Would the Izzy that schooled Costa beat Strickland?

[Baal]

Lots of debate about whether Sean's performance was more about him or Izzy's decline/gameplan.

I think we can all agree that the best Izzy we've seen was against Costa at UFC 253. He was truly "in the matrix" that night - his Anderson vs Forrest moment.

Would matrix Izzy beat philly shell Strickland?

My opinion is no, as I believe current Sean beats any version of Izzy

 

[Steve Fox]

Matrix Izzy?

 

[Get To Da Choppa]

Nah, Izzy got lucky because Paulo Costa was hungover

 

[PhilMcCavity]

Costa stayed at range Strickland didn’t

 

[EnergyExorcist]

Strickland would beat the shit out of Costa, different level. Costa isn't that good and he was obviously not at his best against Izzy, with a shit or even a lack of any game plan. Izzy that beat Costa isn't that different from the Izzy against Sean.

 

[13Seconds]

Strickland would beat the shit out of Costa, different level. Costa isn't that good and he was obviously not at his best against Izzy, with a shit or even a lack of any game plan. Izzy that beat Costa isn't that different from the Izzy against Sean.

Costa isn't that good but he's alright. You don't have to be that good to be competitive vs Strickland. And styles make fights.

 

[ryun253]

Costa got fucked because of Izzys leg kicks. Sean checked nearly all of them.

 

[13Seconds]

It's the same Izzy. Todays version is possibly better than a few years ago. He had to level up hard to beat AP.

 

[mkt]

How about the Izzy who barely beat Gastelum? That was a long time ago, so you can't use age/decline as an excuse.

 

[TheGreatA]

Costa was a very different opponent, and honestly looked very flat during the fight. He cuts an enormous amount of weight to make 185 while Strickland has cardio for days.

 

[spinup]

Strickland would beat the shit out of Costa, different level. Costa isn't that good and he was obviously not at his best against Izzy, with a shit or even a lack of any game plan. Izzy that beat Costa isn't that different from the Izzy against Sean.

Have to agree. Uriah Hall was giving Costa a lot of trouble with his jab, Strickland would just dog walk him with jabs.

 

[JustBleed]

Strickland was just on his A-game. He had a killer strategy, adapted as the fight went on, and even messed with Izzy's head a bit (dog comment, calling him chinese). It wasn't so much about Izzy slipping; it was more about Strickland just being that good. Even if we got the "Matrix Izzy" that wiped the floor with Costa, he'd still have a hard time with this Strickland.

Izzy used a lot of leg kicks, had great movement, and pretty much picked Costa apart. Why didn't that work on Strickland? Well, Strickland was checking those kicks and landing his own jabs, basically shutting down Izzy's game. So, yeah, Strickland was just the better man that night.

And about that first-round knockdown — that was a game-changer. Even though Izzy made it through, who's to say he ever fully recovered from getting rocked like that? That stuff messes with you, physically and mentally. So yeah, Strickland seized the moment and didn't look back.

 

[Lightfoot]

Izzy with the titty is undefeated.

 

[Miokink026]

Idiots like you baffle me.

You talk as if that's an alt universe version of Izzy, into the tittyverse.

It may be complicated, but try to wrap your head around the fact that the same person can look like a world beater against one opponent and completely lost against another. Or, do you think the version of Chris Daukus that fought Shamil could've beaten Derrick Lewis?

 

[Conan the K-9]

Different opponents with totally different styles. Sean is composed, does not rush and goes not to take one to be able to give one. Costa is more of a brawler.

I think Costa was compromized in that Izzy fight to begin with, but him not checking the leg kicks made it much more worse.

In some interview he said that he felt so good after the weight ins, and in Abu Dhabi they have 9 - 12 hrs more time between the weight in and the fight, than every where else, so he went and trained too hard. That was a mistake and that’s where the cramping started and he was not able to sleep. His physiotherapist tried everything to get the cramping away, massage, cupping etc. They did that until the fight in the backroom and the officials came in and always wiped all the liniments and massage oil off. That’s why he had the cupping marks on his calves before the fight.
He also said that he thinks, he should have pulled out of the fight and not fight that compromized. But what’s done is done.

Hard to tell if 2020 Sean would have done the same thing to Izzy or how 2023 Costa will do against Adesanya. Styles are so different and I think Izzy has been figured out now a little.

 

[MMAProfessional]

Lots of debate about whether Sean's performance was more about him or Izzy's decline/gameplan.
I think we can all agree that the best Izzy we've seen was against Costa at UFC 253. He was truly "in the matrix" that night - his Anderson vs Forrest moment.

Would matrix Izzy beat philly shell Strickland?

My opinion is no, as I believe current Sean beats any version of Izzy

Costa literally stood there and got his leg kicked off then rushed in. Strickland had an entirely different gameplan and was cornering Izzy where he couldn't even kick. It's like saying would the Strickland that beat the Bus would KO Izzy in the first.

 

[melvinj0]

Who cares?

 

[Deleted member 110072]

It likely would not be nearly as easy as vs Costa but I suspect it would be a much tougher fight for Sean.

Izzy's always been mostly a counter fighter but his leads against Costa did look quite a lot faster and better timed.

 

[Xanzito]

Costa got fucked because of Izzys leg kicks. Sean checked nearly all of them.

We got a winner here!

 

[Jibsta69]

Costa like a lot of Izzy’s opponents seem to have a mental breakdown quickly and not know wtf to do and just look like sitting ducks out there. Sean just doesn’t give a fuck and kept to his game plan which he masterfully implemented on Izzy.