Is ‘Lay and Pray’ still a thing?

[Corrado Soprano]

Many years ago ‘Lay and Pray’ was a common term on Sherdog. Casuals would get angry and say it was a technique where wrestlers would hold their opponent down until the end of the fight. GSP, Matt Hughes, Josh Koscheck all got accused of it..

I don’t see that term thrown around anymore. I think the IQ of the MMA fanbase has diminished so much that pressure was put on the commission and the UFC to stand fighters up quicker because the casual fan is not smart enough to understand wrestling.

Lay and Pray Never Die!

 

[snugglecakes]

lay n pray's cousin wall n stall recently beat sandhaggon using TJ as it's vessel

 

[flowoftruth]

Not only is it still a thing but rose pulled off successfully this past weekend to defend her title

 

[Madeline Chelsea]

The problem back then was that takedowns and top position were ridiculously overvalued by judges. It often did not matter how the fight looked beforehand, one takedown and a minute on top with no real offense basically guaranteed a round. A clear but competitive round could be turned by scoring one takedown in the closing seconds. Fighters didn't try to do anything but hold on to top position for as long as possible because it was scored as if they were demolishing their opponents on the feet. And you rarely would get stood up, even if all you did was throw the occasional arm punch in guard.

 

[Krimzon]

carla esparza might get a title shot from it

 

[Corrado Soprano]

The problem back then was that takedowns and top position were ridiculously overvalued by judges. It often did not matter how the fight looked beforehand, one takedown and a minute on top with no real offense basically guaranteed a round. A clear but competitive round could be turned by scoring one takedown in the closing seconds. Fighters didn't try to do anything but hold on to top position for as long as possible because it was scored as if they were demolishing their opponents on the feet. And you rarely would get stood up, even if all you did was throw the occasional arm punch in guard.

Good post. A takedown would almost guarantee you won the round back then.

 

[DS66]

It definitely seems less common than it was in the past. However I don't think it's cause "IQ of the MMA fanbase has diminshed" as you suggest. I think it's more a function of the fact that fighters are much more well rounded these days, with generally better takedown defense and better skills on the ground. Gone are the days when a striker would have zero grappling ability and a decent wrestler could just take them down and hold them there. The overall level of grappling across the roster is much higher than it was in the past, as nearly every UFC fighter has at least a basic wrestling/grappling skillset nowadays.

 

[Emjay]

It never was.

 

[koquerelle]

Good post. A takedown would almost guarantee you won the round back then.

Is it different now?

 

[Krimzon]

Is it different now?

i don't think much has changed, if I had a dime for everytime Rogan or Anik goes "if X gets a TD, he'll steal the round" with 10 seconds remaining in the round..

 

[Krimzon]

Johnny Hendricks won the WW title vs Rob Lawler for a TD with 1 min remaining, with 0 offence, effectively STOPPING a fight from breaking out!

 

[Bojka]

Not only is it still a thing but rose pulled off successfully this past weekend to defend her title

this is true. I kept yelling at the TV for her to at least throw pitter patter to the body, lol.

 

[shockaholic12]

Just seems in general it’s harder to hold opponents down. Back in the day if someone landed a takedown that’s where the fight was going to stay. Now people are popping back up within seconds.

 

[Sticko]

i don't think much has changed, if I had a dime for everytime Rogan or Anik goes "if X gets a TD, he'll steal the round" with 10 seconds remaining in the round..

I score takedowns in the last 10 seconds of a round lower than other takedowns since there's no time to do anything with it

If a round is dead even on the feet where one fighter does nothing grappling-wise and the other gets a late takedown, I could *maybe* see that swinging the round

 

[Sticko]

Andreas Michaelidis tried to wall n' stall Alex Pereira this past weekend, it didn't work . . .

 

[EYEKICKFACES]

Not since Khabib retired.

 

[Tairy Hesticles]

Wrestlers have a better offensive game from the top now. I think it's that simple.

 

[knowsitall]

Yes it's called Dagestan now.

 

[RockyLockridge]

lay n pray's cousin wall n stall recently beat sandhaggon using TJ as it's vessel

What you were actually seeing there is an experienced fighter who knows how to win a 5 round fight that is close.

 

[Prologue]

Welcome to the Wall and Stall, Hug and Slug Era homies!