Don't get mad at Izzy, blame the timid fighters

[TGArthur]

Yes I get it, Izzy is amazing at keeping his distance and keeping his hand out there to gauge his range.

Yet most these guys just don't go for takedowns and closing the distance. In fact he was back pedaling in this fight.

 

[tramendous]

It takes two to tango. I blame him and his opponents.

 

[azhiker]

All of the wrestle stalling didn't help.

 

[joey gerbils]

Izzy fights like he's scared to lose

 

[surgeyou1]

Izzy is a counterstriker. He's not going to open up until you force him too.

 

[Arkham's Notorious Geyser]

The blame gets shared equally. Izzy is the Champ with far more to lose than the Challenger so as frustrating as it is that he fights that way, it is understandable.

Lackluster at times, but he's fighting and performing for the Win on his record, not for highlights. He can't exactly take the same risks at this level either.

 

[YEET]

I think a lot of fighters get frozen. Feel like if you walk him down and use grappling he appears beatable. It would take a lot of cardio though.

 

[RockyLockridge]

Izzy fights like he's scared to lose

his opponents fight like they are scared to get finished. everyone wants to beat izzy but no one is willing to take the risks involved. vettori and cannonier did the same thing, hugged izzy for dear life.

 

[Eiger]

I thought he was going to really try to make a statement and go for the finish this time around. Fought well as usual.

 

[FrappeDuRocma]

Both should be blamed, but you are right, Izzy is getting it done and he's keeping his belt.

 

[SPooderMan]

that's the difference between izzy and silva. Silva always went for the kill, and always put on a show for the fans. Izzy is just going to coast and coast while pretending like he's some killer paving the way for his victims in hell. Completely disrespected the undertaker with that pitiful cowardish performance.

 

[Cung Le]

Izzy seems to not know what to do if he's under pressure by an aggressive fighter

 

[Dan the Hangman]

Izzy's a boring 6'4" light heavy weight with a giant reach advantage. Pussy should fight in his real division but we all know what will happen then.

 

[TheVenom]

I don’t blame Izzy much. He has no reason to take risks against these heavy hitters. His opponents freeze up in front of him, remember what he didn’t to Rob and Costa. Cannonier could’ve tried to make it an ugly fight against the cage and work more takedown early. Didn’t have it in him

 

[Kha'bless]

Beterbiev somehow finds a way to KO all of his opponents no mattet how 'timid' they were. Stop making excuses for 'elite' kickboxer Izzy churning out boring fights.

 

[BFG]

Like I said in the PBP...he's MMA's Mayweather....He has a lot of skill and certainly COULD finish more fights than he does, but esp. in MMA going for the finish would make a L more likely. So he fights safe...but I agree, part of the blame is on his opponents too. You're not going to outpoint him or beat him on technique most of the time...so you have to be more aggressive and hope to catch him. Mayweather's closest (and most competitive fights) were against aggressive fighters. We'll see if Alex can give him a better fight...Izzy certainly won't be able to fight the way he did tonight.

 

[BetoG695]

Yes I get it, Izzy is amazing at keeping his distance and keeping his hand out there to gauge his range.

Yet most these guys just don't go for takedowns and closing the distance. In fact he was back pedaling in this fight.

so they should charge in on a known counter striker with faster hand speed? they need to leg kick the shit out of him, slow his movement down and then go after the takedowns....problem is there is no real wrestler at MW. No chael sonnen ..kelvin has no discipline and belongs at WW...

 

[DoNoootin]

It takes two to tango. If the other fighter isn't bringing it why doesn't he? He's happy to stay on the outside and tip tap all night

 

[DoNoootin]

Like I said in the PBP...he's MMA's Mayweather....He has a lot of skill and certainly COULD finish more fights than he does, but esp. in MMA going for the finish would make a L more likely. So he fights safe...but I agree, part of the blame is on his opponents too. You're not going to outpoint him or beat him on technique most of the time...so you have to be more aggressive and hope to catch him. Mayweather's closest (and most competitive fights) were against aggressive fighters. We'll see if Alex can give him a better fight...Izzy certainly won't be able to fight the way he did tonight.

Yeah, 100% was about to compare him to Mayweather.

 

[GordoBarraBJJ]

Well if your striking is all that go out and get that KO - Jared was there to be hit.

All he did was spam low kicks.