Tyron WoodleyAs the United States (and the rest of the world) soldiers on amidst some extremely tumultuous, unpredictable, unprecedented times, I have to say that it was kind of nice to sit down and watch a solid night of UFC fights on Saturday night. However controversial or even ill-advised as it may be, somehow the Ultimate Fighting Championship continues to deliver even under much-less-than-ideal circumstances.
Especially for us wrestling fans who don't have any actual wrestling to watch, a UFC card featuring several high-quality wrestlers may be the next best thing. This most recent card was just that. The takeaways?
Tyron Woodley
What we learned: The former UFC welterweight champ may have lost "the fire" a bit at this point in his career.
Did he look particularly "bad" on Saturday night? No. Did he appear disinterested, bored, and/or uninspired? Perhaps. He was very clearly missing something as he got thoroughly beat up for five rounds in the night's main event.
Throughout his MMA career, Woodley has always been a bit reserved in his overall level of aggression and offensive output. Calculated and measured, at times even bordering on timid, his unmatched physical ability and hunger to win picked up the slack and propelled him to the very top. At least one of those attributes was significantly diminished in his most recent outing. Most likely, the latter. Assuming this is the case, what is the cause?
It's a very familiar story really. In Woodley we have an extremely talented individual who has worked hard over a lifetime spent competing in combat sports. The man won a Missouri high school state title, became a Big 12 champ and two-time All-American in Division I wrestling, and on top of all that went on the capture and defend the UFC's 170-pound title while earning his black belt in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. Toss in the fact that he is now a successful gym owner, with a beautiful home, a beautiful family, a growing presence in the entertainment industry, and a good degree of fame and relative fortune. T-Wood is a bonafide success any way you slice it.
Once a fighter reaches this level of attainment, it can be quite difficult to find the motivation and hunger to put in the kind of training needed to step into a cage with a young savage like Gilbert Burns and come out victorious. Regardless, it's clear that Woodley still has the physical tools and abilities needed to win at this level. The power in his right hand, his core and hip strength, and his conditioning were all present on Saturday night, but unless coupled with a greater degree of hunger, drive, aggression, etc., it is possible that the former champ's best days are behind him.
Tim Elliott
What we learned: Tim Elliott is a ton of fun to watch, but his MMA game is still in need of refinement and direction.
Skills honed over the course of a successful wrestling career continue to serve as the backbone of his fighting style. The Kansas high school state champ, JUCO national champ, and NCAA Division II national finalist has continuously sought out the best coaching, facilities, and training partners available in pursuit of UFC gold, and now, he is a highly experienced veteran. Yet despite these factors, Elliott's struggle to find consistency continues.
Saturday night we saw Elliott employ his usual hyperactive style. Constantly attacking with a varied repertoire of takedowns bolstered by incredible positional awareness, super-funky scrambling ability, and an approach to striking that fits in perfectly with the positional exchanges created by his wrestling. He was aggressive, sharp, and in control for most of the fight, but ultimately Elliott was choked out by a short notice UFC debutant and now has lost four of his last five fights.
The problem, as I see it, is that unless he executes flawlessly, Elliott's's attributes can easily become liabilities. If not controlled, hyperactive wrestling and slick scrambling ability turn into reversal and submission opportunities for an opponent. Tim Elliot learned this lesson the hard way on Saturday night.
Casey Kenney
What we learned: Rebounding nicely after a tough loss, Casey Kenney is definitely a fighter to watch for in the 135-pound division.
A two-time All-State high school wrestler who showed real promise at the NCAA Division II level, Kenney left three years of eligibility on the mat at the University of Indianapolis to pursue MMA full-time. The Indiana native now fighting out of Arizona put in a brilliant performance on Saturday night, thoroughly outclassing a more experienced foe before snatching up a nasty guillotine choke in the first round.
Not only did he showcase stellar kickboxing and an ability to quickly seize an opportune submission, he showed a real comfort in the cage and made the most of every position and every exchange. Having a three-dimensional skill set, i.e. striking, takedowns, and grappling, can take you very far in MMA, but having a firm grasp on the finer points of the sport is indicative of next-level potential.
Vince Morales
What we learned: The 2009 Oregon high school state champion wrestler has one heck of a poker face. Ouch!
A TKO via low kicks is not exactly a common occurrence in MMA, but when it does happen, it's brutal. Vince Morales became the 10th fighter in UFC history to suffer this fate on Saturday.
Having said that, the gritty wrestler never once winced or grimaced and even managed to mount his own offense despite being woefully unable to defend those kicks. The ability to take a beating can be a gift, or a curse for combat athletes. If Morales can sharpen his already solid boxing and use his wrestling to bail him out of bad positions I see definite potential in the up-and-comer. This is the same guy who lost every single match his freshman season of high school wrestling. He's not the type to be easily deterred.
Recommended Comments
There are no comments to display.
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now