Nicksick: I think you try to do some erratic things, meaning you’re not going to kickbox with this girl where it’s going to be a nice one-two down the middle; you’re going to have to do some step-through overhands, some same side head kicks, some spins — some things that can maybe catch her off guard.
You really can’t be this beautiful, perfect striker against Valentina because if you try to beat her technique-for-technique, you’re in trouble and you’re gonna lose. She’s going to have to do something almost erratic to try to catch her, to try to get something off.
X FACTORS
Most people have a pretty good idea in their heads about how this one is going to go, but what is the one thing Santos could do that might lead to a dramatic shift in how this fight plays out and potentially increase her chance of leaving Singapore as the UFC flyweight champion?
Nicksick: I know she can grapple — we’ve seen her grapple pretty well — so I think some of those grappling positions, I’d like to see transitional submissions where if you get her on a takedown and Valentina is building up a base, all of a sudden you’re jumping on her neck or jumping hooks. Do something within the transitions that can catch her off guard.
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Just go for it! Every f****** opportunity you have, just go for it, because we know what it’s like getting in there with Valentina. I’ve seen it first-hand with Jessica Eye — it’s not an easy task. Our game plan for that fight was to try to be a little more erratic in our motions, our rhythms to where she was almost fighting a drunken brawler because you can’t get in there and try to outpoint her.
Chartier: The big X factor for this fight is how physical Taila Santos is. I think it’s all going to come down to if Taila Santos can close the distance, connect her hands on a body lock, and if she’s able to overpower (Shevchenko) in a body lock, I think she has a chance.
If she gets in there on the first body lock and Shevchenko just throws her off or takes her down or pushes her off, I don’t think Taila Santos has any chance of winning. If I go out in the first round and I see Taila Santos close the distance and get a takedown with the body lock early, I don’t see why she wouldn’t be able to get that all five rounds, as long as she doesn’t get knocked out.
STAYING POWER
Remaining on top for an extended period of time is difficult for a number of reasons, including facing a constant string of challengers looking to experience the greatest moment of their career at your expense.
The flip side of that for the champion is that after four, five, or six successful title defenses, getting motivated to push through a grueling training camp for the next challenger in line might not be as appealing as that initial championship opportunity or chance to defend your title.
