Post by Deleted on Jun 28, 2016 7:24:37 GMT
Lex Collins.
I like this guy.
But lets get one thing out of the way right now, shall we? The fact that I like Lex Collins, the fact that I respect him... neither is going to keep me from tearing right through him to make it to the finals of this tournament. There is, maybe, one thing that could stop me, however, that being Lex's impressive submission abilities. That's the big, giant pink elephant in the room. But it could be worse. Because while it's true that Lex's greatest strength plays in his favor towards my biggest weakness, against me, it's an isolated strength at best. Isolated because as good as he might be, I'm better. As well-rounded as Lex might be, I'm still better. And as much as Lex might want to walk into the ring & just slap a submission hold on me, he & I both know that's not going to happen. He has to try & open with something else. He has to try to wear me down, get me in a compromised position, and then... and only then... can he use his far superior submission game to any effect.
I just don't believe he can do it. I've watched a lot of Lex Collins matches over the years & in my instinctual assessment, I'm stronger. I'm faster. I have better overall wrestling technique. I am a significantly more lethal striker. I am a better athlete, with superior stamina, endurance & a better ability to absorb & recover from damage. Lex can't outlast me, can't wear me down, can't out-grapple me to impose his will & he can't hurt me badly enough that I'll find myself in that compromised position. In other words, Lex Collins has the best weapon available to him to beat me, but he doesn't have the skill or the physical attributes to put himself into the proper situation to use it.
It's the classic Grappler Vs. Striker match-up, except that in addition to being a bloody elite level striker, I'm also a stronger, faster, more technical grappler than my opponent. I'm holding all the cards except a couple, but a Full House beats a Pair every time.
Last week, Lex, you told Valentine that he didn't know a thing about being fearless. You explained to him that you were fearless because of all of the collective pain you've already been through in your life, and that's equally tragic & sad. But it makes you fearless, and that's the silver lining for you. Me? If I'm fearless, it's because my instincts usually serve me pretty well. My ability to instinctively assess a situation gives my the tools to put any fear in it's place. Because being inherently fearless isn't necessarily a good thing, Lex. A little fear keeps you sharp. A little fear can tell you where the danger is.
I don't fear you. I like you, I respect you, and hell, I'm looking forward to fighting you. But I don't fear you, because I know I have the weapons to beat you, and I know how to avoid that one weapon you have that can hurt me. I'm gonna hit you, Lex. I'm gonna hit you fast & harder maybe than you've ever been hit before. That's what I bring to the table, Lex. I'm going to absorb what you throw at me, countering any takedown attempts with my superior grappling technique, stuffing your shots with my superior strength. I have the sort of lethal striking that means that at any moment, from the opening bell, I can hit you with a fist, a knee or an elbow that will turn out the lights, all while you struggle to find a position where you can use your best weapon.
I didn't come here to make friends, Lex. I came to Engage for one reason, and one reason alone. Respect. Everyone in that locker room picked Keegan to beat me, and I proved them all wrong... yet many still fail to recognize me as the threat that I am. My fans from my early days have turned their backs, calling me a sell-out, even as new fans, witnessing The Raven for the first time, are inspired. Week by week, fight by fight, I am on a mission, a mission to prove that I am an elite fighter of the highest caliber, that the last 8 years fighting in the underground haven't been a bloody waste.
That's my mission, that's my passion & that's my prize. I'll pay any price I have to to get there, Lex. I'll put down anyone, friend or foe, that tries to stand in my way. Come hard. We'll give them all quite a show. But I have a date with destiny.
