is it better to be well rounded or specialised in one aspect of mma?

[lowsingle]

you need to be better at 2/3 of the holy trinity

striking-takedowns-ground fighting

if you have striking and groundfighting though, you better be able to sub him from guard

 

[Terror Zone]

I think what Nova Uniao are doing is pretty much perfect, taking BJJ based fighters and turning them into Muay Thai wrecking machines with killer TDD. Aldo himself recommended doing it the way he did, starting off with BJJ and then picking up Muay Thai later.

 

[Lito Lapida]

perfect tdd and perfect striking!

 

[PH Nak Muay]

I think what Nova Uniao are doing is pretty much perfect, taking BJJ based fighters and turning them into Muay Thai wrecking machines with killer TDD. Aldo himself recommended doing it the way he did, starting off with BJJ and then picking up Muay Thai later.

sounds really good. 'most' aspiring fighters however, almost always train in striking first

 

[MCS]

a better starting point is to be well-rounded since the learning curve to mix disciplines together is shorter than when coming in as a single-discipline fighter who has to not only learn other areas, but also learn to put them together.

 

[Mistabutts]

i think an alternative way to look at this question is to use the ufc champs as a reference.

ufc champs share common characteristics and traits:

1. ufc champs begin their mma careers already having a specific skill that they excel at such as an olympic medal in judo, black belt in bjj, ncaa division one wrestler, etc.

2. ufc champs have extensive competition experience before beginning their mma careers.

3. ufc champs continuously improve by adding more skills to their mma fighting capabilities.

this approach may not be suitable for all, but i would at the very least, take it into consideration.

Please don't compare an olympic medal in Judo to getting your BJJ blackbelt.

 

[MCS]

Please don't compare an olympic medal in Judo to getting your BJJ blackbelt.

that's, sadly, common. Everyone's used to seeing old Hendo & Randy get taken down, but when fresher Olympians like DC and Rousey enter MMA, the difference in skill in that area is unbelievable.

 

[FeloniousMonk]

I think what Nova Uniao are doing is pretty much perfect, taking BJJ based fighters and turning them into Muay Thai wrecking machines with killer TDD. Aldo himself recommended doing it the way he did, starting off with BJJ and then picking up Muay Thai later.

I agree wholeheartedly. They found what works for them. But conversely, I have been enjoying the fighters who are strong wrestlers that arent afraid to showcase their BJJ. Alpha Male dudes, Gastelum.

I guess it's because I've kind of disliked wrestlers the most of all when I first started watching MMA. But now that there are wrestlers who are becoming more opportunistic and willing to step out of their comfort zone. It's a dangerous combination.

It's fun to consider this juxtaposition in the example of
Alpha Male vs Nova Uniao

Maybe I should make a thread analyzing this...
Maybe if it wasn't 2am...

 

[immy92]

I think what Nova Uniao are doing is pretty much perfect, taking BJJ based fighters and turning them into Muay Thai wrecking machines with killer TDD. Aldo himself recommended doing it the way he did, starting off with BJJ and then picking up Muay Thai later.

cant really disagree with that

 

[Wariowokecancel]

i think an alternative way to look at this question is to use the ufc champs as a reference.

ufc champs share common characteristics and traits:

1. ufc champs begin their mma careers already having a specific skill that they excel at such as an olympic medal in judo, black belt in bjj, ncaa division one wrestler, etc.

2. ufc champs have extensive competition experience before beginning their mma careers.

3. ufc champs continuously improve by adding more skills to their mma fighting capabilities.

this approach may not be suitable for all, but i would at the very least, take it into consideration.

GSP:
1) nope, well-rounded

2) nope, bouncer

3) yes

 

[Wariowokecancel]

is it better to be ok in every aspect off mma like the so called new breed, or be great in one aspect and pick up what you can then take it from there like a lot of the older fighters that have been in the game for a while

How is this a question?

If you aren't well-rounded, you're gonna get raped.

Only exception are wrestlers but once they get to the top 10, they're going to be fucked up by people with TDD and striking.

 

[Ozymandias]

Better to be well rounded but you should have some kind of foundation to ease the transition towards other aspects of MMA.

 

[thomm030]

Is it called MA or MMA? Exactly.

 

[ElPrimero]

Well rounded with a focus in something. ppl who are inly good at 1 thing will be successful until 1 perso. Figures you out. then the blue print is layed out for you. do not come in as a wrestler and turn striker like kos. But dnt be a 1 trick pony like Maia.

Shogun is the best example of well rounded with a focus. Shogun was primarily a striker and used the Thai clinch alot. But ppl like nog, overeem, diabate would not let him just Thai clinch efficiently or they were outstriking him. SHOGUN tool these fools down to win and ppl forget that. That technical bs originated after the machines fight.

Examples
Aldo: Muay Thai specialist but well round everywhere else
Cain: wrestler but well rounded everywhere else that we know of
Nog bros
New Hendo
Vitor
Anderson
Faber
Etc

 

[monster zero]

Why don't you ask Andy Wang or GSP.

 

[MushroomWizard]

is it better to be ok in every aspect off mma like the so called new breed, or be great in one aspect and pick up what you can then take it from there like a lot of the older fighters that have been in the game for a while

Everyone who people suggest / think is "well rounded" has a black belt in jiu jitsu. So take that with a grain of salt.

GSP who many credit as being the most "well rounded" is actually a grappler. Despite Karate headbands he is a jiu jitsu fighter who focused on wrestling after encountering resistance from Matt Hughes.

Anderson Silva, who might appear as a one dimensional striker, is a black belt who submitted many opponents on the ground.

Get good at one thing first, then get good at everything.

 

[Yolandabecool**]

The best fighters will always have one seriously dominant strength. To quote Bruce Lee:

 

[Fantomas187]

The best fighters will always have one seriously dominant strength. To quote Bruce Lee:

 

[Xavier85]

Why don't you ask Andy Wang or GSP.

Dude, what's with your Andy Wang spamming on every thread?

On topic: As others have said, being proficient in one aspect and branching out to the other important ones is the way to go like most of the UFC champions have.

 

[The Crocodile]

I think its good to be great at one martial arts but learn the others as well .. as Bruce Lee said ..

" I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times." ~ Bruce Lee