Is MMA as evolved as many think?

[TeenageMutantLesnarTurtle]

I dont think the elites are necessarily much better now than they were in the 00s. but the second, third, fourth tier guys definitely are.

 

[PicoPulse]

Settle down guy who posts too much.

You have more than I sir
oh great silver belt

 

[laleggenda27]

I'd say MMA's evolution over the last 15 years is primarily in the depth of talent, not necessarily is the skills of the elite fighters. Sure, a few new techniques have made an impact in recent years, but the best fighters from the mid-2000s would be just as successful now. Prime Anderson was better than Izzy. Prime BJ beats Oliveira. Prime GSP would probably be favored over Usman. Prime Lyoto dances around Glover. Etc.

 

[wildchild88]

At the lower weight classes, definitely..

From MW upwards, the skill level is around the same or worse.

 

[drbolony]

You have more than I sir
oh great silver belt

In how much time though? Oh no life life knight.

 

[PicoPulse]

In how much time though? Oh no life life knight.

Stop using me to get your posts up its a buch of bolony

 

[DizzyYeahYeah]

The sport has evolved through rule changes, training, coaching, higher participation in the sport and PEDs.

Fighters are much more well rounded, due to the advancement of training, coaching, PEDs and the increased number of participants in the sport which leads to a high level of competition. That's why WMMA is still pretty bad because there isn't enough participants to create defined separations in skill level (like champions, elite, gate keeper, prelim fighter, regional fighter, can, taxi driver, etc). Regional WMMA fighters fight for world titles in big promotions. That doesn't happen in the mens divisions. Obviously some fighters aren't well rounded and rely on their specialities but the top guys try to be elite at everything.

All the GOATS were elite fighters because of how well rounded they were and they would be elite in any era. Mindset and experience are pretty big aspects of being elite as well.

Fighters can only evolve if humans evolve. Which, I haven't seen any examples of human evolution in the last 30 years.

tldr; there are more elite fighters in MMA because there are more fighters in general.

 

[thobra]

MMa has sure evolved from 95 to 2005, but the last 15 years, it hasn't evloved much. If anything it has probably regressed because of USADA. But we do have more fighters now.
We still have a lot of one dimensional fighters at the top, and even some of them have recently been or are dominant champs.

I still see guys like Fedor, Anderson, GSP, BJ being at the top in todays division. The UFC are just great at promoting and matchmaking now, and a lot of younger fans are buying it. This overvaluation of the current fighters will happen again and again the next years. It is the UFCs job to make us believe..

 

[MCS]

A big jump in the evolution was in early 00's when fighters started to become well-rounded. Every generation has a pool of top talent. If they're taught tools to become well-rounded the talent makes them such. Like with Penn and GSP almost 20 years ago. Or Aldo, a bit later. They can strike with anyone, defend takedowns, take opponents down and outgrapple most they face. As they can do all that they become a problem for top fighters of newer generations.

There are more fighters today, so the low and mid levels are better. But the very top level is tough to reach. It takes more than rock, paper, scissors.

 

[Koro]

Well, it's MIXED martial arts, and I think they are getting better and better at mixing styles, especially this new wave of Muslim Russian and Africans. The sport is fresh.