Justin Gaethje would thrive in the world of BKB, but Ilia Topuria would face challenges, according to a bare-knuckle champion who has stepped into the UFC octagon several times. Dy also has title accolades in MMA, being the first-ever UAE Warriors featherweight champion, with multiple UFC fights under his belt as well.
Rolando Dy prepares to defend his Police Gazette diamond super welterweight crown against Scott McHugh at BKB 60 this weekend on October 10th. When asked who he thinks from the UFC could cross over and drop the gloves to make massive waves in the BKB Mighty Trigon, Dy said [via Bare Knuckle Bowker],
“Justin Gaethje because yes, his fight is not pure boxing. The way he box and the way he clinch, the way he use the dirty boxing, the one collar tie the way he use. The way he hides his head every time he do the dirty boxing. He’s wild. The scientific wildness of his game is very effective in bare knuckle boxing and Topuria. [Ilia] Topuria but Topuria is having a hard time with the dirty boxing.”
“But I think he can adjust after he fought Gathje. I think Topuria, Gaethje, [Dustin] Poirier, and Max Holloway. Those MMA guys who knows how to box and plus of course they’re MMA fighters. They know how to clinch, they know. They have very strong bodies. So I think those guys can do better in bare knuckle boxing. Unlike boxers because they have boxers like Paulie [Malignaggi] right.”
“Paulie and other boxers, I think the MMA fighters who knows how to box has more advantage in bare knuckle boxing than the actual boxers. Because the actual boxers doesn’t have the physicality and for me bare knuckle boxing, you need to have the physical. Physicality of an MMA fighter to push your opponent in the corner, muscle your way in. Yeah, they send the clinch etc.”
UFC to BKB fantasy crossovers from Rolando Dy cont.
Further delving into his thoughts on UFC combatants who could succeed within gloveless combat, Dy continued [via Bare Knuckle Bowker],
“So I think the MMA, high level MMA fighters and also to box like Gaethje, Topuria, Max Holloway, Poirier can do better in bare knuckle boxing than the actual boxers… Because in MMA, we fight in the clinch like we push each other. We understand collar ties, [Muay] Thai clinch, over hook, under hook, and switching your opponent’s switching, putting the weight on your opponent, etc. Most boxers don’t understand that.”
“The physicality and the muscle endurance of an MMA fighter compared to boxers, we are way ahead in in that aspect of the game. The boxers they are ahead in timing, courage in punching, power punching of course, the science of punching etc. But that’s the less important in bare knuckle boxing especially in the Trigon because there would be a lot of tie-ups. There would be a lot of head dragging, there would be a lot of fighting in the clinch. So I think the MMA fighters has more advantage than the actual boxers.”
This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM
