Grappler learning striking or Striker learning grappling. What's easier?

[K1MMA]

Strikers learning grappling.

Cro cop said the same thing.

 

[ZuffaExecutive]

I think learning the ground would be easier.The problem is ,everyone wants to strike so when a wrestler learns to strike there learning what they want to do.Were as when a striker is learning to grapple there getting handled which there not used to,so there spending 5 days a week striking and 1 day a week grappling.You have to embrace getting your ass whooped.

To explain it better think of a fight if a wrestler is getting lit up on the feet and he dives on a takedown he is were he is now comfortable.Were as the striker is now out of water and its much easier to takedown a striker with 0 wrestling then it is to knock out a wrestler with 0 striking.So you get alot of guys who quit and going back to there comfort zones

 

[MikeMcMann]

Pure grapplers have transitioned into this sport with more success than vice versa.
Even guys who are seen as primarily strikers started their careers from a grappling background. IE: Aldo, JDS, Liddell, Wanderlei, etc

Are you talking total numbers wise or percentage wise?

I think you would be correct on the former but wrong on the latter.

With the number of grapplers who entered the sport compared to strikers the prior is pretty much automatic.

However if you look at how few high level strikers have entered the sport and how many of them have made it to the top levels because they were able to adequately learn grappling/defense I think it shows the strikers have an edge in adapting that aspect more. Mo Smith, Bas, CroCop, etc. Such a small elite group with such high level success.

it would be interesting to see someone really delve into those numbers and compile a list of every high level striker and grappler who entered MMA and what percent transitioned and succeeded. I know there are tons of high level grapplers that could not make it to the top levels far out numbering those who did.

 

[n.diazismylife1999]

Looking at MMA to find out which is easier/harder is a bad idea.

Good strikers tend to stick with their striking art of choice. BJJ and wrestling aren't as big as, say, boxing, so them transitioning to MMA is a lot more common.