillashaw.

First two were squash matches... but the technical capabilities and overall skill of Dillashaw should have been evident to everyone.

 

Barao was considered maybe the best p4p and TJ was 4th guy at BW it was so normal he is a huge huge underdog

 

You have a point. This was a big step up in competition for him.

 

If you have this insight in MMA (no sarcasm), and you have some money to spare, this is where you can make shitloads of money.

 

I'll admit that I thought it will be a squash match. I was shocked at the result and the way it went down, but that's why we love this sport.

 

people have opinions TS. Is normal.

On paper Barao looked overwhelmingly the favourite, that just doesn't happen out of thin air.

 

Me neither

 

I think it's absolutely normal to have had the viewpoint that Barao would run over TJ. The outcome was surprising and all the comments after the fact regarding how fans didn't see that happening is a little funny.

 

trust someone to post a thread on sherdog exclaiming how dare people have an opinion on a fight outcome, as if it were pure arrogance.

 

If you're looking for popular reasons, it's the big step up (after all, it's easier to look skilled against lesser competition), and that he was on TUF, which carries a stigma for many.

 

I don't understand why you didn't write this post before the fight.

 

Because I barely ever post. But sure I'll get into the predictions game in the future.

 

Two win streak vs 22 win streak champ says a lot and is usually correct.

 

weak.

 

Thank you.

 

Because they're silly sheep.

Sherdog is the kind of place that if hyperbole gets posted enough times it becomes accepted as fact by the majority of the site.

People posted that Barao was unbeatable and TJ was a nobody and everybody took it as fact. That and people thought TJ was Uriah-lite even though they fight nothing alike
Barao was never infallible, infact against McDonald and Wineland he looked human early on. I never thought it'd be one sided but I thought TJ would be able to frustrate him and score a decision or late submission if Barao got tired.

Saturday night was glorious.