The Evolution of MMA

[Bigpapa42]

This came up in a debate on another forum. Basically the question of where MMA goes from here. There are apparently some fans who feel that the evolution of the sport has reached its end and we won't see further changes. I just don't see how that's possible, given the huge evolutionary curve we've seen in less than two decades.

So I am curious what you folks think we'll see in coming years - will MMA continue to evolve, and if so, how?

[SHOGUN]

More amateur wrestlers.

6-foot-2 guys fighting at lightweight will become a natural occurrence.

[Warner2BruceTD]

No sport ever finishes evolving. Ever.

[Liquidrob]

become more sport and less fight, not a good thing

[EmpireWF]

Judging and rule changes

In ten+ years, the talent pool should take a step up with a fresh generation

[Bigpapa42]

No sport ever finishes evolving. Ever.

That was pretty much my thought, too.

There are two changes I see coming, in terms of fighters. The first is that you will see more pure MMA fighters - guys like Jon Jones and John Hathaway, who don't come in with a base and learn just what applies to MMA. The second is more high-level athletes. I think guys like GSP and Jones are the prototypes for the kind of fighters we will see more of going forward - very well rounded and just phenomenal athletes.

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

More amateur wrestlers going straight to the sport.

[CrimsonGhost56]

hopefully one unified organization

[EmpireWF]

hopefully one unified organization

never gonna happen

[SHOGUN]

hopefully one unified organization

:fedor:

[CrimsonGhost56]

:fedor:

yeah it would really suck to see the best fighters facing off instead of being segregated into their separate orgs

[SHOGUN]

yeah it would really suck to see the best fighters facing off instead of being segregated into their separate orgs

The best still wouldn't face each other as often as you would think even if they were all under the same umbrella because it's still sports entertainment (Ex: Fitch, Okami, etc.), it limits fighters' opportunities to get paid and I don't want the sport to be monopolized under one rule set/judging criteria. Variety is the spice of life.

[KINGOFOOTBALL]

If it continues to grow ?
More money = better athletes.

The amount of truly grade A athletes is minimal in comparison to other sports. The bigger MMA gets ((only if salaries jump)) better athletes will choose to go the MMA route.
With it we will see better striking/wrestling. I dont think we're going to see any high end Sub specialists for awhile. Theres only so many subs one can pull off without any clothing to grasp and theres defense up the wazoo for all of em.

Thats the next few years IMO. Down the line who knows. Kids cross training today will be much more natural and hopefully lead to better quality fights and more dominant fighters.

[Warner2BruceTD]

yeah it would really suck to see the best fighters facing off instead of being segregated into their separate orgs

Sounds good in theory, but it would end up mirroring the boxing model, whichs sucks dick and ruined that sport. Seperate orgs keeps things fresh, sparks debate, and is better for the fighters in terms of leverage, etc.

[Liquidrob]

The Evolution of MMA has been completed