Fights where a change of the guard came in?

[kneeblock]

Fedor getting triangled by Werdum.

It was the end of the most dominant era in MMA history and one of the most dominant eras of any athlete ever. Werdum, while from roughly the same generation as Fedor went on to solid success as a true new breed fighter and even took the UFC title a few years later. Fedor has looked like a shell of himself since, even in victory. Nothing more significant as a change of the guard than that to me.

 

[regular john]

Jones vs. Shogun
Weidman vs. Anderson

actual examples of a "change of the guard" - a young fighter decisively beat up an all time great and went on to do big things; the older legend never returned to their best form.

 

[regular john]

Fedor getting triangled by Werdum.

It was the end of the most dominant era in MMA history and one of the most dominant eras of any athlete ever. Werdum, while from roughly the same generation as Fedor went on to solid success as a true new breed fighter and even took the UFC title a few years later. Fedor has looked like a shell of himself since, even in victory. Nothing more significant as a change of the guard than that to me.

but, like you said, Werdum is about the same age as Fedor, from around the same area. also why do you rate Werdum "new breed"? IMO he representes much more the power of the old guys than does he make part of anything "new breed". he just got better himself, but he is the exact "muay thai"/BJJ brazilian guy with bad wrestling that's been around for 20 years.

 

[Tiiimmmaaayyy]

GSP over Hughes for sure

Andy crushing Rich

 

[Onetrickpony]

Brian Bowles beating Torres after his 17 fight win streak where he looked unbeatable.

Pettis showtiming Beno was showing what the new breed of guys were capable of.

 

[Robbie Hart]

Uhh......

Greatest fight ever - commentary, shit talking and EARLY STOPPAGE

 

[SongExotic2]

Maldonado knocking fedor out 8 times

 

[Joemacka]

When Barberena beat the brakes off Northcutt.

 

[kneeblock]

but, like you said, Werdum is about the same age as Fedor, from around the same area. also why do you rate Werdum "new breed"? IMO he representes much more the power of the old guys than does he make part of anything "new breed". he just got better himself, but he is the exact "muay thai"/BJJ brazilian guy with bad wrestling that's been around for 20 years.

I rate Werdum new breed because at 170 and under you've had to become a true mixed martial artist, competent in everything for several years. At 185 and 205 you've been able to get away with being good at just 2 things until very recently when we've seen a transition to true mixed martial arts. At Heavy, you've been able to get away with being very good at one thing and having a useful attribute such as being quick or powerful up until I would say 10 years ago. Fedor was a prototype for the kinds of HWs that would follow him and Werdum worked for about a decade to crafted himself in that mold. He became genuinely competent in muay thai to the point where his skills just about matched his BJJ. HW is still in the era where most of the fighters are very good at 2 things. For them, that's the new breed.