ONE 168, UFC Fight Night, and Bellator (Patreon)

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Another weekend of fights, this time a mix of ONE-style Thai-boxing and MMA. I say "ONE-style" because it's not like the traditional Thai-boxing you'd see at stadiums. ONE's Thai-boxing is more like MMA without the submissions. Being good at Thai-boxing doesn't mean you'll have the same success at ONE. However, ONE is able to get some top names in Thai-boxing, for better or worse. There is a transition process, and not everyone transitions well, but some are more suited for ONE's Thai-boxing structure.

Saeksan Or. Kwanmuang vs. Liam Harrison

There was a lot of back and forth leading to the finish, but Harrison was taking the heavier shots to the head. Saeksan is also more durable. Going through the Thai sorting process of children entering gyms and fighting all the time, it's not just a system of development but also a system that finds the most durable and skilled fighters. If you're not durable, you will not last hundreds of fights.

Elbows were exchanged by both fighters, but Saeksan found an opening in Harrison's guard as Harrison was backing up. Openings in guards are not permanent features. Those openings come and go. Saeksan perceived the opening and got a shot through before it closed. It was so fast that no one saw it until the replay.

In Liberation Martial Arts, we perceive striking offense as creating keys for key slots before the key slots disappear. At a higher level, you can make a key and have your opponent form the key slot for you. (You all really need to sign up for Liberation Martial Arts.) LMAists at the Learning Lab have been able to face competitors with thousands of hours of more practice because they're recalling memorized combinations, whereas we take the open slots.

Jonathan Haggerty vs. Superlek Kiatmuu9

Superlek said he knows when Haggerty's right punch is coming. They've fought before, and both fighters have plenty of tape on each other, so there's an abundance of information. For Superlek, the benefit of having had hundreds of fights is that he's had countless opportunities to read that punch coming in a live match. Knowing something in theory is not the same as practicing that knowledge in a prizefight.

I said previously that at a high level, you can make a key and have your opponent form the key slot for you. Superlek presented himself as a stationary target, giving Haggerty the opportunity for the one-two. He also presented a small opening in the guard like Harrison did, one that was closing. Haggerty seized the opportunity before it closed.

The jab isn't how Superlek knew the right was coming. He knew it before Haggerty threw the jab because he immediately split his stance to root himself and make his upper body more pliable (the spirit of LMA's tree sapling). He was a loaded rubber band. The way you step in for a jab is different from the way you step in for a one-two. You must get the read before you see the one coming, or you'll be too late. You'll see something, but the opportunity for action is already over.

Haggerty misses the jab. Notice Superlek's left hand. It's ready to pull down on it to pull him into his counter elbow. Superlek is also shrugging his shoulder as a shield.

Superlek avoids getting hit while delivering his elbow, leading to a KO. The collision was a three-way combination of Haggerty coming forward, Superlek coming forward, and Superlek pulling Haggerty.

Haggerty, while throwing his right, sees the elbow coming, but seeing something ahead of time doesn't mean you have an opportunity for action. That window was already closed. Haggerty closes his eyes, clenches his face, and tries to move his head out of the way, but the elbow still lands on the side of his head.

Jessica Andrade vs. Natalia Silva

Natalia Silva is fast. Jessica Andrade has never been fast, but with all her miles, she's even slower. She was able to pressure Silva to the cage, but Silva still outstruck her, even from against the cage. It was the speed and length that gave Andrade problems.

Silva fights well going forward and backward; she can circle, escape the cage, and wrestle. Even Andrade, in her prime, would have had the same difficulties.

Gilbert Burns vs. Sean Brady

Jessican Andrade is only 32. Gilbert Burns, on the other hand, is 38. He was once a fast and explosive fighter, but now he can't see or seize the openings.

Instead of countering, Burns covers and backs up. He even looks down while doing this, even when Brady isn't attacking. Burns is overreacting.

Brady is far from the most dangerous striker Burns has faced. His reactions tell me it's less about Brady's power and more about his inability to see the shots coming.

Burns would also wait and watch. He couldn't see the openings, or if he did, he was not fast enough to act on them. Returning to Silva, the advantage of speed is the ability to seize even the most momentary openings and to close one's own vulnerabilities quickly.

Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Alexandr Shabliy

Usman Nurmagomedov is a fantastic mover, and his movements speak for themselves. Incredible stuff.

– Sam