Is it better be exceptional in fact a master in one aspect of MMA or very good in all aspects of MMA?

[CasualBot]

"Exceptional in fact a master"

IS IT BETTER BE EXCEPTIONAL IN ONE ASPECT OF MMA OR VERY GOOD IN ALL ASPECTS OF MMA?​

• It's better to be exceptional in fact a master in one aspect of MMA.
• It's better if you're very good in all aspects of MMA.

 

[Fedora Millionankles]

This is clearly a serious topic for you.

GSP
Frankie Edgar
Cain Velasquez
Mighty Mouse
DC
RDA

Lesser examples.
Rory MacDonald
Gegard Mousasi
Genki Sudo
Chris Lytle

None you listed were exceptional at everything. Some were at 1 thing, others maybe 2, but not everything.

Maybe we define exceptional differently.

 

[TeenageMutantLesnarTurtle]

It depends on the fighter to a large extent, does the master gameplan properly and is he able to force people to fight to his strengths? how much of a deficit does he have vs his opponents in other areas? etc etc. If you're 10/10 in one area and 5/10 in other areas you may well beat a guy who is 8/10 everywhere. But if you're super one dimensional and dont fight smart you'll probably lose.

 

[moreorless87]

I would say its a better starting point for MMA to have exceptional skill in one area than to be well rounded but you obviously tend to need to at least round out the rest of your skills.

I think its noteble that "MMA from day one" style fighters which people like Rogan were telling us would take over the sport for the last 15 years never have.

 

[Levi_]

It's best to be like the most complete martial artist in the world- GSP.

 

[JakePaulMMA]

I'm of the opinion that one can be exceptional in all areas. It's just a matter of putting the time in but that doesn't mean it will translate to automatic success.

Be Jon Jones.

 

[VinceArch]

Maybe we define exceptional differently.

 

[VinceArch]

Be Jon Jones.

Just have a supply of cocaine and steroids as well.

 

[Private Whatley]

So who was this mythical fighter that is exceptional in all areas?

Islam, Jones and actually Topuria seem to be exceptional in all areas.

 

[Fedora Millionankles]

Islam, Jones and actually Topuria seem to be exceptional in all areas.

I wouldn’t call Islam an exceptional Striker and I wouldn’t say Top is an exceptional grappler. Very good, yes, but not the exception.
Jones may be close, but an exceptional striker doesnt go to close decisions against Gus, Reyes, and Santos in a stand up battle.

 

[Van Daz]

What do you guys think of this?

You pick what aspect of MMA you are a master at. And if you are a master at one aspect, you are just above average when it comes to other aspects of the game.

I'm leaning towards very good in all aspects.

Just to clarify it through numbers.

10 - Master
9 - Excellent
8 - Very Good
7 - Good
6 - Above Average
5 - Average
4 - Below Average

I just think of James Toney vs Randy. James was a world class boxer, but that's about all he brought to the fight, so Randy easily won.

 

[arcadeperfect]

The well rounded specialist is the best. Obviously you need to be well rounded so you can defend attacks from all styles, but you want to have that one area that you can absolutely rely on. People often confuse specialists with being one dimensional. Not every specialist is a Ben Askren or Ryan Hall type of fighter.

 

[NicholasJBasile]

What do you guys think of this?

You pick what aspect of MMA you are a master at. And if you are a master at one aspect, you are just above average when it comes to other aspects of the game.

I'm leaning towards very good in all aspects.

Just to clarify it through numbers.

10 - Master
9 - Excellent
8 - Very Good
7 - Good
6 - Above Average
5 - Average
4 - Below Average

The meta is constantly changing. These days, I tend to think fighters with a particular strength with well-rounded support skills have been succeeding the most. Topuria tends to win all of his fights by using his boxing alone even though he has phenomenal ground skills that may even equal his striking. Strickland sports a good ground game but he too wins his fights more or less with his boxing.

However, my previous points are not consistent everywhere; Bones and DDP tend to mix things up quite equally. Aspinall seems to use his clean boxing to win a lot of fights but he does have multiple submissions under his belt in the UFC...

Then we have guys with great skills in one particular area that go pretty far but ultimately can't get over the hump. Bryce Mitchell is a top 10 featherweight, but his lack of striking to supplement his ground game has lead to a KO and submission loss over the past year. Wonder Boy has phenomenal striking, but folks have found recently that if you implement a wrestling-based gameplan, he isn't the toughest nut to crack.. Demian Maia came up short in his best days because he never developed the striking to set up takedowns against solid wrestlers, Being a master at one skill unfortunately just isn't quite enough; the complementary skills just have to be there in order to consistently win and stay at the top it seems.

TLDR: I have no fucking idea

 

[SirRealKiller]

I think you have to be exceptional at one thing and very good at everything. Like you can be an exceptional striker but if you can't stop takedowns or subs then you're going to be limited. But if you're just "good" at everything you end up being a guy that grinds out a mid level career. Almost all the greats have one thing they're known for but most of them are well rounded enough to not be totally dependent on that one thing.

 

[SkinnyClaw]

I think it highly depends on your attributes, like chin, toughness, cardio, explosiveness, physical build etc, for example if you have 2 guys who are both 10/10 BJJ players, depending on all those factors one of them could have loads of success in MMA and the other might be getting pieced up or stuffed by everyone, even if their BJJ skill is equal. If Ryan Hall for example had a strong fast twitch body with good cardio and a solid chin, he could take that goofy style a lot further. I think if you specialize in one thing, the importance of everything else gets magnified, because it's going to have to carry you

 

[Private Whatley]

I wouldn’t call Islam an exceptional Striker and I wouldn’t say Top is an exceptional grappler. Very good, yes, but not the exception.
Jones may be close, but an exceptional striker doesnt go to close decisions against Gus, Reyes, and Santos in a stand up battle.

Topuria thrashed Volk, subbed Bryce Mitchell and smashed Ryan Hall on the mat. No, he’s not Gordon Ryan or Garry Tonon on the ground but he’s pretty damn good.

Islam’s striking has looked pretty formidable in his last two outings but let’s see how he looks in his next defense.

I’d say Jones has proven himself to be pretty stellar in all areas of combat.

 

[ILove4MinutesHyuna]

Lot of intangibles that you dont just get from mastering an art. Cardio, strength, chin, heart, adaptiveness, killer instinct, mental fortitude.

The only two undefeated fighters we ever had in UFC (Jones and Khabib) show you that both can work; mastery or overall ability as long as you have all those intangibles to go with it.

 

[linvillegorge]

You have to be well rounded to at least competence in all levels to compete at the top of the division in modern MMA, but you have to be elite at something. Elite striking, elite grappling, elite cardio and pace. You gotta be great somewhere if you want to compete for championships.

 

[eiyuu]

Master one thing and be proficient everywhere else.

The trend lately has been just generic MMA fighters, not Kickboxer who crosstrained or BBJ Black Belt who crosstrained or wrestler who crosstrained, etc.

And the sport has suffered because of it.

 

[ThePimblettEra]

Cardio & toughness will beat most specialists imo, most of the time.

Edit: until you reach the upper echelons, obviously.