Bernman wrote:cowboyronnie wrote:He can't get off the fence because he has no fluidity at all. He's just fist-clenched, brute power in everything he throws. Rory has half the power but can push Lima back exactly where Lima does not excel or want to be. Why? Cos he doesn't spend all day lifting weights and hitting Thai pads. His jab is telegraphed and muscled. How can you be the best striker in the division and not be able to control range or use a jab? Have you ever seen him throw a double jab other than to throw a right? He's senseless in there.
Ability to get off the fence shouldn't be conflated with his striking. He even has pretty good takedown defense, fights for unders well, and can turn his man. But then turns back because his opponent is much more intent to stay there since they're threatened by his striking while he lacks urgency. Doesn't break out of his methodical tempo. Might be a way to avoid nervousness is trying to keep calm at all times.
You tell me how he's the best striker in the division with his style? Because he continues to reinforce that he is. He keeps cruising on the feet against the likes of Larkin, Daley, Koreshkov, and Rory. He's being tested even more than he would be in Bellator when it comes to striking. You apparently think fighters should work out of a textbook and not tailor their style to their strength. He feints into leg kicks that destroy opponent's legs. He snaps a jab out to keep some distance, score, and does damage with it. Double-jab is dangerous in MMA because you miss you've telegraphed it and are getting socked with a much harder shot without puffy gloves on. He hits opponents with plenty of uppercuts when they're desperately diving at him to get a hold because they're scared of his power. He could shorten up, but the fact he prompts that reaction is very telling. He throws a good left hook to right straight combo. He throws the techniques he needs to and nobody can rationally argue against him being an elite striker in MMA at this point.
By ability to get off the fence, I don't mean out of the clinch but in striking. He gets pushed back because he can't control range, never throws feelers, never throws things at variable speeds, or with fluidity, and instead just meatheads the same kill strikes and combos. It's a huge deficit and why, for example, the Daley fight was such a 5 rd dud. He just sat on the fence waiting to throw kill combos.
That is NOT great striking.
