Jack Slack is awesome (RE: Rousey - Holm)

[nni]

I love reading his articles and learn a lot from every single one of them.

Here is an article he wrote in the beginning of the year, analysing how Holm could beat Rousey: Jack Slack: Is Holly Holm the Woman to Beat Ronda Rousey? | FIGHTLAND

If you haven't read his articles, give it a shot. He combines excellent knowledge with a great ability to explain things in a way that is understandable by people with very little knowledge of MMA techniques.

 

[nni]

How Holly Holm Killed Queen Ronda Rousey | FIGHTLAND

 

[Deleted member 1]

Read it yesterday. His breakdowns are great, but this one was exceptional.

I also like his humility in underestimating Holms ability to implement her game plan.

 

[Deleted member 1]

I talked about yesterday how Rousey was mistaken advancing straight line, throwing a lead left, against a southpaw inside her stance.
This just allows Holm to circle right anytime she wants.

Jack mentions something that really shows how this was an MMA plan, not a boxing plan by Holly:


View: http://gfycat.com/UnequaledLargeHarpyeagle



Jack focuses on that left elbow. I didn't realize that until reading his piece. Holly isn't just using the arm to block a punch (she did do that) but it was prepared to defend the clinch. As @Leigh is forcing me to consider in another conversation, Ronda doesn't have takedowns, she has a clinch.

Holly came in with a plan to defend the clinch anytime she got caught up attempting to circle and counterstrike. It defended the right from Rousey as well as the attempted clinch and sweep.

 

[Leigh]

As @Leigh is forcing me to consider in another conversation, Ronda doesn't have takedowns, she has a clinch.

Ronda has takedowns but they are from the clinch. She doesn't have leg attacks - you don't see her level change or snatch a single. She's still just a very high level Judo player and athlete.

 

[Deleted member 1]

Ronda has takedowns but they are from the clinch. She doesn't have leg attacks - you don't see her level change or snatch a single. She's still just a very high level Judo player and athlete.

But it certainly adds an entire dynamic change to consideration of "she's just gonna take XXXXX down and submit them".

The history of MMA arguments regarding the same thought has been guys with wrestling and BJJ as the base.
Seems much easier for a striker to prevent the clinch than the leg attack as, like you said, there's no level change. The striking base can stay the same, balance doesn't have to shift unless that clinch is implemented.

 

[Leigh]

But it certainly adds an entire dynamic change to consideration of "she's just gonna take XXXXX down and submit them".

The history of MMA arguments regarding the same thought has been guys with wrestling and BJJ as the base.
Seems much easier for a striker to prevent the clinch than the leg attack as, like you said, there's no level change. The striking base can stay the same, balance doesn't have to shift unless that clinch is implemented.

Agreed. She's not even a greco wrestler, she is straight Judo and gets away with launching women because 1) She's good at it, and 2) Her opposition hasn't been stellar. The holes have always been clear, Holly Holm exposed them.

A lack of leg attacks isn't her only grappling fault. As she is doing gi-less judo, she is using grips that are not ideal. She is fast in the scramble so you don't get to see it exploited much but she throws with a head lock or overhook and invariably ends up in kesa gatame. Kesa without a gi is difficult to maintain and attack from and Holly just puled her head out and stood up.

Ronda would be better off throwing with an underhook when considering the follow up on the mat.

 

[Sweets]

Ronda has takedowns but they are from the clinch. She doesn't have leg attacks - you don't see her level change or snatch a single. She's still just a very high level Judo player and athlete.

She looked more and more like a desperate judoka as that fight went on.

 

[Punch]

Jack Slack with some strategy.

LINK to entire article: Killing the Queen: Ronda Rousey | FIGHTLAND
The oblique kick.

The low side kick.

These linear kicks to the knee joint or below are the striker's best friend against grapplers, and most fans were so caught up with Jon Jones' wrestling success in the later rounds versus Daniel Cormier that they missed Cormier walking through dozens of kicks to the lead knee in order to get to the clinch. Additionally, while the side kick to the lead knee is a bit trickier, the oblique kick is a really, really easy technique to perform with power and speed. Rousey has never had to check a low kick in her life, and stands in a wide boxing stance. The oblique kick should give her fits.

Side stepping and snapping out non-commital jabs and oblique kicks seems to be the best idea against Rousey who has never been difficult to hit and whom I sincerely doubt has the gas tank to bull rush for three rounds, let alone five. And that's all a Rousey opponent really needs, for the bull rushes to stop.

I thought jack was on point, and i wasn't the only one.

I can't say i thought holm was the lady to do it, but i thought the strat was sound. War JS

 

[Wild]

Has Ronda ever attempted a kick in a fight? I honestly don't think that I've ever seen her do it. Her arsenal is so one dimensional...and that one dimension was good enough to beat damn near everyone in the division. That's impressive. But Saturday proved she's going to have to evolve her game now.

 

[Deleted member 1]

Has Ronda ever attempted a kick in a fight? I honestly don't think that I've ever seen her do it. Her arsenal is so one dimensional...and that one dimension was good enough to beat damn near everyone in the division. That's impressive. But Saturday proved she's going to have to evolve her game now.

She threw a couple against Tate in their first match

One got blocked, the other was almost caught:

The blocked one is right at the start of this gif

 

[soundoff71]

I think part of the reason why she doesn't attack leg is because she has/had bad knees:

Video: Following surgery, UFC champ Ronda Rousey rehabs injured knee | MMAjunkie

There's probably some fear reactivity for kicks or level changes. That, & she's been so good at what she does she hasn't had to shore out her weaknesses.

 

[Pitbull9]

Amazing article.