Someone made a joke after training on Monday that got me thinking and rethinking my attitude toward things like the 50/50 and the dispute over the superfight between Rafa Mendes and Cobrinha.
At root, what is interesting is that Rafa's approach to Cobrinha is similar to my approach with most anyone who is near my skill level. I am a control guy. A position guy. So my jiu jitsu is all about getting control and avoiding being controlled. Getting dominant position and staying out of bad positons.
Really everything else comes second, including submissions.
On the bottom, this has led to a real devotion to the half guard. There aren't very many submissions from the half guard - that crazy keylock I used to get from half guard on the bottom has gone the way of the buggy whip. But properly wielded, the half guard is a reversing machine. Even with a half guard game that I think is about 25% developed, I have a confidence from the position that rivals all else. It slows the game down to a pace that I am comfortable with. And as fast guys get slower and long guys get shorter, the chances of me being able to get from an inferior position to a superior one increase.
All that said to say that I'm taking Rafa's side in the debate . There's more to Rafa's game than the 50/50. But against an athletic, explosive opponent with unparalleled technical skill, Rafa uses the only weapon in his arsenal that he can win with.
Who among us wouldn't do the same? For a world champsionship? Against one of the greatest competitors of all time?
You better believe you'd do it.
I also have to say that there is something more than a little unseemly about a group offering up thousands of dollars for a superfight between Rafa and Cobrinha only a few weeks after Rafa's latest victory over the multi-time featherweight champion. Like it or not, we've seen Rafa v. Cobrinha. Are there no other superfights out there to be sponsored? I'd love to see Roger v. Werdum in the gi. And how much money would it take to get Eddie Bravo on the mat with Royler for a rematch? Kira and Hillary Williams would be a blast, as well.
Think of how great it would be to have another Oscar de Jiu Jitsu. Oscar de Jiu Jitsu 2 featured 13 superfights including Leca Viera, David Camarillo, Antonio Shembri, Roberto Traven, Marcio Feitosa, Saulo Ribeiro, Fabio Gurgel and a classic final match between Royce Gracie and Wallid Ishmael.
(This is an unbelievably fun DVD to watch, by the way. From start to finish, it is one popcorn-munching, cold-drink-sipping historic evening of jiu jitsu. If you don't own it, find a friend who does.)
At any rate, anybody wanting to make exciting jiu jitsu matches should follow that model, IMO. Superfights should be about making the otherwise impossible possible - not about trying to re-compete the past.
