UFC 74 Post-Fight

If there’s anything that can be learned from this weekend’s UFC it’s how valuable and effective adaptation and training can be. Both Randy and GSP came out with strategies and skills that put them on top.

Randy Couture vs. Gabriel Gonzaga
Randy has always been an amazing fighter, but his fight with Sylvia and Gonzaga has revealed an almost completely different fighter. The new element? Head movement. Randy’s newfound ability has made him extremely dangerous as he can now move in and out of clinch distance with much less risk of getting hit. His hands are looking vastly improved as well.

I was shocked when Gonzaga connected that head kick and Randy kept going like nothing had happened. The ear may have shock absorbing properties similar to Don Frye’s stash. Couture’s status as “legend” is quickly approaching “God”. Can we get Couture to fight Rickson? Rickson’s only 4 years older.

Georges St. Pierre vs. Josh Koscheck
Much credit to Greg Jackson’s coaching. His training basically equipped GSP with the tools to shut Kos down. GSP had the left hand up high after every jab Koscheck threw out there to catch that haymaker. Koscheck, you might want to learn a few more punch combinations for next time… and yes GSP out-wrestled you.

Strategy to mitigate Koscheck’s takedowns was to be first to take Koscheck down to break him mentally, and then attack the lead leg later in the fight. GSP transitioned a Superman punch to a lead leg kick a few times as Kos moved backwards. Really brilliant planning and execution in that fight. My girlfriend was happy with the outcome because 1) she really likes GSP, and 2) I didn’t feel the need to put her in a triangle.