Elite kickboxers/Muay Thai fighters in UFC

[Luffy]

If taking the best kickboxers and putting them into UFC, with proper training do you think the trend is that they'd be very dominant like Adesanya was and Poatan is? Adesanya, although he lost his sharpens in the reflexes and endurance, was one if not the best middleweights, of all time... Poatan is in the conversation of the best fighters pfp and among the overall strongest ones, like, "would beat any UFC fighter" category as well...

Do you think that elite kickboxers would tend to be also that dominant with the proper MMA adaptation or Poatan and Izzy are a special case in that, their striking may be even better equiped for MMA fights, which other kickboxers may not be, like, it's beyond the ability to get a good enough ground game to be confident in their TD defense, but also, a special case of the striking also needing to be way better adapted to MMA style striking?

 

[Doctor Grudge]

Poatan and Adesanya trained in MMA on the side for a long time, which is why their transitions were more successful than other well known kickboxers.

Over the decades many kickboxers just jumped in MMA for an easy pay check without any serious training. Those that tried a career switch still jumped into too tough competition relative to how little they've trained. If you noticed, Poatan's first fight is a loss via submission.

 

[MigitAs]

I think many kick-boxers could’ve adopted Crocop’s defensive-wrestling strategy to keep fights on the feet and have success like he did.

 

[Get To Da Choppa]

If taking the best kickboxers and putting them into UFC, with proper training do you think the trend is that they'd be very dominant like Adesanya was and Poatan is? Adesanya, although he lost his sharpens in the reflexes and endurance, was one if not the best middleweights, of all time... Poatan is in the conversation of the best fighters pfp and among the overall strongest ones, like, "would beat any UFC fighter" category as well...

Do you think that elite kickboxers would tend to be also that dominant with the proper MMA adaptation or Poatan and Izzy are a special case in that, their striking may be even better equiped for MMA fights, which other kickboxers may not be, like, it's beyond the ability to get a good enough ground game to be confident in their TD defense, but also, a special case of the striking also needing to be way better adapted to MMA style striking?

Adesanya and Poatan are special. Most of them can't adapt their striking style to the small gloves and grappling of MMA

Also Bangkok Ready >>>K1

 

[wolffanghameha]

To some extent I think Poatan and Izzy were special cases, because they didn't rely on the gloves to block as much as some kickboxers do, so they needed less adjustments. Poatan utilises head movement in the pocket and keeps his hands low. Izzy fights with his hands low and relies on leaning back and footwork a lot for defence. So both don't lose as much defensively when using smaller gloves and Izzy's rangey style is well-suited to a big ring without corners.
IIRC Doumbe's KB style used quite a lot of non-glove defence (head movement, footwork) which again made him suited to an MMA transition, but it's been a while since I watched him.

But I think other kickboxers could do it too, they'd just need more time to adjust their striking for MMA and some might struggle to mesh with the needed changes. I think the 4oz MT of ONE is a good transition point for KB/MT fighters on the way to MMA from a sports perspective, but ONE pays enough to MT/KBers that they don't need to transition.
There are other pure MT fighters who came to MMA and did well, like Fiziev and Valentina. They also did wrestling, sambo or judo when they were younger, which could have made the transition smoother. From what I've watched, Fiziev's style was just a normal MT style, so he had to make adjustments to it for MMA, which he's mentioned before.

I think if the Thais had a good reason to transition (they don't, because they make enough money from MT and holding MMA events is mostly illegal in Thailand since 2012), they could do it with a few years of good MMA training. They'd have to change their style somewhat and learn grappling. I know Stamp Fairtex has done it in ONE, but I haven't watched her much to say if her MT (non-4oz) style was suited to MMA or how big of a difference there is in how she strikes, her stance and footwork in MT compared to in MMA.

 

[TriangleMonkey]

I say, from experience

Kickboxers that decide to cross-over should focus on defensive wrestling, instead of belting up in BJJ like the majority decide to do

I mean, learning sub and sub-defenses to all the “high-percentile” moves is a must, but learning wrestling would be more beneficial than learning guard routines

 

[Gabe]

Alex and Izzy are special. Gokhan Saki got flattened and Diniz just lost. Almeida lost to Kopylov recently too.

 

[Kowboy On Sherdog]

Rodtang , Superlek... the top tier would be elite in MMA.... But knowing the UFC. They'd fight nothing but crotch sniffers.

 

[NoSmilez]

Kickboxing is sort of a dirty sport. Lots of guys will deflate if they transition into MMA. It's also hard to pick up wrestling as an adult.

