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So everyone is in agreement the sport has evolved vastly since the Gracies took their particular brand of submission Judo minus throws and showed it was the best single style in this environment. There is disagreement about how much in the last decade it has really evolved and what counts as a legit evolution.
So describe here what are the main 'evolutions' in mma as you see it and who if any one fighter or several fighters pionereed the evolution in technique, fighting style or training. Im talking actual evolutions, so a fighter may be a legend with legacy etc but does not mean they evolved the sport. I also mean evolutions shown by fighters in actual fights.
I'm starting wih some early evolutions obviously there are ton more I'm describing a few.
Royce - obvious
Severn - first legit wrestling in US mma
Tank Abbott - overlooked legend, first to wear modern mma gloves
Ken Shamrock - guard neutralizer in Gracie 2. At time a draw with royce and surviving guard was a big deal.
Don frye - I would argue first well rounded complete fighter with wrestling, striking and submissions. Frank Shamrock often gets this accolade but Frye was first. Ken could never strike to top level. Amory Bitteti fight proved this the mist in my view as was against a top Brazilian fighter.
Coleman - DID NOT 'invent' gnp that is a ridiculous claim if has been a method since beginning. But took gnp to a new level.
Frank Shamrock - "conditioning is my best submission hold ". Outlasting Ortiz was a big evolution at the time. Nick Diaz is version 2 of this.
Fedor - using top game to beat the best BJJ guard at the time and shows you could win from in guard.
Wanderlai - top level muay thai to win at highest level.
Machida - Showed TMA like karate can work if adapted to mma and well rounded. His UFC title win if not start of 'Machida era' was still hell of win for TMA.
Oleksi Olynyk UFC 208 - Ezekial choke submission. As well as being first win with this sub in UFC I consider significant evolution as shows you can win a fight from underneath while someone has you in full mount.
Oleg Taktarov - first non BJJ sub game in general at top level amd showed there is more to the ground game tham BJJ.
And vastly more, describe whether small or large contribution or addition to the sports evolution shown in fights.
So describe here what are the main 'evolutions' in mma as you see it and who if any one fighter or several fighters pionereed the evolution in technique, fighting style or training. Im talking actual evolutions, so a fighter may be a legend with legacy etc but does not mean they evolved the sport. I also mean evolutions shown by fighters in actual fights.
I'm starting wih some early evolutions obviously there are ton more I'm describing a few.
Royce - obvious
Severn - first legit wrestling in US mma
Tank Abbott - overlooked legend, first to wear modern mma gloves
Ken Shamrock - guard neutralizer in Gracie 2. At time a draw with royce and surviving guard was a big deal.
Don frye - I would argue first well rounded complete fighter with wrestling, striking and submissions. Frank Shamrock often gets this accolade but Frye was first. Ken could never strike to top level. Amory Bitteti fight proved this the mist in my view as was against a top Brazilian fighter.
Coleman - DID NOT 'invent' gnp that is a ridiculous claim if has been a method since beginning. But took gnp to a new level.
Frank Shamrock - "conditioning is my best submission hold ". Outlasting Ortiz was a big evolution at the time. Nick Diaz is version 2 of this.
Fedor - using top game to beat the best BJJ guard at the time and shows you could win from in guard.
Wanderlai - top level muay thai to win at highest level.
Machida - Showed TMA like karate can work if adapted to mma and well rounded. His UFC title win if not start of 'Machida era' was still hell of win for TMA.
Oleksi Olynyk UFC 208 - Ezekial choke submission. As well as being first win with this sub in UFC I consider significant evolution as shows you can win a fight from underneath while someone has you in full mount.
Oleg Taktarov - first non BJJ sub game in general at top level amd showed there is more to the ground game tham BJJ.
And vastly more, describe whether small or large contribution or addition to the sports evolution shown in fights.
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