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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
"Maldonado has been relying on his capability to withstand punishment, and it caught up with him. Now I'm hearing he wants to drop to 185 pounds. I think it could be a good move. I think that Glover lived up to the hype. He came in there against one of the toughest SOBs on the UFC roster and completely dominated. Until this fight, Glover had not really shined against top competition, but now he leaves no more doubt.
We have been trying to get [Fabio] to defend himself better, but the answer is always, 'I don't mind getting punched.' Well, this time that attitude cost him. I have never seen Maldonado get rocked, but he is as human as the next man. A well-placed power punch rocks him just as any other human being... Losing is always a lesson, and this time – different then the other two fights when he should have been given the win – he really lost. Trust me, he learned from it. Look for a better Maldonado."
-Fabio Maldonado's manager Alex Davis talks to MMAJunkie.com regarding his client's ability to take punishment out of his loss to Glover Teixeira at UFC 153.
Penick's Analysis: It was clear that Maldonado's ability to get hit and keep moving worked against him in Brazil. That fight was a brutal beating from Teixeira, one that would have finished many men much earlier. Maldonado was able to survive, yes, but it also meant a much longer beating during the fight from Teixeira. As Davis points out, it's a learning experience, and one that Maldonado absolutely must take something from. A move to middleweight might be the exact type of change he needs, and it would give him a size advantage over many opponents as well. It's the best move for him right now, and it will give him a chance to renew his career in the UFC in a new weight class.
Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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