As someone who has spent years competing in the UFC and eventually becoming a world champion, I’ve learned firsthand the importance of avoiding single points of failure.
This concept applies not just to fighting but also to other areas of life such as finance or relationships.
If all of your savings are in one stock or investment, you’re taking a huge risk. If that one stock plummets, you lose everything. But if you spread out your investments across multiple stocks and assets, the impact of any one loss is much smaller.
In the same way, single points of failure can be dangerous in the octagon. During my fighting career, I’ve seen many fighters go into a match with one game plan or strategy, only to have it fail and leave them vulnerable to their opponent’s attacks.
That’s why it’s important to have multiple strategies and techniques in your arsenal. You never know what your opponent is going to do, so you need to be prepared for any situation that may arise.
Recently, I watched an interview with Dustin Poirier and Teddy Atlas where they talked about the importance of leg kicks and how they were a key factor in Poirier’s victory over Conor McGregor at UFC 257.
Poirier talked about how he learned from his previous fight with Jim Miller at UFC 208. Although Poirer came away with the majority decision win, Miller’s punishing leg kicks left him with painful injuries.
Porier quickly learned that a great fighter without his legs was just an open target, so he made a conscious effort to diversify his strategy – defend against leg kicks and attack using them.
During the fight with McGregor, Poirier used calf kicks to slow down McGregor and make him less mobile. We all saw the graphic imagery of McGregor’s foot buckling under his weight. Poirer’s kicks were so effective and devastating that they ultimately led to his victory.
But why are calf kicks so dangerous? Well, it all comes down to anatomy. The calf muscle is responsible for the plantarflexion of the foot (i.e. pointing the toes downward) and the flexion of the knee. When the muscle is damaged or strained, it can make it difficult to stand, walk, or run. And when it comes to fighting, a damaged calf can seriously impair a fighter’s ability to move and defend themselves.
This is just one example of how avoiding single points of failure can make all the difference in a fight. It was clear from the way Porier spoke about his strategy that he had a deep understanding of the concept of single points of failure. He knew that McGregor’s calf was a vulnerable spot, and he exploited it to his advantage.
But Porier’s success wasn’t just due to his awareness of McGregor’s weak spot. It was also because Porier could adapt his strategy on the fly. When McGregor started checking his leg kicks, Porier didn’t give up or become discouraged. Instead, he adjusted his approach and started attacking the calf from different angles.
This kind of flexibility and adaptability is crucial when it comes to avoiding single points of failure. In any given situation, there are countless potential points of failure that could arise. The key is to stay aware and ready to pivot if necessary.
I realized this during my fights with Anderson Silva. Silva is one of the greatest UFC athletes of all time and he correctly identified single points of failure in his opponents’ strategy – No one really had an effective answer to Silva’s unorthodox striking style while he was in his prime.
In the aftermath of those losses, I had to re-evaluate my approach to fighting. I realized that I needed to be more aware of potential points of failure, and I worked on becoming a more well-rounded fighter. This lesson has stuck with me throughout the rest of my career and today, it continues to influence the way I approach my work as a Vice President at ONE Championship.
So what can you learn from all of this? For starters, it’s important to recognize that single points of failure can be dangerous, whether we’re talking about fighting or any other area of life. It’s crucial to be aware of potential weak spots and to have contingency plans in place.
But it’s not just about being aware. It’s also about being flexible and adaptable. We need to be able to adjust our approach as needed, whether that means changing our strategy mid-fight or pivoting in response to a financial crisis.
In the end, avoiding single points of failure is all about being proactive and staying alert. By keeping our eyes open and our minds flexible, we can avoid potential disasters and achieve success in any area of life. Whether we’re in the octagon or the boardroom, the principles remain the same.