Israel Adesanya’s Coach Reflects on Tough Losses and the Lingering Impact
Following his recent setbacks in the octagon, Israel Adesanya’s head coach, Eugene Bareman, has offered a candid perspective on the fighter’s mental state and the lingering impact of his losses. Bareman elaborated on the recent championship bout against Dricus Du Plessis and the perplexing defeat to Sean Strickland, providing insights into the fighter’s mindset and the challenges ahead.
The Weight of the Strickland Defeat
Bareman expressed that the loss to Sean Strickland remains a particularly difficult one for Adesanya to process. He described it as a defeat where Adesanya „just fought really badly, and it was inexplicable.“ This sentiment highlights the intangible nature of that particular loss, making it hard to pinpoint a definitive cause. Bareman elaborated that it’s not something easily measured or understood, leading Adesanya down a rabbit hole of self-analysis. Unlike a loss where the strategy or execution can be clearly identified and learned from, the Strickland fight seems to have left a more profound and perplexing mark, challenging Adesanya’s typically meticulous approach to his craft.
Analyzing the Du Plessis Championship Bout
In contrast to the Strickland fight, Bareman viewed the championship loss to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305 as a more understandable and traceable event. He praised Du Plessis for his performance, acknowledging his underestimated defense and offense. Bareman attributed Adesanya’s defeat in this bout to fatigue, suggesting that the relentless pressure from Du Plessis pushed Adesanya to a point where his body and mind couldn’t respond effectively, even though he knew what to do. He noted that Adesanya was in a position he’d escaped from countless times before, but the exhaustion proved to be the deciding factor. Bareman emphasized that this is the essence of fighting – performing at the highest level under immense duress, and sometimes, that pressure simply overcomes you.
Moving Forward and Learning from Experience
Despite the sting of these recent losses, Bareman indicated that Adesanya is in a better place regarding the Du Plessis fight because its dynamics are clearer. He explained that this type of loss, where the course of the fight and contributing factors can be precisely identified, is much easier to dissect and learn from. This allows for a more targeted approach to future training and strategy, aiming to prevent similar outcomes. Bareman’s comments suggest a focus on the process of analysis and adaptation, even in defeat, as a crucial element in Adesanya’s continued career. The coach’s insights reveal a fighter grappling with significant challenges but also one who, with expert guidance, is committed to understanding and overcoming them.
