- Joined
- Dec 24, 2010
- Messages
- 36,793
- Reaction score
- 9,754
"Brawlers" are getting better at adding striking tactics to their game to make them truly effective. The days of the Chris Leben type brawler is really over.
And it depends on the fighters intent and style. A fighter like Wanderlei's game has always revolved around intensity and he had the physical tools to make it work. In that case, yes, it was worth it.
Now someone like Cro Cop would have done himself many disservices fighting as a brawlers, his style never really fit that bill.
Brawling is an easy way to excitement, but only people who know how to brawl well (like Wanderlei or Matt Brown) are the ones who capture the fans interest. Brawling well is an art in itself.
Good post and Wanderlei and Matt Brown are good examples of skilled brawlers. For some reason people have this idea that brawlers lack technique when the best brawlers generally have good technique it's just different and tends to use more uppercuts/hooks as well as the clinch instead of low kicks or straights.
Jack Slack's article on The Tactical decline of Wanderlei Silva is a great piece that shows how Wanderlei used to be a much more technical brawler like Matt Brown currently is.
http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2012/6/1...ranklin-Vitor-Belfort-judo-chop-mma-technique