The Word That Has No Business in The Fight Business

There exists such a word in this burgeoning combat sport that by definition means vulnerable, or susceptible to attack. However, to some, this word flows freely off the tongue when elite fighters engage in tough fights.

This word is, of course, “exposed.”

For a moment, let’s focus on the definition: vulnerable or susceptible to attack. Now, when a fighter has another human being in front of them who’s looking to create abstract art out of their face, or as Frank Mir said to Joe Ferraro, “put his arm on my mantle,” then that fighter is susceptible to attack. Maybe not vulnerable, but there’s a good chance that he’s going to get hit, be put in a bad position and have submissions attempted on his person.

So in essence, the best of the best are possibly exposed each and every time they train and fight.

One fighter that has been said to be “exposed” is none other than the No. 1 ranked heavyweight in the world, Fedor Emelianenko.

It has been said The Last Emperor was exposed by Andrei Arlovski. Why? Because Arlovski was able to land unanswered punches and got the better of Emelianenko. Shortly after showing he was susceptible to attack, Emelianenko quickly exposed Arlovski to a shot of leather immediately chased by a mouthful of canvas.

The Red Devil standout is a bit of a different animal, though. He isn’t unbeatable; he’s just so good that nobody has been able to stop him decisively.

So perhaps it’s a little easier to say he was exposed, like the claim during the Brett Rogers fight. There stood Rogers with his height, weight and more than a few inches of reach advantage. Naturally with all those apples already in his basket, one would hope Rogers could at least do some damage. It couldn’t have been that big a surprise.

So were Emelianenko’s weaknesses exposed, or was the fact that Rogers owned an advantage everywhere on the tale of the tape except experience brought to an obvious light?

Now watching Georges St. Pierre fight Matt Hughes the second and third time would be two good examples of a fight where one could use the word exposed. Both fights were good examples of someone who was vulnerable as well as susceptible to attack on a consistent basis leading to a loss. Hughes was unable to mount any attack and was finished on the ground after being battered on the feet.

Is it accurate to say that every fighter has at one time or another been exposed?

Anderson Silva looked vulnerable when he was hit with a flying leg scissors followed by a fight ending heel hook by Ryo Chonan, was the Spider’s submission defence exposed?

What validity then, does the word exposed have in this sport? MMA is too dynamic for such a word.

Besides, unless a fighter is sitting in 12x12 panic room in the other corner, then by virtue of definition he is exposed.