The blueprint is still same:
- Have an extensive background in wrestling
- Learn sub skills along the way
- Have superb cardio
- Learn enough striking to defend yourself standing while learning to how use your striking to get the fight to the mat
Everyone talks about how the game has changed and evolved. Maybe. Maybe not. I think Hughes was ahead of the curb because he was with MFS with a real team and real coaches with extensive cross training in disciplines but now that's the standard.
I think the overall talent pool has evolved where before you might have a accomplished kickboxer at 26 start to learn the ground game so they could compete in mma now you have a 16 year old who's been wrestling for 4 year now would want to learn every aspect of fighting before he even started competing.
But it seems to the guys at the top the blueprint hasn't changed.
Hell Khabib falls into the same category. Mastered grappling then learned enough striking to complement it while having great cardio.
What does Sherdog think? Has the blueprint changed?