This covers most of everthing from both fights, so naturally it's going to be a bit long. I hope you stick around and read it all. This deserves actual discussion, and not just the usual trolling/one liners "robbery." Enjoy : )
First 2 rounds were a pure out-classing by Whittaker. Lets understand why:
-Whittaker constantly kept him off set with the jab
-Every time Romero stepped in to strike or lunge, he would simply interrupt Romero with the jab
-When Romero was in a high guard planted and waiting to "explode" Whittaker simply controlled his range and picked him off with jabs, side kicks, upkicks etc
-This all kept Romero continually pre-occupied and unable to close distance and "explode" when he wanted to
Whiattker landed huge strikes off this too, like that High kick etc. Romero just has a granite chin
Whittaker busted Romero's eye socket with dominating solid jab work
However, here's where the hand injury hurt Whittaker.....
-IF Whittaker wouldve been able to use his right hand (or can use it next time) he can follow up his jabs with 1-2s (and really make Romero hesitant to "explode") While just staying defensively responsible of any return fire. Then he can shut Romero out
But even though Whittaker only had one hand, he still couldve dominated tonight
Here are things Whittaker couldve done and should've done...
-Jab, fient, jab, control, jab-left hook combos.
-Double up on the jab more often. Mix it up.
-Change up the speed of his jabs.
He needs to study Conor McGregor on how to be a sophisticated jabber who makes it near impossible to counter
Conor changes up the speeds of his jabs, shoots his jab from all kinds of positions - from down low, upright or straight on, while constantly mixing up his jabs with fients, touch jabs, bait jabs, double ups etc. Conor is nearly impossible to read/time in everything he does
-Whittaker should have also touched up high with bait jabs, then went hard to the body off the misdirections (like Conor does. As shown here)
Romero was in a high guard where his body was open
That's the biggest mistake I feel Whittaker made (that and not left hooking off his jab work, instead of his left hook just being exclusively a dip and counter response to Romero's strikes). He shouldve been going to Romero's body ruthlessly. Gas Romero out then pick him off to the head
-Off that established body work, fient the body to drop Romero's guard and strike up top etc
So many fighters neglect the body. It pisses me off.
Conor is literally the only MMA fighter who consistently does great body work. That's part of being an actual educated boxer. Going to the body. That's another of many reasons why Conor>>>>everyone in MMA
Now here is WHY Whittaker had much more success in the first fight
- the teep kick
Whitaker kept teep kicking Romero to the gut.
-This not only kept Romero at bay and shut down his ability to "explode,"
-While allowing Whittaker to close distance behind his teep kicks/misdirect to set up punches behind his teep kicks
-But it gassed Romero out quick and hard
It was Whittaker who switched gameplans, and was much less successful because of it, dropping the teep kick to the gut from the first fight, which was not only insanely effective against Romero at keeping him at bay, but was also a fantastic misdirection tool in allowing Whittaker to close distance more easily and land punches and combos behind his step in teep kicks
I mean Romero even made it easier for Whittaker to tear up his insides with teep kicks by standing in a high guard in front of Whittaker
Whittaker had a lapse in gameplan by dropping the teep kick of the first fight, but he still won the rematch.
And there were many signs that showed that if Whittaker had done this here or that there (been more educated, more unpredictable, and defensively responsible) he could've still dominated Romero tonight
But I'm confident Whittaker at 100% has more success with what he has already had great success with and beats Romero with complete ease
What won the fight for Whittaker tonight was his variety of work, consistent work of continually damaging Romero, and jab work, and all though his jab work was fairly predictable compared to a sophisticated jabber like Floyd/Conor, it worked most of the time vs Romero because Romero is not an educated striker.
Tonight was the best Romero could ever hope to do against Whittaker, where as Whittaker just needs to make little corrections and adjustments here and there amd he dominates. Romero is never coming close to Whittaker again. Both his "gameplans" have already failed vs Whittaker.
First 2 rounds were a pure out-classing by Whittaker. Lets understand why:
-Whittaker constantly kept him off set with the jab
-Every time Romero stepped in to strike or lunge, he would simply interrupt Romero with the jab
-When Romero was in a high guard planted and waiting to "explode" Whittaker simply controlled his range and picked him off with jabs, side kicks, upkicks etc
-This all kept Romero continually pre-occupied and unable to close distance and "explode" when he wanted to
Whiattker landed huge strikes off this too, like that High kick etc. Romero just has a granite chin
Whittaker busted Romero's eye socket with dominating solid jab work
However, here's where the hand injury hurt Whittaker.....
-IF Whittaker wouldve been able to use his right hand (or can use it next time) he can follow up his jabs with 1-2s (and really make Romero hesitant to "explode") While just staying defensively responsible of any return fire. Then he can shut Romero out
But even though Whittaker only had one hand, he still couldve dominated tonight
Here are things Whittaker couldve done and should've done...
-Jab, fient, jab, control, jab-left hook combos.
-Double up on the jab more often. Mix it up.
-Change up the speed of his jabs.
He needs to study Conor McGregor on how to be a sophisticated jabber who makes it near impossible to counter
Conor changes up the speeds of his jabs, shoots his jab from all kinds of positions - from down low, upright or straight on, while constantly mixing up his jabs with fients, touch jabs, bait jabs, double ups etc. Conor is nearly impossible to read/time in everything he does
-Whittaker should have also touched up high with bait jabs, then went hard to the body off the misdirections (like Conor does. As shown here)
Romero was in a high guard where his body was open
That's the biggest mistake I feel Whittaker made (that and not left hooking off his jab work, instead of his left hook just being exclusively a dip and counter response to Romero's strikes). He shouldve been going to Romero's body ruthlessly. Gas Romero out then pick him off to the head
-Off that established body work, fient the body to drop Romero's guard and strike up top etc
So many fighters neglect the body. It pisses me off.
Conor is literally the only MMA fighter who consistently does great body work. That's part of being an actual educated boxer. Going to the body. That's another of many reasons why Conor>>>>everyone in MMA
Now here is WHY Whittaker had much more success in the first fight
- the teep kick
Whitaker kept teep kicking Romero to the gut.
-This not only kept Romero at bay and shut down his ability to "explode,"
-While allowing Whittaker to close distance behind his teep kicks/misdirect to set up punches behind his teep kicks
-But it gassed Romero out quick and hard
It was Whittaker who switched gameplans, and was much less successful because of it, dropping the teep kick to the gut from the first fight, which was not only insanely effective against Romero at keeping him at bay, but was also a fantastic misdirection tool in allowing Whittaker to close distance more easily and land punches and combos behind his step in teep kicks
I mean Romero even made it easier for Whittaker to tear up his insides with teep kicks by standing in a high guard in front of Whittaker
Whittaker had a lapse in gameplan by dropping the teep kick of the first fight, but he still won the rematch.
And there were many signs that showed that if Whittaker had done this here or that there (been more educated, more unpredictable, and defensively responsible) he could've still dominated Romero tonight
But I'm confident Whittaker at 100% has more success with what he has already had great success with and beats Romero with complete ease
What won the fight for Whittaker tonight was his variety of work, consistent work of continually damaging Romero, and jab work, and all though his jab work was fairly predictable compared to a sophisticated jabber like Floyd/Conor, it worked most of the time vs Romero because Romero is not an educated striker.
Tonight was the best Romero could ever hope to do against Whittaker, where as Whittaker just needs to make little corrections and adjustments here and there amd he dominates. Romero is never coming close to Whittaker again. Both his "gameplans" have already failed vs Whittaker.
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