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BY ERIC STINTON
JUL 11, 2019
Editor’s note: The views and opinions expressed below are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Sherdog.com, its affiliates and sponsors or its parent company, Evolve Media.
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Whether you’re a mixed martial arts newbie or a grizzled veteran, there was much to be learned -- or relearned -- from this weekend’s Ultimate Fighting Championship card. If you could get concussed by enlightenment, then UFC 239 was like an extended, badass “Ted Talk.” Three immutable truths were demonstrated on fight night, and since Jorge Masvidal wasted no time getting down to business, neither will I.
1. Greatness is ephemeral.
It doesn’t seem like long ago when Gilbert Melendez was one of the greatest lightweights in the world. His run from 2009-2012 was legendary: seven straight title fight wins in Strikeforce, including names like Shinya Aoki, Tatsuya Kawajiri, Josh Thomson -- twice. As the UFC title bounced from B.J. Penn to Frankie Edgar to Benson Henderson, “El Niño” had a legitimate claim as the No. 1 lightweight in the world at that time. Until he arrived in the UFC.
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2. Change is not growth.
If only Luke Rockhold and Ben Askren were bigger C.S. Lewis fans. Maybe then they would have realized that changing divisions or organizations is not the same as evolving as a fighter.
Lewis wrote that “A tree grows because it adds rings: a train doesn't grow by leaving one station behind and puffing on to the next.” It speaks to how real growth requires adding the new on top of the old without forfeiting either, and also how easy it is to confuse mere movement with substantive change.
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3. Cage-fighting is, in fact, cage-fighting.
It’s safe to say that Askren’s most punishing offense happened in the weeks leading up to the fight. His verbal strikes were trounced by Masvidal’s real ones, leading many to think that whatever ill feelings they had were resolved. Masvidal disagreed, taunting his unconscious foe immediately after knocking him out. Apparently, this upset people. Which begs the question: what do those people think they are watching? Is doing a not-nice thing really worse than launching your knee into someone’s head?
Read more at https://www.sherdog.com/news/articl...ational-Experience-158223#fFhUBusW3MKddf4R.99
