My game plan was to keep it standing and beat him there. I knew he wanted nothing to do with my ground game. It was a very weird fight for me. I am not used to such an unorthodox style(The running and pouncing in like a cat). I like to strategically take people apart while going for the finish. Find weak points in there game. I like to mix it up trying almost every attack and the ones that work I use more consistently. Trying my best not to let him know what attack is coming next. Head, Body, and Leg attacks using punches, knees, and kicks. I usually use elbows but for some reason didn't this time. I thought I stayed aggressive constantly coming forward. Only big issue was I kept dropping my hands which is how I got caught. I know my faults and don't claim to be perfect. I learn from every fight. Dan was trying to hit my body more since of my height. Which is one reason I was lowering my hands. Problem was I wasn't balling my body up under my hands in order to protect both. I was also lowering them because of the angle I had to punch him at. He was short and by keeping my hands up I would be punching downward at him. He had boxing skills and did a good job of keeping his chin tucked. So I would hit the top of his head. I had to adjust by lowering my hands to his level or go under his level to effectively punch him, without breaking my hand on the top of his head.
As for me not doing anything from my back. I tried to get up the first time. I heard Hughes screaming to let me up, so I thought he was going to. As I went to get up he charged me. Now why am I gonna try and get up when this guy is pouncing at me. But he didn't want to goto the ground with me. So it was a stale mate. I mean punches to my foot is not fight affecting attack. I just waited for Herb to stand us up. Which I kept saying after the fight, why was it taking so long. That is far from my fault as far as boring or a waste of time. That is all on Dan and Herb. I am not gonna take shots trying to get up when I shouldn't have to. That might seem tough, but it ain't smart at all. What if I tried to get up and he got a lucky shot knocking me out. Why would I risk that. I wouldn't so i just waited laughing at how ridiculous this all was.
1 minute and 30 seconds standing over me so you can try to win a round, doesn't sound dominating in any way. He got 2 solid right hands. One which dropped me. I dropped him in the 1st also with a straight left. He brought his leg up to block the kick as I landed the left he completely torqued and fell to his back. People might see it as a slip but it wasn't. Herb ran over prepared cause from his angle he saw a clear view of the hit. Also when he dropped me I immediately secured an arm for the submission. I was completely awake and aware. He hurt my nose but it wasn't my chin or temple and my head was clear. I immediately tried to stand and Barrera attacked me as to say I am not letting you up. This led everyone to believe I was resting and shaking out the cob webs. He hurt my nose no doubt about it, but thats just physical pain. Mentally I was in the game the whole time. Ready to stand and in all honesty I was amped to stand back up right then, in order to use that pain as a form of momentum. But he stalled out, which brought me back to my composed fighting nature.
I am sorry guys for the rambling. I am getting some positive feedback from my fight. But the negative things that I had no control over kind of bugs me.
I know everyone wanted a 3rd round. After all the bitching I wish I got it also. Just to stop all the criticism. But in all honesty second round was a 10-8 and 1st any way you look at it 10-9 Barrera, 9-9 Tie, or 10-9 Saunders. It would have made it 19-18 Saunders, 19-17 Saunders, or 20-17 Saunders. Making me the winner either way.
No way Barrera got a 10-8 1st round.
Thanks for all the supporters, and fans of the sport. Like I said I tried to put on a show. I hope you enjoyed the fight.
Haha, That was just a joke cause in all honesty he would never stop talking about them. It was more of an inside joke, but ironically he does repeat himself all the time, so his pre fight was what i thought it was gonna be. lol
Barrera was a chatter box man, and a ball of energy always talking and on the go. Weird guy, but tough as nails.
He was very nice and respectful to me, he was led to believe in this controversial decision. Probably cause Hughes went off on him. I felt bad for the guy. I didn't even know about his hand or wife at the time. Otherwise I would have never joked about it.
Matt Serra said he thought the fight was tied. So did Dana, so did Hughes, so did one of the judges
I thought round 2 could have been 10-9 or 10-8 in your favor, but there's no way you won round 1 in my eyes
i don't mean that as a criticism of you at all, because i thought you either won the fight with the 10-8 2nd round, or would have won it anyway if it went to a 3rd round because he was gassed bad and couldn't see from the blood either
I see how the judges could easily have scored the first round for Ben. He landed more strikes, was more effective and controlled the pace. Berrera had one good moment and he failed to follow up on it at all.
The first round was close but I don't see how Saunders could have won the first round. Maybe I need to rewatch it but when you drop some one it's usually a 10-8 round. The only reason it was 10-9 was because Saunders came back pretty strong
It's all pretty moot because he won. I think the third round would have been definitive, because I think Saunders would have Ko'd Barrera given how round 2 ended
Here's the thing all the emotions flying around while being in that house. Everyone getting to become friends and knowing each other. Every fight was much more intense for us on the show then for the viewers at home. Specially by the time me and Dan fought. That fight was also the first one to go to the 2nd round. There were a lot more things involved while actually being there. I believe this played a huge role in saying it was controversial. Seeing it through different eyes or point of view. But after watching it on tape and analyzing it. Things are much more clear as to what shots actual landed and what not. I also don't see how a dominating 2nd round with a knock down and him running away would not be a 10-8 round.
I hear your point as you are saying what everyone else is saying. All I can say is look back at the fight and analyze it. The judges saw through the BS and emotions that we all were seeing this fight through. They saw what really happened. If you have it TiVo'd you too could see it through the judges perspective.
Purebred you think being dropped once is a 10-8 round? You must really be disappointed in a lot of juding out there then. 10-8 is getting completely dominated, having virtually no offense in return. Getting dropped once with no follow up is not even close to that.
I mean punches to my foot is not fight affecting attack lol
I haven't really seen much criticism towards you about this fight, but i am sure that (being involved) you are hypersensitive. understandable. don't listen to any of it. good fight, good fight plan. really look forward to your next fight-MM
Ben- You've been on here long enough to know how the armchair quarterbacks love to criticise everything. Don't let it get to you. It was a great fight.