Israel Adesanya - Respect

[Deleted member 110072]

3) Many people here think I am racist, but I never had a problem rooting for black fighters. DC and Romero are among my all time favorites. Izzy was/still is rubbing many people the wrong way. He has a cocky media persona, and gives some strong insecurity vibes. I have no idea what kind of person he is in real life, but his media side is not pleasant.

Still, anyone who knows at least something about MMA knows he is an elite fighter, like him or not.

To be fair I think there was some genuine racism coming back at him from Culture War typres but I don't think its fair to lable anyone critical of him as racists.

The truth is he's always had a cocky persona and him and his fans when into overdrive with it after the win over Alex yet it really looks like that fight had exactly the opposite effect Izzy and his followers thought it might, Izzy ducked a 3rd match. talked a lot of crap and his career imploded, Alex moved up to LHW to fight for the belt as fast as he could and massively built up his legacy.

Izzy and his fans basically deserve to get mocked a bit for that but as you say he's obviously he was(and maybe could still be) a great fighter.

 

[ssBaldy]

To be fair I thin there was some genuine racism coming back at him from Culture War typres but I don't think its fair to lable anyone critical of him as racists.

The truth is he's always had a cocky persona and him and his fans when into overdrive with it after the win over Alex yet it really looks like that fight had exactly the opposite effect Izzy and his followers thought it might, Izzy ducked a 3rd match. talked a lot of crap and his career imploded, Alex moved up to LHW to fight for the belt as fast as he could and massively built up his legacy.

Izzy and his fans basically deserve to get mocked a bit for that but as you say he's obviously he was(and maybe could still be) a great fighter.

I do not think we will see him in a title fight ever again but he already was a champ and had successful defences against legit top contenders, even if some of those were close fights. Cocky and annoying or not, he is one of the best middleweights we've seen yet. However I am glad that "better than prime Anderson" talks got shot down.

 

[Deleted member 110072]

I do not think we will see him in a title fight ever again but he already was a champ and had successful defences against legit top contenders, even if some of those were close fights. Cocky and annoying or not, he is one of the best middleweights we've seen yet. However I am glad that "better than prime Anderson" talks got shot down.

I do suspect part of the issue is that he's bought into his own hype a bit and become a rather narrower fighter, basically thinking he's going to counter KO everyone he faces were as the earlier version would taken those openings if they represented but he happy to pick away for a decision if they didnt.

Does happen to a lot of big name fighters as they age although in his case it does seem like its potentially as much ego behind it as it is just working less hard.

 

[mangokush]

Izzy is a great fighter but he hasn't been the same since Strickland exposed him in all aspects of striking offensively & defensively when they fought

Also possibly hasn't been motivated since as he finally out of 4 chances managed to get that 1 win over Alex, that was proberly all that Izzy ever wanted, nothing else mattered in his MMA career to him except that

Should retire

 

[Hog-train]

Wow, these are some seriously shocking things to say. Really?

I guess Daniel Cormier is half white now? And Colby is loved? Where? In the Maga Land where dreams come true and Trump has a brain or conscience?

That's a pretty wild thing to say but jeez. You see Izzy and you never thought oh boy this guy acts pretty unlikable?

I mean, you do you guys, but wow.

Daniel Cormier is one of the nicest guys in MMA and is not cocky.

1) The hell Colby has to do with it? And I always thought the general consensus about Colby here was that he was a weirdo at least?
2) How do you know that Izzy is "genuinely a good person"? Did you have personal interactions with him or what?
3) Many people here think I am racist, but I never had a problem rooting for black fighters. DC and Romero are among my all time favorites. Izzy was/still is rubbing many people the wrong way. He has a cocky media persona, and gives some strong insecurity vibes. I have no idea what kind of person he is in real life, but his media side is not pleasant.

Still, anyone who knows at least something about MMA knows he is an elite fighter, like him or not.

