I think there’s a great chance that UFC 117 Sonnen would run through Adesanya. He would secure an arm triangle in round 3. The chain wrestling would be too much for Izzy to keep up with.
He was taken down repeatedly by Vettori in his most recent fight. It is his known weakness and I'm sure he's working on it. He's not really offensive off his back and seems to just focus on getting back up. Anderson won because he was able to apply submissions from the bottom, something Izzy hasn't been able to show he is capable of yet.Izzy has way better TDD than Silva and TKOs Chael within 2 rounds.
Sonnen would have been able take down and successfully control the fight for the most part, knowing Sonnen though he would choke (or get choked)
Vettori went 4/14 on takedowns, and whenever he did take him down Izzy either got up instantly or reversed the position. And MWs are fighters "his size". Izzy's cage weight is around 190-200lb whilst Vettori is 200-210lb.He was taken down repeatedly by Vettori in his most recent fight. It is his known weakness and I'm sure he's working on it. He's not really offensive off his back and seems to just focus on getting back up. Anderson won because he was able to apply submissions from the bottom, something Izzy hasn't been able to show he is capable of yet.
His size/height advantage is what makes it harder for him to be taken down and controlled at MW. Fighters his size won't have the size issue and will be able to take him down easier. It'll be a bigger problem when he decides to move up in weight again to challenge for LHW belt where there are more fighters closer to his height and reach.
He still was able to take him down and LHW fighters would all be 200+ range and taller/bigger than Vettori. Jan isn't considered a high level take down artist and he easily took down and controlled Izzy. Izzy will struggle with fighters his size in striking and grappling. He enjoys a reach/size/height advantage at MW so many will not be able to exploit the holes in his game. At LHW they will be able to. Izzy's striking depends mostly on his reach advantage, his style isn't geared for fighters with similar height and reach. The range he's used to fighting with is versus shorter fighters with less reach. That's why Jan was able to out strike him in their fight, Jan was in range to hit him where MW fighters usually can't because of the size/reach difference.Vettori went 4/14 on takedowns, and whenever he did take him down Izzy either got up instantly or reversed the position. And MWs are fighters "his size". Izzy's cage weight is around 190-200lb whilst Vettori is 200-210lb.