Would Overeem been more successful if he utilized grappling more

[Supatune]

He doesn't really use it at HW. Most HW's don't. A lot of them have good ground games but would rather stand and bang. More so than any other weight class, kinda strange.

 

[FedorFanBoy]

Most of fighters tend to fall in love in their later days with their stand up which is one of the first steps to finishing their careers.

Fedor is one of best examples of this. He stopped using grappling after his win against Arlovski. He felt too much POWA in his fists. Which was a great mistake.

 

[Bend NvR Break]

Fighters dont ignore their grappling skills for no reason. Diego was a grappling machine. He doesnt not shoot because he doesnt want to. Its cos he has bad knees and doesnt want to retire.

Bingo

 

[Okajima]

Totally. He completely abandoned his ground game.

 

[WarDronx]

Overeem has all the tools he would need if he decided to focus more on grappling. He is flexible and agile but still has the size and strength advantage in many cases. He could grapple more in training and develop better cardio for it too. He has shown skill already and he could focus in positions to allow GnP (and use his power there) if he doesn't feel like training or trying submissions. It is true that he has very good striking but i believe the image the UFC has made for him ("best striker", "unstoppable KO machine" etc) has affected his choices.

BTW a more general question: Is it better to focus on grappling the older you get? Some older guys could compete for more if they mixed-in their grappling more, if this is true.

 

[Kwic]

I just wish Overeem had Roy's chin...

 

[Dirge]

Good question. Probably a yes. Definitely a yes if doing better refers to the health and future of his brain functioning. This can also be said about other fighters who ignored their grappling skills (Diego Sanchez, for one)

Lets not forget the infamous "Rich Franklin Jiujitsu Coach" Jorge Jurgel, and of course Roy Nelson

 

[Pancake Sprawl]

he may have been more successful, but i can tell you where he definitely was NOT successful and probably wishes he hadn't grappled was in the Stipe fight when he went for the guillotine. in hindsight, he probably could've finished Stipe had he went to punch him or let him back up to his feet.

 

[MuayThaiBX]

He lacks the wrestling to take big HWs down unless they are terrible at TDD. When he was Ubereem he could just power guys down with strength but with his decreased power nowadays he really doesn't have a viable avenue to take down decent wrestlers. Also, like others said, his cardio is not very good and lots of grappling/wrestling would wear him out pretty quickly if he didn't have immediate success.

 

[laleggenda27]

Overeem has good BJJ, but he simply doesn't have the cardio to use a grappling-centric style. Sure, if someone has terrible takedown defense, he's happy to oblige and conserve energy from top position. But he has to work hard to land a take down, it's pretty much down hill. There's a reason he's resorted to Econoreem.

 

[A.S. Deep]

He'd still find a way to get KOed.

 

[Tuf_guy]

Fighters dont ignore their grappling skills for no reason. Diego was a grappling machine. He doesnt not shoot because he doesnt want to. Its cos he has bad knees and doesnt want to retire.

How long have his knees been bad? I remember him getting into boxing not that long before he started he started to move away from being mainly a grappler (around when he was training with Vargas)

Also, the reason to shift isn't always truly a good one (Andy Wang, even Gurgel, who could hang, but decided at times to just kickbox without takedowns being shut down).

 

[Tuf_guy]

Lets not forget the infamous "Rich Franklin Jiujitsu Coach" Jorge Jurgel, and of course Roy Nelson

Didn't see this post before posting again, but definitely

 

[HHJ]

How long have his knees been bad? I remember him getting into boxing not that long before he started he started to move away from being mainly a grappler (around when he was training with Vargas)

Also, the reason to shift isn't always truly a good one (Andy Wang, even Gurgel, who could hang, but decided at times to just kickbox without takedowns being shut down).

Gurgel had the same problem,injuries. Wang just felt like he wasnt a man f he didnt stand and bang. Diego tho used to spam takedowns all the time. I dont think he quit that cos he felt like it.

 

[TallGHunter]

He has 19 submission wins and is a winner at ADCC. For someone whose background is mainly striking he took to grappling very well and became effective very quickly, but in the UFC I can't remember him attempting to work on the ground at all. Seems like he could've at least spared himself some concussions if he just mixed things up a bit.

Even in thier prime HWs usually clinch for takedowns. Allister had such good knees from a clinch (Thai or otherwise) why go for a TD.

 

[TallGHunter]

Fighters dont ignore their grappling skills for no reason. Diego was a grappling machine. He doesnt not shoot because he doesnt want to. Its cos he has bad knees and doesnt want to retire.

Probably exactly right. Almost all wrestlers have bad knees, usually before they're 25.

 

[HHJ]

Fedor,hendo,rampage,diego...all guys who used to grapple alot who dont anymore...alot of fans think that they just decide to headhunt for no reason... but injuries and wear and tear take their toll

 

[illegalnature]

He ko'd struve from full guard. Looked easy. I always wished he would use his grappling against people like ngannou and hunt who arent good on the ground.

 

[blaseblah]

I don't think he has the cardio to consistently wrestle for 3 rounds

 

[fartsniffer]

I seem to remember him giving Mir a thorough beating on the ground.