So how do we explain Israel vs. Kelvin Gastelum?
- Thread starter matrixremaster
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Gastelum is talented, but a gatekeeper WW striker with no real credentials who was drastically outsized and he put it on Israel that night and gave him a pretty hellish beating but lost via decision.
Kelvin didn’t fear Israel. He came for him and was in his face the whole time, IIRC. Having a great chin was useful with such an approach as well.
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That head kick came out of nowhere. Amazing read by Kelvin. If it weren't for that Izzy likely goes into the 5th round up 3-1.
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KG showed that Izzy isn't much of a counter striker but prefers to throw first and if you force him to be defensive he is pretty exposed. You just have to be more technical than Marvin Vettori <45>
KG was the first guy to be able to match Izzy's foot speed and despite being out gunned everywhere that wasn't strictly punch combination he was able to land head kicks and other big shots because he kept Izzy off balance. Izzy showed he's better overall and was clearly still better than KG but KG started to show some of Izzy's striking holes that Whittaker was able to exploit in the rematch.
Izzy is human just like every one else and actually did an amazing job of beating somebody who wouldn't give him space to work. KG also did an amazing job of fighting very slick while keeping pressure on as much as possible and despite not having the level of Izzy's striking he still set up his offence beautifully. Whittaker showed if you just bum rush without proper set ups Izzy will find that counter left hook eventually.
I think this fight was a clear example of what high level game planning can look like. KG in hindsight was limited as hell in this fight but he did everything right to get in Izzy's face and keep Izzy defensive enough so he can unload his combos.
KG was the first guy to be able to match Izzy's foot speed and despite being out gunned everywhere that wasn't strictly punch combination he was able to land head kicks and other big shots because he kept Izzy off balance. Izzy showed he's better overall and was clearly still better than KG but KG started to show some of Izzy's striking holes that Whittaker was able to exploit in the rematch.
Izzy is human just like every one else and actually did an amazing job of beating somebody who wouldn't give him space to work. KG also did an amazing job of fighting very slick while keeping pressure on as much as possible and despite not having the level of Izzy's striking he still set up his offence beautifully. Whittaker showed if you just bum rush without proper set ups Izzy will find that counter left hook eventually.
I think this fight was a clear example of what high level game planning can look like. KG in hindsight was limited as hell in this fight but he did everything right to get in Izzy's face and keep Izzy defensive enough so he can unload his combos.
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That fight stopped Kelvin on his trajectory. They were pretty evenly matched when the fight happened. I hope Kelvin has a resurgence
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Jesus howTapology has this as the fourth greatest MMA fight of all-time.
https://www.tapology.com/rankings/all-time-greatest-fights-in-mma-and-ufc-history
Good fight, but fourth ever? rofl
