You are merely reinforcing my point.There -- corrected it. You're welcome.
Evolution of any sport is more hype than reality.
Hype and rule changes have you believing the opposite of what has actually happened... athletes have not evolved, sports have evolved into, er, sports.
Believe it or not, because of the changes in the rules, the backyard past time is now actually a sport. What a deterioration.
What a waste.
I agree with most of what you posted but feel the rules and exploitation of them is what has stimied the evolution.
That is my point...the rules have slowed the evolution of the fight game and have sped the evolution of the sport.
Could they under the old rules? Again, what we see are fighters who know and train on how to game the rules. From weight cuts to rounds, when you leave nothing to hide behind, the fighters are exposed.
Training and talent would still not make Johnson, jones or McGregor step into an open weight competition. 90% of today's UFC roster doesn't even risk it.
Rogan called it "complete and total domination" ...the less than 5 minutes it took for Matt Hughes (170 lbs) to destroy Royce. Shamrock (212 lbs) couldn't do anything with Royce on either occasion, and Dan Severn (253 lbs) didn't know how to pass guard. What does this prove? Nothing...I just like posting the video of the cocky Royce getting smashed. Flame on.
<Lmaoo>
Yes it may have done so overall because it's evolution is more sport related. But I'm sure there are people that will evolve it past the sports restrictions. I train moves that are illegal in sports because I'm a martial artists that wants a system/style that can also work in street situations, like martial arts was originally created for. I understand both the street application and sport application. There are others like me as well so evolution past the sport setting will still happen.
There was also a time limit... You forgot to include the image of the "clock".
Why would I be trolling?
They were great at fighting but not so great at the "sport". You hear the term "didn't evolve" but say that to them in real life and you'd be in trouble...in a ring, maybe not so much.
This is true.
I agree, but what does that have to do with any of my points (that you didn't answer)?
In regards to your points, my post covered those. You are correct in saying the "sport" has evolved, as that was my original point. If Usman, Khabib and Miocic are representative of the pinnacles of the sport, have the fighters really evolved as fighters? The simple answer is no.
I think young-ish fans that only remember (live) Royce getting crushed by Hughes don't give Royce, or his jj, the credit they deserve. Severn and Kimo were BIG boys, and Royce did what was necessary to get the W.
Sorry, but EVERY mma fighter, with only a few exceptions, has a WAY bigger arsenal than they would have 15, 20 years ago. There's simply more cross-training and exposure to more effective techniques. My own experience reflects this as well. I think fairly objectively that the simple answer would be "yes". I also think using Stipe and Usman, who are fairly basic wrestler wrestler/boxers, isn't representative of the changes and "new breeds" of fighters that are out there right now.
Agree with most of what you've stated but I think there are just more people into MMA than there were back then and not that MMA has evolved. Just a thought, if the rules were thrown out, don't you think this would fall back into BJJ domination? Remember, many of the rule changes have been geared towards leveling the playing field
Much of that has to do with the rules being geared towards action-packed fights.
