fight IQ (plural fight IQs)
- A combat sports athlete's ability to adjust their movements during a bout in order to exploit momentary defensive openings or overall technical weaknesses found in an opponent's moveset.
2008 December 28, Thomas Gerbasi, “The Highly Unofficial 2008 UFC Awards - The Fighters”, in UFC[1]:More importantly, the unbeaten New York native showed an uncanny ability to adjust his gameplan on the fly and stun unsuspecting opponents. It’s a product not only of Evans’ growing experience and his work with Greg Jackson, but of a fighting IQ that is becoming second to none.
2009 June 17, Jay Bandu, “What It Takes to Be a Real Fighter Pt 3: Mental Aptitude”, in Bleacher Report[2]:George St. Pierre is also a very good example. He utilizes his fight IQ to negate his opponent's advantages and impose his will. He prevented Matt Hughes from taking him down, took Matt Serra down right away, and clinched BJ Penn till his arms were too tired to be effective.
2012 April 19, Luke Thomas, “Greg Jackson Contends Jon Jones Has Underrated Fight IQ”, in MMA Fighting[3]:Jackson expressed surprise at the levels reached by some of the vitriolic personal attacks he received, discussed Rashad Evans' physical capabilities as he enters his thirties, contrasted the wrestling styles of Evans and Jon Jones, discussed how he and his camp manage Jones' training as he grows in size and tried to make sense of why Jones' fight IQ is underrated.
