Yes, I didn't place too much stock in that fight. WB has improved his grappling by leaps and bounds. Rory and Matt Brown aren't the same pressure fighters but Rory is the most complete fighter on the roster. He can employ many of the pressure tactics of Brown because its in his toolbelt. Now employing them against an improved fighter sch as WB is another thing all together. BUT this fight did show that an experienced grappler can make work of WB on the ground. He didn't show much of his backand it takes years to know the nuances of the BJJ game which Rory knows if he has top control. Getting wrestled against the cage and using the cage for TDD help is different than TDD without the cage for support. Matt Brown was hitting leg taps in the centre in the second/third round like it was nothing. Yes WB was tired but it certainly can be done when WB hasn't experienced a 5 round fight. We don't know how he will fare in the later 4/5 rounds and we know he can be taken down much easier when tired. However, he is probably the most improved fighter after a loss after Max Holloway so all this is specualion.
A similar gameplan doesnt mean the same gameplan. I did not say the "same". Benson Henderson & RDA employed a similar gameplan to beat Nate Diaz. No it wasn't the same but the basis was similar. RDA pressured with his leg kicks to the lead leg which Benson also did but not to the same extent. RDA was also punishing the body of Nate to sap his cardio which I dont recall Benson doing much of. Benson pressured Nate to the cage and then clinched up with him to try and sap his cardio whilst employing more wrestling against the cage as the fight progressed to the fourth and fifth rounds using trips with underhooks to take him down. RDA used his pressure with leg and body kicks to get Nate to the cage and take him down with single legs. RDA was also more lenient in wanting to stay in Nate's guard. THEY both employed a SIMILAR strategy and not the same one AND both RDA and Benson fought to their strengths. Now how is this relevant you say, to demonstrate my point that Brown and Rory are not the same fighters but can employ the same pressuring strategies because they both have that in their tools. I don't know how Rory is going to be affected by the Robbie fight but if the past is an indication, WB is gonna get a beating. Nate was ragdolled after he was beat by Condit. Maia wa systematically broken down after Robbie fight.
