Sambo - past, present and future of MMA?

[JustOnce]

Sambo doesn't have as many athletes coming into MMA as wrestling and BJJ, but it's been very well represented by Fedor and Khabib.

Not only they had great success in MMA, but they represent their styles so well because I think they really can bring their style over that closely resembles their style of fighting from their own arts whereas most other martial arts requires them to adapt to MMA and likely calls for more adjustments.

Regarding the past, it's incredibly difficult to say Fedor is not the best of his time. He was the fighter of the decade for a reason, going undefeated at heavyweight for 10 years, and for me he's the GOAT period.

In the present, Khabib has a pretty strong argument that he IS the best of his time as well, though if you ask me his competition is bit lacking.

And I feel like, there will be more fighters with sambo backgrounds that will come around and dominate the sport. Islam looks legit at lightweight, Evloev looks great at featherweight, Amosov looks phenomenal at WW, Ankaleev looks great at LHW, and there's Minakov who should still be undefeated after 10+ years at heavyweight barring the complete injustice in his last fight, though I think Minakov fucked himself over with all the inactivities and fighting over contracts I think.

During Fedor's reign, it looked like it felt more like the case of an exceptional fighter. But now, it may just be that Sambo was and is and will be the past, present and future of MMA.

 

[oldschoolmmafan]

Fedor speaking the truth...

 

[Rajon Rondo]

Technically Sambo isn't even a base. It's another version of different martial arts combined into one

 

[Rafael MMA]

 

[HuskySamoan]

Sambo historically was a far more legitimate background to amateur MMA for a pro MMA career. However I think that's largely changing overtime and more and more fighters are taking 5-10 even 15 amateur fights before going pro, very talented ones even.

I also think the "well rounded" "new breed" shit is sort of blown out of proportion. Look at even many of the current champs having elite backgrounds in something and becoming very skilled around branching their game out from around that or imposing their specialities in a way that that's grossly advantageous. Adesanya, Usman, Cejudo, Khabib, McGregor etc. Sambo is great though, I just feel as MMA continues to grow, amateur MMA will take its place even in Russia.

Im still waiting to see some elite Caucus wrestlers transition to MMA young.

 

[Mma23]

Man where the fuk can I learn Sambo in Ontario? My work is all online so I’m free to roam anywhere in Ontario.

I’m looking to do martial arts that minimize brain damage. Only have done tkd for 2 years at an average gym. I don’t want to do boxing. I am considering Muay Thai and kick boxing and then replacing one with Sambo.

I don’t know of any legitimate Sambo schools here though. I’m very intrigued and it matches with my goals.

is Sambo Steve still around? I know he’s pretty involved in the Sambo scene over here.

 

[Mma23]

Technically Sambo isn't even a base. It's another version of different martial arts combined into one

(Hello chael sonnen). Well you can say that about almost any martial art. Just a series of techniques adapted from various fighting styles into one for reasons relating to national defence, culture, sport, etc.

Russian national defence came up with Sambo. Israelis came up with Krav Maga. That’s not a martial art either then.

 

[ILove4MinutesHyuna]

Sambo already is a combination of MMA so it would make sense that if your good at Sambo you are pretty good at MMA.

 

[manboy<3]

Sambo historically was a far more legitimate background to amateur MMA for a pro MMA career. However I think that's largely changing overtime and more and more fighters are taking 5-10 even 15 amateur fights before going pro, very talented ones even.

I also think the "well rounded" "new breed" shit is sort of blown out of proportion. Look at even many of the current champs having elite backgrounds in something and becoming very skilled around branching their game out from around that or imposing their specialities in a way that that's grossly advantageous. Adesanya, Usman, Cejudo, Khabib, McGregor etc. Sambo is great though, I just feel as MMA continues to grow, amateur MMA will take its place even in Russia.

Im still waiting to see some elite Caucus wrestlers transition to MMA young.

There is a diffirence

Sambo focuses on transitions and seqeuences whereass vanila amateur MMA does not

Both Fedor and Khabib are brutal in transitions whereas most fighters, even legends like Silva, look robotic, they get taken down, pull a textbook BJJ guard and do everything robotically

 

[Krayt]

It's a shame Sambo didn't help either of the Emelianekos develop a competent bottom game against good grapplers.

And no, a 40 year old white belt wrestler and Hong Man Choi are not "good grapplers"

 

[chaos_36]

Wasn't Dean Lister a Sambo guy? Might have more to do with the individual rather than the style.

 

[chaos_36]

It's a shame Sambo didn't help either of the Emelianekos develop a competent bottom game against good grapplers.

And no, a 40 year old white belt wrestler and Hong Man Choi are not "good grapplers"

 

[tripleo]

There is a diffirence

Sambo focuses on transitions and seqeuences whereass vanila amateur MMA does not

Both Fedor and Khabib are brutal in transitions whereas most fighters, even legends like Silva, look robotic, they get taken down, pull a textbook BJJ guard and do everything robotically

those world sambo champs have no chance in the ufc

 

[gevoudane]

Weird that Sambo is just now really catching on. Its been around in "MMA" before UFC 1.

Also the first record of a Rickson loss was against a Sambo/Judo fighter. Took him a full 47 seconds to beat rickson.

Seems a lot of catch wrestlers are also Sambo.
Also for got this

• Dan Severn, UFC Triple Crown Champion and Hall of Famer, is a Razryad international master and former AAU champion in Sambo.

 

[gevoudane]

Sambo historically was a far more legitimate background to amateur MMA for a pro MMA career. However I think that's largely changing overtime and more and more fighters are taking 5-10 even 15 amateur fights before going pro, very talented ones even.

I also think the "well rounded" "new breed" shit is sort of blown out of proportion. Look at even many of the current champs having elite backgrounds in something and becoming very skilled around branching their game out from around that or imposing their specialities in a way that that's grossly advantageous. Adesanya, Usman, Cejudo, Khabib, McGregor etc. Sambo is great though, I just feel as MMA continues to grow, amateur MMA will take its place even in Russia.

Im still waiting to see some elite Caucus wrestlers transition to MMA young.

The new breed is misinterpreted now. It was the age of fighters who had MMA school were you could go and have coaches in everything and not have to develop skills at various places.
They just trained MMA their life not come to it from other styles.

 

[Chubi]

Sambo is amateur MMA with a jacket, so yeah it's a good base.

 

[HHJ]

There is a diffirence

Sambo focuses on transitions and seqeuences whereass vanila amateur MMA does not

Both Fedor and Khabib are brutal in transitions whereas most fighters, even legends like Silva, look robotic, they get taken down, pull a textbook BJJ guard and do everything robotically

It's all about flowing into the different aspects u need. Anderson had a "ok he's gonna strike" stance and a "ok he's gonna shoot" stance.
Chael took great advantage of this,that's how he was able to drop him.
Guys like Fedor and khabib were just ready for anything, seamlessly using the toolbox

 

[Harozim]

NO, NO, NO

 

[TheScorpionDude]

Technically Sambo isn't even a base. It's another version of different martial arts combined into one

Wanted to say this. It's not like with BJJ or wrestling or kickboxing. Sambo is a collection of skills as well.

 

[Tokoloko]

Muradov have sambo background and in my opinion will takeover MW division