UFC veterans like Matt Brown have been critical of flashy fighters and keep circling back to the basics when they talk about fighters like Jiří Procházka—because the flashy, unpredictable style might win moments, but the essentials win careers. The wild stuff is exciting, but it’s built on a foundation, whether people see it or not. When that foundation is missing, the chaos eventually gets solved. But when it’s there, everything else—creativity, flow, aggression—has something solid to stand on. That’s where the real fun begins. Not in abandoning structure, but in using it so well that you can bend it, stretch it, and still stay in control.
Look at what Jordan Johnson did at Fight For It 27. Early in his career, coming off a loss, facing another experienced opponent—and instead of forcing something wild, he leaned into clean execution, sharp decision-making, and purposeful pressure. Then suddenly, it looked like chaos… knees flying, shots landing, a knockout finish—but it was all built on discipline underneath. That’s the truth most people miss: fundamentals aren’t boring, they’re what make the exciting moments possible. When done right, they don’t limit you—they free you. That’s how you put the fun in fundamentals.