Boxing 101: Falling In

Teddy Atlas calls it "falling in" when a fighter commits too much weight to a shot, resulting in a reset of foot position. Usually it's done by a power shot, but here Jose Aldo falls in on his jab, as though he expected it to connect and rebound. When it doesn't, Aldo is left trying to duck and shuffle his feet in an attempt to reset; but Chad "Money" Mendes is already launching a sweet counter uppercut in return. Aldo makes a hearty meal of it, but it didn't agree with him; and suddenly the momentum in this fight swings dramatically.

Mendez showed his acumen and defensive responsibility by properly slipping to the outside of the jab (so no follow-up right hand could land on him), as well as ducking in preparation for the uppercut he was about to throw. It's a nice bit of high-level boxing technique applied by a lifelong wrestler, and shows the level of striking training that mixed martial artists must acquire and endure in order to succeed at the championship level.

Shoryuken!