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McGregor is benefitting from lowered expectations more than I have ever seen in the history of boxing. He looked absolutely terrible out there. The fact that some are saying he overperformed, is an inditement of their ability to asses McGregor’s skill or that they thought he was so bad to begin with. He hit Floyd with his best (perhaps only) clean punch of the fight (I think about 5 million MMA fans collectively ******ed during the replay) at about 30 seconds to go of round 1, a looping awkward uppercut. That punch solidified Floyd’s strategy for the rest of the fight. From that point on Floyd had 0, I mean 0, respect for McGregor as a puncher or fighter. Another fighter would have been emboldened to really go at McGregor at that point. That is not Floyd’s game. Any person who had watched Floyd for the past 10 years knew that this fight would be like all his most recent ones. He would give up early rounds to win late. Here is where the fact that he was fighting such a poor opponent ended up giving some what they considered a “good” fight.
Because Floyd had no respect for Connor, he didn’t even worry about defending against McGregor’s early aggression. He knew he could not be hurt. I don’t want to get into why Connor had poor boxing power, it has to do with many factors. The most simple is, boxers train for years and years to obtain power in the ring. McGregor hasn’t been doing this, why would he as he is an MMA fighter. However, hopefully the idea that he had some secret Leprechaun inspired god given power in the boxing ring was finally put to rest after the 1st.
Floyd did nothing, I mean nothing the next 2 and a half rounds. People who say that was due to Connor have no pre-knowledge of how Floyd fights. The Pac fight for example, Pac won early rounds. But Floyd was putting on a defense clinic in that fight. He did so, because he respected Pac as a puncher and defended himself accordingly. Floyd knew Connor had no chance to even catch him with a lucky shot, so he sat back and did basically nothing till the 4th (he even mostly stopped head movement, which I could have never predicted). He looked bad doing so. Connor was throwing left and right, they were not any punches of consequence but enough to get the announcers to do their predictable **** and probably win Connor the rounds. People who say “No fighter, would do that by choice, making himself look so bad.” They do not know Floyd Jr. More than any other fighter he does not fight in rounds, but with the whole fight as his goal. He is content to look like dog ****, if it will help him win.
Now I said Floyd was doing nothing in round 2-4 but that is actually a mistatement. He did no physical fighting of note (it really was astonishing to see him just walk around and let Connor punch at him) but Floyd was actively working to win the fight. He knew stamina would be an issue. Apparently, Joe Rogan and all MMA fans thought throwing 5-15 punches in 5 minute rounds would prepare Connor for throwing 30+ in 3 minute rounds. It wasn’t, who knew? So Floyd was content to relax and was even goading Connor (ala a ****tier version of Ali-Frazier) by taunting him constantly. The fact that he was content to do this leaves me torn. One one hand, the cojones that it takes to literally take a dump in the ring in front the world and not give a ****, since it’s a winning strategy is admirable from a balls perspective. From a viewing perspective, it sucks and as a fight fan, its not a quality that I admire. This attitude, combined with Floyd’s skill, has hurt the sport in recent years.
By the middle of the 3rd, the fight was turning. It was basically over by the end of the 4th. I never thought I would see Floyd walking in there, head motionless, smirk on his face, like a mini Tommy Hearns. That a fighter with hands brittle enough that paper cuts are a dire threat looked like this, then you should question who they are fighting against. The next couple of rounds are pretty easy to score/figure. I was impressed with Floyd’s body work. It certainly hastened the end for Connor. Of his best punches in rounds 4-10, I roughly estimate half were to the Irish man’s (considerably larger) body. Connor didn’t just get “gassed,” Floyd was killing him to the body.
Now we come to the stoppage. To all those complaining, let me just say “Get the fook out of here!”
McGregor complained after the fight, but neither he or his corner said peep at the actual stoppage. Experienced fight fans will know this is a key thing. He was out on his feet, he knew and so did his corner.
Fight played out like I think a lot of fight fans thought.
Because Floyd had no respect for Connor, he didn’t even worry about defending against McGregor’s early aggression. He knew he could not be hurt. I don’t want to get into why Connor had poor boxing power, it has to do with many factors. The most simple is, boxers train for years and years to obtain power in the ring. McGregor hasn’t been doing this, why would he as he is an MMA fighter. However, hopefully the idea that he had some secret Leprechaun inspired god given power in the boxing ring was finally put to rest after the 1st.
Floyd did nothing, I mean nothing the next 2 and a half rounds. People who say that was due to Connor have no pre-knowledge of how Floyd fights. The Pac fight for example, Pac won early rounds. But Floyd was putting on a defense clinic in that fight. He did so, because he respected Pac as a puncher and defended himself accordingly. Floyd knew Connor had no chance to even catch him with a lucky shot, so he sat back and did basically nothing till the 4th (he even mostly stopped head movement, which I could have never predicted). He looked bad doing so. Connor was throwing left and right, they were not any punches of consequence but enough to get the announcers to do their predictable **** and probably win Connor the rounds. People who say “No fighter, would do that by choice, making himself look so bad.” They do not know Floyd Jr. More than any other fighter he does not fight in rounds, but with the whole fight as his goal. He is content to look like dog ****, if it will help him win.
Now I said Floyd was doing nothing in round 2-4 but that is actually a mistatement. He did no physical fighting of note (it really was astonishing to see him just walk around and let Connor punch at him) but Floyd was actively working to win the fight. He knew stamina would be an issue. Apparently, Joe Rogan and all MMA fans thought throwing 5-15 punches in 5 minute rounds would prepare Connor for throwing 30+ in 3 minute rounds. It wasn’t, who knew? So Floyd was content to relax and was even goading Connor (ala a ****tier version of Ali-Frazier) by taunting him constantly. The fact that he was content to do this leaves me torn. One one hand, the cojones that it takes to literally take a dump in the ring in front the world and not give a ****, since it’s a winning strategy is admirable from a balls perspective. From a viewing perspective, it sucks and as a fight fan, its not a quality that I admire. This attitude, combined with Floyd’s skill, has hurt the sport in recent years.
By the middle of the 3rd, the fight was turning. It was basically over by the end of the 4th. I never thought I would see Floyd walking in there, head motionless, smirk on his face, like a mini Tommy Hearns. That a fighter with hands brittle enough that paper cuts are a dire threat looked like this, then you should question who they are fighting against. The next couple of rounds are pretty easy to score/figure. I was impressed with Floyd’s body work. It certainly hastened the end for Connor. Of his best punches in rounds 4-10, I roughly estimate half were to the Irish man’s (considerably larger) body. Connor didn’t just get “gassed,” Floyd was killing him to the body.
Now we come to the stoppage. To all those complaining, let me just say “Get the fook out of here!”
McGregor complained after the fight, but neither he or his corner said peep at the actual stoppage. Experienced fight fans will know this is a key thing. He was out on his feet, he knew and so did his corner.
Fight played out like I think a lot of fight fans thought.
It clearly had floyd hurt and the paid off ref took action...if conner was allowed to continue to strike c'mon man!!!
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