Is heavyweight the only division that has not evolved in UFC/MMA?

[Sherwolf]

Old-guard seemed way more skilled and fun to watch. The likes of Fedor, Crocop, and Nogueira were just more explosive and dynamic than the new era HWs. Why has this division stalled in terms of evolution? All the other divisions have way more skilled fighters than ever before. Just the heavies have gotten slower, have limited gas tanks, and just overall are way more boring to watch. You can argue Cain was the peak of the heavyweights in terms of all the skills combined (standing, ground, and cardio), even more skilled and better than the three I mentioned above. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to stay healthy long enough to stay on top for too long. Discuss sherbros.

 

[Dreyga Hates You Sherbums]

Women’s 145 hadn’t evolved

 

[Midget Boxer]

This is the 5th thread on this topic I've seen lately

Yes dude, mma evolution isn't what we make it out to be. Some divisions got worse and some divisions are at their all time peak

 

[HHJ]

Some divisions experience a decline. What goes down will eventually come back up,like it did in Boxing.

 

[Osiris3657]

Um, hello? Ciryl Gane?

Tom Aspinall is another that isn't a slow footed, one dimensional fat brawler

 

[Takes Two To Tango]

A well rounded Gane will be the ultimate HW ever.

 

[Orochimaru 大蛇丸]

The overall technique in MMA, in general, has evolved, the talent pool will always go up and down though, which is really the most important part.

I think it's flawed logic to separate divisions for which has "evolved" more, these guys are all training in the same gyms and learning the same techniques.

 

[Yellowcrab]

This is the 5th thread on this topic I've seen lately

Because insecure + nostalgic.

That's why

 

[Yellowcrab]

Some divisions experience a decline. What goes down will eventually come back up,like it did in Boxing.

False comparison : boxing is much older than MMA.

MMA being a very young sport, everything is more competitive right now.

 

[I am the Walrus]

You may not like it, but this is what peak performance looks like

 

[SuperNerd]

You may not like it, but this is what peak performance looks like

"I decided to try some things and maybe change my physique a little bit and get in better shape. But whatever I used, it came back positive."

 

[BrockLesnarsTurtleBack]

A lot of those guys would be light heavyweights or middleweights today. The fighters are just bigger in all divisions. There's plenty of very skilled guys in LHW and MW.

There's not much of a talent pool in MMA of guys who can't cut to 206 pounds that are athletic. That's why.

 

[TheScorpionDude]

A well rounded Gane will be the ultimate HW ever.

Yup. And if he had wheel he would be a bicycle.

 

[NoSmilez]

As a whole HWs are more evolved now. Divisions go through phases where people age out and new talent has to come in. The HW recruitment process has been a little slower for HWs as well. I suspect it has to do with USADA to some extent. We are getting some HWs coming in but the freaks are getting rarer

 

[ferrisjso]

It's certainly the one that has evolved the least. New fighters breaking into the elite was a very rare thing at HW even as the old guard entered their 40s. But even at HW it's evolving just noticeably slower.

The issue is athlethic people that size are going to have much more lucrative alternative careers. Smaller fighters aren't going to have those alternatives and are more likely to pursue a career in MMA.

 

[ferrisjso]

You may not like it, but this is what peak performance looks like

 

[jsbx45]

TS has a valid point. It will come. Heavy weight is experiencing a lag for whatever reason it seems. It's not dead, it's just taking a break...

 

[deadshot138]

Lol didn’t they have a gentlemans agreement not to kick and Tim opens with one? Karma served

 

[Arrrrgh]

Super Heavyweight has devolved.

Yup. And if he had wheel he would be a bicycle.

That would be a monocycle bro.

 

[ilfirin]

Bringing up Sylvia is fucking hilarious, as if the UFC was even remotely competitive at heavyweight back when he was the champ. PRIDE ruled the heavyweights.