205 is probably the best weight class for kickboxers. Nobody really wrestles in that division. They also fight for cheap. The promotion can randomly sign 10 kickboxers and if one or two makes it then it's a success for them.

 

[Only Here for Attachments]

Poatan's success as a kickboxer ruffled so many feathers here, just imagine if a ton of them came over and had similar success

 

[joy2day]

For sure they could if they were willing to put in the effort. Those that have tried and failed mostly didn't try very hard.

Some would surely do better than others, as some take to grappling and adapt their striking in a more proficient way. Izzy and Alex are probably above average, but there are likely guys that would do better in kickboxing/Muy Thai.

CC had a natural ability to avoid TDs and nullify opponents in the guard (see Fedor fight) with his exceptionally strong hips and legs, similar to Chuck only without the wrestling background; he learned it training MMA.

I've heard that a lot of times, especially with these Muy Thai guys, their ego doesn't allow them to be taught something new, so that could be a part of why there aren't more.

A large portion of UFC fighters mostly strike, so strikers could fair well with some grappling training in the UFC.

We know it's a mixed bag with wrestlers; even at the highest level some can't seem to get good at MMA while others can; it would surely be the same with kickboxers. Some would just transition better.

 

[agibmxmma]

Malaipet was the one who I'm surprised even tried to fight MMA.. But one of my favorite Thai Boxers.

 

[Ares Black]

Poatan's success as a kickboxer ruffled so many feathers here, just imagine if a ton of them came over and had similar success

They are welcome to try any time

 

[BowserJr]

I think many kick-boxers could’ve adopted Crocop’s defensive-wrestling strategy to keep fights on the feet and have success like he did.

Fortunately for guys like Poatan and Izzy they don't even need that level of tdd.

Crocop would destroy everyone in today's UFC.

Early ots and early 2010s was full of grapplers at HW and LHW

 

[BowserJr]

If taking the best kickboxers and putting them into UFC, with proper training do you think the trend is that they'd be very dominant like Adesanya was and Poatan is? Adesanya, although he lost his sharpens in the reflexes and endurance, was one if not the best middleweights, of all time... Poatan is in the conversation of the best fighters pfp and among the overall strongest ones, like, "would beat any UFC fighter" category as well...

Do you think that elite kickboxers would tend to be also that dominant with the proper MMA adaptation or Poatan and Izzy are a special case in that, their striking may be even better equiped for MMA fights, which other kickboxers may not be, like, it's beyond the ability to get a good enough ground game to be confident in their TD defense, but also, a special case of the striking also needing to be way better adapted to MMA style striking?

Today yes. Especially at heavier classes. 185 and up.

There are hardly any good grapplers in those 3 divisions. Plus 1 hit from a power puncher and those weights and it's lights out.

In the lighter weights the ko power isn't there and there are far more grapplers

 

[BowserJr]

For sure they could if they were willing to put in the effort. Those that have tried and failed mostly didn't try very hard.

Some would surely do better than others, as some take to grappling and adapt their striking in a more proficient way. Izzy and Alex are probably above average, but there are likely guys that would do better in kickboxing/Muy Thai.

CC had a natural ability to avoid TDs and nullify opponents in the guard (see Fedor fight) with his exceptionally strong hips and legs, similar to Chuck only without the wrestling background; he learned it training MMA.

I've heard that a lot of times, especially with these Muy Thai guys, their ego doesn't allow them to be taught something new, so that could be a part of why there aren't more.

A large portion of UFC fighters mostly strike, so strikers could fair well with some grappling training in the UFC.

We know it's a mixed bag with wrestlers; even at the highest level some can't seem to get good at MMA while others can; it would surely be the same with kickboxers. Some would just transition better.

Mixed bag but 185 and higher is perfect for any heavy hitting boxer or kickboxer to reign supreme. There are no high level takedown artists there.

170 and below has far more wrestlers and 1 shot ko is not as common so any boxer or kickboxer will get taken down eventually even in a 3 rounder and then subbed

 

[joy2day]

170 and below has far more wrestlers and 1 shot ko is not as common so any boxer or kickboxer will get taken down eventually even in a 3 rounder and then subbed

Not if they have the skills to avoid that. Acting like that's an inevitability runs contrary to the way fights have historically gone, including recent history. Have you looked through recent champions and top fighters and those who have held titles?

 

[Sean Chowdhury]

carlos prates has a great muay thai style if we're talking about modern fighters