I rewatched RDA v Pettis and I noticed that a lot in the first round RDA looks like he is throwing haymakers, they are connecting and while they are hurting Pettis they looked like they should have doe more damage than they did.
Pettis rarely lands a counter punch in the first round of the fight . The punches Pettis does land are set up with jabs, but he only lands one real counter in the first round and it is off a kick. Now I understand Pettis is not great counter puncher but if they were as big haymakers as they looked he could have either avoided or countered them. Pettis gets caught way more than a guy as good as him should by what looks like haymakers.
This is because as RDA is throwing the left straight he is moving his chin almost into his right armpit out of harms way.This makes it hard for Pettis to counter as RDA only does this as Pettis is circling towards his power hand. RDA can commit to this left straight this much because his chin is safe from the counter and he isn't concerned about being taken down. RDA looks like he is throwing everything into them when really he is moving head out of harms way.
I seriously doubt RDA would have used this tactic if Pettis circled away from his power hand as it would leave RDA very open to counters.
Now before people post on how Conor is going to counter this please remember this is not a how RDA beats Conor thread, it is a thread showing RDA has some clever defensive skills while throwing punches or got very lucking. I am going to give the benefit of the doubt to RDA and Kings MMA.
Pettis rarely lands a counter punch in the first round of the fight . The punches Pettis does land are set up with jabs, but he only lands one real counter in the first round and it is off a kick. Now I understand Pettis is not great counter puncher but if they were as big haymakers as they looked he could have either avoided or countered them. Pettis gets caught way more than a guy as good as him should by what looks like haymakers.
This is because as RDA is throwing the left straight he is moving his chin almost into his right armpit out of harms way.This makes it hard for Pettis to counter as RDA only does this as Pettis is circling towards his power hand. RDA can commit to this left straight this much because his chin is safe from the counter and he isn't concerned about being taken down. RDA looks like he is throwing everything into them when really he is moving head out of harms way.
I seriously doubt RDA would have used this tactic if Pettis circled away from his power hand as it would leave RDA very open to counters.
Now before people post on how Conor is going to counter this please remember this is not a how RDA beats Conor thread, it is a thread showing RDA has some clever defensive skills while throwing punches or got very lucking. I am going to give the benefit of the doubt to RDA and Kings MMA.
