When is Phil Davis going to stop being scared to strike?
Phil Davis made Glover Texeria look like a new comer to the UFC not the last number one contender. Texeria had absolutely no answer for the drag down wrestling of Davis. It was almost as if he is developing some sort of Rampage Jackson syndrome in his last two fights. Glover has plenty of tools, he hasn’t been using them lately, instead getting sucked into head hunting boxing matches. Phil Davis on the other hand has only one tool, he uses it very well, but that is why he has lost the two fights that mattered most. Anthony Johnson and Rashad Evans have proven that if you are athletic and more explosive than Davis you can beat him. He has virtually no offensive striking to speak of. His striking is not used primarily to set up his take downs it is used solely to set up his take downs. Phil Davis has the reach and the explosiveness to be a good striker. If he just sat down and put some power into his punches he could surprise a few opponents. No he will not become a world-class striker, but look at the examples of Josh Koscheck, Ryan Bader and Daniel Cormier. Those guys are not the best strikers, but learning how to throw a few punches really well, opened up their wrestling, striking and submission games. If Phil faces either Ryan Bader or Daniel Cormier he will re learn the lesson that he needs more than just his wrestling. He should have learned that against Rashad Evans and Anthony Johnson but maybe the third time is a charm.
