And on a related note, can a fighter lose 2 fights without controversy and still be considered to perhaps have the tools to win?
First up, TJ won both fights relatively convincingly. TJ seems to be a better all-round fighter, and at this point you can't really make many arguments for Cody winning a third- it's doubtful he has it in him. But watching them fight, TJ seemed to win more through superior fight IQ, gameplanning and focus rather than simply being the better fighter.
Cody, all antics aside, truly looked a lot crisper and faster with his hands. He was beating TJ to the punch in both fights, stunned him in both fights, and honestly looked to have the superior technique- but for whatever reason he shit the bed and starting swinging wildly as soon as TJ looked a little hurt. Had he stuck to his guns, countered and waited for a real opening instead of trying to finish so fast I think he could have got it done.
On a similar note, Cody just took Cruz apart and made him look like a rank amateur- some people think TJ beat Cruz, but even if you believe that it was a super tight fight with little between them.
I don't much care for Cody or TJ, but I gotta say that Cody still looks to have the cleanest boxing in MMA- possibly better than Conors even. It's frustrating to see him throw away what honestly looked like a winnable fight through a simple lack of fight IQ and temper.
First up, TJ won both fights relatively convincingly. TJ seems to be a better all-round fighter, and at this point you can't really make many arguments for Cody winning a third- it's doubtful he has it in him. But watching them fight, TJ seemed to win more through superior fight IQ, gameplanning and focus rather than simply being the better fighter.
Cody, all antics aside, truly looked a lot crisper and faster with his hands. He was beating TJ to the punch in both fights, stunned him in both fights, and honestly looked to have the superior technique- but for whatever reason he shit the bed and starting swinging wildly as soon as TJ looked a little hurt. Had he stuck to his guns, countered and waited for a real opening instead of trying to finish so fast I think he could have got it done.
On a similar note, Cody just took Cruz apart and made him look like a rank amateur- some people think TJ beat Cruz, but even if you believe that it was a super tight fight with little between them.
I don't much care for Cody or TJ, but I gotta say that Cody still looks to have the cleanest boxing in MMA- possibly better than Conors even. It's frustrating to see him throw away what honestly looked like a winnable fight through a simple lack of fight IQ and temper.
