My third pro fight, continuation of "too relaxed going into the fight" topic.

[szJack]

Hi there again!
This is the topic i started a while back
http://forums.sherdog.com/threads/have-you-ever-been-too-relaxed-going-into-the-fight.3183997/

So i just had my 3rd pro fight, I won via decision.
First round went quite bad, I coudn't wake up again, although immediatly I started with hard combination
Let me show you.

2h 2m 51s timestamp
I'm the taller dude. I was 1-1 going into the fight he had 3-6 [although I was not going to take him lightly, as he had NINE pro fights].
I managed to get him a few times in the first round, but most of the time I just kinda... watched? And got hit quite a few times...
Hard to tell. It just looks like was standing in front of him. I want to start my fights same as I fought rounds 2 and 3.
All in all I am not super-pleased with my performance. I know I can do much much better.

Thanks for all the constructive criticism!

BTW. Thank you sherdog for being with me through my whole career so far [some of you maybe remember my first topics when I just stated ammy tournaments].

 

[szJack]

And feel free to comment on anything during this fight.
I know my jab was not there, I usually us it a lot during sparing.

 

[Sano]

Thanks for posting!

It's hard to know whether or not you should be disappointed. I mean, if you know and feel you can perform better, it's understandable, but it was a good fight!

He had power and strenght, and even though he was a little predictable with his overhands, a guy like that can put you out if you are not careful. You did well covering up in the beginning of the first, but later he got through a few times. When you felt you hurt him, in the first round, you were a little too careless rushing in and you paid for it.

Yes, you would probably have been more successful if you pressured him a little earlier and were more active. A guy who holds on to his punches and with a style/bodytype like him will likely fade a lot quicker if you work him and outpace him. You're a tall guy, you can use an active jab without expending too much energy. Still, you have to be very careful about his bursts and him coming over the top with an overhand as you are coming in with a jab. And be careful about jumping/leaping in man! That's risky.

Nice knees btw, you were just a little careless after you connected with them, and a little too loose/open, that's all. From the clinch they looked solid. Do have a lot of success with your knees in sparring, being a tall guy?

Anyway, nice recovery and sweep in the first and good fight again! You fought well. I understand it sucks feeling like you are just standing there, and you could probably have done more(you know this best), but that's how it is sometimes. Also I'd like to add that you really started letting him have it halfway through the second round. At that point he had slowed down and the legkicks were doing wonders for you. As soon as he started going backwards, and you started walking him down and cutting him off, it looked like you were really comfortable. Are you usually a pressure fighter? It's nice to see a guy with a little lenght who likes to press forward.

Just keep improving your mental and physical tools. Experience will help you out for sure. Looking forward to the next one.

 

[szJack]

Thanks for posting!

It's hard to know whether or not you should be disappointed. I mean, if you know and feel you can perform better, it's understandable, but it was a good fight!

He had power and strenght, and even though he was a little predictable with his overhands, a guy like that can put you out if you are not careful. You did well covering up in the beginning of the first, but later he got through a few times. When you felt you hurt him, in the first round, you were a little too careless rushing in and you paid for it.

Yes, you would probably have been more successful if you pressured him a little earlier and were more active. A guy who holds on to his punches and with a style/bodytype like him will likely fade a lot quicker if you work him and outpace him. You're a tall guy, you can use an active jab without expending too much energy. Still, you have to be very careful about his bursts and him coming over the top with an overhand as you are coming in with a jab. And be careful about jumping/leaping in man! That's risky.

Nice knees btw, you were just a little careless after you connected with them, and a little too loose/open, that's all. From the clinch they looked solid. Do have a lot of success with your knees in sparring, being a tall guy?

Anyway, nice recovery and sweep in the first and good fight again! You fought well. I understand it sucks feeling like you are just standing there, and you could probably have done more(you know this best), but that's how it is sometimes. Also I'd like to add that you really started letting him have it halfway through the second round. At that point he had slowed down and the legkicks were doing wonders for you. As soon as he started going backwards, and you started walking him down and cutting him off, it looked like you were really comfortable. Are you usually a pressure fighter? It's nice to see a guy with a little lenght who likes to press forward.

