Is Werdum the most improved fighter ever?

[bjpenngoat]

I cant think of anyone that looked so pedestrian and one dimensional that has progressed so much in tenure in the sport and is even getting better with age.

Robbie certainly comes to mind
Matt Brown was on a major roll for a few years after a mediocre start.

 

[CJohnny]

TJ. Always good but he is on a another level now

Like Mendes he used to be just a wrestler.

 

[moreorless87]

I think people repeat that Werdum was one dimensional in the past without watching his matches, he certainly had stand up ability by late in his Pride run but it was mostly defensive.

I would say Vitor under Hooft must be high up in terms of someone developing a previously unknown ability late in their career.

 

[bjpenngoat]

vitor is a great answer although he was amazing at 19 but he sunk so low at times and he was thought of as a has been then all of a sudden he just starts winning huge fights.

 

[mikehunt]

I think people repeat that Werdum was one dimensional in the past without watching his matches, he certainly had stand up ability by late in his Pride run but it was mostly defensive.

I would say Vitor under Hooft must be high up in terms of someone developing a previously unknown ability late in their career.

As in Ernefto Hooft?

 

[wilKO]

Cro Cop improved a ton from his first mma fights. His TDD and bjj improved dramatically.

 

[Vikassi]

TRT is one helluva drug.

 

[One MMA Fan]

Nope.. just most opportunistic.

 

[Tormund]

No, his striking is still very sloppy, most improved is probably RDA, he's actually defended his belt.

 

[Thrawn33]

At first I thought he got lucky being the first to catch Fedor on the downside of his career.

Then he went on and made many offerings.

Blessings upon Saint Doom.

 

[ExitLUPin]

Not even top 10 IMO

TJ
RDA
Magny
Chad
Holloway
Michael Johnson
Demetrious
Tony Ferg
Wonderboy
Cro Cop circa 03
Gomi circa 04
etc etc

 

[Deleted member 491149]

No...he did have decent striking in PRIDE, but after JDS KO'd him and he left the UFC, he automatically became a plug in everyone's eyes. He had a shitty performance against an Ubereem roided to the gills in SF, yet he still managed to out land him with a fucked up knee. And he hasn't lost since then...

it's not like he just started being serious about training when he fought big country lol

He has definitely improved, but he always had the talent and the skill. The 'frabricio cinderella man storyline is just more ZUFFA revisionist history

 

[jimmy dakine]

he is very much improved, like night and day.....but i would not know how to measure "most"

 

[FatMoiMoi]

I think people repeat that Werdum was one dimensional in the past without watching his matches, he certainly had stand up ability by late in his Pride run but it was mostly defensive.

I would say Vitor under Hooft must be high up in terms of someone developing a previously unknown ability late in their career.

Agreed. His striking looked great against Kharitonov in Pride. He tagged him a lot.

 

[Drake]

I think that's safe to say. He improved his striking so greatly & quickly. Dude is in his prime later than most.

 

[The Accuser]

Anderson: from a can getting crushed to a legit can crusher.

No seriously, from losing to Takase and Chonan to going on to beat the likes of Vitor and Hendo.

 

[ExitLUPin]

Anderson: from a can getting crushed to a legit can crusher.

No seriously, from losing to Takase and Chonan to going on to beat the likes of Vitor and Hendo.

I think fighting in a cage as opposed to a ring as well as unified rules and 5 minute rounds helped him more. But yeah going from that pressuring Chute Box kickboxing style in a ring to a mostly pure counterstriker in a cage was a big chance.

 

[Big_Chief_Stove]

I cant think of anyone that looked so pedestrian and one dimensional that has progressed so much in tenure in the sport and is even getting better with age.

Robbie certainly comes to mind
Matt Brown was on a major roll for a few years after a mediocre start.

Matt Brown and RDA deserve to be on that list

 

[FEDORRULEZ]

rda has improved tonz. funny thing is that werdum and rda are in the same camp and they both have an awesome cardio

 

[The Accuser]

I think fighting in a cage as opposed to a ring as well as unified rules and 5 minute rounds helped him more. But yeah going from that pressuring Chute Box kickboxing style in a ring to a mostly pure counterstriker in a cage was a big chance.

Yeah, I think the cage just made him more virile.