"The overall ability has dropped in MMA" - Jon Fitch

[Aluminati]

We saw a kick like that from Shawn Jordan vs a better opponent in Derrick Lewis long time ago. Obviously, it says nothing.

Probably you are right though, the game is still changing but Fitch made several valid points.
I do think you see guys getting at the top or even tittle shots without barely having their grappling tested, especially in certain divisions.

Look at Darren Tilll, for example. Former tittle challenger and top ranked for quite some years yet until he fought Brunson we had not seen how good his wrestling was. He literally had not faced anybody willing to test him in that regard. And surprise: it was very dissapointing.

Didn't know that. I thought it was out of place, since I rarely see any spinning shit at HW. Fitch did have some valid points, but I don't think they are influenced by coaching as much as by management (fighters and UFC).

The talent pool is definitely watered down with unproven people, but oddly, the mid-level fights are more competitive than they used to be. I get the point about well-rounded skill sets being less of a necessity, but I think the overall tactics allow for less focus on grappling (more on anti-grappling), and getting promotional push is heavily dependent on your striking prowess and the entertainment value of your fights.

As far as getting to the top without getting grappling tested, it seems this is intentional on the UFCs end. The main gatekeepers are usually solid grapplers with holes in their standup. The promotional push of having exciting fights (and playing the PR game) can get you up above these gatekeepers to a fringe top 5 matchup, instead of climbing the ladder naturally. They seem to have a stable of journeyman and for early elite fighters that are long in the tooth that alternate as stepping stones and gatekeepers (Cerrone, RDA, Smith, Magny, Arlovski, Werdum, Lawler).

 

[D 1 Wrestler]

Fitch is just mad he fizzled in to Bolivia.

Beautiful country, I hope he finds happiness there