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That's pretty much how he was on his first rise to UFC champion. Everyone billing him as the perfect complete fighter, unstoppable, but then loses his new championship to an opponent nobody gave credit to (Serra). After the loss, he changed his fight camp, changed every aspect of his training and came back strong and regained his championship. During this time, he has to answer to everyone criticizing his mental toughness and gameness. Every fight was "will he crack under pressure," "is he the same fighter he used to be."
To some extent, BJ has been fighting the same kind of criticism. Questions of his cardio, of his devotion to the sport have always been popping up. Now both fighters are running up a streak, both showing how freakishly talented they are. If they rematch, I want to see the fight go to the 5th. I want to believe that they have surpassed their former selves and can defy critics. I honestly don't care who wins. What I want, is to be able to recognize that fight as one of the proudest in MMA history. As the pinnacle of what the sport is about, of what all athletes are capable of doing.
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