Striking> Grappling

Eli1015

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I hear all the time. "Wrestling is the best base for MMA". I disagree. Maybe before when nobody knew how to defend a double leg. But now if you are a high level striker you have the advantage over these part time strikers in MMA. And the evidence is in the UFC.

GSP entered the UFC with ZERO wrestling credential. He was a second degree black belt in Kyokushin Karate. He became the best wrestler while training all the MMA arts like boxing, kickboxing, BJJ, wrestling etc. Another example is another GOAT Anderson silva. He has 11 straight title defences and came from a muy thai background. Jose Aldo was Mostly a Dutch style kickboxer. 10 title defences.

Other examples include. Conor Mcgregor. Jr Amatuer boxer and mostly all striking. 2 Weight UFC champ. Joanna J. Muy thai world champion 5 title defences In UFC. Cro Cop. I mean the list goes on.

In my not so humble opinion. Best base is Boxing/ Kickboxing. Then spend years learning TDD an you are good because you will outstrike the part time striker in MMA.
 
6 of 8 current male champions have a wrestling base.

People with better striking bases get outstruck all the time - Anderson by Whiteman, Wonderboy by Woodley, Gus by Rumble, Holly by Cyborg, Overeem by tons of people, Hunt by tons of people, Joanna by Rose, etc.
 
no . you need to have both on the highest level to be able to keep up the pace with the top contenders.
 
GSP entered the UFC with ZERO wrestling credential. He was a second degree black belt in Kyokushin Karate. He became the best wrestler while training all the MMA arts like boxing, kickboxing, BJJ, wrestling etc. Another example is another GOAT Anderson silva. He has 11 straight title defences and came from a muy thai background. Jose Aldo was Mostly a Dutch style kickboxer. 10 title defences.

You think every fighter in the UFC is as studious, athletic and talented as GSP? He was outwrestling some of the best wrestles/grapplers ever in MMA and he learned wrestling late. Its asinine to compare every fighter to GSP, a once in a generation type talent and say "Hey GSP did it, why cant you?".

GSP is the exception and not the norm, dont use him as an example to claim striking first, wrestling second when no one else in MMA has ever had the attributes he had.
 
You're naming people from the past. The sport is always changing. In current MMA, it has become quite apparent that the most effective base you can have is an elite wrestling base.

Of course there will always be exceptions to the rule. But for the most part, wrestlers are dominating MMA right now.
 
6 of 8 current male champions have a wrestling base.

People with better striking bases get outstruck all the time - Anderson by Whiteman, Wonderboy by Woodley, Gus by Rumble, Holly by Cyborg, Overeem by tons of people, Hunt by tons of people, Joanna by Rose, etc.
If youre counting Whitaker thats somewhat dishonest, and you say outstruck when you mean they got caught. Gus doesnt get outstruck and Reem doesnt get outstruck, they just got caught
 
If youre counting Whitaker thats somewhat dishonest, and you say outstruck when you mean they got caught. Gus doesnt get outstruck and Reem doesnt get outstruck, they just got caught
Not counting Whittaker - Stipe, DC, Woodley, Khabib, TJ and DJ.
 
I think the newer type generation of strikers, have learnt that TDD<<< not being in the vicinity to get taken down and by that I mean constantly moving, changing angles and not being stuck in the center to get shot in on. Im talking about guys like Holloway, Whittaker, Wonderboy etc.

But even then they have shored up on their TDD by using the cage effectively and learning basic wrestling.
 
Not counting Whittaker - Stipe, DC, Woodley, Khabib, TJ and DJ.
Oh wow I didnt know about TJ. In that case you COULD claim 7 outta 8 cause Whitaker did wrestle in Australia before fighting
 
Wrestling is a key factor, you cant without, at least defensively TDD but also ground defense and escapes how to get up again, MMA shows that Grappling will get you far many of the best fighters have a wrestling base some not even on that high of a level as far as credentials go but they still control their Opponents. Im not saying you cant be succesful without it but it helps a lot, some of the greats are strikers but also some of the greats are also ground fighters, you need all of it and the more skills you have the better.
 
6 of 8 current male champions have a wrestling base.

People with better striking bases get outstruck all the time - Anderson by Whiteman, Wonderboy by Woodley, Gus by Rumble, Holly by Cyborg, Overeem by tons of people, Hunt by tons of people, Joanna by Rose, etc.

What do you mean by "WHITE"man ?

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I believe that wrestling is the greatest base for growing pro MMA athletes in USA, because it's a huge amateur sport that you can start young and get a lot of experience of real competition. And because it's such a competitive sport, people who get to the top will be great athletes. It's not so much about wrestling skills being more important than striking. As already mentioned, you need to be able to deal with everything if you want to succeed.

Also, champs are a bad example for generalization. All champs are rare and unique individuals and you can't turn a untalented guy into a champ by following a blueprint drawn up from some other champ like GSP.
 
Cherrypicked examples. Conveniently left out two GOAT candidates, one with sambo, the other wrestling.
 
GSP entered the UFC with ZERO wrestling credential. He was a second degree black belt in Kyokushin Karate. He became the best wrestler while training all the MMA arts like boxing, kickboxing, BJJ, wrestling etc. Another example is another GOAT Anderson silva. He has 11 straight title defences and came from a muy thai background. Jose Aldo was Mostly a Dutch style kickboxer. 10 title defences.
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Yes but when GSP meet elite Wrestler for first time he looses. Even if judges didnt count win for Hendricks. (he win by split)
 
One factor that people forget about when it comes to wrestling as a fighters base is that wrestlers train like no other. Also they start at a very young age and are in schools so the coaching staff is usually much more professional compared to a boxing or kickboxing gym and it is also geared to younger men where if a 7 year old went to a boxing gym he most likely wouldnt get the same attention as he would as a wrestler in a school. They build up the kids grit and endurance over the years which is much more effective than expecting a kid to be able to keep up with adults at a gym.
 
Yes but when GSP meet elite Wrestler for first time he looses. Even if judges didnt count win for Hendricks. (he win by split)

Hendricks was not the first elite wrestler he met, noob
 

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