Bernman wrote:Usman's talent has been obvious from the beginning. Some just doubted him because he fought tactically and didn't have finishing power. But he had damaging power and was always in control of fights. That wins too, probably more often.
He forced Woodley to have to do too much while not giving him the opening he craves. Normally Woodley has benefited from being able to focus on one aspect of the game with a one-dimensional opponent (Maia, Till), or gotten to sit back against a fellow counter fighter he could be more disciplined than with that style (still arguably lost to Wonderboy). Usman got in his face, put volume on him, moved his head to avoid the counter bomb, and chained the aspects of MMA together. Woodley couldn't keep up.
He might have the best gas tank I’ve seen. It’s not like striking, grappling like that is exhausting and he was landing shots constantly. Goddard should be embarrassed for standing them up two or three times when Usman was clearly working