Fights that changed a Fighter's Style Forever

[The EZ Life]

Edgar vs BJ Penn.

BJ adopted a "walking punching bag" fighting style

 

[Sheepdog]

GSP/Serra 1. After that, GSP got more risk-averse for the rest of his WW fights. Which is a total bummer.


As for the rest, I can't say 100% whether it was caused by just 1 fight, or a process, but I'm thinking of
> Damian Maia, after training with Wandy and trying to strike, I think the Nate Marquardt fight might have convinced him to focus again on the JJ
> Ronda after getting some KO/TKO stoppages changed her style to "stand and receive"
> I think that Chad Mendes focussed much more on standup after getting that body shot KO against Cody McKenzie

This is a good one. Demian outright said his coaches have prohibited him from striking in fights except when absolutely necessary. He says he trains kickboxing and boxing literally all the time, but they tell him he stands a higher chance of winning if he uses this knowledge to get to the ground (which could just be their gentle way of telling him he sucks lol).

Interestingly, that timeline isn't remotely accurate though and it's actually the opposite.

K1 Maia didn't exist before the Marquardt fight - he subbed every opponent except for Machado, and had taken down and subbed his previous two opponents in 2 minutes. The first appearance of K1 Maia was actually the fight immediately after the Marquardt fight vs Dan Miller.

When he went to WW, he started off as full TD-spamming Maia, but K1 Maia randomly appeared again vs Yakovlev, after he lost two grappling-gameplan fights vs Shields and Rory in which he gassed. Then full K1 Maia re-appeared again vs Askren for obvious reasons after his problems trying to take Woodley/Usman/Colby down.

It seems like the first wave of K1 Maia was a reaction to getting KOd (focus on improving standup), the second brief appearance was a reaction to cardio problems, and he also had fights vs elite wrestlers where he had no choice but to stand and wang.

Regardless, he never 'permanently' changed - we saw K1 Maia and TD-spamming Maia appear and disappear throughout his career.

 

[Rambo John J]

Don Frye

 

[kneeblock]

Interestingly, that timeline isn't remotely accurate though and it's actually the opposite.

K1 Maia didn't exist before the Marquardt fight - he subbed every opponent except for Machado, and had taken down and subbed his previous two opponents in 2 minutes. The first appearance of K1 Maia was actually the fight immediately after the Marquardt fight vs Dan Miller.

When he went to WW, he started off as full TD-spamming Maia, but K1 Maia randomly appeared again vs Yakovlev, after he lost two grappling-gameplan fights vs Shields and Rory in which he gassed. Then full K1 Maia re-appeared again vs Askren for obvious reasons after his problems trying to take Woodley/Usman/Colby down.

It seems like the first wave of K1 Maia was a reaction to getting KOd (focus on improving standup), the second brief appearance was a reaction to cardio problems, and he also had fights vs elite wrestlers where he had no choice but to stand and wang.

Regardless, he never 'permanently' changed - we saw K1 Maia and TD-spamming Maia appear and disappear throughout his career.

True it didn't change him much. We can think of Marquardt as K1 Maia's one and only beta test.

 

[Sheepdog]

True it didn't change him much. We can think of Marquardt as K1 Maia's one and only beta test.

K1 Maia should be mandatory viewing for dipshit boxing/kickboxing fans who can't get it through their heads that MMA striking is its own thing.

A guy who gets beaten on the feet by Ben Askren can win fights and take rounds off competent strikers just by scaring them with the knowledge of what can happen if they try to strike back properly.

That's why I've always taken perverse joy in K1 Maia's awful standup fights.