What happened to Werdum?

[fartJokes]

Probably panicked & doubled down on a bad tactic.

 

[DaDamn]

High or drunk or both.

 

[Dutch Rudder]

"What happened to Werdum?"........I heard he doesn't even have a movement coach!!!

"You need to play grab-ass if you are going to be the champ...."
--Kenny Florian

 

[TriangleMonkey]

Footwork happened

 

[Henderlei KO]

Dude, Fabricio loves to keep his opponents guessing. It's a huge part of his striking game. He likes to set people up and throw in a variety of techniques and overall he just tries to be tricky. From what I saw, it appeared like Werdum was just being tricky and figured that Stipe, number one, wouldn't expect him to blitz at him like that, but even more so, wouldn't expect him to do it TWICE in a row like that. Werdum thought he could catch him off guard and get a quick KO. I doubt that was the GAMEPLAN, but rather something he just thought to do in the moment. He was probably thinking of Stipe's fight wit Struve in that moment.

 

[dmwalking]

I think he just overrated his own striking. He's been oustriking guys lately. Guys that were supposed to be better strikers. I think he just fell in love with his striking and didn't put together a smarter plan b.

 

[kpt018]

He got popped with miocic's jab a couple of times which hurt him and made him get desperate.

I think this is what happened. But it's possible that instead of desperation it was more like his head was fuzzy from getting stunned.

Either way, he broke boxing 101 rules like Ronda and Aldo. It's amazing that champions make mistakes like that.

 

[skysolo]

So I think we all agree that charging straight at a good boxer is not a smart game plan, a lesson that generously gifted to us by Ronda.
Now, if this is common knowledge to us as sherdoggers, then it would be extremely naive to even entertain the thought that the former Heavyweight UFC champion was unaware of this.

So how did this happen? What was Fabricio's game plan? Keep in mind that it wasn't a split second mistake, Werdum was charging straight at Stipe over and over.

I personally think he wanted to work in the clinch, more than just getting a takedown specifically. He did take a half hearted shot at one stage, but it looks to me like that was just to set up strikes.

My opinion is that he wanted the clinch, and decided to get there by charging at Stipe and forcing him into it, rather that setting it up and being patient.
He knew Stipe wanted to stay in boxing range, so while underestimating the challengers hands, Werdum was over confident, (almost cocky) and tried to force a clinch without any respect for the consequences.

Thoughts?

He was overconfident and underestimated his opponent. Is this new?