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WHILE the Team Alpha Male drama which has served as the narrative for this rivalry is a dead horse which has been flogged to the point of becoming mulch, the matchup is still as compelling as ever. Along with the absent Dominick Cruz, T.J Dillashaw and Cody Garbrandt make up the obvious trinity of elite talent atop the UFC bantamweight division. But where Cruz is the savvy old master, Dillashaw and Garbrandt both possess that star-making quality which is so absent at bantamweight: they have that one-punch belting power.
What makes this rematch so compelling is that the first was by no means a blow out or a commanding performance by the victor. There were elements that both fighters were bringing into play which were causing their opponent great difficulty. There are also ways in which these could be countered or hindered now that the camps have studied the tape. Let us examine some of the key moments from the first fight and consider how each man might further his chances in the rematch.
Wedging up the Middle and Taking Angles Off Kicks
Where Cody Garbrandt is known for his boxing, T.J. Dillashaw is known for his combination of kicking and shifting punches. The more competent kicker has the tools to win long range engagements, so Dillashaw began running into low kicks from well outside of Garbrandt’s boxing range. Garbrandt, however, seemed very well prepared for this. Rather than attempting to check Dillashaw’s kicks—which would place him on one leg and leave him susceptible to follow ups or being faked out—Garbrandt simply withdrew and let Dillashaw’s kicks swing by.
https://www.unibet.co.uk/blog/more-...e-to-tj-dillashaw-vs-cody-garbrandt-1.1056510
What makes this rematch so compelling is that the first was by no means a blow out or a commanding performance by the victor. There were elements that both fighters were bringing into play which were causing their opponent great difficulty. There are also ways in which these could be countered or hindered now that the camps have studied the tape. Let us examine some of the key moments from the first fight and consider how each man might further his chances in the rematch.
Wedging up the Middle and Taking Angles Off Kicks
Where Cody Garbrandt is known for his boxing, T.J. Dillashaw is known for his combination of kicking and shifting punches. The more competent kicker has the tools to win long range engagements, so Dillashaw began running into low kicks from well outside of Garbrandt’s boxing range. Garbrandt, however, seemed very well prepared for this. Rather than attempting to check Dillashaw’s kicks—which would place him on one leg and leave him susceptible to follow ups or being faked out—Garbrandt simply withdrew and let Dillashaw’s kicks swing by.
https://www.unibet.co.uk/blog/more-...e-to-tj-dillashaw-vs-cody-garbrandt-1.1056510
