I don't recall seeing them as widely used as part of the arsenal. Struve was utilizing this move as one utilizes a jab, regularly mixing it into his attacks last night. Was this always as pervasive, or did Conor introduce a new wrinkle to the game in his bout with Mendes? We often see a fighter showcase a new move to then see it proliferate throughout MMA (e.g. Anderson front kick). Is this Conor's first contribution?
I don't think I've ever seen a fighter actually kick another fighter in the stomach before Conor did. Usually it was all head hunting like Anderson/Vitor. Conor is introducing new things to the game and other fighters are taking note of his success.
Conor didn't introduce anything new. Cerrone dropped Jim Miller with a front snap kick to the liver. Rory was using the same snap kick to the gut in the first and second round against Robbie. Nothing Conor does is really new, he just knows how to put it all together. He understands proper distancing, when to use it, and how to effectively use it. Conor just has a broader understanding of combat and movement.
Is that sarcasm? Machida, Yuri, Kikuno and Kyoji are just a small list of people who use snappy front kicks.
Conor introduced other fighters to the concept of "fighting." Before Conor, they just flayed their arms and legs aimlessly until the other person fell. Conor inaugurated this so-called "technique."
