Peak of MMA

[JustOnce]

I feel like one of the same old things that you hear about MMA is how fast it is evolving, almost to a point of the pace at technology is evolving, which is leaps and bounds every year, if not a month.

There was talks of new breeds of heavyweights, which I really never bought into it. I mean, you have two legs and two arms, how differently can you be? Unless you start doing some ninja shit in there.

One thing I noticed about is the general improvement of fighters in their abilities to get up. Back then, it almost felt like it was a game over when the guy gets takedown, until the end of the rounds, also the overall more utilization of unorthodox techniques, well perhaps not THAT unorthodox, like kicks to the knees , front kicks, and even elbows are utilized lot more.

I reckon 100 years from now, we won't see much difference in the overall abilities of MMA fighters, perhaps stronger, yes. faster yes. But, just that.

You won't really see an mma fighter who can box like a Duran, kick like Saei, wrestle like Saitiev, or rolll like Garcia. I feel like the blue print to success in MMA has been laid out, a wrestler- boxer, unless you are especially exceptional enough in striking with good tdd or submission skills...

 

[jojoRed]

I think the evolution of MMA is always gonna be the counter to the most dominant style. It was the wrestlers that dominated and now the strikers with amazing TDD are dominating and there is gonna be a counter to that and so on so forth.

 

[superpunch]

If you dont see the evolution youre not looking for it.

Imagine back in 2010 saying a guy would have boxing skills like Conor does or overall striking like TJ does. You'd sound crazy.

Now that fighters know it's possible and what techniques to focus on, that kind of striking will become more commonplace.

It's only a matter of time until someone like Werdum or Khabib picks up that level of striking too.

Striking in MMA is jumping leaps and bounds every year

 

[SportsDoc]

I dont believe that MMA itself has evolved that much in the past 10 years.

Prime motivated BJ Penn destroys everyone at lightweight except Khabib.

Prime Anderson would rule current MW.

 

[WaylonMercy5150]

You ever notice it's the least evolved people always shouting, "I don't believe in evolution!"

 

[HHJ]

You won't really see an mma fighter who can box like a Duran, kick like Saei, wrestle like Saitiev, or rolll like Garcia. I feel like the blue print to success in MMA has been laid out, a wrestler- boxer, unless you are especially exceptional enough in striking with good tdd or submission skills...

I agree for the most part this will not happen. Every once in a while youll see a GSP type come along,but its the exception to the rule. The belief that everyone will be like this is faulty,not because MMA fighters arent great athletes,but its just very unlikley that everyone can become good at everything,and even if you become a complete jack of all trades at everything,All someone like Khabib has to do is be better at one thing,and it all goes out the window. I dont see this is a problem or a negative thing. Its how strong you can get your style over,and what can you fall back on to break the momentum when their style is going over yours. That will never stop being riveting. The style,form of expression,doesnt have limits. You dont have to do things the way they are supposed to. So what if someone doesnt have proper boxing technique. There are boxers who have become world champions without that. You dont NEED it to win,to be a success. A guy like Machida can come along and completley change pre conceptions about what works in MMA.

 

[Luke Thomas Rockhold]

It's already peaked in popularity, but not in skill.

 

[HHJ]

Prime Anderson would rule current MW.

I dont know about that. Weidman's style was the perfect style to beat Anderson. Until then he hadnt fought someone who had all those weapons. He probably would have had a big difficulty with Yoel as well.

 

[TheLuckiest]

You look at champs like Holloway or contenders like Ortega and tell me the fighters are not evolving.

If you say they aren't then you're either bitter or blind.

We have dudes with 12 fights that would eviscerate champs of old.

 

[JustOnce]

Prime Anderson would rule current MW.

NO.

Bj yes.

10 year thing yes

I don't know if he would crack top 5.

 

[JustOnce]

You look at champs like Holloway or contenders like Ortega and tell me the fighters are not evolving.

If you say they aren't then you're either bitter or blind.

We have dudes with 12 fights that would eviscerate champs of old.

Evolving how?

What does Ortega do that Big Nog didn't?

 

[theTKDguy]

If you watch a fight from 2012 or 13 you'll notice. Sport has evolved a lot since then, especially the striking technique. A couple years ago few fighters knew what a jab was.

 

[HHJ]

If you watch a fight from 2012 or 13 you'll notice. Sport has evolved a lot since then, especially the striking technique. A couple years ago few fighters knew what a jab was.

At the same time,guys who dont have good striking technique can still be very successful.

 

[TheLuckiest]

Evolving how?

What does Ortega do that Big Nog didn't?

Cut weight.

Or was this rhetorical?

 

[Erocthadon]

It peaked in skill level right here

 

[Egészségére!]

is Stephens part of the old or new breed of striker?

 

[juncito]

If you dont see the evolution youre not looking for it.

Imagine back in 2010 saying a guy would have boxing skills like Conor does or overall striking like TJ does. You'd sound crazy.

Now that fighters know it's possible and what techniques to focus on, that kind of striking will become more commonplace.

It's only a matter of time until someone like Werdum or Khabib picks up that level of striking too.

Striking in MMA is jumping leaps and bounds every year

We have always seen high level strikers but they were mostly muay thai guys. Once a guys boxing get so good there isn't any reason to leave that sport like wrestling or karate or kickboxing. Mma has high level wrestlers because it's either the Olympics or quit wrestling. I also don't think we'll ever see a khabib or werdum get much better than we see a werdum now due to the time and effort it takes to become those guys.

Then Conor is great on the feet at the price of being mediocre on the mat. I do like your example of tj he's really putting things together in there. In 2010 Frankie edgar was around and he's tj esque, bj penn was around, nick diaz and many more.

I'm not debating your overall point just the few things I mentioned, the sport is definitely evolving.

 

[PhantomBlade]

It was not too long ago that most mma striking was throwing an occasional overhand right for a fluke KO. A lot of fighter still use it.
Watching TJ dance around and destroy Barao and Dom get mocked and beaten spelt a change in MMA tactics.
Now you have JJ, Holly, Conor, Whittaker, Wonderboy and others using superior striking to beat far better wrestlers and grapplers.
Is that not evolution?

 

[TheLuckiest]

Evolving how?

What does Ortega do that Big Nog didn't?

Fedor beat the brakes off of him. Probably not a good example of "evolution".

 

[juncito]

You look at champs like Holloway or contenders like Ortega and tell me the fighters are not evolving.

If you say they aren't then you're either bitter or blind.

We have dudes with 12 fights that would eviscerate champs of old.

Thats already happened and is not too too rare.

Anderson silva vs weidman
Gsp vs Huges
Lesnar vs couture
Jones vs Shogun

Lots of the time the older champ is past their prime, not saying the outcomes would be different just pointing it out.