Standbyking

So ya'll watch a little mixed martial arts -you'll see that the mixed martial arts ain't so mixed. The standing fight is Muay Thai with a few extra tecs thrown in for tricks. The ground game is almost all brazilian jujitsu. There's no one trying to apply Tae Kwon Do, Karate, Wing Chun Kung Foo, Sanda Kung Foo, or any number of the gobs of fighting styles across the globe. So here's the question: where's the "mixed art" in mixed martial arts? Thoughts.

[MERIT]

Most mixed martial artists come from a specific background (wrestling, BJJ, karate, etc), and add elements of other martial arts to try to complete their game. It's almost impossible to be a master of all of the martial arts. If someone is a jack of all trades and master of none, they will get beat. They have to have one strong point that they have mastered to rely upon during fights.

Amateur wrestling seems to be the background that has created the most champions, and creates the strongest MMA base to build upon.

Standbyking

To true. There's a certain type that the MMA scene attracts. And o course its the types of fighters that best fit the rules. Wrestling, boxing.. puring fighting types are more easily applicable because of the culture surrounding em. I mean wrestling is all about putting the adversary in a place where he can't move. In boxing you don't win till the other guy is down and can't get up -just like MMA. In Tae Kwon Do, and Karate, the fight ends when one fighter or the other gets the points. Arguably, reason for favoring the point system in this case, is that the techinques being applied are just plain to brutal. If they went for the KO instead of the point, there would be an awful lotta very bad injuries and even an occasional death. My point (heheh) is this: there are certain styles in dominance in the MMA but not because the teniques of the dominant styles more applicable, its all about the culture. I think its only a matter of time before an amazing fighter emerges whose got a base in a style rarely applied. So what style is it gona be? Where's the MMA going?

[MERIT]

There are some fighters that utilize standing techniques other than Muay Thai and (Kick)boxing. Lyoto Machida relies heavily on his Karate. Tim Boetsch and Anderson Silva have both successfully utilized front kicks. The Jeet-Kun-Do spinning backfist is also in most fighters' arsenal. Rampage Jackson can KO people with a front slam.

The problem with these techniques is that if they aren't performed perfectly, they leave the fighter extremely vulnerable, that's why they are so rarely used. Amateur wrestling and BJJ are the most widely practiced styles, and that for good reason: they work.

As far as a fighter coming along with a style that shakes things up, I think that has already happened time. In it's infancy (in the U.S. anyhow), the amateur wrestlers (Coleman, Kerr, etc.) were the hardest to beat. Then the Gracies came along with their style of BJJ and cleaned house on everybody. CroCop and others came into MMA and kicked ass with their kickboxing. Eddie Bravo came along at ADCC and completely dominated a Gracie with his 10th Planet JJ. Machida came along with his Karate and dominated the UFC LHW's.

Were is MMA going? That's anybody's guess. Zuffa is holding the best hand at the moment. After absorbing the WEC and buying out PRIDE and StrikeForce, they pretty much own the contracts of most of the MMA stars here in the U.S. There are so many dream matchups that are possible under the Zuffa banner, if White and the Fertittas would only allow them. The HW division seems to have the deepest talent pool. The WW and MW divisions definitely need some more fighters that are capable of challenging. The LW divivion is a total clusterf*ck, and the LHW's are headed in that direction as well.

The Virgin

i know this maybe sort of off topic but i really hate MMA's UFC's or any form of fighting that's seen as entertainment. honestly. i hate seeing guys punch each other til they bleed and get knocked out and people cheer and clap, it's too brutal for me to watch.

derek

I used to watch it until 5-6 yrs ago. It really sucks right now. I used to like Pride fighting even more back in the day, but they got bought out by the UFC.

Thrice

I really enjoyed the original UFC, pre-Dana White. When there were no rounds and minimal rules. It wasn't even MMA, it was the "best" karate fighter vs. the best bar brawler. It wasn't considered a sport, but rather pure brutality reflecting a modern day gladiators arena. I still enjoy today's MMA, but it's nice to pop in a VHSs I have recorded of |Tank |Abbott and the Gracies.

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Lew Harrison, who looked like an anarchist with his red eyes and fierce black beard, had been writing furiously in one corner of the room. "That's good—happiness by the kilowatt," he said. "Buy your happiness the way you buy light."

cd2117

i respect what these fighters do, but i'm not a fan of it at all...a lot of it has to do with the crowd that goes along with it...juiced up meatheads who think they are in the UFC as well...no one cares how tight your affliction shirt looks bro

Thom Yorke

I'm a big fan. I find boxing boring, but I love that anything goes in MMA. I consider Anderson Silva to be the most exciting athlete in sports.