Is there elitism among purist fighters/fans?

[Venom]

Is there an elitist attitude among fighters who were decorated stars or competed at a very high level (I'm talking national or international recognition) in other sports/arts before they entered MMA as opposed to guys that sort of started training straight MMA with little to no prior fight experience?

What about the fans? Daniel Cormier, Ben Askren, and Josh Koscheck have outstanding wrestling credentials. Georges St Pierre and Jon Jones have nothing on them on paper. Koscheck even scoffed at the notion that GSP could outwrestle him in the cage. How many fans shared his attitude?

Jose Aldo started off as a BJJ guy but became a great striker. A few fans today still think his striking isn't that great.

Discuss.

 

[Burning Hammer]

Well, Josh Koscheck had literally zero reason to fear GSP's wrestling. GSP was a mediocre wrestler at best before that fight. Guys who are accomplished at something tend to think highly of their work because they've sacrificed a ton to get where they are.

 

[chunglii]

K-1 level striking is no joke bruh

 

[ElCasca]

If someone thinks Aldo's striking ain't great, it means that they don't know shit about MMA

 

[Sgt Smith]

I think having name recognition from other sports might aid in the introduction to MMA. And I'm sure we hold some bias toward their skills if they performed at a high level in a discipline that translates well, just as Kos with GSP. But that shit all goes out the door when they step in the cage and we really gauge where they fall in actual MMA skill. There are advantages to those backgrounds, but they don't always pan out for real.

 

[Arm Barbarian]

Is there elitism among purist fighters/fans?

 

[cumafish]

Tends to make said fighter overconfident, that's all.

 

[Venom]

If someone thinks Aldo's striking ain't great, it means that they don't know shit about MMA

but...but....he gets tagged in the face every fight...

 

[TrainInVain]

GSP no hespect Koscheck's motorboating skills.

 

[charalsias]

Remember how olympic gold medalist Henry Cejudo outwrestled MM?

 

[Hans Gercmiov]

K-1 level striking is no joke bruh

But K-1 level posting takes a lifetime to master.

 

[Source]

Yes they are called mma hipsters, and they are the worst.

 

[LukeSkyRutten]

Ben Askren is just a fuckwit. I don't think he's elitist.

 

[Talon81]

But K-1 level posting takes a lifetime to master.

and yet you managed to do it in a few years. God bless you, sir.

 

[Hans Gercmiov]

and yet you managed to do it in a few years. God bless you, sir.

My join date is when I was born. I start first grade next month. I'm only 4'6" but I can already bench 350 and I got 3 baby mamas.

 

[Bacco]

MMA being it's own game have been confirmed long ago, have the best credentials in some discipline don't necessary translate into be the best at striking/grappling in the MMA cage

The only "elitism" i see is real fans wishing MMA will move away from wwe circus mentality and become a real sport, where talent count more than marketability and fighters are treated based on how good they perform in the cage

 

[akc814ilv]

I think the best example of this would be James Toney thinking he could step into the cage and hang with Randy Couture just because he is a great boxer.

Same could be said about Conor or Anderson thinking they could box Roy Jones or Floyd mayweather though.

 

[SirKratos]

I think you have a point. The current P4P #1 fighter in the world has a white belt in BJJ.

 

[JollyRants]

but...but....he gets tagged in the face every fight...

What fighter you know doesnt get hit in a FIST fight ?

 

[Venom]

The only "elitism" i see is real fans wishing MMA will move away from wwe circus mentality and become a real sport, where talent count more than marketability and fighters are treated based on how good they perform in the cage

What is that