How MMA fighters climb the ranks(good read for boxing fans too)

http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles.asp?n_id=9499

Interesting read about how MMA fighters get big fights,fight better fighters quicker than their boxing counterparts and lots of other interesting points. A really interesting read.

great article! it highlights what I've been saying for years. When the striking is highlighted by mma haters as so subpar I've mentioned how young the sport is and what a dramatic change in athleticism and skill we've seen just in the past 10-15 years. Assuming MMA continues to grow and expand its depth of fighters will and their repsective abilities will as well.

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Originally Posted by VanChilds

great article! it highlights what I've been saying for years. When the striking is highlighted by mma haters as so subpar I've mentioned how young the sport is and what a dramatic change in athleticism and skill we've seen just in the past 10-15 years. Assuming MMA continues to grow and expand its depth of fighters will and their repsective abilities will as well.

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Thanks Van,I know it was a long article but it was really interesting in my opinion. I totally agree,the sport is so young,it's AMAZING how it has evolved in such a short time! I honestly don't know or cant see what the next step is going to be! I mean everyone participating in it HAS to have good overall skills to survive,no more BJJ v grapplers etc.

I think Rampage has shwon the evolution with striking. HIs training/analysing of boxers has been superb and his counters,straight shots are the way forward. He's still a bit wild at times but we'll see more skilled strikers for sure. I think one of my favourite parts was when the writer was talking about fighters records.

In boxing,the fighters have hundreds of amatuer bouts,then pro fights,slowly slowly buliding up the reputation of the fighter and THEN the world title shots. That's why you have guys that are 30-0 etc etc In MMA,they spar hard,get their training,their black belts etc and are thrown in at the deep end because nowadays,there are NO easy MMA matches. All the athletes are so skilled in their field that every fight is tough and that;s why there are so many unpredicatable fights.

The best fighters,the most well rounded,survive and succeed. My favourite example is someone like GSp. So few fights yet already an ATG imo,for his skills and his record. He fights the best hence the losses. 14-2 may not look great but he fought and beaten the best of the division!Amazing.

i still wonder hwat the next big phase in mma will be...seems that a lot of companies are starting to promote fights so maybe we will see some decent pay and action in the future..