Just keep improving your mental and physical tools. Experience will help you out for sure. Looking forward to the next one.

Thanks for the reply!
Thank you for all kind words.

I like to pressure, although I use a lot of counters, too. More like pressure enough to get them to fight back hard, then counter. I usually use a lot of spinning back kicks / hook kicks / headkicks, but they werent there for me that night.
I felt really comfortable the longer fight lasted. I have success with knees in sparring since I bought new knee pads and don't get my knees jammed in elbows - this lets me use them more liberally, as I don't need to worry about geting injured. You're right - every time I connected I felt blood and just went after it and got dropped + caught off ballance once.

Thanks!

 

[DoctorTaco]

Have you considered/tried warming up more in the back? If you've got the cardio for it, maybe get a good honest swear going, do some CAREFUL positional sparring, and try to start the fight mentally and a little bit physically back stage

 

[szJack]

That's some food for thought.
Thanks, I'll consider it!

 

[szJack]

I've been thinking - How should I approach my sparings now, that you've seen the footage. Should I use much, much more volume (you can see, I am not much of a power puncher, though I have decent cardio) or try to punch simultaneously with my opponent and focus on that?

 

[VanteMMA]

So I just breezed through the fight because I am at work.

I'd suggest you work on your BJJ. You had plenty of opportunities to finish the fight via arm triangle around the 2 hr 22 min mark. You could have easily passed his guard too and lay on the gnp or an armbar.

Overall congratulations on the win.

Also, you're a big dude!!!

 

[szJack]

So I just breezed through the fight because I am at work.

I'd suggest you work on your BJJ. You had plenty of opportunities to finish the fight via arm triangle around the 2 hr 22 min mark. You could have easily passed his guard too and lay on the gnp or an armbar.

Overall congratulations on the win.

Also, you're a big dude!!!

It might not seem so, but BJJ is my go-to when things go shitty.
I knew about the arm triangle being there [also my 2nd favourite technique] but I didn't for two reasons
1. I've had my left bicep torn off and stiched back to the bone about 8 months ago, I still have this in mind [you even can see me touching it in rd2, thinking I've torn it again, thankfully I didn't] and my strength isn't 100% there yet
2. I didn't want to burn my arm out [kind of related with pt 1.] and he was pretty strong and I've enjoyed the elbows I was coming off a loss, and had round 1. lost, so I wanted to play it kind-of safe.

Thanks!

 

[VanteMMA]

It might not seem so, but BJJ is my go-to when things go shitty.
I knew about the arm triangle being there [also my 2nd favourite technique] but I didn't for two reasons
1. I've had my left bicep torn off and stiched back to the bone about 8 months ago, I still have this in mind [you even can see me touching it in rd2, thinking I've torn it again, thankfully I didn't] and my strength isn't 100% there yet
2. I didn't want to burn my arm out [kind of related with pt 1.] and he was pretty strong and I've enjoyed the elbows I was coming off a loss, and had round 1. lost, so I wanted to play it kind-of safe.

Thanks!

Oh in that case fair enough. Wish you all the best for your next fight. Hopefully you're a 100% next time and we get to see you choke your opponent out!

 

[VanteMMA]

That's the gayest smilie emoticon ever.

 

[GalegoREB]

You could have thrown more kicks, especially low kicks since he was a lot of times with his weight on the front foot.
Nice knees from the clinch.
If you are afraid to do the arm triangle because of your arm, you can try to use the kimura from north south(watch the system that Rafael Lovato uses). When someone exposes the arm like that from side control that technique is my go to move.

 

[szJack]

I've been thinking - How should I approach my sparings now, that you've seen the footage. Should I use much, much more volume (you can see, I am not much of a power puncher, though I have decent cardio) or try to punch simultaneously with my opponent and focus on that?

So anyone more experienced could give me an advice on this one?
Thank you!