Are strong boxers with good TDD the new MMA meta?

[Söze Aldo]

As much as I enjoy Muay Thai and KB in MMA striking, it feels like the new meta is high level boxing paired with strong takedown defense, especially as an answer to Dagestani style wrestlers.

Fighters like Topuria, JDM, Pereira to less extent show how far you can go with crisp boxing and solid TDD. Actually good, non sloppy boxing talent combined with 4oz gloves becomes a dangerous weapon when you have decent power and reliable takedown defense.

Even someone like Aldo, definitely known for his kicks, shifted into a boxing heavy style later in his career.

 

[TriangleMonkey]

You mean a wreslter with hands?

No, this is not new

Thats the best type of fighter imo

The wrestler who falls in love with his fists. They hard to TD and use it to knock your block off

Chocolate AL was very good at this

 

[Kung Fu Kowboy]

@BFoe

 

[Bowel-forged Stool]

@BFoe

I’d have to be real hard up to want to run into Brett Roger’s at a urinal though

 

[Söze Aldo]

You mean a wreslter with hands?

No, this is not new

Thats the best type of fighter imo

The wrestler who falls in love with his fists. They hard to TD and use it to knock your block off

Chocolate AL was very good at this

I'm not referring to wrestlers who fall in love with striking and become brawlers, like Chandler or a Gagthe, fighters who are average to decent strikers but rely on their wrestling built endurance and strength. I'm talking about fighters like Topuria and JDM, who have legitimate boxing skill. They actually put combinations together with proper angles and technique, not just swinging hard and wildly.

 

[Get To Da Choppa]

As much as I enjoy Muay Thai and KB in MMA striking, it feels like the new meta is high level boxing paired with strong takedown defense, especially as an answer to Dagestani style wrestlers.

Fighters like Topuria, JDM, Pereira to less extent show how far you can go with crisp boxing and solid TDD. Actually good, non sloppy boxing talent combined with 4oz gloves becomes a dangerous weapon when you have decent power and reliable takedown defense.

Even someone like Aldo, definitely known for his kicks, shifted into a boxing heavy style later in his career.

If Art Jimmerson learned to sprawl and wore two gloves, the UFC would've been very different today

 

[TriangleMonkey]

I'm not referring to wrestlers who fall in love with striking and become brawlers, like Chandler or a Gagthe, fighters who are average to decent strikers but rely on their wrestling built endurance and strength. I'm talking about fighters like Topuria and JDM, who have legitimate boxing skill. They actually put combinations together with proper angles and technique, not just swinging hard and wildly.

I kinda get what you are trying to say but one of your examples (Topuria) is literally a “wrestler who fell in love with striking” and a great example of that

JDM however, is probably a striker that trained his grappling to be the way it is, he may fit your narrative better

 

[RockyLockridge]

i dunno was JDS new mma meta?

 

[Söze Aldo]

I kinda get what you are trying to say but one of your examples (Topuria) is literally a “wrestler who fell in love with striking” and a great example of that

JDM however, is probably a striker that trained his grappling to be the way it is, he may fit your narrative better

It's more the brawler aspect is what I emphasize. Ilia is indeed very unique a fighter, to come up through grappling but became maybe the best pure boxer we've seen in the UFC. His offense is mostly striking. JDM, even if he didn't have as good TDD as he does, would still be notable based on his very good boxing. MMA strikers have primarily been somewhat KB based style, where the focus was more on the weapons you have and how hard you can use them than on pure boxing.

 

[don't ask]

I’d have to be real hard up to want to run into Brett Roger’s at a urinal though

You'd want to run into him even less at a library.

 

[Bowel-forged Stool]

You'd want to run into him even less at a library.

Oh lord. I believe you.

 

[Only Here for Attachments]

Hopefully! I'm tired of all these stall-grapplers that hipsters pretend are exciting.

 

[TheMaster]

You mean a wreslter with hands?

No, this is not new

Thats the best type of fighter imo

The wrestler who falls in love with his fists. They hard to TD and use it to knock your block off

Chocolate AL was very good at this

While this is good in theory and sometimes comes true, the reality is most wrestlers dont like to get hit. Its the anathema of their sport which is based on holding and hugging. Some may adapt well to striking but many never do including those who have high sucess in MMA. Look at a guy like Lesnar even, he literally turned and ran when he got hit with some punches from Carwin, likewise Overeem battered him with kicks.

High level strikers who develop takedown defence is the other way this style works like Cro cop.

 

[Pancake Sprawl]

JDS, Igor Vovchanchyn, and Prime Arlovski were prototypes of this style. force wrestlers to stand and destroy them on the feet with punches. Ngannou also fits this style and Rumble also. i think it's a very effective style as long as their opponents are trying to guess what they're going to do. and not the other way around. if they have to guess whether you're going to takedown or strike and your entries look the same, what happened to Alex vs Ankalaev is what happens. they get stuck trying to figure out if you're going to strike or grapple and while they're trying to figure that out the other guy is just going to town. it's a mind game more than a physical game that breaks their style down.

i do think when they're in their rhythm though, they're very hard to beat.

 

[Slapjit]

Haanji buddy my good friend Paddymally he have strong training partner no defeat 29-0 all with KO only he defend TD and throw powerful close-hand thappad

 

[Dr. Rose]

While this is good in theory and sometimes comes true, the reality is most wrestlers dont like to get hit. Its the anathema of their sport which is based on holding and hugging. Some may adapt well to striking but many never do including those who have high sucess in MMA. Look at a guy like Lesnar even, he literally turned and ran when he got hit with some punches from Carwin, likewise Overeem battered him with kicks.

High level strikers who develop takedown defence is the other way this style works like Cro cop.

GSP, after the mostly karate striking, during the middle stages before he became wrestle-heavy as champion.

 

[Cameron]

Fights are won and lost on the ground.

If you have good tdd and then can take advantage with the hands standing you will win.

But you have to have skills on the mat.

Far to many get exposed once you put them on their back.

 

[DoctorTaco]

guys who can brawl with their hands and then utilize tdd, like sprawling for example. In conjunction they manage to both brawl and then sprawl…

 

[ocfightfan]

The wrestle-boxer has been a thing for awhile.

 

[Black Blood]

Nah. Good hands + good takedown defense has always, always been a winning combo. Always.