Why didn't Khabib go all in on pounding Iaquinta on the ground?

[Devilton]

Khabib easily could have finished Iaquinta in round 2 if he just would have pounded him when he was sitting on his back, instead of looking for the submission.

It seemed as if he wanted to prove that he can win in other ways. In round 3 and 4 he didn't really push for the takedown, seemingly wanting to idiotically prove that he can stand and bang.

His mentality might be his main weakness. He should focus on his strengths. His coaching team didn't seem pleased that he didn't follow the game plan in round 3 and 4.

 

[DrunkMonkMeth]

Maintain position al is a wrestler he knew what he was doing.

 

[Gangstub]

The guy is grinder, jsut like DC, Cain and Rockhold. I've been telling you guys that for months. He's not a GnP guy, he's just a grinder with a heavy top game.

 

[Jdanois]

I think he was playing around and having some fun. I def got nervous when he decided to strike though.

 

[closequarters]

It doesn’t matter what happens in this fight. It’s basically training rounds for Khabib.

 

[BRASIL WAND]

Dude wasn’t aggressive at all. Probably tapered off the beating as a sign of respect to the Brooklyn Gangster.

 

[LeBron]

He obviously wanted to go 5 rounds for the cardio.. he was clowning the so called better boxer on the feet

What more do you people want?

 

[wartor]

He had 2 rounds in the bag. Why not? I mean you could literally see him just phoning in the stand up and he was wrecking AI's face. Why not?

 

[GreatSaintGuillotine]

I don't think he wanted to TKO Al. Al did him a huge favor.

What I want to know is why he stopped shooting in the 3rd and 4th. He won both rounds but that was crazy.

 

[Belhammer]

It was out of respect for Al stepping up and allowing Khabib to still fight for the title

 

[TomTomNT]

AI had very good defensive positioning, and because he trains with very good BJJ guys in his camp he was good enough to survive and get up, combine that with good cardio and strength and you can survive, unfortunately almost no one has all those things and is a good enough striker, usually those traits come in a wrestling package which AI sort of is/was.

 

[SuperNerd]

He was trying to finish. He went hard on those sub attempts.

The soon-to-be popular narrative of Khabib "was playing" doesn't fly with me. Call it mental weakness, posturing, toying, whatever. I'm not going to credit Khabib for that stuff. It's ineffective fighting, and he wanted to finish earlier. He couldn't.

 

[leatherf4ce]

After the feel-out process, of both on the ground and feet, he realized he wore Iaquinta down enough that he'd feel comfortable enough to stand and trade. I think this decision, despite what his corner was telling him to do (go to the ground), he respected Iaquinta for taking the fight on the terms he took them on and wanted to keep the fight a little more entertaining. I don't think for a moment he'll give this same respect to Conor or Tony. No mauling needed tonight towards a guy that showed up to save the main event.

 

[Kingz]

He’s not a finisher. As much as people like to pretend Khabib is some sadistic meat shredder who plays with his food he really is just a grinder.

 

[Death By Samson]

He really looked like he just toyed with him for 5 rounds. And the fight still wasn't even remotely close.

 

[Fighting Gaming]

Al had nothing for him, why not strike and sharpen his game standing up. Khabib just wanted to get a couple of rounds in standing up.

 

[Omni1]

Because Khabib is NOT a finisher. Why waste energy for no finish & get himself tired? Khabib did the best he could do. Very disappointing that he couldn't finish a top 20 fighter who only trained for 3 rounds.

 

[Shcooby Dooby Doo]

I don't think he wanted to TKO Al. Al did him a huge favor.

What I want to know is why he stopped shooting in the 3rd and 4th. He won both rounds but that was crazy.

I think Khabib was cleverly hiding a weakness.
Even whilst dominating with his smothering style, I think Khabib was tiring a bit. A lot less energy is used circling and lazy jabbing as opposed to takedowns and smoethering folkstyle wrestling.
Khabib knew Al has clammed up and was keeping in the fight out of pride.
Watch Al in other fights and he is looser. He was so concerned with the takedown by round 3 he became an almost literal shell of himself.
Conor is very good at head games before a fight. Khabib uses mindgames in the cage.

 

[ElCasca]

Because that's the fighter Khabib is, chainwrestling and maintaining top position, he's not a Rockhold or Jones type of brutal GnP dude

 

[Gilday]

Ever watched Carwin vs Lesnar? Don't gas yourself out for a finish you might not get

That and Khabib is Position > G&P > Submission