170 is a throwback division

Joeythewho

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It was for many years the wisdom that you had to be great in all areas a true "mixed martial artist" to be successful and you really saw an evolution with fighters like GSP, Mighty Mouse, Jon Jones from guys like Royce and Liddell who really were only good at one aspect and just so good they could impose their will. Now at 170 the champ is a wrestling sprawl and brawler, and the top 2 contenders are a bjj specialist and the karate kid. All 3 fighters only learned how to defend against other styles but dont even pretend to be multifaceted. You watch them fight you know exactly what they are going to do.


Is this an evolution in MMA? or a step back?
 
Lol thats a unique way of looking at it :D
 
Do any of them beat GSP? Probably not. Would they be exciting fights? Probably not. Will I tune in? Yes
 
Not everyone can be GSP. Top level MMA is still primarily specialists who transition from their sport to MMA. Maia is a great example of someone with enough natural talent that he's gone from no striking whatsoever - see his fight with Marquardt, to being able to stay in a standup fight long enough to impose his game. It actually provides an exciting opportunity. It's like Rousey. You know where the weakness lies, but can you exploit it before the person gets too good to allow it? In Maia's case in particular, if he can improve his striking and takedowns to the point where he can take and hold the title even though everyone knows what to do, good on him.

[EDIT] I think there will always be a place for this type of fighter. They will always be better at their specialty than the generalist and then it's just down to how well they can absorb training in the other sports and knit it all together. I love that as time goes by there will be more and more of a mix between Rory Mac types and specialist types.
 
This idea that you can't be a champion as a specialist is stupid. Maia shouldn't try to become as well rounded as possible because he's never going to be that great of a striker and doesn't have big power or great speed. Maia is doing the right thing and is working on his striking to set up his takedowns so that he can better utilize his best weapon.
 
Whatever works

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