Risk Assessment: Weeks 1-4
Source IFL News Network
By Tony Depatie
November 30, 2017
In a good fight, there are times when people choose to take a risk. Sometimes, it's to be unpredictable and throw their opponent off their game. Other times, it's because a fighter gets a little crazy and has some extra aggression to take out. But are these worth the risk? Giving up a point, particularly this season, can easily send a team to defeat. Just ask the losers of the five matches this season that lost by a point. What we're going to look at next is some of the moves that are risky, or require particular skill and timing to pull off- The Hook, Uppercut, Spinkick, Legblock, and Feint.
Up first is the legblock. So far this season, only 1 legblock has been attempted, with Eden being our brave soul. It resulted in a null round. Clearly, people shy away from this move because legs normally don't go high enough to block someone's fist. I don't see too many more being attempted. In fact, if I see two more in these final weeks, I'll be shocked. I'd consider it a miracle if one actually worked.
Next, we take a look at the hook, that wide swinging haymaker that can put someone's lights out. The problem with it is, it takes a long windup, and it's wide arc slows it down enough so that many fighters can get out of the way, or counter with something faster. This season, only two hooks have been attempted, (I'm looking at you, Andu) with neither connected. I blame this on the fact that it's a telegraphed blow, and people know enough to not be on the receiving end of one.
Moving on our list, we get to that infamous destroyer of jaws, and if the opponent is hanging in the air, family jewels- the uppercut. We have had four attempted in the first four weeks, and every single one has missed its mark. I'm not surprised that it's only being used an average of once a week. What has been surprising is that I would expect that at least one would have connected. I'm not sure if this is just bad luck, or if fighters are getting a little crazy about when they attempt it. Probably the latter. Still, I'm hoping that one of these connects because it always makes for highlight reel footage.
In a pleasant surprise, the spinkick has been attempted seven times so far, with an amazing 4 of them scoring a point. In fact, due to this move connecting over 50% of the time, is it even really risky if used judiciously? The sight of a leg whipping around and catching an unsuspecting opponent can often swing the tide in a fighter's favor, leaving the opponent unaware as to what to expect next. My hope is that this continues to happen, within reason, and that a camera gets a good shot of foot meeting face.
Last, we come to the feint, that skillful art of faking your opponent out of their britches into another attack. Timing is everything with the feint. Do it right, and you look like a genius. Do it wrong, and your failure to commit to the original blow will cost you. Through the first four weeks, a whopping 33 feints have been attempted, averaging out to almost 1 per bout. But, it seems that the difficulty involved in this has eluded most fighters, as only 8 have worked out in a fighter's favor. 13 times, the opponent scored. 12 times there was a null round, with many of them being where a fighter missed on the point because they didn't follow through. That's less than a 25% success rate. I think people will start following through more when they realize the points they're leaving in the ring. Until then, stay risky Rhydin!
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