Why has 145 been such a striker friendly division?

[Söze Aldo]

If you think of the GOAT candidates for that division, Aldo, Max and Volk, they all have a primarily striking style. Also, you have Conor who became a superstar when he fought there and the current champ Ilia is also a striker. What is it about featherweight that allows strikers to be so successful there compared to other divisions?

 

[PhilMcCavity]

You obviously don’t remember Sean “the muscle jerk” sherk

 

[Legendary]

If you think of the GOAT candidates for that division, Aldo, Max and Volk, they all have a primarily striking style. Also, you have Conor who became a superstar when he fought there and the current champ Ilia is also a striker. What is it about featherweight that allows strikers to be so successful there compared to other divisions?

Because Aldo had GOAT takedown defense and everyone started developing their striking as a result. That sort of set the tone. There has yet to be a Khabib level grappler at 145.

Give Aljo and Movsar some time. They both have a great chance of being successful and they are grappling dominate fighters.

 

[TriangleMonkey]

Aldo came from BJJ
Volk came from wrestling
Ilia came from wrestling/BJJ

Some fighters just prefer to outstrike guys


Theres been a long history of outstanding grapplers who fall in love with teh K-1 or just wanna punch your head off knowing damn well you ain’t taking them down

 

[Elvis.]

You obviously don’t remember Sean “the muscle jerk” sherk

You obviously don’t remember what weight class he fought in

 

[Black Blood]

You obviously don’t remember Sean “the muscle jerk” sherk

Sherk was a LW.

 

[PhilMcCavity]

You obviously don’t remember what weight class he fought in

Who cares I said what I wanted

 

[ArtardFiesta]

no dagestani in it

 

[Only Here for Attachments]

Uh oh, too many strikers and not enough boring wrestlers!!

 

[GrantB13]

Just how it goes. I doubt there's any "higher reason" for why any division has the makeup it does.

 

[fortheo]

Aldo, max, and volk all had amazing tdd which forced guys to up their striking game. That division has had plenty of top notch grapplers in the past though like mendes, edgar, lamas, volk himself, bermudez, evloev etc etc

 

[Serge421]

Who cares I said what I wanted

You sure did

 

[Fight Professor]

It is tougher to be wrestler when you weigh like a 10 year old.

 

[Subline]

Aldo had some of the best takedown defense ever
Conor was taken down repeatedly by (short-notice) Mendes until he gassed out
Holloway hasn't fought any dominant wrestlers in their prime
Volk & Topuria are elite grapplers in general

 

[achoo42]

It is tougher to be wrestler when you weigh like a 10 year old.

No, it's tougher to be a wrestler the heavier you get. Dumbass

 

[Hdfi]

It's not just featherweight. MW and BW have also historically been dominated by strikers.

MW champions: Franklin, A. Silva, Rockhold, Bisping, Whittaker, Adesanya, Pereira, Strickland, DDP. - all primarily strikers.

BW: Cruz, Barao, Dillashaw, Garbrandt, Yan, O'Malley.

 

[Poatan Power]

Speed is the friend of TDD. Speed kills takedown attempts.

IMO, anyway.

 

[HolmeZy55]

You obviously don’t remember Sean “the muscle jerk” sherk

You obviously don’t remember what weight class he fought in

Sherk was a LW.

His nickname was also the The Muscle Shark not muscle jerk.

Dude doesn't know his name or weight class LMFAO.

 

[Spiderbite]

Sherk was a LW.

Welterweight

 

[Dr. Rose]

You obviously don’t remember Sean “the muscle jerk” sherk

What about Mendes? And Faber was the original King of 145 in WEC