Remember how jack of all trades fighters like Rory were being heralded?

[Davey Crockett]

Who would have thought back then that these guys would be detrimental to the excitement of the sport. Not Rory, he’s worth watching any day of the week, but the idea used to be that a guy with more tools for victory and more well rounded will be able to implement those skills and finish in a variety of different ways. The opposite happened. These hybrid fighters cancel eachother out. It’s the specialists that bring the fans in. The Maias and Barbozas of the game.

 

[Ryan G]

People were saying this even before anyone had ever heard of Rory Mac. Very few people thought Rich Franklin would be champ for long precisely because he wasn't special at anything, only simply very good at everything. Some specialist would come along and expose him. Anderson Silva did just that.

 

[ThePatriot]

Idk man

Always gonna be bad opinions on sherdogs

The trolls are the only cool ones

 

[It Just Is]

Hmm, this concept is controversial because a well rounded fighter may have one or few key areas that are their bread and butter. A jack of all trades is good against a bone fide one dimensional fighter, but even the top "one" dimensional fighters have other areas that are enough to offeset many weaknesses.

Other qualities may be intangibles that are hard to write down, like a fighter's heart or IQ which can make a not so doctrinally sound fighter, better. Many would say Jones or GSP are well rounded, but are strong in couple of areas because that is where their bases are. GSP is a striker who can grapple and Jones is a grappler who can strike.

 

[Paladin]

They are rounded, but not well rounded enough.

gsp and MM are examples of truly well rounded. Most “rounded fighters are competent but not outstanding in any discipline

 

[blaseblah]

Hmm, this concept is controversial because a well rounded fighter may have one or few key areas that are their bread and butter. A jack of all trades is good against a bone fide one dimensional fighter, but even the top "one" dimensional fighters have other areas that are enough to offeset many weaknesses.

Other qualities may be intangibles that are hard to write down, like a fighter's heart or IQ which can make a not so doctrinally sound fighter, better. Many would say Jones or GSP are well rounded, but are strong in couple of areas because that is where their bases are. GSP is a striker who can grapple and Jones is a grappler who can strike.

GSP relies more heavily on his wrestling than Jones does.

 

[IndyCovaHart]

I vividly remember a time when Rory wasn’t this ball of excitement that people today insist on touting him as.

 

[HwoarangStyle]

I vividly remember a time when Rory wasn’t this ball of excitement that people today insist on touting him as.

He had two fights in a row I think against Ellenberger and then Lawler 1 and everyone just started calling him boring. We all know thats bs now.

 

[welcometohavoc]

The best fighters in the world are well rounded. DJ, Holloway, Ferguson, Stipe, GSP, Whittaker, Dillashaw,

 

[It Just Is]

GSP relies more heavily on his wrestling than Jones does.

You're right, he does, even though GSP started out as a striker. Jones' reach advantage and his versatility in his kicks gives him a decent advantage standing. So he just exploits the advantage. Now adays, his grappling is for backup or defense. Though if his opponent has a glaring grappling deficit, he'll use it.

GSP strategy is to shoot, but he has a good jab and mantains distance well, so if his grappling fails, he can at least stall the fight out a little. They incorporate their techniques differently. That may also vary against the opponent.

 

[MuddyFugger]

Rory was the "next GSP"
Hall was the "next Anderson"
I forget who was the "next Ronda"
Baby Fedor was the next... well, you get it..

 

[Franc Mittelo]

I remember Rory getting booed for being a "boring point fighter." Getting smashed by Robbie Lawler hypnotized the fans into believing that he is a super exciting fighter.

Sometimes, you win even when you lose. LOL

 

[AndrewGolota48]

I do remember people hyping up the mythical "kids that trained MMA from the beginning" as opposed to specialists from individual backgrounds.