https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0ZFGVJeSLo
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This guy is definitely a gladiator and what he says is logical and admirable in many ways.
Wonder though, if he'd say the same if he got caught, refused to tap and suffered a career limiting/ending injury? If he's happy with the gamble then fair play. Maybe there is no middle ground when you go at something 100%.
His body. His choice. It's pretty interesting for him to say, "that's why no one will remember your name." Meanwhile, Matt Hughes tapped and he'll be remembered way more than the guy in the video. Again, his choice, but I prefer wisdom over toughness.
He only had one fight after this video
live to train another day I say
Vid of the fight?
If you are relying on some dumb ass ref who has never competed to save you from a career ending injury you are a fool. I would only apply his philosophy at the highest level of competition, title fight, title contention, etc.
"Meanwhile, Matt Hughes tapped and he'll be remembered way more than the guy in the video."
Matt Hughes got choked out by Frank Trigg - but he didn't tap and when Trigg let go of the choke, Hughes woke back up and ended up winning the fight. Matt refused to tap and trusted the ref would stop it in time - and that attitude is what allowed him to come back.
[Statement retracted]
Conor Heun is a 10th Planet OG. He changed my perspective on toughness, teaching me that it was largely mental. He had his jaw split in two from the first punch in one of his fights and went on to win a decision, even though his jaw clicked every time he was punched in the face. That's mental toughness.
It is pretty common for MMA fighters to say that they will not tap to a choke. I think Conor may have overstated his position here - I like to think he would tap rather than have his neck twisted out of shape, but his larger point was that he was making a calculated decision when he decided not to tap to a deeply set armbar. Notice that his examples are being knocked out or choked out - the ref can stop the fight in those cases to prevent further damage.
As Conor reports, his arm was really just sprained. He felt that was an acceptable amount of damage. If it had been a truly career ending injury that he was dealing with, I don't think he would have reacted the same way.
Conor realized he could survive and felt there was a certain amount of damage that was acceptable.
If Matt Hughes got choked out by Frank Trigg, Trigg would've won that fight. Matt Hughes did not get choked out by Frank Trigg though. Matt Hughes resisted and escaped the choke. But when GSP armbarred him, he tapped. And he is a legend. And the guy in the video is not.Quote:
Originally Posted by scottross
Please don't misinterpret what I'm saying. My points are: it's his body so it's his choice. Me personally, I prefer wisdom over toughness. I respect his stance, but I disagreed with his quip that "no one will remember your name." Plenty of fighters tap and they're doing just fine.Quote:
Originally Posted by scottross
I absolutely understand where you are coming from. I acknowledge that this is 95% about Conor being a friend of mine, and 5% with me admiring his toughness.
I would not encourage a student of mine to have the same stance, I have had to tell some of them that they should tap - at least for low-level tournaments. For ADCC, maybe it's worth - I don't know. But Conor Heun was fighting for glory - 15 minutes to glory, that's how he described MMA. He was trying to prove to himself, first and foremost, what he was made of - and that was sterner of stuff than most of us.
You are right though, tapping is perfectly acceptable, and preferable in most cases. There's a line between a sprain and a break - and I think most fighters would allow a sprain.
On the other hand, I know a UFC fighter who vowed he would never tap to a choke but did when he was finally caught in one because he felt it a sign of respect to his opponent. I admire that sentiment as well - tapping is a sign of respect.
Poor example withdrawn. That was based on hearsay that I remember from the time of the fight.Quote:
Originally Posted by David Rosado
"Tapping as a sign of respect." That's a pretty cool way to see it.