Why did Leon wait until the last seconds of the fight to throw those elbows?

[killakillakilla]

Don’t get me wrong, I loved seeing Leon go for the kill like that in the last seconds of the 5th round in a fight he was obviously losing. But man, where did those vicious elbows come from? And why the hell didn’t he use those earlier in the fight? Belal was busted up but it was too late for Leon to win.

 

[Corrado Soprano]

Leon looked like someone slipped him some xanax those last couple rounds. He likely forgot the rules.

 

[CrimsonFan]

Well that was the first time in the fight he was actually on top in a position to do that.

He had his back in round 3 but chose to just ride out the round to make sure he won it.

I don't know why Leon didn't go for some takedowns himself. His corner seemed pretty lost.

 

[Tweak896]

It was sort of bizarre, Leon would get dominated the whole round and in the tail end he's turn things around and take over. Not sure if Belal was just conserving energy by not caring after he secured the round or Leon had some counter to the grappling he only used for the last minute of the round.

 

[IIIIIIII]

Well that was the first time in the fight he was actually on top in a position to do that.

He had his back in round 3 but chose to just ride out the round to make sure he won it.

I don't know why Leon didn't go for some takedowns himself. His corner seemed pretty lost.

i think leon's confidence went completely down the drain by the end of the first round. after that round was over, he knew he was not going to win the wrestling game. maybe he felt it was better to retain energy and try winning on the feet instead. belal was just too good at mixing it up.

 

[payton]

Leon is an emotional fighter. He gave up 2.5 rounds trying to take Belal down
just to prove a point.

 

[humperdoo]

Had he done it in the first rounds, it would have been bloody hell.

Do you think there will be Leon vs Belal 3? This is still decision though almost dominated by Belal. I still could say Leon survived and marked his face.

 

[CrimsonFan]

i think leon's confidence went completely down the drain by the end of the first round. after that round was over, he knew he was not going to win the wrestling game. maybe he felt it was better to retain energy and try winning on the feet instead. belal was just too good at mixing it up.

His best moments in the fight were when he went on the offensive with his grappling though. I think Belal is a bit like John Fitch.. if you try and stand and stuff takedowns he's going to pressure you and win rounds. The way people actually beat Fitch was taking the grappling to him (Maia, GSP)

Now obviously Leon isn't quite on that level of grappling.. but IMO he showed in the Diaz fights and even the first Usman fight that if he can get a takedown, he can hold people there and win rounds. I would have liked to see him try that in those last few rounds. Instead of just getting backed up against the fence and taken down.. maybe move forward. What do I know though

 

[The XL]

He's a frontrunner. He knew the fight was over and could empty the tank without consequence.

 

[arcadeperfect]

Leon's the type to only put in that type of effort if he has to. Look at his career, he's a point fighter that won't take any sort of risk or go for the finish unless he absolutely has to.

 

[IIIIIIII]

He's a frontrunner. He knew the fight was over and could empty the tank without consequence.

hah, good point.

 

[RockyLockridge]

Leon's the type to only put in that type of effort if he has to. Look at his career, he's a point fighter that won't take any sort of risk or go for the finish unless he absolutely has to.

This. Zero dog in him.

 

[WokeWarrior]

There needs to be a rematch

 

[Streeter]

Hr looked asleep entire fight

 

[SaltedVinegarfootstomps]

Leon struggled with the pace and only made a move when he knew nothing would come after. He is an innately risk averse fighter, very intelligent and technically sound, but when you fall behind you need to take calculated risks.

 

[pātrēärkē]

He fought disinterested last night. It's not the first time his corner had to try and whip him into some offense.

He seems to be passive if someone pressures him

 

[TKing]

He threw those elbows and then held onto Belal for the final few seconds. I think even with those last hail mary elbows he knew it was over.

It was pretty obvious Leon didn't have it last night, his corner was going crazy and begging him before round 5 that he needed a finish and he sat there just staring off like they were going into round 2.

 

[usernamee]

His best moments in the fight were when he went on the offensive with his grappling though. I think Belal is a bit like John Fitch.. if you try and stand and stuff takedowns he's going to pressure you and win rounds. The way people actually beat Fitch was taking the grappling to him (Maia, GSP)

Now obviously Leon isn't quite on that level of grappling.. but IMO he showed in the Diaz fights and even the first Usman fight that if he can get a takedown, he can hold people there and win rounds. I would have liked to see him try that in those last few rounds. Instead of just getting backed up against the fence and taken down.. maybe move forward. What do I know though

I remember when Fitch fought BJ and BJ stormed out there and surprised everybody by shooting on Fitch and taking him down immediately and controlling him the entire 1st round. That was a fun moment.

 

[rjmbrd]

This was a perfect storm of styles make fights.

Leon was unprepared for the way Belal fights despite everyone knowing exactly what he would do. Leon was trying to point fight with a risk averse style against a guy who was happily wading into danger with complete lack of respect.

They each took turns having low activity back pack rounds, but that isn't Leon's game, which is why Belal got two back pack rounds and Leon got one.

Leon wins this fight if he shows up prepared for pressure, doesn't back up to the cage, doesn't do emotional "i can do this too" grappling when he should be putting on his own pressure.

 

[WoozyFailGuy]

Well that was the first time in the fight he was actually on top in a position to do that.

He had his back in round 3 but chose to just ride out the round to make sure he won it.

I don't know why Leon didn't go for some takedowns himself. His corner seemed pretty lost.

They don't seem to be very good at actually giving him articulated, useful corner advice when he's behind outside of motivational speeches.