Why did a decorated striker like Shevchenko decide use the blanket strategy???

[Eater of Souls]

Yeah, because the betting line determines what strategy people should use. Val has lost a total of two rounds at 125. By controlling top position she was able to ensure than Maia could not steal a round because Maia also has good top control.

And Shevchenko has taken down every single one of her opponents in the UFC, at least two of them were taken down five times. (JJ and Maia)

And it is not as if Maia has terrible striking. She started out in boxing.

 

[Eater of Souls]

http://www.ufcstats.com/fight-details/c93eebe24aa0299d

Hmmm, 62 significant strikes, 249 total landed. Yeah, just laid there. Control time of 9:34 out of 25 minutes. Hmmm, someone's description does not seem to match the math.

 

[Turdbucket]

After a huge layoff I usually start unrusting my striking against a powerstriker that can hurt me bad. Like what is the worst thing that can happen?
After that I go to my superior wrestling to check if that is still there.. I don't want to fall asleep as a blanket and get tapped out after all.

 

[julmma]

Because she’s an mma fighter who left behind her MT career long ago?

She said it herself that she didn’t start over her mma career just to be a MT fighter.

She always mixed her Judo’s black belt to help her MT career; that’s how she landed so many TD during all her MT career.

She was safe on the ground against the BJJ black belt?
Seems like the exact recipe to get caught

Well, it was a judo black belt against a BJJ black belt. Don’t see why both weren’t able to engage in grappling.

The gif was meant to show that Shevchenko easily beat Joanna in the striking. She was just faster and better than Joanna that night, as far as striking goes. So, her takedowns were not because she couldn't beat Joanna standing. That's just how she fights. She goes for takedowns against most of her opponents, even the ones that she easily beat, like Chookagian.

Exactly, that’s called being a complete mma fighter.

Isn't this a quite common thing for Shevchenko? She has more submission and decision wins than wins by TKO/KO. She has great striking, but she's far from a KO artist. She relies a lot on timing and footwork, on managing distance. The take downs are a big part of her game, they keep the opponent from adjusting to the striking. Plus she has a good top game. Thinking back at her last few fights, she did this exact thing to Juliana Pena, Priscila Cachoeira, Joanna Jedrzejczyk, Katlyn Chookagian… This is how she fights every time she has a strength advantage, which is more or less every fight at 125. I think she has landed take downs in all her 125 fight so far. Did anyone really expect anything different this time round? And it's not like Maia is submitting people left and right – she has one submission win in the last five years. Why would Shevchenko fear going to the ground with her?

This
Sorry to quote, I’m out of likes to give.

 

[FIghtxIQ]

Like fedor I think she test herself against her opponents strengths

Jones likes to do this too.

 

[kevinramsdell]

Valentina grapple fucks a lot of people. This should be nothing new.

I don't get it.

You're a highly decorated striker with numerous championships in striking sports...

So, why did you decided to grapple with the grappler?

 

[ignorant MMA fan]

I'm surprised so many people expected Val to keep it standing all night. She's really good at controlling her opponent on the ground. Basically, as long as she doesn't get tripped or thrown and end up on bottom, she's in a good position.

 

[HHJ]

I’m not so sure what’s exciting about watching one of the most talented MMA fighters of any weight/gender in the weakest division, point fight and stall against girls she could absolutely flatline. Watching her fight for me is incredibly frustrating because she takes 0 risks and point fights from start to finish.

Not all of her fights. Depends on the situation.

 

[kuka45]

I'm surprised people don't know she is mainly clinchfighter. It's her thing since beginning, people still are surprised just like during her first UFC fight vs Kaufmann. It was like 5 years ago, but in some minds, she is still some striking prodigy for whatever reason (maybe because she won vs Holly/Joanna, but that was also done mainly due to takedowns, grappling...even vs Joanna in muay thai it was judo/some takedowns).

 

[jsbx45]

Because she is a complete MMA practitioner?

 

[LetThemBleed]

Not all of her fights. Depends on the situation.

Against even half decent opponents she plays it safe. The 2nd Carmouche fight is a great example, was a stinker from start to finish presumably because Valentina had lost to her before and was intent on being cautious. Also thought she could have finished JJ if she went for it. Got a nasty feeling Andrade is another decent enough opponent that will result in a UD for Valentina but a loss for fight fans.

 

[HHJ]

Against even half decent opponents she plays it safe. The 2nd Carmouche fight is a great example, was a stinker from start to finish presumably because Valentina had lost to her before and was intent on being cautious. Also thought she could have finished JJ if she went for it. Got a nasty feeling Andrade is another decent enough opponent that will result in a UD for Valentina but a loss for fight fans.

It depends on how easy it is for val to avoid her attacks. Andrade might be one dimensional but she comes foward the entire time and doesnt get tired,so she still gave tough fights to JJ,and Namajunas,even if they outclass her in striking,she gets her licks in due to pure relentlessness.