1. Colby was beloved for some reason even though he's a cocky shit talking prick. Yet Izzy was hated.
2. Based on his interactions with fans, interviews, etc. Same way we judge every other MMA fighter.
3. Yea he's cocky. That's my point. People seem to very much dislike Izzy because he's cocky but when it's a white fighter "They're based." and stuff like that happens.

 

[ssBaldy]

Daniel Cormier is one of the nicest guys in MMA and is not cocky.



1. Colby was beloved for some reason even though he's a cocky shit talking prick. Yet Izzy was hated.
2. Based on his interactions with fans, interviews, etc. Same way we judge every other MMA fighter.
3. Yea he's cocky. That's my point. People seem to very much dislike Izzy because he's cocky but when it's a white fighter "They're based." and stuff like that happens.

Why do you suppose there is some universal criteria for people to be likeable? Personality and impression are very multifaceted. Of two people with some similar traits one can be popular, while other's an outcast. May seem hypocritical, but happens all the time. Especially with public persons.
I think that the likes of Colby and Conor are cocky cunts as well, and probably louder and even less pleasant. Strickland and DuPlessis don't seem the most likeable people either. The fight game is not a magnet for nice people, guys like GSP and Fedor are outliers.
Still, can't get rid of the impression thatq Izzy likes the smell of his own farts a bit too much. He seems condescending and full of himself even when he is supposed to be humble. But that is my opinion and not the universal truth. I don't know the guy personally after all.

 

[Bubzeh]

We'll miss him when he's gone, he's been great for the sport.

 

[188912345]

Not about race, it's about him being very arrogant and having the unfortunate characteristic of being a worse winner than loser. Also, many boring decisions.

Even in defeat he still had a quote about how great it must feel for Imavov to get a win against "someone like me".

And yeah, there's also the dog situation. And calling Dricus a racial slur. Also, holding a grudge against a young child for years.

Other than that, respect.

 

[ultra321]

We'll miss him when he's gone, he's been great for the sport.

No we won't...

 

[Kono dio da!]

Cause of all the Izzy fall from grace threads. I wanted to highlight the fact that Izzy has accomplished incredible stiff, all things considering.



I mean, the guy has over 100 pro fights between kickboxing and mma. In his kickboxing days, its not like he was fighting bums in some amateur bum league either. He has fought in elite kickboxing and mma orgs and been champ.

He is easily one of the top 5 guys in mma history to come from a pure striking base and become a defending champ, in the UFC no less. Not even Anderson had the extensive pro striking history before entering MMA.

He did also fight grapplers and tried his luck at lhw, so its not like he was gifted easy fights.

All in all, I believe that if you spend that much time ring/cage at the professional level fighting in elite orgs for the majority of your career. Father time will catch up a lot quicker. Once you hit your mid 30s its normally a wrap, especially if you are reliant on speed and quick reflexes.

When we look at his fight record its actually extremely impressive.

Kickboxing : 75-5
MMA : 24-5
Boxing : 5-1

That's 104-11 record in fighting.

Even though I wasnt a big fan of his personallity especially early on, I have to give the guy his due respect for being an absolute warrior.

Couldn't have phrased it better myself. He grew on me. Started to respect him majorly when he lost to poatan. The win was epic but the guys he showed in that losing performance. The entrance. The fearlessness. It's been a pleasure watching him. I know he's not retired but he's effectively "done".
He's got nothing to be ashamed of. He lost to Strickland, who's actually elite (shoot me), dricus (please shoot me) and now nassourdine "we have gegard mousasi at home" imavov.

 

[Hymen Crusher]

I think so much was the goat talk. He was never that level. He was a very good champ and put asses in seats. Also he dug deep in the 2nd Alex fight and got the win. I didn't like him fighting Anderson thought it was stupid.

 

[Cowboy Kurt Angle]

Without Izzy we would no Alex in UFC

 

[Marko Polo]

Cause of all the Izzy fall from grace threads. I wanted to highlight the fact that Izzy has accomplished incredible stiff, all things considering.



