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1-2-3 to raise the guard, prompts a check from Xiaoqiang (lowkick lands just as the check is brought down), changes levels & side with a highkick pinning Qiang’s rear hand to his head (shifts off of kick on the retraction), rear teep to chest (playing with Qiang’s expectations
of kicks alternating sides). Adesanya pushes off his backfoot sliding forward and angles his body straight over Qiang’s check. From there he unwinds his hips & shoulders with a lead hook cracking Qiang over the lead shoulder. Adesanya shifts backwards out of range.
Outside lowkick not the best weapon of choice while retreating. Izzy flashes a jab and angles a straight over Qiang’s forearm, digging a left hook to the body, framing with his rear hand on Qiang’s rear shoulder (blinding him) to setup up a highkick. Lands out of stance.
Framing w the rear hand acts as a shortcut, getting hips halfway to the target like a straight would. However Adesanya’s over extension on the kick should’ve left him positionally compromised. Yet Qiang squares himself by stepping & shifting foward, placing Izzy’s lead foot in
the center of his stance lining up Izzy’s cross.
Check, Qiang telegraphs hook by dropping hand, Adesanya slips outside to safety reversing position with Qiang, slight delay of rhythm before Adesanya plants for the highkick. Beautiful quick sit 2 which Qiang attempts to parry but is not reactive enough.
“The eyes chico, they never lie.” Yes they do. They really do. 
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⬇️" title="Downwards arrow" aria-label="Emoji: Downwards arrow">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⬆️" title="Upwards arrow" aria-label="Emoji: Upwards arrow">
Personal favorite sequence here. At this point hes reached a flow state not much to say. Flares of creativity while still systematically dissecting the opponent’s defense. Again playing with the themes of high/low, linear/flanks.
Hip feint, draws a check on the wrong side from Qiang. The disparity in skill at this point is apparent. Honestly by the end of this thread you may come away more impressed with Xiaoqiang’s durability than Izzy’s striking.
Crisp jab splits the guard, any twitch from Adesanya draws a reaction from Qiang, establish teep to setup following misdirections. Extremely minimal hip feint followed by (what appears to be a lead high kick).
Lets take a 2nd look. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👀" title="Eyes" aria-label="Emoji: Eyes"> ?????????
On the surface this seems like a shitkicking from Adesanya but it also displays a propensity for extended exchanges early in his career, which would later come back to bite. (Although the mistakes made in the Pereira fight weren’t extensive). Note Xiang is incredibly game.
Adesanya shifts and bumps to an outside angle off the hook (which cracks Qiang over his poorly angled lead shoulder). Frames, measures the headkick (which nearly lands with the knee due to Qiang’s broken posture). Enters on a lead uppercut while showing the awareness to
get behind the lead shoulder to avoid the incoming counter left hook. Simultaneously pivoting off the rear foot, shifting back only to spring into a stiff jab (stopping Qiang dead in his tracks and placing his head directly in line with Adesanya’s right hand).
Izzy had his way getting whatever he wanted over that lead shoulder. Splits the guard then heards him into the kick with the hook (although Qiang did have success taking the highkick of his arm most the time, if u call that success.)
Finishing sequence absolutely starched. Qiang’s lack of defensive depth/offensive tools & durability could only hold up for so long. Love the aussie commentator, pretty sure its the same guy who interviews Eugene and the boys at CKB.
The contrast between the moments in the beginning & the end of the night are pretty ironic. In relation to the highs & lows experienced throughout a fight. Art in a way.
