I think Shooto had the best solution to all of this: score guard and the clinch as a neutral position. Nobody gets points without doing something.
Problem solved.
I also think the combination of the UFC's ruleset (or configuration, whatever you wanna call it) and their fighter-rewardment program just means that the easiest path to victory is as many 1st-round finishes as you can possibly get. One would be bad enough, both makes it Really tough for a unique grain to sift through.
And most fighters are too dumb to learn how to submit people off their backs in a round. Hence so few submission experts like in the old days. Someone like a prime Aoki (with the cagesense he has nowadays) would thrive under that ruleset, then again Shinya's a smarter grappler than most people. Same thing with that Mexican guy with the mullet from the WEC.
It Does seem like the musclebound Mike Perry style has been Very prominent among successful fighters nowadays compared to just 5 years ago. It's not like the rules have changed that much... the way Dana White seeks- and rewards fighters sure has gotten a lot more focused, however.
