Trainer Firas Zahabi: The Backbone of Carlos Condit’s Style Is Unpredictability

Cat--Smasher · 10-10-2012, 08:26 AM

Quote:

“I think Carlos’ style, the backbone of his style, his standup style, is that his combinations are very unpredictable,” Zahabi told the Sherdog Radio Network’s “Rewind” show. “You notice he doesn’t really do the same combinations twice. He’s always throwing a bizarre combination and then he’ll throw another bizarre combination and he keeps you guessing with his combinations. That’s the danger of it because he doesn’t give you any pattern to follow. It makes it hard for a trainer to drill a specific counter.”

If Condit kicked low regularly, for instance, St. Pierre might drill a straight right counter. But Condit does much more than throw a few telegraphed kicks.

“He kicks to the head,” Zahabi said. “He kicks to the legs. He knees to the head. He throws elbows. He throws uppercuts. He pretty much throws everything there is in a really random fashion. It makes it difficult as a coach to prepare for that, but definitely, definitely that’s the biggest danger, I think. That’s what we’re preparing for.”

Zahabi puts Condit on the muay Thai end of the striking spectrum as compared to the majority of welterweights, whom he considers boxers.

“The angles are different,” Zahabi said. “The techniques, the attacks are different. I’m getting Georges to do a lot more muay Thai for this fight. I’m making him do knees also, putting on the chest guards and doing days where we practice the knees. Carlos is very good with the knees, the flying knee. He’s got long legs. He knows how to use the spear knee to counter your punching. You can’t really get into a low boxing stance because of the way his style is. You can end up kneed in the head or kicked in the head really hard. We’re going to have to adjust Georges’ style for that.”

One fighter helping St. Pierre train for the matchup, which will unify the UFC welterweight titles, is Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson.

“Wonderboy, he’s able to mimic any style,” Zahabi said. “He’s able to fight righty and southpaw. I noticed that Condit sometimes switches it up a little bit during his combinations, not before. I want to make sure to bring that in, and a lot of jiu-jitsu guys. We’re very [friendly] with the jiu-jitsu guys from Renzo Gracie’s.”

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“When it comes to the jiu-jitsu game, of course [Condit is] a very well-developed jiu-jitsu practitioner,” Zahabi said. “His jiu-jitsu’s very strong. I have a feeling he’s going to try to scramble from his guard to try to get back up. Georges is going to have to dominate the standing and dominate the jiu-jitsu when he’s on the ground.”

Trainer Firas Zahabi: The Backbone of Carlos Condit

The8thPlague · 10-10-2012, 09:55 AM

Something is telling me that Condit wins this.

Leucoethiops · 10-10-2012, 11:26 AM

I think if he wins it'll be by cut.

Kimbo> Rampage · 10-10-2012, 11:32 AM

Condit has poor TDD

GSP has the best double in the game....

watch a few Condit fights, watch a few GSP fights... It is clear what will happen.

GSP will utilize his reach, landing his step in jab at will, then taking Carlos down midway in the round to secure points....

Condit is very versatile, he can mix it up well, unfortunately for him he will be on his back for most of the fight.... He does have good BJJ, so I dont see GSP finishing him there, but he get UD'd nonetheless.

Carlos does have one punch power with his punches, kicks, knees.... So you can never count him out... With solid technique and good reach of his own to back that up.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tapper

cc

Really?

Were ganna start calling Carlos CC?

The guy has been retired for less than a year.

tapper · 10-10-2012, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The8thPlague

Something is telling me that Condit wins this.

ill take that bet when the time comes.

hes just being respectful.
technically speaking cc has nothing on gsp, but its a fight so anyting can happen.

optimusjoel · 10-10-2012, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rampage9712

Condit has poor TDD

GSP has the best double in the game....

watch a few Condit fights, watch a few GSP fights... It is clear what will happen.

GSP will utilize his reach, landing his step in jab at will, then taking Carlos down midway in the round to secure points....

Condit is very versatile, he can mix it up well, unfortunately for him he will be on his back for most of the fight.... He does have good BJJ, so I dont see GSP finishing him there, but he get UD'd nonetheless.

Carlos does have one punch power with his punches, kicks, knees.... So you can never count him out... With solid technique and good reach of his own to back that up.

Really?

Were ganna start calling Carlos CC?

The guy has been retired for less than a year.

I agree, and we should say nbk instead of cc