Coach feels Cris Cyborg ‘beat herself’ against Amanda Nunes

Back at UFC 232 in late December, the longstanding title reign of UFC featherweight champ Cris Cyborg came to a shocking end at the hands of Amanda Nunes, who needed just 51 seconds to win by knockout.

Speaking to MMAjunkie recently, Cyborg’s coach Jason Parillo gave his take on this shocking upset defeat. In his eyes, a big part of the problem was Cyborg’s approach to the first exchanges of the bout.

“I saw Cris go out there and beat herself,” Parillo said (transcript via MMA Fighting). “I’ve said it in many interviews before, and it was always my biggest concern, which is her just going for broke, losing the plot and swinging wild. Just going back to old school Cyborg. Because I told her that the higher we climb the ladder, we’re not going to be able to get away with this style. We need to think a little bit more and stay behind the jab.”

Parillo believes there was one particular Nunes leg kick that drove Cyborg into a bit of a frenzy.

“I know Cris. I know my fighter and saw the way she reacted to that leg kick when it hit her,” Parillo explained. “Instead of moving out and staying behind her jab, she went for broke off the get-go and got caught doing it.

“It was very much ‘oh no you didn’t,’ and she just started swinging for the fences,” Parillo added. “Cris went straight disrespect mode, like she can walk down anybody, but she was in there with a skillful fighter who has a really good punch. That’s how maybe Cris was going to get beaten, against someone who has the fortitude to be able to sit in there with that aggressive style. You have to respect Amanda for that.”

What do you think of Jason Parillo’s comments on the recent loss of Cris Cyborg?

This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 1/9/2019.