GREAT TECHNIQUES I SAW FROM ROBERT WHITTAKER AT UFC 298!

Hey there, it's James Vick and I wanted to share some observations from the recent UFC 298 event. One fighter who really caught my attention was Robert Whitaker. He had an incredible comeback fight and his fighting stance was really impressive.

Whitaker uses a hybrid stance that's a mix of traditional martial arts, squared mu stance, and slightly bladed boxing. He keeps his hand low and shoots a jab up from a good angle. He's also great at reading distance and is very fast and athletic with his offensive techniques. In this article, I'll break down some of the techniques and strategies that Whitaker used to secure his victory and why they were so effective.

Key Takeaways
Robert Whitaker's hybrid fighting stance incorporates elements of traditional martial arts, squared mu stance, and slightly bladed boxing.
Whitaker's offensive techniques, including his fast and precise jabs and hooks, were key to his victory.
Whitaker's ability to read distance and react quickly to his opponent's moves was a major factor in his success.

UFC 298 Recap
Robert Whittaker's Comeback
I was impressed with Robert Whittaker's performance in his comeback fight at UFC 298. His bladed stance, which is a hybrid of traditional martial arts and boxing, allowed him to counter Paulo Costa's calf kicks effectively. Whittaker started landing his own calf kicks and was able to control the game.

Whittaker's fast and athletic jab was also a highlight of the fight. He shot it up from a good angle and often followed it up with a hook or a two. He also slipped inside Costa's jabs and threw risky overhand rights. However, Whittaker's world-class experience in boxing allowed him to execute these moves without getting caught clean.

Paulo Costa's Performance
Paulo Costa also put up a great fight against Whittaker. He landed several calf kicks that caused damage, but Whittaker's counterattacks proved to be too much for him. Costa tried to jab back, but Whittaker's jabs were too fast and accurate for him to handle.

Overall, it was a competitive fight between two world-class fighters. Whittaker's comeback was impressive, and Costa's performance showed that he is a force to be reckoned with in the UFC.

Whittaker's Fighting Stance
Bladed Martial Arts Stance
Robert Whittaker's fighting stance is a hybrid of traditional karate Tao style and slightly bladed boxing. He stands slightly more bladed than a boxer, which allows him to counter calf kicks effectively. He keeps his hand down low on purpose, which helps him shoot and catch under hooks.

Hybrid Boxing and Karate Stance
Whittaker is quick and athletic with his jab, which he shoots up from a good angle. He leaps in with the jab or throws the hook when the opponent backs up from the jab. He is also good at reading the distance, which allows him to land the one-three-two combination effectively.

Calf Kick Counter Strategy
Whittaker's strategy to counter calf kicks is to land his first. He was landing more calf kicks than his opponent, which gave him an edge with that weapon. He was baiting his opponent to throw the leg kick, and then he would counter with his own calf kick. Although his opponent was landing calf kicks, Whittaker's speed and athleticism allowed him to avoid getting hurt.

Offensive Techniques
Jab from a Lower Angle
One of the techniques that caught my attention during the UFC 298 was Robert Whitaker's jab from a lower angle. He stands in a bladed stance, similar to traditional martial arts, but more bladed than a boxer. He keeps his hand down low to stop the shot or catch under hooks when needed. When he's in this stance, he shoots a jab up from a good angle. He's fast and athletic with it, and he knows how to read the distance.

Hook Following the Jab
Whitaker also throws a hook following the jab, which he lands quite often. He leaps in with the jab or throws the hook when his opponent backs up from the jab. He then tries to shoot the two behind it, making it a basic one-three-two combination. It may sound basic, but he's so fast and athletic with it that it becomes difficult to defend against.

Combination Strategy
Whitaker's combination strategy is to jab his opponent, slip inside, and throw an overhand right. It's a risky technique, but he's world-class and multiple-time world champion for a reason. He moves his head off the center line when he jabs, slips inside, and throws the overhand hook. He's also good at reading the range, which makes it difficult for his opponents to land a clean shot. He throws a couple of sidekicks, too, which is always good to see. However, his bladed stance makes him vulnerable to calf kicks. Nonetheless, he counters it by landing more calf kicks and being the first to get off with the weapon.

Defensive Maneuvers
Hand Placement for Takedown Defense
During UFC 298, I noticed Robert Whitaker's unique bladed stance, which allowed him to effectively defend against calf kicks. He kept his hand down low to shoot and stop the takedown or to catch under hooks if needed. Whitaker also shot a jab from an up angle, which was fast and accurate. He was able to leap in with the jab or throw a hook when his opponent backed up from the jab. This basic one-three-two combination was effective due to Whitaker's athleticism and ability to read distance.

