UFC welterweight contender Michael Chiesa believes champion Leon Edwards needs to start taking risks in his fight.
Edwards defended his welterweight title for the second time in the main event of UFC 296 as he beat Colby Covington by decision in a rather lackluster fight.
It wasn’t the most entertaining fight and Chiesa believes that is because Edwards doesn’t take risks in his fights. Instead, he believes Edwards is fine winning decisions and won’t take any chances or risks, which is how fighters get the finish.
Michael Chiesa tells Leon Edwards to take chances
“He definitely slowed down in the Colby fight. He didn’t even get a vintage Colby pace. I think Leon is not underrated skill-wise. I think if anyone underrates his skills, then they don’t know what the hell they are talking about when it comes to mixed martial arts. There’s not a person I’ve talked to who says he lacks in the skill department. But, on the flip side of that, sometimes the people that are the most skilled, go for it the least. When a guy has maybe deficits in their skills, they’re more prone to putting themselves, you have to put yourself in harm’s way sometimes to get a finish,” Chiesa said on UFC Roundup.
“When you are like Leon, the perfect head kick KO, you had against Kamaru, there are counter strikes. Sometimes you have to just not try to be so skilled and just take a chance. Really skilled guys will be really reserved instead of putting themselves out there, throwing a longer combination to try and pierce the guard and get a knockout shot, is something I don’t see in Leon’s repertoire in a fight. Unless he (Edwards) lands a good counterstrike to hurt you, I don’t see him trying to force an opportunity to create a finish. It’s one of those things where he’s almost too skilled, sometimes when someone is too skilled they don’t go for it enough, they just try and be perfect. Kind of like what Georges (St-Pierre) used to do,” Chiesa continued.
Michael Chiesa certainly has a point, but the way Leon Edwards has been fighting is working so there is no need for him to change his style, unless he wants to start getting finishes.
