Discipulus
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Hey guys, this is the second part of my analysis of TJ Dillashaw's incredible win over Renan Barao last weekend. Let me know what you think!
Pivotal Moments: Dillashaw vs Barao, part 2
The signs were there in Dillashaw's fight with Easton, but it was hard to believe that one of the "lesser" members of Team Alpha Male would find success at the championship level when the bigger names, Joseph Benavidez and Urijah Faber, had each failed in consecutive title shots, Faber to the very man that Dillashaw was set to face. As if driven to greater heights by this doubt, Dillashaw fought Barao with a chip on his shoulder, and a pair of highly coordinated rabbits in his feet, crushing the pound-for-pound great en route to a satisfying knockout in the fifth round.
Today we're breaking down rounds 3 through 5 of this historic bout. Join me in admiring TJ Dillashaw and trainer Duane Ludwig's masterpiece.
This is Pivotal Moments: Dillashaw vs Barao.
Miss part 1 of this article? You can find it right here.
ROUND THREE
In one sense round two was a mixed success for Dillashaw, as he ate a number of punches and kicks from Barao and likely scraped by on mostscorecards on the momentum of the first round alone. On the other hand, Dillashaw proved to Barao that he could take his best punches and keep coming forward. If anything, the champion's successful offense seemed to remind Dillashaw to fight strategically, as he came out in the third round with an imposing, patient approach.
Perhaps the most striking thing about Dillashaw's performance was how composed he was standing in front of Barao. Even stone-faced Eddie Wineland and the gunslinging Brad Pickett wilted somewhat upon realizing what kind of fighter they were in against, but Dillashaw was supremely confident.
Some of that must be attributed to Duane Ludwig, who equipped Dillashaw with an immense bag of tricks. Ludwig calls Bang Muay Thai a "system," not a style, and he teaches it as such. That means no guesswork, and no frustration. When Barao began stymying Dillashaw's offense with wild punch combinations, Dillashaw had an answer for him, and the answer was handfighting.
GIF
1. Dillashaw stalks forward in a southpaw stance, gripping Barao's left wrist with his right hand.
2. Barao throws a straight right that Dillashaw easily avoids.
3. Again Dillashaw controls Barao's lead hand with his own.
4. Now Dillashaw attacks with his own rear hand. Barao tries to anticipate with a slip, but Dillashaw's punch is not to thehead, but rather a hard uppercut to the body.
5. Dillashaw cuts back into orthodox to culb Barao with a rabbit punch.
Here, Dillashaw uses handfighting tactics to thwart Barao's fearsome punching. Controlling Barao's left wrist, he literally siezes the initiative: Barao cannot throw that left without first jerking his hand free, which would give Dillashaw plenty of time to react. Thus, the champion is realistically left with only his right hand able to strike, allowing Dillashaw to focus on only defending attacks from that side.
The disadvantage to this tactic is that Dillashaw is also left with just one free hand. He is not, however, restricted to one kind of attack, or one target. This is where Dillashaw gets clever. After dodging Barao's right, he once again begins controlling the Brazilian's lead, and then launches his own rear hand. Barao reacts much as Dillashaw did to his own cross, slipping to his right, only this punch isn't a cross. Instead Dillashaw opts to throw a difficult-to-defend uppercut to the solar plexus, stepping off to the right as he does so, and then using his angle to hit Barao with his right as he scurries out of range.
That final punch, while not strictly legal or very effective, does indicate the philosophy that makes Dillashaw so dangerous, which we see more of in the next round.
Continues on Bloody Elbow...
Pivotal Moments: Dillashaw vs Barao, part 2
The signs were there in Dillashaw's fight with Easton, but it was hard to believe that one of the "lesser" members of Team Alpha Male would find success at the championship level when the bigger names, Joseph Benavidez and Urijah Faber, had each failed in consecutive title shots, Faber to the very man that Dillashaw was set to face. As if driven to greater heights by this doubt, Dillashaw fought Barao with a chip on his shoulder, and a pair of highly coordinated rabbits in his feet, crushing the pound-for-pound great en route to a satisfying knockout in the fifth round.
Today we're breaking down rounds 3 through 5 of this historic bout. Join me in admiring TJ Dillashaw and trainer Duane Ludwig's masterpiece.
This is Pivotal Moments: Dillashaw vs Barao.
Miss part 1 of this article? You can find it right here.
ROUND THREE
In one sense round two was a mixed success for Dillashaw, as he ate a number of punches and kicks from Barao and likely scraped by on mostscorecards on the momentum of the first round alone. On the other hand, Dillashaw proved to Barao that he could take his best punches and keep coming forward. If anything, the champion's successful offense seemed to remind Dillashaw to fight strategically, as he came out in the third round with an imposing, patient approach.
Perhaps the most striking thing about Dillashaw's performance was how composed he was standing in front of Barao. Even stone-faced Eddie Wineland and the gunslinging Brad Pickett wilted somewhat upon realizing what kind of fighter they were in against, but Dillashaw was supremely confident.
Some of that must be attributed to Duane Ludwig, who equipped Dillashaw with an immense bag of tricks. Ludwig calls Bang Muay Thai a "system," not a style, and he teaches it as such. That means no guesswork, and no frustration. When Barao began stymying Dillashaw's offense with wild punch combinations, Dillashaw had an answer for him, and the answer was handfighting.
GIF
1. Dillashaw stalks forward in a southpaw stance, gripping Barao's left wrist with his right hand.
2. Barao throws a straight right that Dillashaw easily avoids.
3. Again Dillashaw controls Barao's lead hand with his own.
4. Now Dillashaw attacks with his own rear hand. Barao tries to anticipate with a slip, but Dillashaw's punch is not to thehead, but rather a hard uppercut to the body.
5. Dillashaw cuts back into orthodox to culb Barao with a rabbit punch.
Here, Dillashaw uses handfighting tactics to thwart Barao's fearsome punching. Controlling Barao's left wrist, he literally siezes the initiative: Barao cannot throw that left without first jerking his hand free, which would give Dillashaw plenty of time to react. Thus, the champion is realistically left with only his right hand able to strike, allowing Dillashaw to focus on only defending attacks from that side.
The disadvantage to this tactic is that Dillashaw is also left with just one free hand. He is not, however, restricted to one kind of attack, or one target. This is where Dillashaw gets clever. After dodging Barao's right, he once again begins controlling the Brazilian's lead, and then launches his own rear hand. Barao reacts much as Dillashaw did to his own cross, slipping to his right, only this punch isn't a cross. Instead Dillashaw opts to throw a difficult-to-defend uppercut to the solar plexus, stepping off to the right as he does so, and then using his angle to hit Barao with his right as he scurries out of range.
That final punch, while not strictly legal or very effective, does indicate the philosophy that makes Dillashaw so dangerous, which we see more of in the next round.
Continues on Bloody Elbow...
