- Joined
- Jun 18, 2008
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- 3,737
- Reaction score
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Looking back at his fights, he didn't really evolve as a fighter. And I'm just talking about technique here, leaving out his cardio and "motivation" for now. I was a fan of his back in the day, simply because the achievements he did especially getting his BJJ black belt at such a short time.
But as far as MMA goes, he didn't transform into something bigger from when he first started until his last fight. Ok, after his fight with Din Thomas, his body type changed. He put on more natural weight and that's when he could jump from LW to WW to MW. After his first victory against Hughes, his fighting style just remained the same - box on the stand up, go for a takedown, if not, then he'll try to go for a sweep or a move to take his opponents back. And from there, try to go for an RNC.
He had potential no doubt. From the looks of it, he also didn't strategize very well. It's like he didn't study his opponents or do his homework by looking at their previous fights. He did good against Diaz til he played Nick's game, got volume punched so many times and gassed. It's like Nick prepared for BJ, expecting an RNC attempt and that's what happened. Same with Jon Fitch.
Frankie Edgar. I don't want to get started on this. The second fight, he had all the time to prepare for a rematch and he fought the exact same way as the first fight but did a lot worse. The third fight..he was even lucky to get a third match.
Props for him taking the fight when Rory called him out..but, someone with that momentum, new type of breed of fighter, BJ goes ahead and fights his own same style that he's been doing since 2003, early 2004. As an undersized WW and disadvantaged with reach, I'm sure he could've made that fight a lot more competitive.
BJ's mental game is tough no doubt. But it's too tough. Too tough to the point where he was stubborn to evolve as a fighter and keep up with the styles and hybrids of today. At best, his prime was beating up 2004 Matt Hughes, against Matt Hughes the third time who was already washed up and long past his prime, Sean Sherk who depended on PEDs to move far into his career, Renzo Gracie, and other has beens.
But as far as MMA goes, he didn't transform into something bigger from when he first started until his last fight. Ok, after his fight with Din Thomas, his body type changed. He put on more natural weight and that's when he could jump from LW to WW to MW. After his first victory against Hughes, his fighting style just remained the same - box on the stand up, go for a takedown, if not, then he'll try to go for a sweep or a move to take his opponents back. And from there, try to go for an RNC.
He had potential no doubt. From the looks of it, he also didn't strategize very well. It's like he didn't study his opponents or do his homework by looking at their previous fights. He did good against Diaz til he played Nick's game, got volume punched so many times and gassed. It's like Nick prepared for BJ, expecting an RNC attempt and that's what happened. Same with Jon Fitch.
Frankie Edgar. I don't want to get started on this. The second fight, he had all the time to prepare for a rematch and he fought the exact same way as the first fight but did a lot worse. The third fight..he was even lucky to get a third match.
Props for him taking the fight when Rory called him out..but, someone with that momentum, new type of breed of fighter, BJ goes ahead and fights his own same style that he's been doing since 2003, early 2004. As an undersized WW and disadvantaged with reach, I'm sure he could've made that fight a lot more competitive.
BJ's mental game is tough no doubt. But it's too tough. Too tough to the point where he was stubborn to evolve as a fighter and keep up with the styles and hybrids of today. At best, his prime was beating up 2004 Matt Hughes, against Matt Hughes the third time who was already washed up and long past his prime, Sean Sherk who depended on PEDs to move far into his career, Renzo Gracie, and other has beens.
