Once Maia retires...

[fortheo]

Which fighter will be the next closest thing to a specialist in MMA? and do you think he'll reach a high level like Maia did?

*Edit*

I realize that Maia improved his wrestling a ton and his striking as well, but I still believe he is widely considered the closest thing that we have to a specialist in high level mma.

 

[Drain Bamage]

Kron Gracie?

 

[rear naked ankle pick]

Dillon Danis

 

[Maladroit]

Yes, there will be the Dillons and Krons of life. But a highly successful semi-pure BJJ MMA fighter? There will be none.

 

[Sweater of AV]

Mike Perry - hands

 

[Where you at Georges?]

Ryan Hall

 

[fortheo]

Yes, there will be the Dillons and Krons of life. But a highly successful semi-pure BJJ MMA fighter? There will be none.

Doesn't have to be a BJJ guy. Just a specialist. I do realize that the term "specialist" is open for interpretation, though.

 

[superpunch]

Lots of guys.

Khabib a submission wrestler.

Conor a boxer.

Adesanya a kickboxer.

Colby the wrestler.

Ngannou the athlete.

You just won’t have any BJJ specialists at the top levels because BJJ sucks.

 

[Lavitz]

Askren

 

[PRIDEfallstoUFC]

Lots of guys.

Khabib a submission wrestler.

Conor a boxer.

Adesanya a kickboxer.

Colby the wrestler.

Ngannou the athlete.

You just won’t have any BJJ specialists at the top levels because BJJ sucks.

bro, do you even cross collar choke?

 

[Taric]

Style wise Khabib is no different than Demian really. Just athletically stronger.

 

[ArmenianAssasin]

Style wise Khabib is no different than Demian really. Just athletically stronger.

Khabib is much more well rounded
Much better wrestling and standup

I think kron gracie has a chance of being pretty much exactly the same type of fighter Maia was

 

[meast]

I'm not sure Maia is a specialist... he has won fights via his standup. Does no one else remember K1 Maia?

 

[StoooV2]

Doesn't have to be a BJJ guy. Just a specialist. I do realize that the term "specialist" is open for interpretation, though.

You've only got pretty much specialist bjj guys.


Most kickboxers have a ground game if basic and most wrestlers learn to strike... Again if basic.

 

[IRENICUS]

Style wise Khabib is no different than Demian really. Just athletically stronger.

Khabib is very well rounded, has way better wrestling and can fight standing as well-look at the Conor punch.
A striker with good TDD=boxer/wrestler(Chuck)
A wrestler with great ground game=wrestling/BJJ(Ronda)
Those type of styles are not one dimensional, they require 2 skills.

I would say Askren is the one coming close to Maia, even more than him. Even worse standup, weaker BJJ and better wrestling. Maia sometimes fights standing for a round, Askren barely throws a punch.

 

[tasticles]

Nearly everyone is a specialist, they just have proficiency in other areas. 1 dimension is pretty much a thing of the past

 

[Rebel_LioN]

No one’s half guard sweep comes close to the grandmaster of BJJ

 

[kappaz]

Katlyn Chookagian

 

[Moral Victory]

Ryan Hall

This so much, he barely even punches, weak kick spam and grappling.

 

[fortheo]

Khabib is much more well rounded
Much better wrestling and standup

I think kron gracie has a chance of being pretty much exactly the same type of fighter Maia was

Kron has some work to do on his takedowns and his ability to cut off the cage with footwork if he wants to get up to Maia's level, but he is a good choice.