Would the Izzy that schooled Costa beat Strickland?

[kumitechamp]

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

The Izzy fans have erased this fight from their memory. It was an amazing fight. There is nothing to be embarrassed about. It’s just not a good look when you are trying to have this lofty praise such as goat striker in UFC. Really Izzy has only beaten 6 or so guys that are currently in the UFC. It’s not this super reign people try to act like. He is very good just not best ever.

 

[Xanzito]

Izzy with the titty is undefeated.

Weazy Izzy with the Titty

 

[FlyingDeathKick]

Costa got beat up by Vettori...

 

[SakurabasEar]

The difference

 

[robbie]

Costa and Strickland are two very different fighters. Strickland was successful because pressure boxers can sometimes nullify elite kickboxers by not allowing them to control distance and force them to fight moving backwards. Strickland did this without even trying to mix in the TD threat and use the wrestling to wear down (tire) Izzy, gain control time and deliver punishment via GnP.

Costa didn't control the distance i.e. not allow Izzy to effectively use his kicking game. In addition, I think Izzy underestimated Strickland which seems stupid given that Strickland was a top 5 or 6 ranked MW, but he is probably on the arrogant / narcissist personality side vs. a GSP type who obsessively worried about every opponent after losing to Serra.

 

[Ayreon]

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

No, because Izzy won against Costa chopping his leg off round after round.

Strickland checked every single low kick.

 

[NoSmilez]

Strickland game planed for Izzy. He was able to check the calf kicks while Paulo thought he could just eat them and be fine. Paulo went in that fight somewhat unprepared.

 

[Stagliano]

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

Tbh Gastelum was at his best during that night and he would have been a problem for any MW.

 

[Fedora Millionankles]

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

The Izzy that beat Costa lost to Sean. Styles make fights.

 

[Nobru]

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

Izzy cant enter the Matrix. It takes (a) a high level of skill and (b) lack of fear. Izzy maybe has the skills but hes too scared to get hit.
Izzy is a fast and lenghty counterpuncher. Nothing special tbh. At this point, Costa probably wins a rematch.

 

[Cowboy Kurt Angle]

It’s hard to say

 

[ComfortablyNumb55]

Costa stayed at range Strickland didn’t

And this right here is the best explanation.

Strickland was simply in Izzy's face the whole time and negated Izzy's at range skill set.

 

[RonDante]

No becuase costa is overrated. His best performance is a decision against romero that he didn’t deserve to be given

 

[USA!USA!]

It was a mix of the best of sean showing up and the worst of izzy

thats why it was so dominant - sean looked good, and izzy had no answers all night

the guy, that knocked out the most powerful kickboxer in the UFC last time out, and was one of the most heralded stand-up fighters in the UFC, got walked down by Sean Strickland for 25 mins. Something definitely wasn't right.

 

[StonedLemur]

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

This is that Izzy, except Sean had the balls, skill, and defense to do what Costa only wishes he had the brains to do

 

[RemyR]

Probably not because he still beats off to cartoons and Sean even said that no man that beats off cartoons is going to beat him.

 

[StonedLemur]

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

Logic...I appreciate it sir.

 

[Huligani]

It was the same Adesanya, just a vastly different opponent.

 

[Benoitthegr8]

Drunk Paulo is a can… however Romero Costa was a tank

Confident Izzy at MW is unbeatable, 1-3 Pereira version not so much

To answer your question TS, we likely wont ever see the version of Strickland that dropped and schooled Adesanya for 5 rounds, everything just happened to align perfectly for that one performance, So the answer is…

 

[RockyLockridge]

There's only one Izzy guys.

It's costa who is inconsistent