- Joined
- Jan 15, 2007
- Messages
- 54,613
- Reaction score
- 18,448
I don't disagree with you at all there brother. I think there is alot to learn about the fluidity in the way Fedor approached the game and it probably has become very standardized in how people train MMA today. But still the access to well proven and tested knowledge and dedicated MMA gyms is far greater today. I don't even think that is a controversial opinion, and is something that I've heard well known fighters have stated as well. I remember for example Overeem's explanation to the fall of Fedor's abilities and his opinion was that he simply didn't adapt to todays MMA. He would know if anyone.
Its not just the UFC the hype comes from of course, fighters and gyms push it as well. Across sport as a whole you will rarely see acknowledgement of decline, the difference is in other sports this is viewed as more sportsmen hyping themselves up, its only in MMA that a relative lack of knowledge and a single promoter dominating how fans view the sport that it can successfully be pushed as the truth. Its the marketing tactic that never loses, older fighters losing is a sure sign that todays product is the best ever.
Thats not to say nobody ever improves with age of a course, I think Overeem is an example of that happening although alot of it was more sideways revolution, Econoreem was a better distance striker than he ever had been before but wasnt nearly as good a grappler/clinch fighter.
As I said the giveaway should be watching the sport, HW in recent years how often have you come away from a fight thinking? dam that was a great technical match or even that was a great technical finish? it hardly ever happens anymore(Reems finish of JDS actually one of the last great HW stoppages IMHO), its a division of glaring errors and weaknesses these days and yet this is sposed to be evolved? some magical evolution that actually looks worse technically?
I would say what we have seen is a decent level of training is more widespread than in the Pride era but I'm not sure the elite level is any better and at HW I think the talent base is significantly worse. The ability to create a good amount of so so fighters isnt that impressive to me, not something I find great to watch.
Last edited: