Whittaker vs

[Percwalker]

Lets say Adesanya vs Rob 2 happens hopefully as it should, how likely do you see it that, that if Rob is patient and doesnt blitz in/trade in the pocket like the first fight, and also mixes in takedowns against Adesanya that he could win the fight? Do you think he can likely pull that off or will Israel get the win again?

 

[Kafirov]

Whittaker sleeps him

 

[Percwalker]

I forgot to put adesanya 2 in the title lmao

 

[King in the North]

Adesanya fucks him up again. Whittaker isn’t a good enough grappler to get Adesanya down and hold him there. They aren’t even close to the same level on the feet.

That being said Whittaker has earned his shot. Maybe he lands a high kick or something, but I see him likely getting put to sleep again.

 

[MMA4Life]

In theory I think Whittaker will be patient as fuck. Probably a bit of a staring (feeling out distance etc.) contest for a round and a half. I think Vettori has a hell of a chin, so that fight should be interesting.
But Jan taking Izzy down doesn’t mean a MW will just take him down with ease now. Look at the Brunson fight. Izzy is stronger than he may appear. If Izzy wins...

I think we may see a very technical kickboxing match and maybe(?) Knuckles may get ahead on the scorecards via takedowns. Who knows though. A bit confused as to why sherbro’s think Whittaker will be light work or whatever terminology they use. Real cliche of me to say it but Bobby seems reinvigorated and he won’t be wildly blitzing in. If you look at Bobby’s fights since Izzy....I believe it will be very different than the first fight.

 

[Wreckless]

I forgot to put adesanya 2 in the title lmao

You're forgiven. For this time.

 

[laleggenda27]

Whittaker has a real dilemma on the feet. Adesanya's whole style is predicated on being the longer, more technical fighter. If Whittaker tries to be patient and fight from the outside, he'll get picked apart like Costa did. But if he blitzes, he'll likely get slept like the first fight. In my opinion, his only path to victory is to make it an ugly fight, i.e., a ton of clinch work, mix in some takedowns, and try to wear Adesanya down. Whittaker doesn't have great top control, so it's a tough task.

Long story short, Adesanya is a bad style matchup for Whittaker.

 

[RockyLockridge]

I see isreal winning again.

 

[Orochimaru 大蛇丸]

Takedowns will be the key

Izzy is so big, idk he's a tough dude to beat at MW

 

[Chart69r]

Whittaker has a real dilemma on the feet. Adesanya's whole style is predicated on being the longer, more technical fighter. If Whittaker tries to be patient and fight from the outside, he'll get picked apart like Costa did. But if he blitzes, he'll likely get slept like the first fight. In my opinion, his only path to victory is to make it an ugly fight, i.e., a ton of clinch work, mix in some takedowns, and try to wear Adesanya down. Whittaker doesn't have great top control, so it's a tough task.

Long story short, Adesanya is a bad style matchup for Whittaker.

Best option is a fake blitz into the double leg, Izzy leans back so hard that the hips are open. After that's been coded and Izzy anticipates the takedown, hips back to sprawl, Rob attacks with the high kick or knee instead. That's the best pathway to victory I think

 

[Klaavical]

Whittaker's victory key points;
1. Striking: cold day in hell
2. Grappling: good luck getting Izzy down before getting slept, he's way too fast, and footwork is 3 levels above
3. Outlast him with conditioning: Nope
4. Clinch and grind: Izzy only gets clinched if he decides to take it there on his terms
5. Aggression: being aggressive also benefits Izzy and puts Whittaker on Queer street (no pun)

 

[nostradumbass]

It's just a terrible match up for Whittaker. The only 2 striking specialists he's fought are Wonderboy and Izzy, and he got KO'd by both of them. He has good defensive wrestling/grappling to keep it standing and outstrike guys, but when he's the inferior striker, his offensive wrestling isn't good enough to avoid it.

 

[FIGHTING TALK]

Adesanya would be favourite to win again, but not by much.

 

[sssleeper]

Difficult style match up for Rob for sure. But Whittaker has grown since then and no doubt has some good take aways from their first fight.

I think Rob has the ability to get it done, and mixing in takedowns/takedown attempts will give him more success on the feet too.

 

[It-is-what-it-is]

Lets say Adesanya vs Rob 2 happens hopefully as it should, how likely do you see it that, that if Rob is patient and doesnt blitz in/trade in the pocket like the first fight, and also mixes in takedowns against Adesanya that he could win the fight? Do you think he can likely pull that off or will Israel get the win again?

Oh my God. The dumbest thing rob could do is not fight in the pocket. Izzy is a master at beating shoter dudes with shorter reach. He picks them apart from the outside.

The difference in their striking is too big. It's not looking good for rob no matter the strategy. But he definitely needs to fight up close.

The problem with the last fight wasn't that he blitzed too much or got too close, it's that izzy is just a better striker even at fighting in the pocket. He leans back at unnatural angles dodging punches and throws his own all in one motion.


At least rob limits the reach advantage a bit by fighing close, from outside It's just a one sided beating.

 

[ragreynolds]

It's just a terrible match up for Whittaker. The only 2 striking specialists he's fought are Wonderboy and Izzy, and he got KO'd by both of them. He has good defensive wrestling/grappling to keep it standing and outstrike guys, but when he's the inferior striker, his offensive wrestling isn't good enough to avoid it.

I mostly agree, but you're forgetting Darren Till, who Rob beat. Till is also a striking specialist who had a very close fight with Wonderboy, and that the judges gave to him (he lost that fight imo). But overall, I do agree that Adesanya is just a bad style match-up for him.

 

[Kono dio da!]

He'll need to clinch and make it boring.

 

[C0NCH3TO]

Israel would beat him again. Rob has elite tdd but won’t take Izzy down at will.

 

[Ideanudge]

Whittaker will just sit on the sidelines until he gets the shot.

 

[Ideanudge]

Whittaker didn't do too badly. The times he got caught were when he took more time in the pocket to exchange hooks, obviously losing to a longer guy.