Yep.
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Brown to Black is only a year as long as you're 18.
I like Keenan. I read a great interview with him and I was impressed with his outlook on a lot of things.
Being the noob that I am I could never forcast how he will do against black belts, but I know a lot of people are doubtful about his potential. I'm in the "wait and see" bracket. I'm sure he feels some massive pressure right about now.
He will be a brown belt for another year maybe two. He will put on a great show at Metamoris just he is not at the elite level yet. Gianni Grippo has a better comp record and i saw a video of him rolling with Gui Mendes and Gui killed him. If Gianni isnt at the Black belt level yet i dont think Keenan is. Yes gianni lost to Keenan before but Keenan is also 2-3 weight classes above him.
Yeah but Sean Roberts and AJ Agazarm both just got their black belts and Keenan beat them by submission a couple times. Is Galvao now the man to decide when Keenan gets his black belt? He's head of Atos right?
To be fair the Mendes brothers make most black belts look like chumps
In all honesty, if some random hypothetical 32 year old lanky dude with a style exactly like Keenan's, came into your gym and wrapped and tapped your browns and black belt instructor multiple times, what would you classify him?
If you consistently win major comps at brown, it's time to move up. Keeping him at brown any longer than the minimum, is strictly grooming for immediate bb success. A subtle form of sandbagging. He clearly rolls and adapts at the highest level.
Just because the best of the best beat him is irrelevant. Those are the only ones who can, so they are who he should roll.
Oh, and Paulo will be a black belt world champ one day. Believe that. All the above applies to him too.