Is really long arms the new build in MMA?

[superpunch]

We didn't used to get these guys too much but i don't like where it's going. You're getting guys that have the reach of guys 6-10" taller than them. Max Holloway -- Aldo was only 2" shorter but just could not compete in there. His range was that of a guy a foot shorter, not 2" shorter.

Tony Ferguson has a 6'5" man's reach. Jon Jones over 7 feet. Even at HW, you have Ngannou. These guys aren't built like regular people even at the regular people weight classes.

The regular guys are being forced out of the sport's elite levels; not even cutting weight can allow the regular armed man to compete.

 

[Blanqa Blanqua]

Yes.

 

[FacePunch]

No.

 

[Myrddin Wild]

It really does look like that is a crazy advantage with the amount of people who have done very well with that in their arsenal.

 

[myjohnson9]

Mark hunt is still in the top 5, that flaws your logic

 

[calisoul]

Hot prospect from asia!

 

[calisoul]

 

[Tweak896]

If you can keep on the feet yes, long arms are everything. Short stocky builds were more prominent when mma was less wrestling aware or educated.

 

[beephin]

Lobov vs. Sherk for the Undisputed T-Rex arms World Championship

 

[Pancake Sprawl]

We didn't used to get these guys too much but i don't like where it's going. You're getting guys that have the reach of guys 6-10" taller than them. Max Holloway -- Aldo was only 2" shorter but just could not compete in there. His range was that of a guy a foot shorter, not 2" shorter.

Tony Ferguson has a 6'5" man's reach. Jon Jones over 7 feet. Even at HW, you have Ngannou. These guys aren't built like regular people even at the regular people weight classes.

The regular guys are being forced out of the sport's elite levels; not even cutting weight can allow the regular armed man to compete.

Schilt didn't do so well in MMA and 1 of his losses came because he was a giant. against Kharitonov his arms were so long that Sergei could pin one of his arms down by kneeling on his bicep, and just hold his other arm and hammerfisted him in the face until the fight was over.

he could literally do nothing because of how big he was. he couldn't buck Sergei because Sergei was so high up on his body his hips couldn't generate any lift, and his arms were so long that he couldn't generate any momentum to free himself.

 

[Stranger Come Knocking]

Knuckledraggers are the future of mma

 

[FlowchartRog]

Your Holloway example is terrible. Aldo has a 1 inch reach advantage over Max. Max does not have long arms for his height, he is actually one of the few elite fighters that has reach shorter than his height (5'9 reach). He's just bigger and better than Aldo, and importantly - a much better boxer.

 

[WaylonMercy5150]

Erik Silva is the future of MMA

 

[giantveggie]

If Roy fought Conor, Conor would have a 2" reach advantage.
When you look into it, it's all over the place with reach.

Jones has big reach, bigger than Ngannou. Ngannou is not very special on reach. Jones reach is the same as Struve.

 

[Polish Punisher]

Its always been the build of fighters, the guys with short limbs have to utilize footwork, head movement and have a major speed advantage ala young Tyson. But even in boxing he is a rare species.

MMA like boxing and Kickboxing is about hitting without being hit.

The greatest K1 fighter of all time was Semmy Schilt and he was also the least skilled of all the fighters that would be mentioned in a best of all time(Schilt, Aerts, Hoost). But he was 7 feet tall and could kick his opponents from across the ring and keep them on the end of his punches while breaking them down with kicks.

No this does not mean guys without a reach advantage cannot be champs, it means they have to be that much better than the fighters who have it.

 

[MiroHa]

Both GSP and Silva had almost always a decent reach advantage and it was being discussed back then.

 

[Polish Punisher]

If Roy fought Conor, Conor would have a 2" reach advantage.
When you look into it, it's all over the place with reach.

Jones has big reach, bigger than Ngannou. Ngannou is not very special on reach. Jones reach is the same as Struve.

Really? Not very special? He has the biggest reach in the entire HW division save for Struve and he possesses it while being several inches shorter and as a result packs insane power into those arms.

Longest reach at HW right now: Struve 84.5", Ngannou 83", Miocic, 80", Overeem 80" 3 of these fighters have fought for the belt at HW, 1 has beaten the current champ and 1 has a good chance of becoming the new champ.

 

[Kowboy On Sherdog]

Helps if you use them. Jab Jab Jab. But most with a reach advantage want to fight on the inside. SMH

 

[Polish Punisher]

Schilt didn't do so well in MMA and 1 of his losses came because he was a giant. against Kharitonov his arms were so long that Sergei could pin one of his arms down by kneeling on his bicep, and just hold his other arm and hammerfisted him in the face until the fight was over.

he could literally do nothing because of how big he was. he couldn't buck Sergei because Sergei was so high up on his body his hips couldn't generate any lift, and his arms were so long that he couldn't generate any momentum to free himself.

Schilt couldn't wrestle his way out of a paper bag. Being 7 ft tall is a major hindrance to take down defense. The day may come when an athletic 7 footer decides not to pursue basketball and trains grappling from a young age while actually possessing the talent for it.

Struve is shitty striker version of Schilt with ok BJJ but vs high level compo he either gets KO'd on the feet due to being too slow to react or gets beat on the ground by stronger HW's with good top control.

 

[Polish Punisher]

Mark hunt is still in the top 5, that flaws your logic

He has other attributes that make up for it, he hits as hard as anyone in the sport, has one of the all time GOAT chins. He has also lost brutally via striking to both Miocic and JDS who were taller, with longer arms and could bring equally solid boxing to the fight.