I mean, the guy has over 100 pro fights between kickboxing and mma. In his kickboxing days, its not like he was fighting bums in some amateur bum league either. He has fought in elite kickboxing and mma orgs and been champ.

He is easily one of the top 5 guys in mma history to come from a pure striking base and become a defending champ, in the UFC no less. Not even Anderson had the extensive pro striking history before entering MMA.

He did also fight grapplers and tried his luck at lhw, so its not like he was gifted easy fights.

All in all, I believe that if you spend that much time ring/cage at the professional level fighting in elite orgs for the majority of your career. Father time will catch up a lot quicker. Once you hit your mid 30s its normally a wrap, especially if you are reliant on speed and quick reflexes.

When we look at his fight record its actually extremely impressive.

Kickboxing : 75-5
MMA : 24-5
Boxing : 5-1

That's 104-11 record in fighting.

Even though I wasnt a big fan of his personallity especially early on, I have to give the guy his due respect for being an absolute warrior.

One of the best to ever do it.

 

[AmonTobin]

The kids are gonna dump on him. He’s always been one of my favourites. He’s a legend as far as I’m concerned.

 

[legedema]

Nah
he was not an elite kickboxer who lost even to Filip Verlinden and he is not a good MMA fighter.
he was lucky enough to be UFC champ ( so was Bisping ).

Spoken like a true a sherdogger.

take it as you like.
I said it from the beginning. I watched Izzy ringside against Verlinden when he was at Glory.
nothing special about him. he was lucky , he already achieved more than he deserved in UFC and now he is falling

 

[legedema]

Nah
he was not an elite kickboxer who lost even to Filip Verlinden and he is not a good MMA fighter.
he was lucky enough to be UFC champ ( so was Bisping ).

Obvious troll is obvious

Izzy might be your hero but for me he was always a mid level kickboxer competing in a low level era

 

[TankAbbott4Eva]

Nah
he was not an elite kickboxer who lost even to Filip Verlinden and he is not a good MMA fighter.
he was lucky enough to be UFC champ ( so was Bisping ).

Izzy might be your hero but for me he was always a mid level kickboxer competing in a low level era

I'm glad I've got a way more positive attitude towards fighters that you do.

 

[Ezekiel 25:17]

Nah
he was not an elite kickboxer who lost even to Filip Verlinden and he is not a good MMA fighter.
he was lucky enough to be UFC champ ( so was Bisping ).

take it as you like.
I said it from the beginning. I watched Izzy ringside against Verlinden when he was at Glory.
nothing special about him. he was lucky , he already achieved more than he deserved in UFC and now he is falling

So you watched 1 fight of his live and didnt like his performance and think hes just had some lucky run against mediocre challengers in over 100 pro fights with only a handful of losses. Sure buddy, sure.

 

[legedema]

So you watched 1 fight of his live and didnt like his performance and think hes just had some lucky run against mediocre challengers in over 100 pro fights with only a handful of losses. Sure buddy, sure.

yes buddy, you try hard to understand what you want to understand.
I watched enough of his fights and one of them ringside and I also watched Aerts , Saki , Spong and many others as well ringside and outside and I have my own opinion to compare elite to Izzy.
Izzy was a good kickboxer in a weak division and Era that's it.
you can keep on loving him

 

[Ezekiel 25:17]

yes buddy, you try hard to understand what you want to understand.
I watched enough of his fights and one of them ringside and I also watched Aerts , Saki , Spong and many others as well ringside and outside and I have my own opinion to compare elite to Izzy.
Izzy was a good kickboxer in a weak division and Era that's it.
you can keep on loving him

Sure. But then you go on to say he got magically lucky in his ufc run as well. Like pure kickboxing based fighters all have this incredible run in the UFC. Did he fight bums in the UFC?