In combat sports, some voices are as prominent as Teddy Atlas. Being the former trainer of the youngest heavyweight champion, Mike Tyson, his opinions hold immense substance. However, Atlas is not sharing his opinion about boxing but MMA this time.  Teddy Atlas recently stunned the MMA world on UFC Live. He compared UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya to Roy Jones Jr., Mike Tyson’s final opponent in an exhibition fight. What makes these fighters so unique? Atlas has some insights.

Indeed, the recent bout between Sean Strickland and Israel Adesanya was magnificent. The bout showcased Strickland’s striking prowess as he kept Adesanya at bay over all five rounds. A first-round knockdown by Strickland set the stage, and he maintained the momentum. Keeping Adesanya unsettled, Strickland clinched a unanimous decision victory. The win wasn’t just a personal triumph for Strickland; it sent a message to the middleweight division. However, days before the match, Atlas shared his thoughts about Adesanya’s prowess.

Why did Teddy Atlas compare Adesanya to Roy Jones Jr?

“Israel Adesanya shares special qualities with Roy Jones Jr.,” Teddy Atlas recently stated. According to Atlas, these qualities are exceptional timing, instincts, and reflexes. Both fighters use these to make unconventional techniques work. As Teddy said, “He had those special qualities like Adesanya where he could make his own music. That is not easy. He doesn’t go by the boxing 101 playbook or the striking playbook where he does things in a conventional sense. He dropped his hands. Not supposed to do that. But he makes it work because he has tremendous timing, tremendous instincts, tremendous reflexes, tremendous quickness, tremendous belief in himself.”

Atlas stressed that Adesanya, like Jones Jr., can “make wrong right.” He defies standard fighting rules to craft his unique style.

Why does this comparison matter? Roy Jones Jr. isn’t just any boxer. Atlas’s comparison adds new depth to Adesanya’s already captivating career. It lifts him to legendary status, much like Jones Jr. However, not only Adesanya, Atlas also appreciated Strickland’s victory and boxing prowess.

Atlas applauds Strickland’s genius

In a social media post, Teddy Atlas weighed in on Sean Strickland’s successful strategy against Israel Adesanya. Atlas characterized Strickland as a “traditional pugilist” who employs his jab skillfully. He took to his Twitter to recognize the genius of Strickland which led to his victory.

Atlas’s insights carry weight due to his years of expertise and a sharp understanding of combat dynamics. Furthermore, his insights about both Adesanya and Sean’s performance speak volumes about his knowledge of combat sports. However, although Sean won, both the fighters earned the respect of the maestro of boxing.

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Teddy Atlas has given us a lot to ponder. He sees a unique connection between Israel Adesanya and boxing legend Roy Jones Jr. Both have their own fighting styles.

Strickland’s recent win over Adesanya also caught Atlas’s eye. He praised Strickland’s traditional boxing skills on Twitter. But let’s not forget, Atlas had insights on Adesanya too, even before the fight.

So, what’s the takeaway? Atlas’s seasoned eye adds a new layer to how we view these MMA fighters. Whether it’s Adesanya’s unique style or Strickland’s effective strategy, Atlas’s commentary enriches our understanding. Now, we want to hear from you. Do you agree with Atlas’s comparisons? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!

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