Slipping and Countering Jabs
Whitaker's slip-and-counter technique was risky but effective against Paulo Costa's jabs. When Costa jabbed, Whitaker slipped inside and threw an overhand right. This technique requires athleticism and experience with boxing, so it's not recommended for beginners. However, Whitaker's world-class experience and multiple world championship titles justified his use of this technique. He was able to move his head off the center line and come back with hooks while maintaining his bladed stance. This technique allowed him to slip Costa's jabs and counter with power punches. Whitaker also threw a couple of Sidekicks, which were effective in keeping his opponent at bay. Overall, Whitaker's performance was impressive, and his defensive maneuvers were a key factor in his victory.

Strategic Insights
Controlling the Jab Exchange
Watching the UFC 298 last night, I saw Robert Whitaker executing some great techniques. One of the things he did really well was controlling the jab exchange. He stood in a bladed traditional martial arts stance, which is a hybrid of a squared mu stance, slightly bladed boxing, and full-on traditional karate Tao style. This stance made him more bladed than even a boxer, which allowed him to counter calf kicks by landing more calf kicks himself.

In the jab exchange, whoever gets off first and lands four or five of them is going to have an edge with that weapon. Whitaker was really good at landing his jab fast and from an up angle. He would leap in with the jab or throw the hook when his opponent backed up from the jab. He was also able to shoot the two behind it. Basic stuff, but he was so fast and athletic with it and knew how to read the distance.

Risks of Inside Slipping
Another thing that Whitaker did really well was slipping inside and throwing the overhand right when his opponent jabbed back. This is risky, but Whitaker is a world-class multiple-time world champion for a reason. Every time he would throw that jab, he would move his head off the C line and come back with the hooks. He would be bladed here and threw a couple of Sidekicks. He was really good at reading range, which made him risky for his opponents.

Paolo Costa was landing calf kicks, but Whitaker was baiting him to throw the leg kick, and he was landing. It was a risky strategy, but Whitaker is so good at it that he was able to execute it perfectly. Overall, Whitaker's performance was amazing, and he proved that he is a world-class fighter.

Additional Techniques Observed
Side Kicks Utilization
During the UFC 298 fight, I observed Robert Whitaker utilizing side kicks effectively. He would often use his bladed stance to set up the kick and then extend his leg to land the kick on his opponent. This technique was successful in keeping his opponent at bay and preventing him from closing the distance.

Range Management
Whitaker's range management was another impressive aspect of his performance. He would use his bladed stance and low hand position to bait his opponent into throwing calf kicks. Once his opponent committed to the kick, Whitaker would counter with his own calf kicks or move in to land his punches. He was also able to read his opponent's movements and adjust his distance accordingly, allowing him to land his strikes while avoiding his opponent's attacks.

Overall, Whitaker's use of side kicks and range management were key factors in his successful comeback fight. His ability to effectively utilize these techniques allowed him to control the pace of the fight and keep his opponent at bay.

Conclusion
Whittaker's Class and Performance
Watching Robert Whittaker's performance at UFC 298 was truly inspiring. He showcased his world-class skills and proved why he is a multiple-time world champion. As a martial artist, I was impressed with his bladed stance, which is a hybrid of traditional karate Tao style and slightly bladed boxing. It allowed him to counter calf kicks effectively by landing his first kick and taking control of the fight.

One thing that stood out to me was his ability to keep his hand down low on purpose, which he has been doing his whole career. This helped him to shoot and stop the shot, catch, or get under hooks when needed. He was also quick and athletic with his jabs, often shooting them up from a good angle and landing them with precision. His bladed stance allowed him to leap in with the jab or throw the hook when backing up from the jab, which he landed quite a bit. He also tried to shoot the two behind it, making it a basic yet effective one-three-two combo.

Another impressive move was when he slipped inside and threw the overhand right after jabbing. This is a risky move that requires athleticism and experience with boxing. However, Whittaker's world-class skills and multiple-time world champion status made it possible for him to execute it perfectly. He was able to move his head off the C line throat every time he threw the jab, coming back with hooks and being bladed. He even threw a couple of Sidekicks, which was good to see.

Although Paulo Costa was landing calf kicks, Whittaker's ability to read the range and bait him into throwing the leg kick was impressive. He was always ready to throw with that up jab with his right hand, making it a risky move for his opponent. Overall, Whittaker's class and performance were outstanding, and he deserved the win.