What is the core element of MMA you like the most?

[kneeblock]

Had this thought this morning while watching some flyweight fights. There are criticisms of lower weights sometimes in MMA, which most egregiously resulted in the elimination of 155 and under once upon a time. Generally, at lighter weights we get to see a greater quantity of techniques, but the trade off is not as much power. At higher weights, there's often a sense that anything can happen and even when people are caught in a deep submission, their physical attributes can extend a fight.

I added the storytelling aspect of the sport because I know there is a strong segment of the fanbase that crossed over from WWE and likes the idea of heels and faces and feuds. So which of these is the thing you like the MOST about MMA?

 

[kaladin stormblessed]

ive never watched pro wrassling. and i used to be more into the mixing of styles

but as my love for the sport wanes, the thing that gets my most interested nowadays are the characters/stories

at the same time though, there are some characters and stories that are too douche to watch on principle

 

[SongExotic2]

Spitting at opposition corner!

 

[Sheepdog]

Had this thought this morning while watching some flyweight fights. There are criticisms of lower weights sometimes in MMA, which most egregiously resulted in the elimination of 155 and under once upon a time. Generally, at lighter weights we get to see a greater quantity of techniques, but the trade off is not as much power. At higher weights, there's often a sense that anything can happen and even when people are caught in a deep submission, their physical attributes can extend a fight.

I added the storytelling aspect of the sport because I know there is a strong segment of the fanbase that crossed over from WWE and likes the idea of heels and faces and feuds. So which of these is the thing you like the MOST about MMA?

MMA is the closest thing we have available to determining the best unarmed combatants on the planet within the parameters of what is considered socially acceptable. This is why too many compromises on this promise, such as banning grounded knees, can eventually break the sport.

But this is still its core appeal - even if the pinnacle of NHB was Jon Fitch slowfucking an opponent to death, it would still be a better sport than far more bastardized versions of fighting like boxing and kickboxing. You want to watch the best fighters and the techniques they use to determine who is the best fighter.

Luckily, MMA is also more dynamic, and thus more entertaining, than these more restrictive sports are overall, even if individual boxing/kickboxing fights can surpass MMA fights in immediate entertainment value.

'Best fighter' fundamentalism also explains why some of us deride midget fights. Yes, they can be entertaining, but ultimately these fights do not establish who the best fighters on the planet are, as they are simply ineffective vs larger humans.

 

[SuperPig]

@jason73 and @Cody are against anything that involves "mixing" and "diversity."

 

[kaladin stormblessed]

how come youve hidden who voted for which...

 

[SuperPig]

how come youve hidden who voted for which...

Science

 

[The Big Guy]

@jason73 and @Cody are against anything that involves "mixing" and "diversity."

 

[jason73]

i just want to see people get the shit kicked out of them and hang out and talk shit with you homos

 

[Splinty]

wolf tickets and butt hurt

 

[kneeblock]

Best fighter' fundamentalism also explains why some of us deride midget fights. Yes, they can be entertaining, but ultimately these fights do not establish who the best fighters on the planet are, as they are simply ineffective vs larger humans

I think what you're describing is NHB, which is a far cry from modern MMA. Insofar as it's an athletic contest between two relatively size equalized opponents, it's not all that much like a competition for best fighter at all. In open weight days we've seen small guys use their speed for advantages and big guys use their power for different advantages. Objectively, however, weights allow us to see more techniques on display within the category and due to the diminishing power, the little guys have to perform by displaying the most techniques. In a weird way, flyweight, bantamweight and featherweight require you to be competent in a lot more martial skills whereas genetics seem to determine a lot more at the heavier weights. So best is a kind of subjective interpretation in the sport of MMA. In the open fighting contests of NHB (and even some earlier variations of MMA), I'd say it was more about who can beat the most people no matter what, but in this modern sport, best has so many modes of interpretation, it's practically worthless. An annual grand prix of the champions of every weight class would be cool. As we've seen with guys who moved up successfully, there could be unexpected wins.

 

[homo fagit]

Spitting at opposition corner!

Knees on downed opponents?

 

[homo fagit]

i just want to see people get the shit kicked out of them and hang out and talk shit with you homos

Anytime big man

 

[SongExotic2]

Knees on downed opponents?

 

[Robbie Hart]

I love when wrestlers piss everyone off by taking guys down at will. It's hilarious at how mad you all get.

 

[John Lee Pettimore]

I love when wrestlers piss everyone off by taking guys down at will. It's hilarious at how mad you all get.

Sometimes wrestling can be a lot more entertaining than people give it credit for. Like watching Khabib visibly consuming Abel Trujillo's soul, takedown by takedown.

??

 

[kaladin stormblessed]

option 4: the ring card girls

 

[kneeblock]

option 4: the ring card girls

The ring card girls have made watching MMA with my kids pretty weird. They've been asking for years now why those girls are in bathing suits before each round and I just turn into Tevye from Fiddler on the Roof and sing Tradition until the fighting starts.

 

[kaladin stormblessed]

The ring card girls have made watching MMA with my kids pretty weird. They've been asking for years now why those girls are in bathing suits before each round and I just turn into Tevye from Fiddler on the Roof and sing Tradition until the fighting starts.

i agree with the question your kids have raised: why are they in bathing suits?

ive been promoting topless ring card girls for awhile now

 

[Dick Niaz]

For me it’s the concept of “styles make matchups.” I love that someone can look like a world beater until they meet their kryptonite. I love that the best striker in the world can be ineffective if he doesn’t have takedown defense. I like that on any given day one set of attributes is more valuable than another. The fact that MMA math doesn’t exist makes the sport so intriguing.

Good thread BTW!

 

[John Lee Pettimore]

For me it’s the concept of “styles make matchups.” I love that someone can look like a world beater until they meet their kryptonite. I love that the best striker in the world can be ineffective if he doesn’t have takedown defense. I like that on any given day one set of attributes is more valuable than another. The fact that MMA math doesn’t exist makes the sport so intriguing.

Good thread BTW!

Over a span of years, it's interesting to see the sport evolve as well. First it was BJJ guys held the advantage. Then a few years later, almost all of the belts were held by wrestling-based fighters with heavy top control. Now, things have progressed again and technical strikers with solid TDD are on top of the game. It's cool to see a guy show up every now and then - Izzy and Khabib being the latest - who brings a set of specialised tools that make us go "oh shit, it's going to be extremely difficult for anyone to force this guy out of the type of fight that he's going to beat everyone in."

??

 

[SongExotic2]

Jon Jones and his shenanigans.

 

[Robbie Hart]

Jon Jones and his shenanigans.

 

[crowbar]

Maybe I'm not grasping what you are asking,but I loved the tournament format back in the day.It wasn't fair...it was only the strong survive.