- Joined
- Jun 19, 2012
- Messages
- 463
- Reaction score
- 366
As much as I'd love to trash talk Connor McGregor after falling to Nate Diaz, I can't. He took a shot, missed, and for that miss, Meisha Tate fulfilled a dream and 20 other fighters got paychecks. Food got put on many tables because Connor didn't play it safe. The card would have folded if he had.
Holly Holm could have sat on the sidelines waiting for Ronda to return, but she didn't. As a true Championship quality fighter, she wanted to fight and up until her mistake, was winning her first defence. She didn't whine afterwards. She didn't cry. She, in true Championship form, wanted a rematch the next day. Say what you will, but I'd rather a fighting Champion than a safe Champion. Holm will get a rematch one day and she will win that title back. She's that good.
What did we learn though? Well, two of the most marketable Champions had/have very suspect ground games. Holm when taken down had nothing to offer. Connor when taken down had nothing either. Both were submitted. Both lost.
This is MMA. This isn't "I'm a boxer who hopes no one tries to take me down". Two Champions showed us that they aren't complete martial artists. They aren't close to being as well rounded as they say in interviews, or suggest through the multitude of prefight shows that detail their sparring routines. Not even close. People mocked Nate Diaz for continually saying "Who are your training partners?", yet it's the high level of his camp (and toughness) that pulled out this win for him. He was comfortable everywhere, including using his face to block punches. That's saying something. Blood, his blood, didn't make him shy away from contact or make him rush into a mistake. It was another day at the office. I've been critical of the Diaz brothers for years but I gained a shit load of respect for them this weekend. I've always liked Nate's fighting style but now I'm a fan of his heart. He can't sell a fight worth shit because he's awkward in front of a microphone or camera. It'll be hard for the UFC to sell him to fans because of the historic refusal of the Diaz brothers to play the game, and do the media availability, but now they have to. Diaz proved he belongs at the top and deserves to be paid.
So what did we learn? Connor McGregor and Holly Holm deserve top marks for being real fighters, but a failing grade for well rounded games. Nate Diaz deserves a title shot in whatever weight class he wants. He proved he's a fighter but more importantly, a company guy. Short notice fight, tall order win. We also learned that as arrogant as McGregor is, he can also be humble.
From my point of view, the only person that lost anything on Saturday was Brian Caraway. After Meisha's "red boxer brief night" comment, his manliness died, but he still got laid, by a UFC Champion. It still had to hurt though.
Holly Holm could have sat on the sidelines waiting for Ronda to return, but she didn't. As a true Championship quality fighter, she wanted to fight and up until her mistake, was winning her first defence. She didn't whine afterwards. She didn't cry. She, in true Championship form, wanted a rematch the next day. Say what you will, but I'd rather a fighting Champion than a safe Champion. Holm will get a rematch one day and she will win that title back. She's that good.
What did we learn though? Well, two of the most marketable Champions had/have very suspect ground games. Holm when taken down had nothing to offer. Connor when taken down had nothing either. Both were submitted. Both lost.
This is MMA. This isn't "I'm a boxer who hopes no one tries to take me down". Two Champions showed us that they aren't complete martial artists. They aren't close to being as well rounded as they say in interviews, or suggest through the multitude of prefight shows that detail their sparring routines. Not even close. People mocked Nate Diaz for continually saying "Who are your training partners?", yet it's the high level of his camp (and toughness) that pulled out this win for him. He was comfortable everywhere, including using his face to block punches. That's saying something. Blood, his blood, didn't make him shy away from contact or make him rush into a mistake. It was another day at the office. I've been critical of the Diaz brothers for years but I gained a shit load of respect for them this weekend. I've always liked Nate's fighting style but now I'm a fan of his heart. He can't sell a fight worth shit because he's awkward in front of a microphone or camera. It'll be hard for the UFC to sell him to fans because of the historic refusal of the Diaz brothers to play the game, and do the media availability, but now they have to. Diaz proved he belongs at the top and deserves to be paid.
So what did we learn? Connor McGregor and Holly Holm deserve top marks for being real fighters, but a failing grade for well rounded games. Nate Diaz deserves a title shot in whatever weight class he wants. He proved he's a fighter but more importantly, a company guy. Short notice fight, tall order win. We also learned that as arrogant as McGregor is, he can also be humble.
From my point of view, the only person that lost anything on Saturday was Brian Caraway. After Meisha's "red boxer brief night" comment, his manliness died, but he still got laid, by a UFC Champion. It still had to hurt though.
